Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Muddy water Adding gypsum to pond

The gypsum I can purchase locally is in 40 pound bags and is of a pellet form. I added 200 pounds to a pond that is less than 1/2 acre but when added, the pellets sink immediately. Is this a problem or will it still dissolve and work to clear my muddy pond. I thought about dissolving the pellets in 5 gallons of water and pouring that mixture in the pond.

Bump.

You can broadcast it from shore with wind or use a small boat and troll motor in prop wash. We have used several tons. You will need 10-15 more bags to get improvement. Takes a week or so... give it some time.

We put most of ours in eroded areas and let the water wash it into the pond. Took about a month, but worked.

I posted this question on another forum but maybe this one is more appropriate. Does anyone know any published application rates for aluminum sulphate?

Go here for both alum & gypsum application rates :

http://agfacts.tamu.edu/D11/Calhoun/Mar/Recfish/Pondmgt/mudpond.htm

My question is really concerning the pelletized form of gypsum. Is that the only way it comes? I was concerned that it sinking immediately may not be doing the job. Others have mentioned it floating on the surface for a while before it sinks. Does it work either way?

You will be much happier with aluminum sulphate. There are several formulas. Just give it some time(2 wks..to work, before re-assessing. Make a slurry with 1 tablespoon per gallon, that gives you a 1/250 ratio, then add 1, 2, 3, etc. tablespoons per gallon of the slurry to gallons of fresh water(you can use 1 teaspoon per quart and be close). The least amount to settle the solids is the amount to use. However much alum you use, add 40% that amount of hydrated or quick lime to maintain the ph. If you need to raise the ph a little, add more lime. I used 150# alum, followed by 100# lime in 3 increments about 2 wks. apart. My water went from 12 inch muddy visibility to 4 ft. clear in a month. Then slowly added fert. til now I have a nice green 24 inch bloom. This took about 3 months total. That is for about 1 million gallons.

Has anyone used liquid gypsum to settle the muddy water in a pond?

Cherri:

Welcome to the forum. I haven't used it. Where do you find it in quantity in Indiana?

Cherri, I wasnt aware gypsum came in a liquid form. When it comes to Gypsum working to clear suspended clay, success is around 50% whereas alum/lime is 100% effective.