Re: Opinions on how to fix a pond issue please
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 762frmafr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">MDC says to fix the turbidity problem first. One of their pamphlets suggests using Gypsum. Thoughts? </div></div>
Steve,
I think they're right when saying that the turbidity needs to be taken care of first before you could ever really hope to have any plants/fish to survive over any real amount of time. It definitely looks to be a problem with suspended clay. You have to be getting some water shed from the slightly higher ground that's surrounding it. I just can't see that that thing getting full without it. Then you can go about solving your aeration problem.
I'm out of time, but here's some idea's (Hay, gypsum, etc.) that may help along with a link to where I found this. They also mention how to calc the amount of water you have in the pond, so you can figure-out how much you need of whatever you decide to use.
-Pat
<span style="font-style: italic">"Colloidal clay particles are very small and can take a very long time to sink to the bottom. If you take a jar of water from your pond and after several days it is still very cloudy in appearance, you likely have a problem with clay particles. Several techniques exist that allow the pond owner to greatly reduce the levels of suspended clay particles. All of these techniques involve the "binding" of clay particles into larger particles which sink to the bottom much faster.
Hay
A time-honored method of removing suspended clay particles is the application of dry hay. Dry hay should not be confused with straw. The hay should be loosely distributed throughout the shallow areas of the pond. Recommended application rates are about 500-550 pounds per acre-foot of water. <span style="font-weight: bold">Consult the Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet A-2-98, Pond Measurements to correctly estimate your pond's volume in acre-feet.</span> Quite often a muddy pond will not need the full application to clear the water. You may wish to consider adding about 50% of the required amount, waiting 10-14 days, and then assessing whether additional hay is needed. A good rule of thumb is that if water transparency reaches 18-24 inches deep, enough hay has been added. There is one important reason to use as little hay as necessary. The addition of large amounts of organic material, such as hay, can lead to oxygen depletion as the material decomposes. This is especially true in July and August. If hay application must occur in summer, supplemental aeration may be needed to prevent a fish kill.
Gypsum
Agricultural gypsum is another material for removing suspended clay and does not cause the concern of a fish kill associated with adding hay. Gypsum is also chemically neutral and therefore does not cause possible pH problems associated with alum, another commonly used material. Typical application rates are from 1,000-1,500 pounds per surface acre of water, depending on the severity of the clay suspension. Again, it is wise to add the gypsum at a conservative rate of 250-500 pounds per surface acre of water, wait several days, and determine if additional gypsum is needed. This prevents excessive application and therefore helps keep costs down. Dissolve the gypsum in clean water and spray over the surface on a calm day. Late evening is often an ideal time to make the application as most nights are wind-free. Water movement from the wind prevents the suspended clay from quickly settling out, reducing the effectiveness of gypsum.
Alum (aluminum sulfate)
Alum is the most effective material for clearing clay turbidity from a pond, often within a few hours. Application rates are typically 100-450 pounds per surface acre. As before, add 1/3-1/2 of the required amount, wait a day, and then determine if additional alum is required to increase transparency to about 18 inches. Application procedures are identical to those described for gypsum.
For alum, there is a very good reason to use the minimum amount necessary. After application, there is a chemical reaction that impacts the pH (acidity) of the water. The reaction produces small amounts of sulfuric acid which can decrease pH significantly in some waters to levels harmful to aquatic life.
Therefore, alkalinity and pH should be tested prior to application. Alkalinity should exceed 100 mg/l and pH should be greater than 7.0. If not, hydrated lime needs to be added simultaneously to buffer the effects of the acid produced by the alum addition. Application rate for lime is 50 pounds per acre-foot. It is wise to re-check alkalinity and pH repeatedly as more alum and lime is added. In situations where 400 pounds of alum may be needed, pH may begin to drop quickly even in waters where pH was initially deemed to be adequate for lesser additions. Hydrated lime also removes suspended clay, although not as effectively as alum.
Limestone (calcium carbonate)
Agricultural limestone is a material commonly used to removed suspended clay from the water. Application rates of 500-1,000 pounds per surface acre are typically used. Limestone can be added in the same manner described for gypsum.
<span style="text-decoration: underline">Special Note
If the pond is used for home or livestock drinking water, the use of minerals (alum, gypsum, limestone) is not recommended. The purity of the mineral substances is unknown, and its application to the pond could result in the inadvertent addition of undesirable substances."</span> </span>
<span style="font-weight: bold">Here's the link, good luck man:</span>
http://ohioline.osu.edu/a-fact/0006.html
