When you think about a pond what image do you bring up? It is one of clear water where you can see down to the bottom and see fish swimming about. In an ideal scenario, that would be nice but in most cases that is not typically what you see.
Many homeowners complain about their ponds taking on a murky or cloudy look or having water filled with algae and they are looking for water management systems for their pond or lake hoping to achieve a bigger level of clarity.
What causes water to become murky in the first place? Let’s discuss how this happens and how you can improve your water clarity.
Related: How Do You Get Rid of Pond Muck Naturally?
What Causes Murky Pond Water?
When you look at or pond or lake does the water have a brown cloudy appearance? Does it have a smell? If so, you may have a problem with oxygenation. Proper oxygen levels are a must to keep a pond healthy.
There are several causes of oxygen depletion in water:
- Runoff – When agricultural or residential runoff gets into a body of water, its health can be greatly impacted. This is because of the added nutrients in the water, plants grow at a faster pace and deplete the oxygen supply. If you have fish in your pond, the lack of oxygen can kill the fish and the decomposition of plants and fish will make your pond smell.
- Poor Circulation – When you have a body of water that absorbs oxygen at the surface but it can’t reach the bottom because of stratification or circulation issues, the water can’t self-purify as it normally would. This can cause the water to become murky or take on a cloudy look.
- Algae Growth – Your pond or lake’s cloudiness may not be caused by sediment but rather algae. Planktonic algae can often cause water to appear murky. These tiny organisms can create large blooms on the water and can cover the surface giving it this cloudy look as well as creating an odor.
How to Make Your Pond Water Clear Again
To fix your pond or lake’s water clarity it will first depend on what is causing the murkiness. The fix could be just one solution or a combination depending on the circumstances.
- Circulation – If your water is lacking in circulation and you have a murky appearance. Adding a pond fountain or diffused aerator will help to circulate the oxygen in your body of water and help prevent problems of stratification. These systems work by moving water around which helps promote oxygen and prevents nutrients from building up in one place.
- Algae – Algae issues can have many solutions. You can use algaecides, mechanical devices, or other solutions to help reduce the buildup of algae that has accumulated in your pond or lake. Stocking your pond of certain fish species that eat algae can help reduce the growth as well.
- Maintenance – A maintenance plan with water filtration can help maintain your pond or lake and ensure the water is healthy all year long while keeping a clear appearance.
