Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Muddy water New pond scum/film accumulation.

Hi all!
New guy here, so please bear with me, I searched 18 pages and couldn't find anything relating to my problem.
I had a new 1/2 acre pond dug last fall which has only recently seen rain and started to fill up, it is approx 2/3 full now.
After little more than 2 weeks I started seeing what I assumed was an algae growth.
Withing a few days it went from a tinge to having a full surface of what appears to be algae and bubbles.
Is this a normal step in the life of a new pond?
I added 3 lbs. of fat head minnows to help with mosquito problem but they are the only fish in there so far.
I'm attempting to make a temporary fountain set up with an old sump pump to help aerate it, but I'm not sure if it will help or if that is even the problem.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated or any links to discussion on new ponds dealing with this stage would be great as well.
Thanks in advance!
Kevin R.

Welcome to the forum, Kevin.

Can you please post photos for us? This will enable us to identify your issue and recommend steps to address it.

Looking forward to working with you - and congrats on the new pond!

Thanks teejaeh 57.
I will take some today.
Do I have to create a photobucket acct. to send them?

Kevin, fountains do darn little re aeration.

I'm almost positive it is an algae bloom from all the nutrients released in the excavation of the soils. VERY normal for new ponds, normally it is a great home for macrophytes and other tiny critters that feed the small mouths on fingerlings stocked...it is really pretty beneficial now, just ugly as sin!

You could treat about 1/4 of the algae a week to lessen the ugly, but all at once could cause an oxygen crash in the sudden decay. It usually clears on it's own during rain storms and as temps change.

Sorry it took so long to get the pics.
Family matters arose.
Any way, here are a few pics of what I'm seeing and one of my Redneck engineering for a system to circulate some water.
20' long, made of PVC with a 1/2 hp sump pump on the end.
May not be pretty right now, but it's cheaper than a $1000 fountain pump in a pond that is going through it's first fill. LOL
Thanks Again Everybody.
Kevin

Appearing of algae in starting stage of pond is common and need to worry about it.
Enjoy your pond and have a good stock soon.

Thank you!
Although it now appears I may have bigger problems.
I expected some volume loss in a brand new pond from the ground around it soaking up some water but within 3 weeks or so, the level has dropped a few feet, not inches.
And of course the person I hired to do the work and who "ASSURED" me he would be there if any problems arose will no longer answer his phone or my emails, so this might all be a moot point.
Anybody in central Texas thinking about having a new pond dug out, be sure to stay away from Steve Frerich and Frerich Enterprises if you expect any type of service after the sale.