Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations clearing the water

I am a newbee here and I have a dumb question. Been watching this sight for a while now. I believe there is a lot of info to have from this forum.
Here goes:
Recently dammed up a gulley. Good Lord sent some rain. have about 6 feet of water, when full it will have about 20 feet and about 2/3 acre of surface.Of corse the water is verry muddy now (clay). I placed a glass full of it on top of the fridge about a week ago... It is not clearing up or settling at all. I have read about the use of gypsum to clear the water.....Why cain't I grind up some sheet rock and blow it in the mud hole to clear it up?

Long term goal is a FEW bass and plenty of pan fish for the table. This time next year, Lord willing, The gulley next to this one will be damed up, ponds will be connected with the first spillway, to at least double the water capacity.

thank you

virgil,

I think sheet rock is ok as long as you use the standard type (as opposed to the rock designed for wet area)...try some in your jar test.

Gator

PS welcome to PB. Others will be able to provide some more comments.

virgil :

Welcome to the PB forum. Glad you joined us. Many times it takes a while for new ponds to settle out and 4-6 mths is a good ball park. In making the pond was the surface dirt exposed or did you just dam the gulley ? What is the watershed like ( dirt , grass trees)? Have you had the pond dirt tested to see its characteristics like acid or base, nitrogen, potassium and others ? If your alkalinity is not high lime will sometimes aid in clearing the water. Gypsum will also work but I think there are several types of sheet rock and some work better. I will try to find the link to the prior post and add it for you to read. I think I would wait a while for the pond to fill and in the meantime find out about the dirt and test what will work on a sample before I spent the money .

http://www.pondboss.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=16;t=000064

http://www.pondboss.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=16;t=000049

First and foremost I want to welcome you to the forum.

Sheetrock does have some disadvantages as ewest linked to above. Often times the manufacturers use fiberglass shavings and other unwanted materiels that you do not want added to your pond.
Another approach for you might be the addition of aluminum sulphate. Around 5 lbs to the acre usually does the trick. When used in a greater quantity it could drastically change your pH levels, but in moderation it should do the trick.
I know Condello has worked with this product so maybe he can enlighten you further.

Good luck!

OK, thanks for the answers.
Sound like I need to wate a few months for the water to clear.
No soil test or water test have been preformed yet. other tanks around me are holding, some are clear, some stay muddy.
Water shed is about 30 acres. I have scared about 3 acres of the watershed sloping and sculpting the ground and covering up stuff like shingles, washers, dryers, trash. Former owner would allow dumping in this gulley for "a fee". On the scared area there is a small amount of top soil but about 99% red and white clay. (is there such a thing as "top soil" in Texas?)

The entire scared area and dam has been heavily seeded. a few bales of hay and piles of sticks have been placed for "buffer zones" to slow erosion due to the rain that will come...someday

Bucket test of the red and white clay resulted in holding water -- I guess forever. the water would evaporate long before it got wet at the bottem.

Gee whiz, if it takes 6 months to clear the water, The mosquitoes will carry the wife and I away. How about some minnows and pan fish this spring to hold the mosquitoes down?

I would wait a few months, get some grass growing on disturbed soils, and see what happens. Go ahead and stock fathead minnows and bluegill now. It's safe to do that. If, next summer, your pond is still muddy, then think about gypsum or alum.

Welcome to the forum and the semi arid parker county. Follow Bob's advice. If and when you need to add chemicals they can be purchased locally. I have used gypsum and alum both to clear clay particles. Post back if the pond does not clear for amount to use. Be sure to get the magazine it's great.

The only way to have only a few bass is to cull like mad. Are you sure you wouldn't rather have some catfish? They are much more manageable in a small pond. Cats and BG go together like peanut butter and jelly in a small pond.

Got the magazine first of the year and eagerly awating the next issue.

Will consider whisker-kittys

Shaved of a very small amount of sheetrock in the jar of mud that has been setting on the fridge... WOW it cleared it up overnight.

Have a lot of grass just now sprouting.

Thanks for the help guys