Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Muddy water Red loam - can you unmuddy it?

Hello. I am hoping someone can help me. My wife and I are looking at a farm that has about a 1/4 acre pond built in red clay loam. Of course, the water is very cloudy and looks about like some sort of rust colored milk.

I am wondering if there is any way to correct this? I have heard hay or gypsum might be helpful, but I am not sure if these are long term fixes.

About 1/2 the property is straight sand and the 1/2 where the pond lies is red loam. I was also wondering if you could rework it by digging it out and hauling sand in about a foot deep to have a buffer between the water and the red loam.

We really like the property, but that is not really what I wanted in terms of a "good fishing hole" and somewhere that looks inviting to swim.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Joseph

Hello, joseph, and welcome to the Forum!

1. Have you done a bucket test to see if the clay settles out on its own, or if it is electrochemically suspended? Put some in a bucket or jar and see what happens over a couple of days - if it settles by itself, something is keeping it mechanically stirred up (like a lot of bottom feeding fish, fer instance).

2. If you can give a more exact location in the Great State of Texas, perhaps a member will have knowledge of your exact red loam. We do have 2 or 3 (thousand) Texans here.

3. To stay occupied, read through the next few posts in this category. "Alum kicks clays butt" alone should get you through the weekend.

Joseph, if you're along the Red River it can be iffy.

Hello all. Thanks for the replies. The area this property is in is Burleson County, Texas (in the Milano/Caldwell area). The soil survery calls this soil "Gasil fine sandy loam".

I think the problem that causes the pond to have a reddish brown murky look is the amount of iron in the soil. Below is a description of the soil series:

http://www2.ftw.nrcs.usda.gov/osd/dat/G/GASIL.html

I was told there was a water well on the place, but it was not in use because of excessive iron in the water.

I am just wondering if anyone thinks that pond can be fixed somehow.

Any inputs would be greatly appreciated.

Joseph

OK, I read the link but am not a geologist. Clay can usually be settled but I don't know about iron.

I wouldn't want to buy the place and then start experimenting.

The question of the old water well not being utilized because of the excessive iron in it causes concern on my project. I have two water wells at this present time, one 3" for my home and one old 2" well for the upcoming pond.
Many years ago dad told me the 2" well was located in a young iron mind so when I dug my 3" well for my home, I elected to install an de-ionizer before going into my water softener and then into my home. Both wells are about 35 yards from each other.
Concern is, will well water with high iron content affect the pond? Does anyone have any suggestions? I am pretty sure Joseph
as well as myself would greatly appreciate any advice.

Cecil has high iron in his water, and he's found that it irritates the fish's gills. He has a system where he runs the water thru a couple of 5 gallon buckets filled with bio-balls that helps get some of the iron out, plus it de-gasses and aerates the water before it reaches the pond.