How to avoid mud in a pond?

How to avoid mud in a pond?

Pond silt is made up of animal and plant debris. It is unavoidable in an uncovered pond, and can quickly become a problem if you let it accumulate. In a body of water, the growth of silt often reflects the health of the body of water. In this case, a pond full of silt is in a bad situation.

Mud causes algae to appear and proliferate, as well as other aquatic plants. It can therefore destabilize the balance of the pond and lead to various problems.

To avoid this, there are of course suitable solutions and measures. These will allow you to take care of your pond and effectively prevent the development of sludge.

Where does the silt that accumulates in my pond come from?

Before getting to the heart of the matter, it is still good to ask where this mud comes from. Quite simply, it is formed from organic matter and debris. It comes just as much from twigs, dead leaves or aquatic plants. The mud therefore feeds on all the organic matter in the environment of the water point.

When you feed your fish, for example, the food that they have missed will decompose at the bottom of the pond. The risk of sludge developing increases even more if you overfeed, or use poor quality food.

What are the different problems associated with silting up a pond?

In a pond, the formation of a thick layer of silt is quite problematic. And for good reason, siltation has a direct impact on the health of the environment. And from several points of view.

The impact of silt on the oxygen in a pond

When a significant layer of silt forms in a pond, it has a direct impact on oxygen. In other words, the more silt develops, the less oxygen is available. This oxygen can even end up disappearing from the body of water, completely.

At the same time, this phenomenon leads to the appearance and growth of algae. And for good reason, the mud provides them with the nutrients important for their nutrition and survival! Other aquatic plants will also form and invade the water little by little.

This depletion of oxygen is problematic, and is harmful to both the fauna and flora of a pond. Indeed, after a while, the oxygen no longer holds and disappears from the aquatic environment.

The accumulation of silt therefore leads to the asphyxiation of the basin, while promoting intense plant proliferation. In short, this unbalances the ecosystem of a water point.

A leak of unpleasant odors

In the long term, the sludge accumulated in a pond begins to give off an odor that is as unpleasant as it is harmful. Often, this happens because of the lack of aeration. And this is a much more common phenomenon in winter than in summer. Indeed, at these seasons of the year, there is a greater chance that the water in the pond will be arranged in several layers of different temperatures.

Since the loss of oxygen is inevitable, this promotes the formation of various anaerobic bacteria. And these are responsible for the fermentation of the sludge. Then, these bacteria in turn cause the appearance of debris that increases in the sludge. Since carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide are very present in this waste, this strongly promotes unpleasant odors.

How to prevent silt growth in a pond?

No open pond is safe from silt. However, it is important and often urgent to get rid of it when it begins to accumulate. To avoid this natural but unfortunate phenomenon, we share with you some practical techniques to apply.

• Aeration
• Aquatic plants
• Bacteria to degrade mud

Clear the pond environment of any plants present

The first solution is to eliminate the plants that are in the immediate environment of your pond. This will notably limit the quantity of organic elements that will infiltrate your water point. This prevention technique will avoid the development of silt, while limiting a possible invasion of aquatic plants.

It is therefore an ideal solution for those who want to limit the ecological impact as much as possible. Indeed, it is effective and does not require any chemical treatment. At the same time, it is also the least expensive alternative. You can also add bacteria such as bactovase which will help to degrade the organic matter on the bottom of the pond.

The downside? This technique requires careful and regular work. Furthermore, it only shows the desired results in the long term, sometimes several years.

Have a good aeration system for your pond

Aeration systems provide the oxygen necessary for the survival of aerobic microorganisms. As you might expect, when the pond is well aerated, you will notice a good level of oxygen. This prevents the ecosystem from becoming unbalanced, while preventing the destruction of flora and fauna.

The presence of oxygen therefore helps to effectively combat the proliferation of mud. In a well-aerated pond, the water quality is therefore significantly better, and beneficial bacteria are present.

Check the filtration system and pump regularly

In addition to the pond and its environment, it is very important to check the equipment. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly ensure that the pond pump and the filtration are in good condition. These two elements are essential to avoid water stagnation or loss of oxygen.

In practice, it will be checked that nothing is hindering the rotation of the propeller. It will also be necessary to ensure that the settling grids, the biological filter and the UV filter are regularly cleaned with clear water.

Clean the pool regularly

Regular and thorough cleaning of your pond will help prevent the growth of silt and the invasion of aquatic plants. But to do this, you do not need to empty the pond.

Here are some tips for maintaining your pool without too much hassle.

• Remove dead leaves, algae and plant waste: use a skimmer to collect the waste that floats on the surface, before it sinks to the bottom of the pool. This will prevent it from accumulating, and by extension turning into mud. Also get into the habit of collecting algae with a tight-meshed net.
• Let the pump and filtration work every day: choose a time of day and let the pump and filtration run for a few hours. This should be done every day to ensure good aeration of your water point.

In summary

After a while, dust, soil, organic and plant matter will sink to the bottom of your pond. This is an irreversible phenomenon when your water point is not covered. The main thing is to limit their accumulation which could increase the silt in your pond.

To reduce its expansion, you must maintain your device regularly. You must also ensure good oxygenation of the pond for a good balance of its ecosystem and avoid the proliferation of mud.

• Aeration
• Biocuring

As long as there is not a thick layer, there is no need to resort to chemicals that could harm the inhabitants of your device.