Need help for my green, but, now empty pond...with NO filter

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

I know there have been many discussions here on
green water and algae, but, I cannot find anything that fits our specific
situation. We live in Tucson and had a pond constructed with a large yard
project less than a year ago. The
water has turned green, not such a big deal until we returned from a two week
trip. The pond became covered in “fluffy”
like cotton balls of algae. It was all
the way down the stream bed or fall section and, I couldn’t see into the pond
area. There was even algae hanging where
the water cascades down into the pond; kind of like algae ice sickles. It was gross.
So, I called the installer and asked a couple of questions and found
that he had not installed a filter. NO
filter. That sounds like a problem to
me. I have read and was assured by him
that it wasn’t, as long as I create the right kind of pond. One of my 5 goldfish, about 10” long
died. So, I scooped the remaining fish
out, put them in a large Rubbermaid container and am filter it and changing
water etc. I emptied out the pond
figuring I would have to start over and somehow get a filter in there, not sure
if I can do “the right kind of pond”. There was a pump box and inside that it looks
like he had a bunch of bio type balls.
There was a filter in the top of the box – totally gross now though as I
had no clue it was there.

I am wondering if anyone has any ideas on what
I should do to have a healthy and as low maintenance of a pond as
possible. I purchased a bunch of shade
cloth as I know the sun on a large portion of the pond for a good part of the
day is ideal for the growth of algae.

First photo is of entire falls and pond the “stream”
is ~10’ long & 3.5 wide at bottom where it falls into pond. Top of stream where first pipe comes out is
~2.33’ wide.

Second photo just shows the two pipes coming
into the stream from the pond pump with no filters or way of creating one that
I can see.

Third photo is just the pump. It was in a box that had a bunch of what I
think were bio balls and a filter on the top.
I will replace that with whatever is suggested that will work the best.

Thanks in advance!!! Let me know if you would like any
clarification on anything!!!!

Featured Answer

tropicbreezent

10 years ago

You'll need to upload the photos from your computer onto this site. At the bottom of the comments box there's a button labelled "Photo". Click on that and navigate to where the photos are stored on your computer.

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Comments (6)

jodeesiff
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
I couldn't figure out how to post photos and found a post explaining how to do it this way. Not ideal, but, the best I could do. Here are my photos - I also tried to edit the original post, but, the "edit" button was not there.
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chas045
10 years ago
If I understand correctly, you may have a stream that falls into your pond. I have that. You probably didn't stumble into my posts, but I believe that my stream, or the huge masses of roots in that stream, are my filter, and water has always been clear. I do get bunches of string algae, but it is easy to pull out when I feel like it. If you do have a stream, just make sure that you have a bunch of plants growing in it.

You said something about balls and that is probably a filter of sorts. I would guess that the cruded up box on top of the pump is actually a skimmer that hasn't been emptied for a year. I don't have one, but I bet that leaves and crud are supposed to be emptied out every couple of days!

Pics should be easy. I tend to be lazy and move a pic or two to the desktop and then in gardenweb site, click the link and select those pics; you're done.
jodeesiff
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks so much for your reply. It seems as though you have "the right kind of pond" I would love to do that! Just want to make sure it is not super labor intensive. So, if my stream is not very deep, what plants would you suggest I plant and how many plants would be needed? We live in Tucson and the pond portion does get a lot of sun, would you suggest shade cloth? I estimate that the pond is only about 210 - 250 gal. Regarding the pump, do you think it is wise to continue with bio balls in a pump box and to put a filter in there that I continually clean. As long as I know it is there, I have no problem doing that. Are the two PVC pipes that bring water up to the stream OK with nothing on them? Seem like crud would get in there too and possibly stop things up. Maybe I should put some filtering material in the top or a "screen" over the opening? Thanks again for your reply. I will look up your other post in a minute :)
chas045
10 years ago
It might or might not be labor intensive. Mine isn't, but I am still having a hard time following your pond layout. That first picture makes me think part of that long area is a stream, but I can't really interpret which way (if any) that water would be running. I don't actually see a pump or a box anywhere. I just see some disconnected pipes and an odd sideways funnel like thing that may direct water perhaps for a more directed narrow fall.

My stream is in partial shade so my plant selection includes lots of shade plants but it also includes Sweet Flag that I believe is happy (perhaps happier being from the middle east) in sun. It makes huge mats of roots. The issue is actually keeping it under control.
jodeesiff
Original Author
10 years ago
Yeah, I know the photo is not spectacular - it is a 10' stream that flows into a pond that holds about 250 gal. of water. That black thing in the second photo is the pump outside of the pump box as I am cleaning it- it is still hooked up to the PVC which pulls the water into the stream/falls area. There is a small drain PVC ( I don't think you can see it in the photo) sticking out near the bottom. the other smaller pipes are the float that activates the auto fill. Since we are in USDA zone 9a or sunset climate zone 12, I suspect the sweet flag may thrive (a little too well) here :) Thanks so much for your advice, I will do some research on the best water plants for our area and see how sweet flag will do here.