New Garden Pond Part 2

[tearinghair]

About a month ago I asked for advice on replacing our old garden pond. Thank you again for your help; I've now got the new one in (I decided on pre-formed in the end) and yesterday we added the water. Within a couple of hours a newt and two frogs had moved in. My problem now is that the water is a little cloudy, and according to the book I won't be able to add plants until at least April. Is there anything I can do to clear the water before then, bearing in mind that there will soon be a lot more frogs in it so I certainly don't want to be using chemicals? There are no plans for any fish, just waterlilies and marginals eventually.

[EcclesCake]

From where did you fill the pond? If it was natural water from a butt it might be natural perturbation of matter and will settle over the next day or two.

[murraymints]

Do you have a pump / filter to circulate and clean water..?

[tearinghair]

From a hose attached to the tap water supply, EcclesCake. Our water is hard and fairly highly chlorinated.

[tearinghair]

No pump, murraymints, and I don't really want to do the digging that would be involved in installing one.

[The Builder]

A couple of handfuls of barley straw helps keep a pond clear (not wheat straw).

[snags]

I'd leave it alone for now. You only filled it yesterday! It's a new pond: give it a chance to sort itself out/find it's own balance first.

[tearinghair]

I admit to being a bit impatient, snags; it's been a big project for me to cope with and I want to see results instantly! But yes, that makes a lot of sense. Where would I get hold of barley straw, The Builder? Would a garden centre have it (and would mice be tempted to nest in it if I had to buy a large bag?)

[SlackAlice]

You just got to let it settle down and become 'aged'. The chlorine will disperse after a short period. You could add barleystraw to push the process along a bit, and when the weather warms a bit add a few clumps of submerged oxygenator plant.

Lilies and fast moving splashing water from a pump do not mix.

You can then choose your plants later and go from there.
Whats the capacity of the pond?

[The Builder]

It takes a few weeks to work, but that should take you up to planting time.

I'm afraid I get it from the farm next door. Sorry, I don't know who else would have it :o(

[tearinghair]

Quite small, SlackAlice; 250 litres I think.

[tearinghair]

I just googled barley straw, and apparently it's available in pet stores. Thanks you all for your advice once again; I'll try to be patient but may get some straw to help the process along. looking forward to buying some waterlilies in the spring.

[Zeuhl]

Any aquatics centre/pond-stuff store sells packaged barley straw, often supplied in a netting bag that contains it in the water.

[Ratty2E]

It is best to let nature take it's course, but in the mean time you could try this.
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation
I use it every spring to bump start the natural bacteria cycle. I have 6 x 10 year old koi plus visiting frogs and it does them no harm.

[tearinghair]

Thanks again everyone.

[Chipchopper]

As you'r pond is brand spanking new, I think algae is unlikely and I would guess that it's sediment that's clouding the water, which seems to take ages to settle.

I always get impatient when making a new pond, and what I found did the trick to speed things up bit was to get a bucket or two of water from a mature pond, that you know to be healthy, it's surprising haw quick it starts to mature after this!

[RiskyBiscuit]

The barley straw works well. I usually stuff it into an old pair of tights and sink it to the bottom of the pond. It helps keep algal blooms down.

As others have stated it will take a week or two for the water to settle naturally.

You could also try a few bunches of Canadian pond weed to help keep it oxygenated. These should be available from your local aquatics center or pet shop.

Good luck!

[SlackAlice]

Canadian pondweed (elodea canadensis) can be a bit invasive, try using Elodea Crispa instead, also available at Aquaria shops.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

How about something like this?
It worked wonders on my pond and I'm sure it was larger than yours.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/9V-SOLAR-PANEL-POWERED-FOUNTAIN-POOL-POND-WATER-PUMP-GARDEN-PLANT-WATERING-150CM-/170868311966?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PondsWaterFeatures_UK&hash=item27c88b879e

[Chipchopper]

Thinking back, I remember a product that may help with your pond, which is basically a natural calcium carbonate product, under the trade name 'Siltex'.

It initially will cloud the water, but sinks fast and takes particles down with it to the bottom of the pond

If you want to see how it works I will attempt to supply a link to a website :-
www.essex-aquatics.co.uk/Siltex

[hammerman]

Please don't go throwing anything in yet. Ponds can take up to 5 years to settle down, once you get some plants, marginals and lillies in there (if it's big enough), you will start to get a good balance. The plants will remove nitrates and phosphates produced by the fish and the lillies will give enough surface cover to stop the water going too green.

Your pond will probably go through several phases...you'll get the "pea soup" effect of green water as the day lengths increase and the sun gets warmer. Blanket weed is another pain too. Whatever you do....don't go flushing the pond through with the hosepipe...all the nasties in the tap water will feed the green water and blanket weed. Instead, try to just see it through and get the balance between sunlight, fish, plants and nutrients right. Of course you won't know this is happening until you get there but eventually, you'll have a lovely, thriving pond with gin clear water.

if you don't want fish....maybe to keep the balance right you can add half a dozen sticklebacks. fascinating little fish that just keep things ticking along....and you wont even know they're there.

Good luck