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Does green water matter if you don't keep fish?

Glenda Steel

Member
Joined
2 Jul 2014
Messages
154
Location
Lincolnshire England
We have recently built a small pond (180cm x 130cm x 50cms deep - 635 litres) which we originally intended to be a simple reflection pool (dark still water not too deep), we now have added a small fountain for ambient noise (and keep gnats and mosquitoes at bay). It's a modern rectangle (black) surrounded by a pale straight cut edging stone (inspired by the Hempel hotel gardens http://www.amazonproperty.com/hempel-hotel.html) and intended as a focal point near the patio.

We have a rainwater harvester so used this untreated water to fill it. The fountain (a foaming geyser head on very low and localised) is a simple Bermuda 2000 Pond Pump (Max flow rate at 2m: 813 litres per hour). We have added the following plants: Nymphaea Gonnere x 1, Schizostylis Coccinea Alba x 2, Zantedeschia aethiopica x 1, Stratiotes Aloides x2 and some floating oxygenators (Not sure which). We would like to add more plants when we find them (Aponogeton Distachyos and Iris Ensata Apollo).

The pond has been set up now for 1 week and the water is now a pale green. I did add some Tropica Specialised I had left over from the aquarium would that have done it? As we're not going to be keeping any fish does this green water matter (I really like the colour!!!) and if yes what can I do (preferably without having to buy huge amounts of equipment)? The plants seem to be doing well despite this!
 
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You can keep fish even with green water. It's possibly ammonium salts in the fert that would have caused a bloom with high light.

If you want to rid of it, then you can either wait it out a little say a few weeks or install a UV sterilizer.

Any pics?
 
As rebel said completely harmless. It's great food for daphnia and fish fry. Many breeders induce it to feed fry.

Just a bit unsightly is all. In ponds it comes and goes when it's sunny etc.
 
Hi all,
The pond has been set up now for 1 week and the water is now a pale green. I did add some Tropica Specialised I had left over from the aquarium would that have done it? As we're not going to be keeping any fish does this green water matter (I really like the colour!!!) and if yes what can I do
Add some Daphnia, they will clean the green water up and are top quality free fish food.

cheers Darrel
 
You can keep fish even with green water.
Definitely no outdoor fish! Struggling with the indoor ones! I actually love green pools and as the liner is black you only notice it on the gravel on top of the plant pots so I'll change them to black stones!
Any pics?
None yet but hopefully soon! Really chuffed to bits with the liner it's a Lotus Toughline preformed: http://www.gardensite.co.uk/Aquatics/Lotus_Toughline_Pond_Kestrel_180_x_130_x_51cm_Preformed_Pond.htm
We used a smooth natural sandstone paving (90cms x 15cms) that we have also used around the lawn and plan to build a focal wall from it with a Oase stainless steel water blade. Super excited about it all!!! That will probably have green water too!!!
It's great food for daphnia and fish fry.
Add some Daphnia, they will clean the green water up
Brilliant thanks chaps I knew you'd know the answer!
 
This is the sort of thing we had in mind for the other water feature - but with smooth pale sandstone:
teaser_waterfall_illumination_02.jpg
 
I have some JBL Ferrotabs that I don't use in the aquarium any more, would they be good for our pond plants (listed above)?
 
One of the downsides of having green water in a water feature is that you can not have any lighting in it, even white as It will look a sickly green colour.:sick:

My fountain I use for my avatar has coloured lights (one is green :D) but also as you see one is blue and it brings the feature to life at night.
I am of the opinion that if a water feature is meant to be a central focal point it it should have clear water and no plants or fish.;)
 
Your fountain looks amazing Martin, I'd love to see more photo's! Yes I see your point re our green pond and lighting, not a good look. We planned the pond to have planting around it to soften the hard landscaping as it's set into gravel with a large patio to the right of it. But once we saw water plants were hooked! We are placing the lighting around the area, uplighting trees etc. so perhaps it will still look ok being green? The main focal point however will be the other water feature (stained steel water blade in wall) which will be at the bottom of the garden facing the house. I agree, no planting or fish for that, but lighting is a must! How do you keep your water clear?
 
That's amazing Martin, and you have green water :lol:! How do you keep it so crystal clear???!!!! I have just started adding liquid carbon to our aquarium would that work in the pond too?
 
:wave:I thought this would be better than pictures?



Love the way it all goes down into the centre, makes a kind of Esher efect.. :thumbup:

@Glenda Steel green water also blocks a lot of light from you oxygenators, they probably wont survive very long in peasoop and slowly melt away, making it even more green.. :) And if you plan to use Daphnia and you have a fountain / pump use filterfloss to cover the intake, or else they will all be sucked in and grind into purée. :what: I've noticed in the fish tank, more ending up in the filter than into the fishes stomag..
 
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How do you keep it so crystal clear???!!!!


Years ago I tried using a biological filter and UV also tried an all in one pump / UV / bio filter and a few other ideas, all were not suitable and or took up too much space.:(
So now I use "chlorine tablets" available on line or from any swimming pool / spa shop. But you can't have anything living in the pool if you do this:nailbiting: but then I don't want anything else in the water feature, and obviously I don't want green water either.:wave:
 
Any pics?
A few photo's of our new tiny DIY pond! It's situated to the left of the patio outside the (open plan) kitchen/dining room patio doors/window. The water reflects on the ceiling, something not planned for but absolutely love!!! :happy: We have used a strong glue to attach the sandstone edging to a wooden frame that can be lifted to access the power cable. The garden is still under construction (hence the tree supports) and plants only planted around 2 years ago so please excuse the acres of bare fence!
P1010084%201pond.jpg
P1010087%201%20pond.jpg
P1010085%201%20pond.jpg
 
snake oil
comes from the 19th-century American practice of selling cure-all elixirs in travelling medicine shows. Snake oil salesmen would falsely claim that the potions would cure any ailments. now-a-days it refers to fake products.
 
You could, if you wished, create an island layout and keep those edges nice and formal. Lovely!
 
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