Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Iron bubbling up

My 1 week old groundwater filled pond already has a red layer coating the bottom and edges. I gather it is not a health issue but still curious if there is a way to limit this, suppress it etc?
The pond was dug deep enough for groundwater to continually be refreshing the pond, this may be a significant issue at some point. Any ideas appreciated.
The ditch about 30' away is thick with the iron goop.

That sounds like serious problem to me. Is the red goop slimey in texture? Do you have any photos?

No it's not slimy. I will try to get photos soon. It is a scum all over the bottom. It's in a local trout bearing canal as well, but even the canal looks polluted.

Not necessarily a problem. I have iron deposits in my trout pond too and it doesn't hurt a thing. In fact what you may be looking at is iron bacteria working on the iron like in some toilet tanks. The iron bacteria actually feeds on the iron and breaks it down. There are actually some water treatment plants in Canada that use this bacteria to remove iron from their drinking water.

Any idea how many mg/l iron you have in your ground water?

Cecil Baird1 - My question about the slimy texture was related to iron bacteria.

Oh I know, but I don't think the iron bacteria in itself is a problem do you? My well pit that receives my well water before it dumps into the pond is loaded with it. But I welcome it as when it gets really going later in the year it seems to clear my pond water of iron somewhat. I believe it is consuming the iron both in the pit and the pond. Early in the year when the iron bacteria is not built up yet, my pond takes on a brownish cast. Howvever later when the bacteria is establised it becomes more of a smokey green which tell its a weaker iron solution. At least that is what I think although I could be all wet.