Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat How to avoid the murkiness?

I have dug a 1/2 acre pond and await a liner. I have some clay and some gravelly soil which could be used to cover the liner. I think clay is better for general pond health, yes? But I think it would lead to murkier water. Any ideas on avoiding the murkiness that I could implement BEFORE filling the pond with water?
Thanks.

Hi Marty,

I don't understand why you are putting a liner in a ½ acre pond unless you think it will leak. The very small back yard ponds usually have liners so the water can be kept very clear and filters are used to clean the water. On a larger clay type bottom pond submerged aquatic weeds can help keep the water clear by using up nutrients along with plants like Lilies to help shade and cool the water so less filamentous algae (rug mat algae) and algae bloom ( a pea green soup looking algae grow). I use certain types of carp to control algae. Too many will muddy the water and too few will not get the algae under control. Putting clay on top of a liner seems to be canceling out what you might want in a pond. What are you going to use your pond for. Swimming, fishing, both? It get kind of complicated and their are different ways to go at this, but it takes managing your pond.

John

Owing to porous soils, man-made liners are getting quite popular in this part of the world. I've done a fair amount of work with a liner distributor in Houston.

When animals with hooves are likely to frequent the pond (livestock, deer), he insists on a layer of 10-to-12 inches of soil on top of the liner. This protective "coat" may be comprised of any fine-grain soil available.

With ANY exposed soil on top of a liner, there is some possibility of resulting turbidity. But this may be reduced by placing fish structure (tree limbs and such) or roundish, washed gravel on top of the coat.

Mark McDonald
Editor, Pond Boss