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Dark pond water

Justin Doherty2Justin Doherty2 Posts: 205
in Wildlife gardening

Hi all,

The water in our school pond seems to be quite dark for some reason. And ideas why this might be?

Thanks,

Justin

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Posts

  • Dave MorganDave Morgan Posts: 3,123

    How long has it been established Justin, it takes a while for ponds to clear. The other cause may be soil falling in to the pond from the edges.

  • Justin Doherty2Justin Doherty2 Posts: 205

    The pond was there previously but I've changed a lot of water and added a lot of plants since winter.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,128

    When you say 'dark' do you mean dark and thick, or clear and dark.? 

    Our pond water looks really 'dark' but it's as clear as a bell - you can see the bottom - is it like that?


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Justin Doherty2Justin Doherty2 Posts: 205
    No, I can't see the bottom. The colour is like tea.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,128

    If you put the water in a jamjar, can you see  through it?


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Justin Doherty2Justin Doherty2 Posts: 205

    I'll try tomorrow.

  • Justin Doherty2Justin Doherty2 Posts: 205
    It doesn't smell but the tadpoles have been hatched fir a good few weeks now.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,128

    I think it sounds as if it's behaving normally - wildlife ponds have all sorts of 'stuff' in them -  I think that we get so used to seeing garden ponds with filters etc, that we forget what a 'wild' pond looks like.  


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Justin Doherty2Justin Doherty2 Posts: 205

    But surely I should be able to see to the bottom?

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,109

    As the weather warms up the blanket weed and algae begin to grow so that can make the water dark. You may also just have some wildlife stirring up sediment. That's a good thing Justin!

    Is it muddy looking or green?

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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