What is Muck?
Muck is made of animal and plant waste. Muck is caused by organic matter that has gone bad. Fish food that is not properly nourished will eventually end up in the bottom of your pond. Don't feed your fish too often or use low-quality food. This will lead to more fish waste and a thicker layer of muck. Ducks and geese also add their wastes to the muck. Even without fish, weeds or other animals, dead leaves, twigs and grass clippings, as well as dead algae and twigs can contribute to the muck's accumulation. It is a good idea not to allow organics to enter the pond. The sludge can become inches thick over time due to the accumulation of leaves and other debris.
What makes Muck so stinky?
Muck has a strong rotten egg smell. These odors can be common in ponds that have not been aerated, especially during certain seasons. Non-aerated lakes can stratify into layers of water that have distinct temperature variations in the summer and winter. The oxygen in the lower part of the pond is quickly used up while the water is being stratified. It goes from an oxygen-rich environment to an anaerobic one (low-oxygen environment). This is great for slow-moving aerobic bacteria that uses enzymes to ferment the bottom's decaying matter. These microorganisms eventually produce waste products such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfuride. This is what gives the lovely smell of rotten eggs.
The water column flips over in spring and during severe weather events. There, the anaerobic layers at the bottom rise to top, releasing all the foul-smelling odors. The release of all these gases from melting ice can cause a lot of stink!
Here at Smith Creek Fish Farm we provide a full range of aerators to help prevent muck build-up and odor. See our full range here
Pond Life Cycle
Understanding the life cycle of a pond will allow you to understand how and when muck plays its role. All water bodies, large or small, are part of an ever-changing ecosystem that is trying to balance itself. We'll help you understand the life cycle and stages of your pond by breaking it down into two main stages.
Stage 1 - Freshly dug ponds are free of weed and other debris due to wildlife, plant decay, or organic matter. The water is clear and clean, with minimal algae growth and weed growth. New ponds are typically kept in Stage 1 for between 3 and 5 years.
Stage 2 – Over time, organic debris builds up and the pond becomes oversupplied by nutrients. The excess nutrients can be used as a fertilizer for plants, which causes weeds to flourish. It is possible to begin to notice emergent plants, such as cattails or shoreline grasses along the shoreline. You might also start to smell a foul odor coming from the water. To kill any existing growth, pond owners will often resort to reactive treatments such as aquatic herbicides or algaecides. These treatments are temporary solutions to control weeds and algae. The nutrient-rich pond water fuels the growth of weed and algae which will accelerate the production of pond muck. The pond enters a constant cycle of reactive treatments. You, as the pond owner can then use chemicals to control its growth. At this point, a pond is considered to be eutrophic. It has enough debris to support algae or weed growth.
How To Get Rid of Pond Muck
Beneficial Bacteria
There are billions of beneficial bacteria living in your pond. They work hard to remove pond sludge from the water, but they will be overwhelmed if there is too much. Regular use of Biological Muck Reducer Pellets, a popular pond mucker cleaner, can increase their numbers. The unique blend of aerobic beneficial bacteria sinks down to the bottom, where it will consume organic debris (a.k.a. It will remove muck, improve water clarity and eliminate noxious smells.
Aeration
For pond muck elimination, a good pond aerator is essential. The pond will be healthier with oxygen.
Thermocline is when the water column becomes stagnant and forms layers. Aeration can prevent this. The oxygen-rich upper part of your water body that is exposed to air has oxygen, while the oxygen-deficient lower portions of your body are devoid of oxygen. This is where beneficial bacteria lives (or struggles to survive). Aerators will circulate your pond's contents and infuse all of the water column with oxygen. The oxygen influx helps beneficial bacteria thrive and feeds on the organic matter.
Conclusion
Pond muck is not something anyone likes, these tips can help you get rid of it. For any questions regarding pond muck, or the best pond cleaners and removers, please contact our experts.
