Pond Muck

   Sludge and muck that accumulates on your pond floor over time can become a nuisance

   

   If the pond muck gets too deep it will affect the balance of your pond and can inhibit recreational activities.  There are many different elements that may be adding to your pond muck levels.  If you treat your pond for weeds and algae every year you are adding to your muck levels season after season.  When you kill off problem weeds and algae, the plant dies, sinks to the bottom and becomes pond muck.  Your fish are also adding to the pond muck.  Their waste goes to the bottom of the pond floor.  That is why it is important not to over feed; because that leads to an over abundance of waste that is waiting to fertilize your next algae or weed bloom.  When you mow around your pond be sure to keep the clippings out of the pond.  These extra clippings are just like your dead algae and weeds.  Lawn clippings will eventually sink to the bottom and add to your pond sludge and muck levels.  If your pond is surrounded by large trees, every fall your pond has a massive amount of leaf debris sinking to the bottom of your pond.  This debris can take some time to become organic material but can add to your muck levels drastically.  Excess leaf debris can also make your pond very turbid (cloudy).  A good analogy would be like putting a tea bag in a cup of water.  The water in the cup turns a red/brown color.  The same thing will happen to your pond water over time because of the leaves. 

   These are just four factors that can increase the amount of muck in the bottom of your pond.  Most pond owners have at least 3 of the 4 factors.  If you are doing nothing to combat the things listed your muck can build up very rapidly.  Proactively maintaining your pond muck levels can reduce the chance you will have to mechanically or biologically dredge your pond.

 

   It is virtually impossible to get rid of all muck but the use of beneficial bacteria products will help maintain it!  Our bacteria comes in several forms: Natural Pond Cleaner, Natural Pond Cleaner Water Soluble Packs, Muck Doctor, and Excavate.  Beneficial bacteria will live at the bottom of your pond consuming pond muck.  As long as they have a food source they will continue to live; however, we recommend maintaining bacteria levels by adding a dose once a month.  Bacteria is also much more active in water temps 50 F and warmer.  Aeration will also allow the bacteria to thrive.  Using bacteria will help keep your pond balanced and can help prevent large weed and algae blooms.

 

   For more information on how to cure your pond muck, contact Sanco.