Sudden Cloudy Pond?

[n-e-w-land]

Hi,

My 1200 gallon koi pond has recently become really cloudy it all seemed to happen in a couple of days, the pump is not blocked and inside the filter there is a uv light so I don't really know whats causing the sudden cloudiness, Its a sort of a greenish colour and there is a lot of hair algae growing on the liner, would this possibly have anything to do with it. Its a real problem because before I could see the whole pond and it is 5ft deep. Now there is only about 1ft of visibility.

Thanks hope you can help

 

[nurglespuss]

Its probably an algal/bacterial bloom, because of the warm weather and so much sunlight being available. Do you have many plants in your pond btw?

 

[n-e-w-land]

Thanks, I have a few marginal plants including some water lilys and iris but not totally submersed plants. I would expect the UV to sort out an algae bloom? but like you said it could be a bacterial bloom. Should I try adding more plants, it is the hair algae i mentioned trapping detritus do you think?

 

[nurglespuss]

Could well be doing so, and although your using UV, alga and bacteria can still hang around (and bloom) unless your turn over is high?

I would either A. introduce some aquatic plants, and maybe some more floating plants (e.g. frogbit - although annoying outcompetes algae and bacteria very well). alo may wish to increase aeration too (and perhaps reduce feeding a little/use prtein porr foods until it clears up.

Generally though, unless it smells/causes gasping etc. dont worry about it too much

 

[n-e-w-land]

Ok thanks for your help I will try those ideas and let you know if it hasnt cleared up. Have you experienced this before with your pond, did it clear up?

 

[nurglespuss]

Yeah, periodically, usually later in summer, especially with raised ponds, or ponds with little vegitation

 

[MewMew42]

yeah usually it will clear up on its own =] many people have this problem at this time of year

also when was teh last time you changed teh uv? and do you use barley straw? [that is a natural way to help with algae etc]

 

[n-e-w-land]

Hi, Thanks guys. I changed the uv about a month ago. Hopefully it will clear up by itself. I was going to get a special chemical that gets rid of hair algae, would that be of benefit.

 

[nurglespuss]

Nah, unfortunately the claims made by the manufacturers don't really come true, plus the accumulated biomatter of the hair algae can be fairly heavy, resulting in strained/clogged equipment. You can try removing the hair algae by twizzle sticking (depending on how long it is) or by shading