The Causes of a Dirty Pond

Having a garden pond can be a beautiful addition which adds to the general ambience of a property; or it can conversely be an absolute nightmare because they can end up looking so bad, therefore reflecting badly on the property or garden as a whole. But how and why do garden ponds end up getting so dirty – and is there a way of effectively tackling the problem? The how and why we shall see below; rest assured there are very effective ways of cleaning up a pond, ranging from simple aerators, to complex filter systems.

Bad water clarity is a problem that can be caused for a variety of reasons, from algae to floating leaves and debris. Obviously the more things floating around in the pond, the dirtier it will appear. And very often it is this floating debris that promotes algae growth in the first place. Get rid of the debris and half the battle is won.

There are many types of algae, and not all are caused by floating debris. Some are simple, light green algae that just change the hue of the water slightly, while others are a thick and mucus like, covering the whole surface of the water. Excessive nutrients in the water (including from our friends the floating debris) can cause algae to grow at a rapid pace.

Another pond problem can be that of unpleasant odours. These can be caused by all sorts of things, especially dead, rotting material of an organic nature. The odour comes when this matter is broken down in an environment that is oxygen-poor, releasing methane, ammonia and the traditional rotten egg smell, hydrogen sulphide. Some types of algae can also cause some rather unpleasant smells, so another reason to keep them in check.

Some garden ponds become stagnant due to the fact that they are not naturally filled (by stream, spring, surface water, etc). This sitting water that has become stagnant is the ideal breeding ground for a host of insects which then lay their eggs in it, which in turn hatch into larvae. This not only affects water quality in the pond, it could also pose a serious health hazard, especially in warmer climes.

Another reason a garden pond can become so dirty is due to all the muck that accumulates at the bottom, eventually forming a thick sludge-like substance. Quite a lot of this sludge is rotting organic matter that has sunk to the bottom of the pond. In some larger ponds this sludge can get to many feet deep! When all the organic matter in the sludge start to decay, the lack of oxygen in the process produces a noxious smelling gas that can also cloud up the water.

But before any of this puts you off ponds for life, rest assured these problems can all be rectified simply and swiftly, and can even be prevented from occurring in the first place. A garden pond is a beautiful thing and something to be proud of. Some tender loving care will ensure this happens.