Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Water chemistry Brown Water -> Lime -> Polymer -> Green Water

Newly renovated pond, clay bottom with water and soil pH around 6.

Put in several tons of ag lime, pH up into low 8's.

Put in half of recommended DamIt pond polymer sealant dosage (by Shalex) on Monday, and by today (Friday) visibility increased from 2in to 15in over 4 days and color changed from muddy brown to light gray, to light gray-green, to emerald green. Day temps have been up the last week or so, in the 80s.

It's beautiful.... but should I be concerned? From what I've read in other threads, it may be a consequence of the lime, with the polymer causing some mud to drop out of solution and allowing a more natural color to come through.

The polymer used here is a linear polymer - acts as a flocculant with suspended clay particles dropping them to pond basin.

Was the polymer used to help with clarity or as a sealer? I guess it does both?

This polymer product consists of only one type - linear - which is a floc. The only sealing achieved is through clay particles dropping to basin - it sometimes works, often it's not enough based on my experience with the single polymer solutions like ESS-13, DB 100 and this Aussie product. They lack the 1-2 punch of linear plus crosslink polymer to achieve seals, but it does work to settle turbid ponds at least temporarily. The key to clarifying turbidity is to discern the origin of the turbidity - ionic imbalance or mechanical. If one doesn't address the mechanical reasons [erosion, wind/wave action, crayfish/carp/bullhead] clarity achieved will be temporary.

Wow,what a change for the better.

TJ - thanks for the info! I assumed it was a linear polymer but couldn't find much detail on the website. Based on the little external info I was able to find on the product, I had limited expectations.

Jambi - my neighbor thinks that my pond is leaking about 150-200ft laterally about 5-15ft below ground level and making his backyard wet. Now, my pond has been here since the 50's or 60's and his yard didnt dry up when I had the pond pumped dry. But he was willing to throw money at it and there was no downside in my view. (His neighbor, who also lives on a steep slop down to the river, has the same issue, with clear water coming out under their foundation. That one thinks it may be a natural spring, after doing some testing)