Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Muddy water SE OH: poor clarity, is bloom healthy plankton?

Hey, Hey ... looks like I finally figured out how to get photos uploaded here.

Thanks for your guidance and patience.

5/31/23 1030 AM The Secchi reading was still 12" clarity, pH 7.4, Total Alkalinity 60 ppm, Total Dissolved Solids 89 ppm, Electrical conductivity 178 um, and temperature from surface down to 10 ft is running 69-70 F.


5/29/23 6 pm
The Secchi Disk clarity was 5" before the ag lime, then alum/h. lime treatments. The clarity went to 15" but then decreased to 11-12" with this bloom.

I was shooting for at least 18" Secchi Disk clarity; should I treat with more alum and hydrated lime?

Is this a Phytoplankton / Zooplankton Bloom due to increased light?

The Nutrient levels always read "0" with the API phosphate, nitrate, ammonia titration tests.

It seems to be a healthy situation, except for the poor clarity and a less than desirable swimming situation.

The LMB and BG appear healthy and come up to feed on floating fish food and dried mealworms.
(I'm glad they are still in there. I couldn't see them when the pond was more muddy with less clarity.)


5/29/23 6 pm 2 gallon Jar samples collected


5/29/23 630 pm One jar - indirect light; one jar covered with a dark towel; left undisturbed.


5/31/23 1030 AM approximately 40.5 hours later; small amount of sediment settled on bottom of both jars but not much difference between jars except there are more moving critters in the sample on the left, the indirect light sample.


5/31/23 The appearance of the pond from the upper deck of the house. There is an aeration diffuser in the middle, positioned approximately 8 ft from the bottom at the central 11 ft depth. It is elevated to keep the back pressure on the linear diaphragm pump at ~3-3.5 psi.

( I have a linear diaphragm pump (not ideal) because of my limited off-grid solar electricity supply. It runs 24/7/365 and doesn't appear to be causing problems. The temperature is now running a consistent 69-70 F down to the bottom. There is also a DIY aeration soaker hose wrapped around a tire rim close to the shore to bleed off some of the air pressure.


5/30/23 This is a view from across the pond, the off-grid passive solar cabin and the solar modules. It was an undeveloped, forested site when I moved here 23 years ago. It has been quite the adventure and I love having the pond out front.


5/30/23 The view from the dock, across the pond toward the West. I live with gratitude and thanksgiving.


March 2023 prior to the administration of the 2nd 800 lbs of agricultural lime. The Secchi Disk clarity was down to 5" at this point.

The pond has been easy to maintain for most of its life. It became muddy with poor clarity a few years ago and I have been rather obsessed with slow and careful pond management processes for a long time.

I finally got to the point of adding 1600 lbs of agricultural lime, then later the 24 gallons liquid alum with hydrated dolomitic lime in two doses and I was hoping to be done with it for awhile.

I'm not surprised or concerned about the brown slime bloom, but I sense it probably still needs a full dose of alum with h. lime.

What do you think?

I appreciate all of the input that I have already received and look forward to reading your input as well.

Thank you.

Kathy in SE Ohio