While pond maintenance is crucial for any type of pond or small lake, farm ponds can face a unique set of issues that make water maintenance a bit more complicated. Fortunately, if you were wondering how to keep a farm pond clean, we have a few suggestions.
Before we dive into how to keep a farm pond clean, let’s discuss the issues that cause farm pond water to become cloudy, smelly and overrun with weeds and floating organic matter.
In general, all pond water will be affected by issues such as a large amount of rainfall or sudden temperature spikes. Farm ponds, however, also face additional difficulties. Two common problems include agricultural runoff and animal waste. Both of these tend to contain high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, which can promote the rapid growth of floating organic matter in your farm pond.
When learning how to keep a farm pond clean, the steps you take include many preventative measures to help keep nitrogen and phosphorus from becoming a problem in the first place. It’s not always possible to eliminate runoff or animal waste, but you can develop a strong defense system for your pond.
- Add Some Vegetation
Vegetation barriers along the edge of your pond can help your water in several ways. Vegetation barriers prevent grass and other types of debris from entering the water, and these plants will soak up some of the runoff water and reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus that make it into the pond water. As an added bonus, vegetation barriers also can prevent erosion at the edge of your pond.
- Buffer The Edge With Rocks
Large rocks can be placed along the edge of your farm pond, as well, which will limit debris and some runoff from entering your pond. These rocks also can be quite attractive, although rocks definitely can be more expensive than adding vegetation barriers. A combination of rocks and vegetation can be an attractive and more cost-effective option.
- Rethink Your Fertilizer
Many types of fertilizers contain high levels of phosphorus, and while you might be using this on your crops, consider using a non-phosphorus fertilizer on the grounds and grass around your pond. While there still might be runoff from crop areas, you still will be reducing the overall amount of phosphorus that might be introduced to your pond.
If possible, we also recommend removing grass clippings around your pond as soon as you mow. These clippings can be used to make compost for your garden or perhaps shared with neighbors or donated to a local nursery for their own composting needs.
- Rake Your Pond
When leaves, grass clippings and other debris get into your pond, these eventually decompose and settle at the bottom of your pond, creating muck and sludge. This muck reduces oxygen levels which can lead to the growth of organic floating material, weeds and fish kills.
Invest in a quality pond rake and get out there and rake around the edge of your pond to remove debris, leaves and grass clippings. This is especially important after a big rainfall and at the beginning of the warmer season. Once spring has sprung, it’s important to get rid of excess debris, as this debris combined with warmer water temperatures can cause many problems in your pond water.
- Invest In A Bottom Diffusion Aerator
There are two types of aerators, surface aerators and bottom diffusion aerators. The goal with both is to help maintain healthy oxygen levels in your pond. Healthy oxygen levels definitely can keep a farm pond clean and prevent fish kills. However, a surface aerator is not as efficient and it’s more expensive to run, which is why a bottom diffusion aerator usually is the best option, unless you have a very shallow pond.
- Treat Your Water With Beneficial Bacteria
It can be difficult to eliminate fertilizer and animal waste runoff from a farm pond completely, but one way to reduce the nitrogen and phosphorus is through the use of beneficial bacteria. At Healthy Ponds, we have a variety of bacteria products that can eat away at sludge and floating organic matter.
Using beneficial bacteria can be one of the easiest ways to improve water quality and clarity. For instance, with our AquaSphere®PRO product, you simply toss in these biodegradable spheres into the water and they sink to the bottom of the pond and begin releasing bacteria. Each sphere works for up to 30 days, and then you simply add more spheres.
In some cases, you might need additional bacteria, such as after a sudden spike in temperature or a large amount of rainfall. These issues can cause floating organic matter to grow quickly, and products such as Natural Blast® can be used in conjunction with AquaSphere®PRO to ensure that your water quality remains consistent.
These tips can help you keep a farm pond clean, but if you are already dealing with severe water issues, such a stagnant pond, an excess of sludge, organic matter or weeds, give us a call or contact us via email and we can suggest some products that can help you eliminate these issues.
Learning how to keep a farm pond clean doesn’t have to be difficult, a few preventative measures and some bacterial treatments can go a long way toward improving and maintaining the quality of your farm pond.
I live in Reno Nevada, and I had algae all last summer. I want to avoid it next summer so should I start treating it now? The water is cold now and the algae is gone. Do you recommend I use the natural blast first and than use the sphere? Please advise me, the pond is about 360,000 gallons , thanks Ron
Hi Ron,
We recommend that you treat pond when the water temperature is above 45°F. If you currently do not have any of the “green stuff” on your pond then we would recommend using the AquaSpherePRO’s as a maintenance product.
Our pond experts do offer free personalized treatment plans, I will pass your message along to one of them and have them get in contact with you in case you have further questions. Otherwise you can reach us here or by calling us at 877-948-0303.
Wishing you Healthy Ponds!
We have a runoff pond. It has gotten Lilly pads all over it. Hard for the kids to fish. Now it is murky. How do I clean it. The sludge is so bad you loose your boot in it.
I have a small pond in smithfield Virginia on my hobby farm. Its approx 80×80 feet and 8′ deep. I estimate 1/10th of an acre. It is teaming with blue gill, flathead minnows, bass, and cat fish. The water doesn’t get very clear. It’s fed from a 415′ deep well that pumps an average of 1000 gallons of pure clean well water in each day. I’m controlling algae by hand but I can’t get the water to clear up. Any thoughts?
Hello!
One of our pond experts is going to reach out to you and discuss your pond with you a little further!
Thanks!
We live in Elizabethtown KY and just recently bought a farm with a stocked pond. It is brown and stagnant. Where do I start? We have caught fish and they look healthy. Does rain water and eventual runoff clean the pond? Can I add certain fish that will help keep it cleaner?
Hello,
Would you be able to send us the following information to help us get a better understanding of your pond:
– Physical address of the pond. I can measure the pond using google earth.
– Average depth?
– Do you have any fish? Specifically Koi or Trout?
– Any inflow/outflow or do you irrigate from the pond?
– What issues are you dealing with? Algae, weeds, clarity, odor etc. If you could provide any pictures of the issues that would be great.
You can email us at support@bioverse.com
Thanks!
We have a farm pond in Ethel, MO. Estimated 2 acres. We have a very health fish population, but the vegitation at the edges is getting out of control.
Ideas?
Hi Tery
In order to assist you I would need to know what the vegetation is growing around your pond. Please send pictures to: support@bioverse.com
Thanks!
3/4 acre stock pond in Texas with some catfish, perch, bass and brim.
More than half covered with brown and green algae.
Suggestions?
Good afternoon Rae, if you could please email at tloosbrock@bioverse.com I can help put a plan together to treat your pond. Also any pictures you have of the pond would be helpful. I look forward to hearing from you! Thanks Tanner
Hello, I have a bout a 1/4 acre pond in Minnesota on a farm that is covered in weeds top. I have minnows in the pond but no fish. I want to stock the pond with fish and clean it at the same time. We also have leaches that I want to get rid of in it. Suggestions?
I have a 3/4 acre pond that was constructed in June of 2019. It has a healthy population of bass, bg, and perch. I used alum to clear the pond last summer but after some hard rains this winter the pond is once again very cloudy. The runoff comes out of the woods and seems to be stained. Pond looks like coffee with cream. Any advice would be appreciated. Beyond frustrated.
Hi Jim
Our natural products will help keep your pond healthy and free of organic matter. If you could email me the average depth and physical address of the pond (pictures are always helpful as well) I can put together a treatment plan for you – dstrandberg@bioverse.com
I look forward to hearing from you
Thank
Deb