I am in pond crisis!

Hi all.

I started a pond in the autumn of last year and it settled very well, water got nice and clear, I've got several oxygenating plants, I've got a pump for a fountain which also serves to provide some filtering and runs 24/7.

I introduced some ramshorn snails to eat the algae last year and they were doing a fantastic job of keeping the sides of the pond absolutely clear and you could see them out patrolling and munching the whole time.

I do dog boarding and I had a dog jump into my pond and sit in it squashing everything kicking up all the silt and it's never been the same since.

I started getting blanket weed and was treating for that with a powder that you put into the water and it seemed to clear a little bit and then I got some more snails to replace the other ones because nothing seemed to be happening snail-wise any more, and the algae on the sides was building up. I think I bought 10 and I literally see one going round which isn't enough and even he's not very active, and therefore the algae's all building up again and I think I'm starting to get blanket weed even though I've got lots of lots of oxygenating plants in there as well.

In exploring what was going wrong I discovered that I had four leeches that I found whilst I was clearing out and there were definitely lots of eggs on the pebbles and stones that I have in there so I took everything out cleaned out the whole pond itself (it's a moulded plastic one) and put all the rocks out for several days when it was sunny so that they would dry out and there'd be no more eggs. I tried to purchase koi parakill which I believe kills leeches and I was going to treat the pond water with the plants in it in their pots before I put some new snails in but two retailers totally messed me around and they were actually out of stock (even though the accepted my order) and I've not managed to get any (it seems to be almost impossible to get hold of (so if anybody knows where I can actually get some I'd appreciate it)).

So I added my brand new set of snails put them in and put all the plants back in, replenished it with water from the water butt and also added an oxygenator that sends bubbles up from the bottom but despite all of this algae of the blanket kind is increasing, the algae on the sides is getting worse, and the snails that I put in don't seem to be active anymore, or, there are more leeches who have also killed them so it's not going particularly well at the moment and I'm almost feeling like giving up because I don't know what else to do to try and bring the pond back into balance again.

I've used leech traps with a variety of baits, but catch no leeches whatsoever.

When the original set of ramshorn snails were put in it was really perfect and the pond was very very happy but since then the snails aren't snailing l. I understand that they can change their behaviors if they are being attacked by leeches but I honestly don't know how to get rid of the leeches now without something that will actually kill them so thoughts and ideas on what I should do from here because I'm loathe to have to restart the pond for a third time but if that's what's needed then obviously I'll have to do it.

I've really been enjoying the pond because I have blackbirds and pigeons that come several times a day either to have a little bath or drink so I would like to carry on but I'm just really sad that it's going really cloudy and horrible again.

 

Leeches sound gross but in reality they just live in the gunge at the bottom of your pond. Mine lend to live in the filter. It's a sign that you have a health eco system really.

Blanket weed is a sign of excess nutrients, so you can plant more hungry pond plants or use zeolite to neutralise ammonia before it adds to the nitrogen cycle

 

Thank you!

My only beef with the leeches is that they are eating my snails (I think). Otherwise they could have free rein and I wouldn't mind them being in there at all .

With the zeolite, should I go for chips or powder? Saw a video of someone throwing out the powder and saying to do it repeatedly in order to suppress the algae - does that seem like the best approach?

How do I get the sides of my ponds cleared of algae (which is just regular algae not the blanket kind) because the pond snails just aren't doing anything - if I brush it it'll go everywhere (and presumably release nutrients?) - will the zeolite tackle that too?

 

I dont think snails are the answer, and keep clearing it and starting again is not the answer either.

My pond doesn't get green water or blanket weed anymore since I added water cress, I also have a lot of Elodea.
I drag out the water cress and compost it often as it grows so fast, using up the nutrients that the fish create.
The water cress starts growing much earlier than most other pond plants.

It needs to be a self sustaining enviroment, otherwise it will just be a never ending problem.

 

It's just a nutrient imbalance, more plants needed. Watercress is an excellent shout as its super cheap compared to things like water lettuce.

I used to farm the top of my aquariums with pond plants and never had issues with excess nitrites because of the plants. I do the same with my ponds. I know it's a marmite plant but I grow duck weed as a koi food as well as a water quality aid.

Zeolite is best placed the pond in a media bag. That way you can recharge it when it stops being effective. You just soak it in salt water and rinse thoroughly after 48 hours.

I use this from superfish

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Superfish-...2045855352-B003HC1K2K-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

 

I've always advocated watercress as a cheap, and very useful addition to a pond, until planting establishes well. I used an additive the first year I had this newly located pond, but I haven't used anything since then.
I've never heard of Zeolite.
Have you got some photos of your pond @BlackCountryGardener ? It's very new, and ponds can take a few years to settle properly, and for plants to establish. The amount of plants, and the variety, are big factors too. I can honestly say I've never had leeches in any pond I've ever had either, and I've had many ponds of all sizes.
You may have to put a fence round it too, if the animals can't be controlled well enough. It wouldn't stop other wildlife or birds using it.

 

I think you are worrying about your pond too much. It is very new so give it time to find its own balance. I use eco friendly liquid blanket weed killer, sludge muncher etc., found online, just add them to my pond when needed which is about once a year. I remove some of the overgrown water forget me not and eloda when they begin crawling out of the pond. Continually replacing the water can cause imbalance as well.
As far as inhabitants are concerned, I have never had leeches but I have newts, frogs and toads. I have seen one fish, no idea if the bottom living green tench is still alive. Koi will rip plants out of their pots so I have never used them. I have had rams horn snails brought in on plants, I just left them to their own devices.
Natural ponds do not have crystal clear water, nor do they have fountains, water lilies will not grow in moving water or the sludge removed from the bottom so I would leave well alone for at least another year, let nature do her thing, in her own time.

 

You wouldn't know you had leeches to be honest. Unless you're really sifting through the gunge you won't find them. Fish feast on them, they're free food at only 15mm.

 

I've found tiny leeches sticking to my hands occasionally, when cleaning out the filter, but they are tiny and unable to puncture skin.

 

My water forget me not is just about to be reduced in size so I will keep my eyes open for leeches when I am working on it.

 

Interesting about the leeches. I'm afraid I don't look that closely at the goings on in the bottom of my ponds!
I agree that you just need to be patient, and constantly footering with the bottom layer etc is counter productive. Certainly -changing the entire contents, especially the water, is a bad idea.
You'll get blanketweed/algae etc, when the water warms up in spring, and it's also a bigger factor if the pond's shallower or in a sunnier site.
I never use fountains or filters - it's a wildlife pond, and the rainfall keeps it topped up and happy. I've had a very large pond which had Koi in it [which came as part of the property] but it was big enough for everything to thrive well enough. It was more of a small lochan than a pond, and was spring fed, so always had clean water running through it. Fish can create extra problems, so I never have them deliberately.