There’s nothing worse than having a lovely pond with beautiful fish, only to not be able to enjoy them because the pond water is cloudy. And that’s the topic of the day: Why does pond water go cloudy, and how do you keep it clear?
It’s an issue pond owners have had to tackle since time immemorial. Fortunately, mitigation and cure are relatively simple and inexpensive – two words we don’t hear enough when it comes to ponds!
Why does pond water go cloudy?
Cloudiness is one of the more common pond water problems, but also one of the easiest to tackle. But why does the pond water go cloudy?
Cloudy pond water is usually fish waste suspended in the water. It’s the natural process of life, but a pond doesn’t usually have the natural filtering processes a river or the sea has. So, we have to improvise.
There are other causes of cloudy pond water, although they are less common. Below, we detail how to resolve these problems if you think they may be affecting your pond.
New pond water
If you have just built your pond or refilled it, the water may not yet have reached biological equilibrium. This is when all the organisms and plants in your pond have reached a natural balance to keep the pond looking healthy.
If you have a leaky pond liner, try to avoid topping up with tap water wherever possible. Tap water contains phosphate and chlorine that can interfere with the existing water in the pond. Wherever possible, capture rainwater in a water butt or paddling pool to use as a top-up.
If you have to use tap water, give it a while to find its balance before adding more.
The pond filter isn’t working
If you have a pond filter, it may not be working; the filter may have worn out or be clogged up. Dead algae can also affect this, as it has been known to turn pond water cloudy if it isn’t cleaned by your filter enough.
If this is the case, check your pond filter. Make sure you can feel or hear the motor in the pond pump, then turn it off. Remove it from the water and give it a thorough cleaning.
Remove any dirt and debris from the unit, and make sure the filter itself is in good condition, not blocked and has a clear path for water to flow through. Change the mechanical filter and/or refresh the biological filter as appropriate.
If your cloudy pond water has a green tinge to it, consider adding a clarifier to the filter to remove more algae.
We provide many service kits and spare parts for our pumps and filters to keep these devices performing at their best. You can find these under our pond pump spares and fish pond filter accessories store pages.
Oxygenating plants aren’t performing
If you have oxygenating plants in your pond, they may not be performing well enough, or there may not be enough of them. Either way, if you have introduced plants to your pond to help filter the water, they aren’t working as advertised.
If you do have them, check to make sure they are in good health and alive. If the pond is new, it will take a while for them to begin filtering the water.
If your plants are well established, check their health and consider adding more plants if you have the space.
Are you overfeeding your fish?
If you’re overfeeding your fish and they aren’t eating it all, it can break down and cause cloudy water. You will often see small lumps in the water where larger food pellets are still breaking down. While not a common cause of cloudy pond water, it does happen.
There is an old rule used for fish feeding: Feed the fish as much as they can eat in three minutes and no more.
Check to make sure you’re not overfeeding your fish, and adjust the amounts if you are. To prevent the risk of overfeeding, an automatic fish feeder can help by dispensing a set amount of food at regular intervals.
Clearing debris and pond sludge
As we’re in pond maintenance mode, we may as well clear out as much debris and sludge from the pond as possible. It’s unlikely to be causing cloudy water, but that debris may be preventing your filter from working properly.
Clear as much from the pond floor as possible, check any rocks or ornaments for sludge and make sure the pond filter is unobstructed. If you have a pond vacuum, remove the fish and use it to clear as much from the pond as possible.
How to clear cloudy pond water
As you can see, there are many causes of cloudy pond water. It’s up to you, and a process of elimination, to assess which is the likely cause for yours.
If the water looks to be impacting the health of your fish, use a liquid test kit or test strip to assess the quality of the water, just in case.
What is the best clear pond water treatment?
There are chemicals and treatments available to clear cloudy pond water, but they tend to fix the effect and not the cause. If you don’t tackle the cause of cloudy water, it will simply return, and you’ll have to do it all over again.
All the steps within this post help tackle both!
Get in touch
Keeping pond water clear can sometimes require your best detective skills, but your cloudy pond water will be sure to be a thing of the past by following the steps above! We’re always letting our readers know the best ways to look after their pets, so browse our pet advice page to find even more useful articles.
We offer many innovative fish pond supplies to help you keep your fish happy and healthy, with many other options for dogs and cats, too. If you’d like to know anything in particular about our range, get in touch with us today, and we’ll be delighted to help you out!