Details of filter in earlier post, above. Your pond has a natural system of water … If so, my guess is that your pond already has a huge quantity of biological filtration (natural bacteria) present throughout the whole system due to its size and maturity. ). Organic debris which falls into a pond will eventually decompose  as sludge and leak color, called “tannin“, which will make your pond a yellow brown color. For lightly stocked ponds with small fish, they’re an interesting alternative to normal filtration that can help with water quality and provide a more natural feel to the pond. Historically both rudd & tench have bred in it – I worry now that it is so clean and clear will this hinder the fish breeding (they must feel very exposed now!)? This is a more natural type of filter which works by slowly pumping water through a concentrated section of plants, which will work to absorb substances as the water passes through. String Algae Control sold by Oase (£19.99 for 500ml) releases an enzyme to zap the algae. As well as this, water from our mains supply has high levels of both chlorine and chloramine – both of which are highly toxic to aquatic life. Large Ponds. Adding pond plants is one of the best long-term ways to keep pond water healthy and clear; and the more you can add, the better! Fortunately you can solve this problem easily. With that said, filters make it an easy and mostly hands-off process to keep your ponds water quality in tip-top shape. Pond plants are one of the best ways to naturally filter your pond! And even though there are some steps you can take to help break down the waste that is somewhat hands-off, which we’ll get to below, you’ll still be doing considerably more manual removal than if you were to use a filter. I’d say the system is good, but just be sure to keep a close eye on your water quality parameters over a 6-12 month period and note any potential problems with pH or water quality; and adjust accordingly. Should I remove the surface plants once they begin to die after the frost? In addition, whether or not your fish can survive outdoors for the winter depends on their species. The 5 steps above will help you maintain a clean and clear pond without using a filter system. The water is very clear but its probably not the best quality we never do water tests and the water doesnt really ever get changed. If you have a filter, they’d quickly populate the highly optimized filter media to easily breakdown substances that pass through so cleaner water goes back into the pond. Since doing this, I’ve been able to avoid algae growth in my ponds, and keep the water clear. The media package consists of: Bay 1: Eighteen 16″ long x 8″ diametre polypropylene filter brushes – They are of a semi-rigid construction with a wire loop at the end for easy cleaning. For prevention, we recommend installing a high quality pond net which will help catch fallen leaves and twigs before they can sink in the pond and contribute to sludge. Also I’d be happy to help if you would like to report results at a later date! Muddy water becomes clear with just a few household items The most common causes of drops in clarity are excess debris, algae bloom, excess nutrients, tannin, or even sediment leaking into the pond. Since pond water is packed with nutrients, we feel it’s a waste to simply put the water down the drain, so if you can you should use it for watering your garden plants as it acts as a great fertilizer! Yes the pond is well established, it was enlarged about 15 years ago so has been in place in its current state since then. And because pond water is so nutrient-dense, you can use it as a natural fertilizer by draining it into your garden or around bushes and trees. For preventative maintenance, placing pond netting over your pond to help catch any debris before it hits the water is an effective way to keep your water clean and to stop debris from contributing to your pond’s sludge problem. I try to keep on top of comments a few times a week, but it’s been a busy end of season for me, so I’ve been a little slow on the website side of things! Answered both your posts in the previous comment. Even though they’re very efficient in natural wildlife ponds, they’re not always the best choice for ponds with fish. Beneficial bacteria which are at the heart of a ponds biological filtration system require large amounts of oxygen to function efficiently. Basically, this type of “good” bacteria is responsible for breaking down ammonia, nitrites, and other harmful substances into nitrates which are consumed by aquatic plants. Considerations When Choosing a Filter. I hope it helps! No problems? It sounds like you have a wonderful natural ecosystem going! Is using a beneficial bacteria product absolutely necessary? So, here’s how to keep pond water clear naturally and without using a filter. 6 ft. long and 3ft deep) from a friend who no longer wanted the upkeep and installed it on my heavily wooded property in late spring (in a mostly shaded area). 7. Though the article mentions koi, many of these fungal ailments affect goldfish as well, and the treatment options will work just the same. Keeping Ponds Clean Without Filters – Is it Possible? If your water quality was good before adding the filter, and the filter is mostly just improving clarity now, I think turning it off for winter is perfectly fine. If you have goldfish in your filterless pond, adding aeration is even more important, as they’ll be competing with beneficial bacteria for dissolved oxygen on a daily basis. To perform a water change, you are essentially replacing up to 25 to 30% of your pond's water by volume (use our pond calculator to figure out the volume of your pond). Most ponds have few stones and few plants reducing the number of micro-organisms even further. Stocking guidelines may differ slightly per individual species. My pond I’d about 6ft x 5ft and have a lot of fish (they keep spawning and producing more babies) and not sure what I can do about that, But my pond has started to lose water so I have turned off the pump to investigate and I was wondering how long would it be safe without the pump and filtration system on., just to add to the problem I’m going away for 3 days, any advice would be very helpful. Add a couple inches of fresh water and keep the bottom clean. Let me know if you have any other questions! Have just installed a big koi type filter…it works superbly, water much clearer, BUT cleaning the filter is needed every couple of weeks as it catches so much gunk. What kind of fish are you looking to keep? The water inside will quickly become stagnant and low in oxygen, which will result in all good bacteria (aerobic – oxygen using) dying off anyway, and come spring, it’ll start smelling due to an increase in bacteria that thrive in poor conditions (anaerobic – carbon dioxide using). As waste levels are so much higher with fish, and due to the enclosed nature of a pond, it’s often very difficult to maintain a balance without the help of a filter box. When performing water changes we always recommend de-chlorinating water before adding to the pond system, with the easiest methods being activated carbon hose attachments or de-chlorination treatments. Our tips will work for those of you who have liner ecosystem ponds. Ideally, large ponds contain a variety of plant and animal life that can help keep algae in check, but you might need to take steps to prevent murky water. The unit is suitable for fish ponds of 18,000 litres and a maximum flow rate of 11,000 litres per hour. Be sure to closely follow the instructions on the product label, no matter what you decide to get! Here are some helpful products: The Aquasphere float is a biodegradable ball in your pond that will keep algae in check for 30 days.. Could I ask, was the pond around a long time before you added the filter system? However, you can skim it out with a net like you mentioned as well! I can’t say how reliable the PondHero is, but Oase vacuums are always a safe best in my book. For plant choices, we recommend a mix of submerged species, floating, and marginal varieties. It is vital to clean away solid fish waste, uneaten food, algae, dead fish and rotting plants as they can all release ammonia into the water. I dont have a lot of money but bought a second hand 160 x 160 fibreglass pond. Thankfully, there are many natural methods you can employ to keep your pond clean. Water quality is less of a concern in winter as fish produce less waste, they browse much less, and decomposition of organic material slows. You could add supplements to speed this up, but I don’t think it’s necessary in such a mature pond, but adding more never hurts either! In terms of off-the-shelf aerators, this Blagdon model was one of the best I could find (up to 11,000 liters with fish – which isn’t bad!) Although filter boxes can help with water clarity, their primary goal is maintaining good water quality by reducing harmful substances. Sludge won’t make water dirty by itself, and a small amount can actually promote cleaner water, but you should still keep on top of it at least every few months to ensure your pond is free of algae, has good levels of oxygen, and beneficial bacteria are not overwhelmed. can really alter water quality more quickly than one might think. THANK YOU! I have a filter but with a recent power outage, I was not happy with my pond's coloring--my fish survived, but the pond is directly under the sun and turned a lovely shade of green. ‘Tho I guess that if a ‘smaller’ aerator is working in the deeper part of the pond where the fish will congregate anyway in the winter that that will suffice. The easiest way to remove pond sludge and debris is to suck it up with a pond vacuum. Bacteria love to grow on your biological filter media, pond liner, landscape rocks, and pond plants, so be sure to have ample amounts of all of them to allow your beneficial bacteria levels to flourish. Obviously plants, wildlife and fish all require some muck to survive, but simply cleaning a small area around the filter and pump may be all that’s needed to prevent major clogging. And do you know of/have views on the ‘PondHero Sludge Muncher 1400W’ one? The presence of a fungal infection tells me that you likely need to monitor your water quality more closely, and I would urge you to perform weekly water changes of 15-25% to maintain healthy water quality, particularly since the pond gets cleaned once per year. The fish have been in good health apart from about 2 to 3 years ago when rudd started dying: I then had it drained and we scooped out a lot of sludge and started again, and then 3 months ago had a big clean up removing much sludge and lots of hornwort (without draining it fully) and put in the filter, since when the water clarity has improved from completely murky to very clear. If the plants are perennial, you can simply trim them down to a few inches below the water’s surface, this way they can overwinter more easily and should be able to simply resprout the following spring. Just be sure to wait until the sealer is 100% dry before adding water, as most are toxic in liquid form to both plants and fish. No matter how large or how few fish live in them, ponds can get dirty quickly. Could I switch the filter off between October & April if I add in bacteria when I re-start it? My only advice would be to also consider a concrete sealer, such as “G4 Pond Sealer”, which will provide a protective outer layer to prevent potential leeching or deterioration. It’s wonderful to hear feedback from readers . After a few weeks of having a new pond bacteria will begin to naturally colonize the pond, usually living on the pond liner and throughout the bottom muck that slowly builds. However, keeping it clean can seem like a challenge — especially if you’re used to using pumps, filters, and chemicals. A bit of bottom sludge is good for a pond as it acts as a natural fertilizer, but too much can cause water clarity problems, so we recommend cleaning out a layer of sludge at least once a year to combat this. And should I treat the whole pond with it? I actually thought some of these might have been available in the UK (I could have sworn I saw them somewhere! Barley straw is another preventative measure to consider, as it may help prevent the growth of new algae in ponds. I have various questions, all to see if I can cut down on the gunk & need for so much filter-cleaning. Powerful aerators are even better, as they will keep the top ice free and directly oxygenate the water. Clicking this link to make it an ideal world how to keep pond water clear without a filter pond filters would never to! 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