Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Muddy water How do I fix "green" water?

We finished digging a .5 acre pond end of October. It's about 13 feet deep right now. When it filled (from the bottom up) the water was a blue-green shade. We could see 6-8 feet down. Today we cut a "sturgeon hole" and put a fish shack over it. To my disappointment, the water was mostly green and we could only see 2 feet! We're having a mild winter. Only 8 inches of ice and at the most, 4 inches of snow on it.

Anyone know what the deal is, and will the lack of visability affect the 30 perch in it?

Thanks.

You have an algae bloom occurring which can happen in winter with certain species of the cold water loving planktonic algae and if nutrient conditions are optimum for their growth. The bloom will not affect the YP providing deep snow does not block light under the ice to shade-black out light and kill all the algae due to not getting sunlight. When all the algae dies at once the bloom of bacteria attacking the dead algae, consumes all the oxygen in all the water. Do not let deep snow on all the ice for longer than 3 weeks in a new pond 15'+ deep. Keep about 10% to 25% snow off the ice.

I used to get intense algae blooms in the winter in one of my production ponds if I left just standing water in them. Now I keep them filled for the winter.



In addition to what Bill said i would try and set up a little diffusion aeration close to shore next winter to keep a small area open. It's a lot easier than trying to keep snow off the ice.

Thanks for the input guys. I figured it was an algae thing, but wanted to hear it from professionals like you guys!

How can I prevent this in the future, or fix it this winter yet?

My hopes were for my young children to peer down the sturgeon hole and see the fish swim by.

Funny thing you mention keeping snow off the ice. Before I read your replies this morning, I plowed off the snow with a 4 wheeler. Todays high is 45 and the rest of the week is supposed to be in the mid to upper 30's. I figured it would make for some smooth ice skating if it ever freezes again.

Keep the info coming. I'm trying to learn as much as possible.
Thanks

Remember one thing. Your water being clear or not clear IMO is not an issue to your fish. Fish can adapt to the dirtiest water (most fish anyway). I fish in a small lake here that you can't see more than 8 inches and we catch great fish out of it. They find a way to survive! As long as like Bill says you don't have a D.O. crash! One downfall is the color of the fish will not be as nice. Clearer water means nicer looking fish as not so clear water will kind of make them more blah colored for better lack of words but it won't hurt them. I find it funny I have read a lot of posts where people who have clear ponds don't want it and people who have muddy looking ponds want clearer ponds! They both have there advatages. For example.

Clear water = More plant issues. Easier for fish to see you when your fishing. Easier for large birds to eat fish out of your pond!

Muddier water- Less plant issues for lack of sun penatration, but could end up being a D.O. issue as well. Fish can't see you very well when fishing. Fish can't make out your artificial bait as easy either and might strike more in muddier water. Birds have a harder time seeing your fish to eat them.

My pond is clear 8 feet deep right now. Gin clear. I walk around it and think I don't have any fish cause I can't see them anywhere! Saturday though when I was at my pond Mr. Blue Heron showed up too! He knows where that easy meal might be! Fricken bird!! He likes that clear water for sure!!

Will aeration help keep the algae controlled at all?
There is a crop field next to the pond that had manure hauled on it this fall. Possible nitrate issues?

Very likely nitrate issues or other nutrients. Algae won't grow without nutrients. The more the algae biomass its very likely the more the nutrients that were present to stimulate it. Generally speaking, aeration will basically only suppress bluegreen algae issues (primarily the bouyant species), if it has any limiting affects at all on planktonic algae. The balance or ratio of nutrients basically determines whether nutrients grow the FA or planktonic algae.

Kiwidoo. look at the positives of your "green" water...your pond can now support far more biomass (pounds of fish) that that "clear" water ever would.