RStringer, did ANY sediment settle on the bottoms of the jars when tested? If there is no settled out particles after even 3 days, the turbidity in unlikely to be mechanical (wind/wave action, fish). IIRC you said somewhere your pond is 1/8th acre? At 1/8 acre, I suggest going ahead and treating your pond "heavy" with 200 pounds Aluminum Sulfate and 100 pounds of Hydrated Lime (Calcium Hydroxide). Cost is very minimal for staggeringly positive results.
Is it feasible to plant some groundcover on the exposed dirt? Some quick sprouting oats, rye, or wheat may stabilize the dirt so you don't have so much runoff clouding your pond. You would need to get it going now though for it to get a good root system.
I would and will do some planting. But I'm still digging on it. Kinda of hard to explain with pictures. I wish I was smarter n cud put a vid on here. I could walk around it. I'm raising the damn on 1 side and digging out on the other. Hoping to bring the water line up about 3 feet.
Help me understand all this plz. This water turns gin clear within hours. Just from very little bit of aluminwhen. I stir this up it goes clear again really fast.if it goes clear with just alum wht do I need to put in the hydrated lime in also.
Hyd Lime is the pH buffer. The Alum alone drops pH, Hyd Lime balances the effects of that and also adds a slight useful alkalinity rise. Important to get a pH reading before treatment to determine amount of Hyd Lime to use after Alum application. Oh Heck, RAINMAN is BACK!!! Listen to him, he'll give you good, sound advice.
Thank you for all the help and advice. I hope by spring time I am done digging and have my dam put back together. Maybe by this time next year it will be full and clear. I got the wife on board when she seen how clear it gets with alum.
You should probably wait until the there is dense vegetation on all the exposed soil before bothering with an alum treatment. aquatic plants on the edges help too.
You should probably wait until the there is dense vegetation on all the exposed soil before bothering with an alum treatment. aquatic plants on the edges help too.
Agreed...I still don't understand how long it required your jar test to clear. Did you ever allow turbidity to settle before adding Alum?
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
Im not sure how long I waited maybe a week and nothing seemed to be falling to the bottom. Should I do another test. I added the alum to one of them and just started playing with how much it took. I ended up adding somewhere like 20 grains of alum to clear it up within mintues. They get gin clear in bout 10. And yes I mean 20 grains im not sure I can even measure that. I might try this on a bigger scale (for test purposes). My next question is where do you buy the alum and lime in bulk? The farm store here looked at me like I was crazy.
Put one in a dark place - other exposed to some light.
Take photos with white background on day one, monitor both jars every day. Take additional photos periodically with white background. Allow the water some time. Report findings and post photos. I'd keep this test going at least 2 weeks up to 4 so we can review the data together. It's entirely possible you have an ionic imbalance and will require gypsum or alum treatment - but let's be 100% sure and allow the jar test data to be established first before you start spending $$. Be diligent, keep good photo records, post for us.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
If I get a chance I will start a new round of test tonight. TJ I hope you are told how much everyone on here appreciates your help. You knowledge has helped a lot of people. Your post brings up another question from me. What does the GYPSUM do?
Thanks amigo, that's kind of you to say and makes my day. I owe the forum a debt of gratitude and try to pay it back whenever I can. I've received so much direction from the forum vets, some of whom aren't even living now, I know I'll never come close to repaying.
Gypsum works in the same manner as alum, and while I believe it will take more to achieve similar results, it's also safer [no PH sag] and may be more accessible or affordable.
Looking ahead...in 2-4 weeks if there is no settling in the jars we will conclude ionic imbalance. Rex Rains makes a living performing alum treatments [we worked on a project together at my place] and he's a great resource. He can source alum/lime cheap and is good applicator.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
Well I havnt been able 2 start the new test yet. I got caught up at work a couple days and it's been pouring here anytime I get a chance. I'm guessing that would change since things since I would mostly be scoping up fresh rain water and not a true test of the standing water in there. I will most certainly post all the pictures and results I get.
I have a question or a thought or whatever you wanta call it. I was thinking since clay seems to be the problem with the suspension of it. When it does accumulate together and fall. Wont it help seal the pond at that point? If there is a leaking point. Wont it find the seep and help seal it? Kind of like a bathtub drain. If so would that help more people to be able to put bags of clay around the seep? I could be way off on this just trying to use my simple mind a little bit. If so any body need some clay i have some extra. The more ya take the deeper my pond gets lol.
Here is the latest test run. Starting Sept. 22nd it rained this morning (if it matters). I hope this can help a few people and myself out. DANG that's some dirty water. Whoever knows how to get this picture to pop up feel free to go ahead and do it. I'm doing good to get them on here. Thanks again for everyone's help throughout this little journey. If anyone has thoughts or ideas please feel free to let me and the forum know. Right wrong or in different.
I put 1 in a window and the other under a blanket. I m glad you think that's a good start because it looks terribly nasty to me. I got another jug to play with. Where can I find just a little bit of the gypsum at?
Don’t treat the two test jars with anything yet we need to determine natural settling process time (if they settle). If you want to play around with amendments use a 3rd jar. Local coop should be able to help you source gypsum.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
If I move these jars at all I seems to stir it up. How often should I move them to take a picture ? Can I put them next to each other and just cover 1 up or does it need to be out of the sunlight completely ? Sorry for all the questions but they can help the next person also.
Move them as little as possible, but what gets stirred up (a little bit anyhow) will settle pretty quickly and not skew the results significantly. Keeping light from the one jar is important...put them together and cover the one with a heavy black plastic bag, solid bucket, tin foil hat, or whatever to keep all the light out.
I can do that no problem. I will leave them next to each other so I don't have to move them. What does the light and darkness do different? I understand the light will go grow algae. Just curious if its a major thing to explain nobody has to bother.