Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Muddy water after the rain

Well, since the big rain almost 2 wks ago my full pond is still muddy. Any idea's on how long it might take to get back to where it was? It was clear about 12 to 15 inches down.

Has it cleared up any in the 2 weeks since the big rain? If it has cleared even slightly, it's an incication that it will continue to clear up.

If it cleared up originally without adding chemicals, it should clear up again. If you had to add alum or gypsum to clear it up orignally, you may have to add a little more.

Just wanted to add some info. wrt muddy water/gypsum application.

We just finished putting in a little over 10,000 lbs of gypsum in our 4 acre pond (about 253 bags at 40 lbs. each). The avg. depth of the pond is 9 ft., with the max depth being around 20 ft. Needless to say, we're anxiously awaiting the results! Our main method of application was to slowly spill the powdered gypsum into the prop wash from the trolling motor. Visibility as of application was about 2 inches with chocolate milk coloration. The visibility is so bad that a LMB cleared the water only to crash into the boat with a loud "THUNK!" when the motor vibration scared him out of his primrose hiding spot.

LMB, BG, RES, HSB, Fatheads, Rosies, and Gambusias all seem to be doing well, but more clarity should help things tremendously. Hopefully, once it is clearer, we can get a decent bloom.


What does everyone think of the application technique? The amount? Any other suggestions? Any ideas on how long that much gypsum in that amount of water should begin to take effect? We're planning on giving it about 3 weeks before we even start thinking about alum. We're aso counting on the gypsum to improve water quality. The water in the BG pond, which comes from a well, is nearly twice as hard as the water in the 4 acre pond, and the result is 13" visibility with a nice, green tint.

Thanks for any tips...this was my first gypsum application.

I was about to ask the same question on how much gypsum to use on my .25 acre pond and how long will it take to clear. Any thoughts?

Davatsa,

The way you add gypsum and especially alum is not important. If the pond water is "hungry" for it, it will dissolve and diffuse very quickly, even if you don't spread it carefully.

I made a baseball sized ball of alum and laid it in shallow water, and in 30 minutes, it was gone. I think gypsum would do the same, but take a lot longer.