Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Muddy Water

I have a jug of muddy pond water on my front porch. I have put 1/8 teaspoon of gypsum in it and it is clearing. How long should I wait for clearing and will a larger dose do it quicker? After it clears should I shake it up and hope for settling again? My wife doesn't think the jug of muddy water goes with our decore.

You should have two jugs of muddy water on the porch, matching, one on each side of the door in order to please the wife. One should have gypsum added and the other lime in order to see which works best.

If gypsum, go out to your pond and toss in a couple hundred pounds. Wait a week. If the water isnt clear, put in another hundred or so. Wait a week, if not clear, add. Wait...

This is assuming your pond is pretty small. See the post under muddy water in the muddy water section of the board for more info.

One other thought Jim. Though it will throw off the balance of your home decor, a third jug of pond water might be well advised - but don't put anything in it. If THAT jugs eventually clears on its own, then your pond may have a "physical" problem rather than a "chemistry" problem. Physical causes of water turbidity include: heavy wave-action against unstable shorelines (erosion), disturbed/unstable soil being eroded from the watershed, carp/buffalo or other rooting/rough fish, livestock water-sports, and a few other possibilities. You get the picture. If the "control" jug doesn't clear on its own, yet one of the other jugs does clear up, then a lime, gypsum or aluminum sulfate treatment might be in order. If the control jug does clear up on its own, then finding and correcting the physical cause(s) may be the only long-term solution. KD

I second what Kelly said; excellent advice. Follow it closely.