New pond w/ tea-colored water

[wruess]

Brand new pond!! Approx 8k gallons w/ total of 10.5k gal/hr pumpage (7500
and 3000 pumps - 2 aquascape biofalls). The water is clearing nicely after
only a few days but the water is tea-colored - assume leaching from the
'moss rock' that lines the sides of the pond. Should I do some water
changes to get rid of this OR put some (large) bags of activated carbon in
the Biofalls OR just wait a while?? Have couple dozen mosquito fish in
there now - not expecting to put any 'good' Koi in until next spring. pH is
7.3 or so, and KH is slowly rising on it's own (again assume rock leaching),
initially about 75, now about 125. Totally jazzed to finally get this done -
been about 10 years in the dreaming / planning stages. TIA for any comments.

[Reel Mckoi]

"wruess" > wrote in message
m...
> Brand new pond!! Approx 8k gallons w/ total of 10.5k gal/hr pumpage (7500
> and 3000 pumps - 2 aquascape biofalls). The water is clearing nicely
> after only a few days but the water is tea-colored - assume leaching from
> the 'moss rock' that lines the sides of the pond. Should I do some water
> changes to get rid of this OR put some (large) bags of activated carbon in
> the Biofalls OR just wait a while??

$$ I would try some partial water changes. But doesn't moss rock keep
leaching?

Have couple dozen mosquito fish in
> there now - not expecting to put any 'good' Koi in until next spring. pH
> is 7.3 or so, and KH is slowly rising on it's own (again assume rock
> leaching), initially about 75, now about 125. Totally jazzed to finally
> get this done - been about 10 years in the dreaming / planning stages. TIA
> for any comments.

$$ I know the feeling. I had plans and dreams of putting in a pond for
several years before I picked up a shovel that summer.
--
McKoi.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>
http://www.hyphenologist.co.uk/killfile/anti_troll_faq.htm

[Phyllis and Jim Hurley]

Most of us have some amount of tea color...decay of plants, muck, etc.
I suspect you will have to tolerate it or go to carbon...repeatedly.

Our water is very clear but tea colored. We have got used to it.

Good luck.

Jim

wruess wrote:
> Brand new pond!! Approx 8k gallons w/ total of 10.5k gal/hr pumpage (7500
> and 3000 pumps - 2 aquascape biofalls). The water is clearing nicely after
> only a few days but the water is tea-colored - assume leaching from the
> 'moss rock' that lines the sides of the pond. Should I do some water
> changes to get rid of this OR put some (large) bags of activated carbon in
> the Biofalls OR just wait a while?? Have couple dozen mosquito fish in
> there now - not expecting to put any 'good' Koi in until next spring. pH is
> 7.3 or so, and KH is slowly rising on it's own (again assume rock leaching),
> initially about 75, now about 125. Totally jazzed to finally get this done -
> been about 10 years in the dreaming / planning stages. TIA for any comments.
>
>

[Reel Mckoi]

"Phyllis and Jim Hurley" > wrote in message
...
> Most of us have some amount of tea color...decay of plants, muck, etc. I
> suspect you will have to tolerate it or go to carbon...repeatedly.
>
> Our water is very clear but tea colored. We have got used to it.
==============================
The water in my ponds has a faint green tinge when in a clear glass. The
green may be masking a yellowish or tea-brown color. The fish are thriving
though. :-)
--
McKoi.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[~ jan JJsPond.us]

>> Most of us have some amount of tea color...decay of plants, muck, etc. I
>> suspect you will have to tolerate it or go to carbon...repeatedly.
>>
>> Our water is very clear but tea colored. We have got used to it.

Water clear in a glass here. I'd go with 10%/weekly water changes and see
if it helps. I think you'd go thru too much carbon and that could get
pricey and you need to get use to doing those water changes once you get
koi anyway. So establish a routine. ;o) ~ jan


See my ponds and filter design:
www.jjspond.us

~Keep 'em Wet!~
Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website

[wruess]

Yes, doing a slow partial water change of sorts - letting water in w/ hose
and letting overflow drain take excess. Amount of activated carbon I would
need for pond is pretty $$$, so hoping I can clear it up w/ partial water
change and tincture of time.

"~ jan JJsPond.us" > wrote in message
...
>>> Most of us have some amount of tea color...decay of plants, muck, etc. I
>>> suspect you will have to tolerate it or go to carbon...repeatedly.
>>>
>>> Our water is very clear but tea colored. We have got used to it.
>
> Water clear in a glass here. I'd go with 10%/weekly water changes and see
> if it helps. I think you'd go thru too much carbon and that could get
> pricey and you need to get use to doing those water changes once you get
> koi anyway. So establish a routine. ;o) ~ jan
>
>
> See my ponds and filter design:
> www.jjspond.us
>
> ~Keep 'em Wet!~
> Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
> To e-mail see website