Lite tea colored water

[Foxhillsdoggrooming]

Hello - I have an approximate 530 gal pond that the levels test all with in normal. Water is clear but has a lite tea color to it. I do fill from well water and am wondering if what I am seeing is residue from the well. Fish seem happy - filtration is working well. Have recently treated for some string algae on the waterfall. I have done everything the pond store has recommended but still have this coloration. Any suggestions?

 

[Waterbug]

Most commonly light tea colored water would be tannins. Tea produces tannins, but so do lots of other plants but generally in lesser amounts.

Normally minerals coming out of wells precipitate out of the water and coat rocks and such. It doesn't stay suspended in the water. But anything is possible.

Tannins are also DOC so you could try a foam fractionator. Google "pond foam fractionator" for more info. However that probably wouldn't work, depends on the tannin and how aggressive the fractionator is.

Pond forums most commonly suggest using activated carbon in various ways. It will in theory remove tannins but does have to be set up correctly and the proper amount.

Given the size of the pond I suggest water changes after you determine the cause and remove that. Sources would be dead leaves, decomposing matter on the bottom, potting soil, bark mulch blown into the pond, run off from the surrounding area.

 

[sissy]

pond stores are stores there to sell you stuff that usually does not work .Get your self some peroxide and spray the algae and save your self some money and save your fish from all those nasty chemicals .I use activated carbon in my filters a pound or 2 in each one and have been getting it from pet mountain at less than 5 dollars for 3 lbs. .Wish I could find it cheaper but so far no luck

 

[brandonsdad02]

Sissy...what ratio do you use the peroxide and how do you treat? Pour directly on the string algae, put in spray bottle, mix up in bucket then pour in?

 

[sissy]

I put it in a spray bottle and turn off my pump and spray wait about 10 to 15 minutes and brush any heavy stuff off with a toilet bowl brush and then turn pump back on .I don't have string algae but my neighbor did and i used that method for a month 2 times a week and now she is algae free to a point .You need some for taddies to eat .

 

[Wynteranne]

great tips ^^

 

[buckry]

What do you spray exactly? The only string algae I can see is attached to other plants. it collects on the roots of my hyacinths, on the leaves of my forget me nots, and on the stems of my lilies. I assume spraying my lilies with peroxide would be a no no. What I've been doing is just making a little current with my hand and swirling it towards my skimmer. It all breaks free then floats into the skimmer.

Actually, I don't know if that's string algae at all, it is super super delicate, if you try to touch it it breaks into a million pieces. Maybe that's something else. I assumed the true string algae would be long strings that were durable enough to touch.

 

[addy1]

What do you spray exactly? The only string algae I can see is attached to other plants. it collects on the roots of my hyacinths, on the leaves of my forget me nots, and on the stems of my lilies. I assume spraying my lilies with peroxide would be a no no. What I've been doing is just making a little current with my hand and swirling it towards my skimmer. It all breaks free then floats into the skimmer.

Actually, I don't know if that's string algae at all, it is super super delicate, if you try to touch it it breaks into a million pieces. Maybe that's something else. I assumed the true string algae would be long strings that were durable enough to touch.

string algae feels like string, you can pull it out without it breaking

 

[don't ask]

welcome
Foxhillsdoggrooming


welcome
Wynteranne

 

[buckry]

Ok, so the stuff I have is blanket algae then? It coats things that are underwater, especially things that are in the current flowing towards my skimmer, but if you sneeze on the pond, all of that algae breaks loose and depending on water temperature it either floats to the surface then towards the skimmer or it just sinks. I guess I don't have any string algae at all.

 

[j.w]

foxhillsdoggrooming

 

[Waterbug]

Blanket weed and string algae are common names for many different kinds algae. I think blanket weed may have come more from the end life cycle of string algae when it's dying and floating on the surface, it looks like a blanket. In science the general terms microalgae and macroalgae would be used to distinguish between small, generally single cell, algae and large multi cell algae.

 

[Foxhillsdoggrooming]

Thank you for all of the suggestions. I don't have any bark and there are no dead leaves. I did repot all of my plants last night as there could have been too much peat in the original potting soil. Will see what happens with the next few water changes. I am running the carbon thru the filter as well. May try the peroxide. Thanks again.

 

[addy1]

Peat drives your ph down, you might want to check your ph level. I use peat for my carnivorous bog, they love acidic dirt.

 

[Jerry In Maine]

my pond is about 600 gallons, and i have well water from 320' down in granite. a couple weeks ago i noticed a tan color to the water when the sun hit it just right. changing out a bit of the water and rinsing my filter media cleared it up. my pond is new, and during construction i got a bit of sand and crud in the water while moving the border rocks around to my liking and getting the waterfall built and i think the color was from very fine sediment. still have heavier desiment laying on the bottom and soon as the pond-vac i ordered gets here i hope to get that out.

check your filter media and see if you have any fine tan sediment. Rinse some of it with the hose and see if any tan water rinses out.