In the last article we discussed problems with ‘green water’ and issues surrounding water clarity. Following on from this further discussion needs to be had on silt and also filtration problems.

Silt and sediment

Your pond water can be made to look muddy by the silt that collects at the bottom of your pond. Fish (and especially koi) love rooting through the debris at the bottom of your pond and will hence stir up the water making it appear muddy. So why is there so much silt at the bottom of my pond? Silt accumulates over many years and as the silt deepens it will thus get disturbed by the fish again and again. Most of the silt comes from natural fish waste and any organic matter that falls into your pond such as leaves and pond plants that die back in the winter. You can pump out the silt from your pond using a special pond pump that can handle solid matter or perform a complete pond clean by removing all your pond life and water and starting over.

Filtration issues

Another thing that can affect water clarity is problems with your filtration system. If the filtration system is not up to the job or becomes blocked then you could notice a change in the water clarity. A working filter removes solid material from the water and also houses good bacteria that will breakdown the toxic waste products produced by fish. If you need to clean the filter then using tap water is not the best idea. In fact tap water should always be avoided if possible. The tap water contains chlorine that will kill the good bacteria that the filter contains hence leading to further problems with water clarity.