Big problems with big pond

[DuckyGaze]

I had a beautiful huge pond dug up in my front yard for all my ducks and geese. The pond holds thousands of gallons of water and was great for the first month but now I have a dark green oil-like slick on top of the water. No algae growing , just the top layer is dark green and it is driving me crazy. Have put a fountain in there that throws the water upwards and have planted some aquatic plants. The pump is not doing much and the ducks and geese ate the plants.

I really need help because they will not stay out of the pond and continue to swim in it which is really making me a bit nervous.

Does anyone know of a really great product that I can put in the pond that will eat up the green slick on the top?
I have been reading so much about it on the internet and have tried a few things but nothing is working.

I also have been searching for a pump that is able to clean a huge pond but not having any luck.

I need help please.

Anyone???

 

[Amiga]

You may need to fence it off.

If there is no water flow through it, and you don't have a big aerator, I don't see how it's going to work full time.

Is it spring fed or just rainfall runoff fed?

If you are in the U.S., you may be able to get some help from the local Soil and Water Conservation District or Natural Resources Conservation Service office or University Agricultural Extension.

 

[jducour]

Can you post an image? If your ducks ate all of the plants, is it under other shade? A small pond should be at least 75% under shade to help control algae blooms.

 

[needlessjunk]

You will need to do some serious research on how to filter it. Ducks are known to be really hard on ponds and the few I have see on here have a really extensive set up. Seems that bio filters or very large fountains/aerators are the way to go and tend to be able to handle all the mess ducks make. Till you can get if cleared up and clean I would be hesitant to let the ducks back on it.

 

[jducour]

I've got a large pond, and it is a lot of work! I have three different filtration systems, a large pump system that pumps about 600 gallons an hour through those filters. I would stay away from all of those quick fixes that are offered for slime or algae, it's just putting a bandaid on a bigger problem. Most are not safe for ducks either, I wouldn't risk them drinking the water with any product in it. We have had our pond for 15 years, and have never used a chemical of any kind to keep it clean. It is a fragile ecosystem, and you have to be careful wih it. One thing we learned, is to use culinary water to fill our pond. We used secondary water before, but it comes preloaded with a lot or organic material - moss, algae, shrimp, fish, etc. My town doesn't bleach or fluoridate our drinking water, so it is safe for filling the pond.

 

[DuckyGaze]

No shade at all actually, I don't have any shade in front of the house so I did plant a tree on the island but it is still small so does not afford any shade for the water.

We actually made all the green gunk go to one spot and I got a water vacuum and sucked up all that green stuff. Worked really well. This is second day since the vacuuming
and water is still fine.

Now I am actually getting a water pump to get more circulation in the pond because the one I had was way too small and I checked out on how to make
a really cheap but awesome filter at home for the pond.

There are many videos on making biological filters and that is the plan for this week.. Need to make about 4 of these.

 

[DuckyGaze]

We are in the country and have our own well so that water is fine and the pond actually filled up on its own with the water level being so high.
I am starting to realize that ducks and geese do NOT keep a clean play ground.

I totally agree about the chemical stuff, but was wondering if the bio bacteria (good bacteria that eats up algae) would be good for the pond.

I really want to put in bio filters and keep the pond as natural as possible. No chemicals for my babies!

I will however keep you all updated on my adventure to a clean and healthy pond. Hopefully soon.

Thank you all for your advise and comments. Helped alot.

 

[gofeedthegirls]

If your in a climate where your pond wont completly freeze up in the winter there are some species of fish that will help control your algae problem you can stock your pond with.

 

[natenascar]

Do you live near a tractor supply? They have these bio balls that work for a month at a time and they work awesome. I have a pond and it would last three days till it turned green. I tried everything nothing worked. I tried these ball that are rather expensive but had to find some thing and the water cleared and stays clear best thing I ever bought!!

 

[allergymama]

We use barley straw bales in ours. Ordered it from Amazon because it was cheaper. We just plopped one in the pond and within a week the green slick was gone and has stayed gone. I was worried that it wouldn't work because the instructions say to put it where water is moving. Our pond gets no movement except the ducks stirring it up. Worked like a charm and totally safe.