Pond Dye

04 Dec 2011

There are many pond dyes available in the market place today. Just what effect do these dyes have on your pond? Are some pond dyes better than others?

All pond dyes are not created equal. Since no regulation is in place for pond dyes outside of the EPA registered dyes, then there is no system to show the concentration of the dye. The content can vary widely, so be sure to check to see what the percentage active ingredient is, if available.

Now, which dye color is the most effective in limiting light penetration into the water? Well, the only definitive answer would be that the black dyes are known to block more light than the blue or blue/green dyes. Otherwise, the straight blue dyes block light penetration at about the same rate as blue/green, which contain some yellow dye. The blue and blue/green dyes, if applied at a strong dose, can limit nearly 80% of light penetration beyond 4 feet of water depth. The black dyes can produce a strong 90% light limitation beyond 4 feet of water depth if applied correctly. These percentages are approximations and it is very difficult to nail down an exact number in this industry.

As a summary, black dye is more light-limiting, but the overall effectiveness of blue and blue/green pond dyes is very good if the active ingredients are applied at an acceptable level.

For more information on pond dyes contact the helpful staff at Sanco.