Doc

[ponderpaul]

They say foam is the results of DOC’s in your water. Have had to add quiet a bit of our city water to the pond over the past few days due to a leak – hmmmmmmmm

 

[addy1]

Don't drink the water! lol

 

[lotusfreak]

nice hyahacinths

 

[vertigo72]

They say foam is the results of DOC’s in your water. Have had to add quiet a bit of our city water to the pond over the past few days due to a leak – hmmmmmmmm

Yeah, its docs. I had the same issue, only a lot worse, particularly in the morning when the pond sometimes looked like a kitchensink where dishes where being washed. I built a foam fractionator to capture it. It collected several buckets full of foam the first few days, and now there is no more sign of foam in my pond, and the fractionator only produces a few cups each day. Here is how I did it:
https://www.gardenpondforum.com/white-foam-t8079.html

Not saying you need to build something like that, it may well go away by itself, but I figured even if it does nothing to remove DOCs, it still an excellent way to aerate the water.

 

[vertigo72]

Actually, I should have checked my pond before posting that. This morning I again saw some traces of foam on my pond and found the bucket underneath my fractionator thats completely overflown with foam, so much I couldnt see the bucket, as if someone emptied several polyurethane spray cans. The bucket itself almost half full with dark brown/green liquid from foam that liquified again. Wow. I guess I didnt get all DOCs yet lol.

Im not entirely sure whats causing it, but breaking down of algae by my UV is a top contender. It was really hot and sunny yesterday with thunderstorms at night. It also seems to be worse after rain or when the weather cools, but I cant see a real pattern yet.

 

[hammer1320]

Im getting tons of foam, to the point where it looks like someone dumped bubbles into the pond. I do not have a UV, so I have no idea what is making it. It is a new pond however, I finished the 150 gallon stock tank filter on saturday night but the pond has been filled since mid May.

I do believe it gets worse when the sun goes down and the water starts to cool. By morning time it is at its peak. I have some CrystalClear Foam-B-Gone, but I am not sure about adding it on such a new bio system???

 

[addy1]

Sounds like you have some docs as they call them, maybe put in some quilt batting to get rid of the fine stuff. Might help.

 

[j.w]

Batting doing it's job. Had to take a piece of metal as it was all I could find off hand to extend the flow into the batting.
The metal is starting to rust. Will this be ok to use for short term or will it harm the fish?
DH can take a piece of stainless steel eventually and make a piece for me when I have the batting container in the pond.

 

[ponderpaul]

With the leak stopped and adding very little city water it has mostly cleared up
vertigo72; looked at your pics - know just what you mean about the scum/salvia - don't need a pic.
Blessings to all of you:biggrinangelA:

 

[fishin4cars]

JW, metal can be very dangerous to fish. rust is the metal oxidizing and releasing the actual metal into the water which can cause all kinds of serious issues. some quick and cheap alternatives you can use until you find something more permanent. Slate would work great and not need to be replaced, Plexiglass, will cover with algae but not release anything in the pond, a side of a bucket or plastic pot will work for temporary, a piece of glass will also work but use with caution as the edges and corners could be sharp and if it falls in the pond & could cut the liner, Hope these ideas help, I would get the metal out as soon as you can. also if possible and you have some, add some carbon or activated charcoal in with the batting, this will help remove some of the metals back out of the water that have already been released.

 

[j.w]

Yikes didn't realize it would be that bad for a short time but I will find something else right away and I do have left over carbon from my aquarium I can put in there........thanks fishin

 

[fishin4cars]

Your quite welcome JW!

 

[addy1]

Do you have a old plastic dish drainer pan? that would work

 

[fishin4cars]

I just got back from a stop at the dollar store, I found some plastic strainers for $1 I got to looking at them and grabbed three, Figured I could use them for putting batting material in and flowing it through it at the big water fall and the others could be used for pots for some of the plants.
Addy that's a good idea, I was trying to think of something like that that could be swapped out easily and that didn't even cross my mind but yes it would work good.

 

[j.w]

Went out right after reading your post about the metal being bad fishin and cut a black old plastic garden pot into a flatish sort of piece and stuck it under the lip of the waterfall and it works fine. Man that piece of metal I had was really starting to rust especially underneath where I couldn't see it. I put a bag of carbon in with the batting so hopefully my fish won't show any bad results from the iron. I also hooked a hose up to an old pump I had and just let the water flow into the pond at a bit of a drop cuz the fish missed the other waterfall that is now going into the batting. They love it and are all congregating underneath it
addy if I would have had an old dish drainer I would have used it but I didn't even see your post til just now so all is well anyways and thanks for that info. I'll keep that in mind when I'm out garage saleing