Asked By: Mike, Baldwin, WI
A: Frustrating, isn't it? During the summer when it's warm and inviting outside by the pond, the water looks cloudy; when it's too cold to enjoy the outdoor scenery, the water appears crystal clear. What's the deal? Let's look below the water's surface to see what happens during the two seasons.
Murky Summer
A lot happens in your pond during the warmer months. Fish are actively feeding and creating waste. Pond critters, like turtles and frogs, are digging around in the mud and stirring up muck at the bottom of the pond. Rainstorms wash sediment into the pond along with fertilizer residue – which provides fuel to algae and pond weeds growing prolifically in the summer sun. With all that activity, it's no wonder the water looks cloudy!
Clear Winter
During the winter, however, activity slows. As your fish's' metabolism decreases, they fast and hibernate through the cold season. Turtles, frogs and other pond residents reduce their movement, too, which allows the muck and sediment to settle at the bottom. Ice and snow cover the pond, limiting water movement and blocking sunlight. Algae still grows, but at a much slower rate. As everything settles and slows down, the water clears.
Extending Winter
If you want that crystal clear water all year long, follow this three-step formula, particularly as the days get longer and spring warmth thaws the ice:
- Feed Your Bacteria: First, be sure to add some bacteria enhancer, like EcoBoost PRx, to the water. It binds suspended organics, provides trace minerals to fish and other pond dwellers, and helps break down fertilizers from rain runoff. It has no temperature restrictions, so you can use it throughout the seasons.
- Shield the Sun's Rays: Next, pour some Pond Dye in the water. The color reduces the amount of rays that into the pond. Like EcoBoost PRx, Pond Dye has no temperature restrictions, so you can use it throughout the season.
- Add Oxygen: Aeration is the final – and most important – step in maintaining clean, clear water. By aerating your pond from the bottom up, you will circulate the water, improve the dissolved oxygen levels in your water column, and allow for increased levels of beneficial bacteria to accumulate in your pond.