Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Help Goldfish and cloudy water in pond

bob - A high density of goldfish will make the pondwater cloudy. As food becomes in short supply due to too many goldfish they start picking at the bottom sediments for food items in the mud. However goldfish (Carassius auratus) are not common carp (Cyprinus carpio). These are two pretty different fish species. All this bottom feeding activity from hundreds & hundreds of fish roils up the sediments and wind action helps mix the whole thing. If it is truly largemouth bass you stocked, they after several years and spawnings should start heavily thinning the goldfish. The water after several years should gradually start getting clearer each year as the goldfish numbers are reduced.

The 'black' water in the basin is probably leachate from leaves (tannins). Collect some of the water in a quart glass jar. If it looks tea colored I'm correct. If not come back with your results and we will investigate further.