Re: Water has milky appearance

[Phyllis and Jim Hurley]

Hi Alan,

You might contact KoiDave who asked about closed cycle ponds (8/17/03
10:54AM)

J

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"Alan" > wrote in message
om...
> Hi
>
> We have a pond which ha been self sustaining for twenty years. No
> filters or pumps, just pond plants and regular cleaning out of debris.
> The fish are healthy and we have only ever lost one occasionally to
> what we have assumed to be old age!.
>
> The water has recently turned a milky colour and this has not happened
> before. The fish seem OK but is there anything I should be doing to
> correct this?.
>
> Alan

[Sam Hopkins]

If it's milky white it's a bacteria bloom. These are millions if not
billions of free floating bacteria. As soon as they use up the nutrients
they should clear. There's "text book" concern that your fish will be under
stress because the bacteria utilize O2. I've personally never seen it kill a
fish though.

"Alan" > wrote in message
om...
> Hi
>
> We have a pond which ha been self sustaining for twenty years. No
> filters or pumps, just pond plants and regular cleaning out of debris.
> The fish are healthy and we have only ever lost one occasionally to
> what we have assumed to be old age!.
>
> The water has recently turned a milky colour and this has not happened
> before. The fish seem OK but is there anything I should be doing to
> correct this?.
>
> Alan

[Alan]

"Sam Hopkins" > wrote in message >...
> If it's milky white it's a bacteria bloom. These are millions if not
> billions of free floating bacteria. As soon as they use up the nutrients
> they should clear. There's "text book" concern that your fish will be under
> stress because the bacteria utilize O2. I've personally never seen it kill a
> fish though.
>
> "Alan" > wrote in message
> om...
> > Hi
> >
> > We have a pond which ha been self sustaining for twenty years. No
> > filters or pumps, just pond plants and regular cleaning out of debris.
> > The fish are healthy and we have only ever lost one occasionally to
> > what we have assumed to be old age!.
> >
> > The water has recently turned a milky colour and this has not happened
> > before. The fish seem OK but is there anything I should be doing to
> > correct this?.
> >
> > Alan

Thanks to you all for the replies. The pond has no filters and I have
never tested the water. I clean it by removing vigorous plant growth
two or three times a year and by 'dredging' the sludge out once a
year. As I said the pond apperas healthy and the fish OK and they have
bred. I will have to get a testing kit and take more interest rather
than just enjoying watching the fish!!.

Thanks again

Alan