Everything You Need To Know About Water Clarifiers

Cloudy water is a common problem in ponds and lakes. There are many factors that can cause cloudy pond water. We must first identify the cause of cloudiness in pond water. Some products and methods may not work in all cases. We offer a variety of professional equipment and products that can help make your water crystal clear.

How to Use a Water Clarifier

You should accurately calculate the size of your pond by measuring its surface and depth. When you are choosing a pond aeration system or dosing products, the volume of your pond in gallons will be an important data point. This is an easy way to determine why your water is cloudy and what products would be best for you.

Step 1: Two identical clear containers are required. You can use Mason jars or clear soda bottles. Water glasses work well.

Step 2: Fill each glass with water from the lake or pond.

Step 3: Place one container next to, but not directly into, a sunny window, and the other in an enclosed cabinet or closet far from sunlight.

Step 4: After 48 hours, check the containers. Your cloudiness may be caused by agitation if both containers are cleared. Turbidity due to agitation could result from rooting fish (Koi or carp), wave action on a sandy shore, or silty water runoff. Your water could become cloudy from silt from horses or ducks, as well as surface water runoff bringing in silt. In this instance, the solution is to eliminate the cause of agitation. Exposure can be contained with hay bales or grass seed. Livestock and fish would need to be relocated or removed. Aeration can help settle and coagulate silt and clay.

Step 5: Determine the color of the cloudiness if the containers remain cloudy after 48 hours. A piece of white paper should be placed between the containers. Is one container showing a greenish-pea soup tint? If so, algae may be a problem. Algaecides, pond dyes, phosphate-eliminating pond treatments (Aluminum Sulfate), oxygenation, and beneficial bacteria are some of the products that can be used to combat algae. Organics and tannins from leaves or other dead vegetation may be responsible for the coloration, which is likely to be more like ice-tea color.

You can remove as much material as possible with pond rakes or nets. Then, you can dose with muck pellets or liquid bacteria to digest the rest. The digestion process will be greatly accelerated by aeration.

Step 6: If the containers remain the same after 48 hours, and are a milky-gray color, you will most likely have an electrostatically charged situation. The same charge of particles will repel each other and keep them suspended, instead of attracted to one another. They will also settle out and clump together. What's the best part? This will cause carbon dioxide to be released (like you shake a soda can) and stabilize the pH. Some particles will then take on the opposite charge, which will start the settling process. This can be confirmed by adding a pinch of regular baking powder to one container. It will cause some particles to assume the opposite charge, and begin the coagulation process. The treated container's clarity should improve in 24 hours.