Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Muddy water Settling clay & clearing pond water

We just recently built a 2 acre pond and it has finally almost completely filled just 2 feet shy from full pool. However, we are located in east Texas and full of red dirt and clay. This has created extremely muddy and stained water. What's the best/easiest/most efficient way to settle the clay particles floating and clear up the pond.

I read a lot on gypsum and googled a few products...

http://shop.soillogic.com/soil-logic-liq...CFQdafgodhlEAOg

Is something like this what I'm looking for or am I way off

I am also a new pond builder in E Texas. And also looking at red clay dam and surrounding grounds. I have planted all around my pond using Winter Rye cereal grains along with 3 different types of clovers. Using it for ground cover and for wildlife food. The clovers have deep roots holding the dirt in check from erosion. ( I hope). I am hoping this will reduce red clay runoff from rains. I am also using a water well for building water volume and for dilution of the suspended clays. So all of the above you might be able to relate to.
In Setterguys comments on Alum kicks butt, he describes his setup along with his treatment for clearing up water. I will most likely go his route if necessary after I am at full pool on my 3.5 acre water shed. Good luck with whatever you do and please keep us E Texas newbies informed.
Tracy

Read this:

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=283542#Post283542

TGW1, I am the one that cleared setterguy's pond for him. It is actually easier, and sometimes better to clear a pond before it reaches full pool, but if you have large areas of exposed clay that will continue to enter the pond during rain events, you will be far better off, budget wise, to get plants established in the entire watershed before clearing the pond.

Thanks Rainman and that's what I was thinking. Get the pond bank area growing and then follow along your design and plan. Caviler I hope not to highjack your request for info here.

no prob bud!

They also have floc tablets that you can hang in the water above your aerator that will settle out your clay.

Where would I find these floc tablets you speak of? And I am thinking I could station the tablets at the water well discharge into the pond. What u think? If I am adding 50 gpm of fresh water where it cascades down and over rocks and introduces air into the stream, then I think I might be a good place to set the Floc tablets ??

TGW1, The "floc tabs" are alum and ag lime. You'd need to suspend them over an aerator to get the product circulated. Putting them in your inflow will not get it circulated. The tabs work great in small garden ponds, but are about 50 times the price of a bulk alum app, and you will still need the same amount to clear the water.

These floc tabs are polymer based. I just added some to my wash that fills my pond. It only flows when we have big rainfall events. I haven't had a chance to see the results yet but I just installed them so I will know how well they work over the next couple of months.

PM me if you need contact info

If polymer based, I'd seriously consider using Applied Polymer Systems "Floc Logs" APS will analyze a water sample and suggest the best polymer mix for your particular solids and water chemistry.

Applied Polymer Systems

I second Rainman on Applied Polymer Systems products. I had success using them in clearing up a pond that was having clarity issues. After installation the pond had its first bloom, before there was none due to the suspended clay particles. APS was quick with testing the water and telling us how many logs the pond needed to gain clear water.