Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Muddy water My Black Lagoon

Hello there!
Im new to Pond Boss, got the hint from the TFF that this was the place to come to. Heres my delima...

Its about 60ft across, 8ft deepish. What can I do to help clear it up. It has TONS of little shiners and feeder fish. A few bass, a few cats and endless bluegill n sunfush. Will Tilapias help? Or will they just eat all the feeder fish? What about a stand alone pump? Ducks...bring 'em in or keep 'em away? Hydrilla? Any ideas???

Thank you in advance!

Hi Joseph, I'm glad you decided to join Pond Boss. I don't know enough to advise you on this but others will get around to it. Sometimes it takes longer on the weekends.

Hi, Joseph!

Have you done a bucket test on the water? Put some of the muddy water in a bucket or jar and see if the mud settles out on it's own in a couple-three days. This will let you know if the mud is being suspended my mechanical agitation (like by fish stirring up the bottom) or if it is chemically suspended (which might improve with alum, lime, etc.).

What are the size and condition (skinny? fat? optimally, give weight and length of specimens) of the bass, cats, and sunfish? And most importantly, what are your goals for the pond other than clearer water? Bigger bass, big bream, swimming hole with clearest possible water, ???

Tilapia would not eat small fish much (possibly some fry), but may not be what you want depending on your goals.

P.S. If you ever want to change signature photos, may I suggest:

There we go. Now we are gettin somewhere. We have caught a few young under a pound large mouths. They look healthy. Just over a year ago my brother in-law caught a decent 3-4 lbs largemouth, very healthy and girthy. I pulled some of the feeder fish out and could ID shiners and minnows. There are turtles, frogs etc. The surrounding mud is looking a little stagnent. I guess my goal is to have the pond cleaner and clearer. I dont think we will ever use it as a swimming hole. But as far as a fishery I just want it to be a healthy environment for happy healthy fish that we catch and release. The cats were transplanted by a buddy who caught them at the local lake. I think the rains washed alot of mudd in aswell, but it has always looked dingy and stagnent.

Keep the ducks out as much as possible. They make a real mess.

I wouldn't think that you would have hydrilla with that little sunlight penetration. Do you? If you don't, I wouldn't want it. It can get very invasive.

How is the clarity of other ponds in the area?

Do the jar test like Theo says. That's step one.