5000 SF Pond Renovation (Muck Removal Via Gold Dredge)

Industrial Toys · Jun 22, 2020

Sorry. Yes I ramble. I did mistake your OP for suggesting that Turtles and Frogs didn't matter in your pond endeavours.

Our pond is very dark from Tanic (sp?) acid. A haven for Frogs and turtles and tiny fish, whatever they may be, but never more than tiny. Spring Fed, but part of a swamp. Probably, adding areation, especially, when the outflow stops flowing in the summer, would help with FISH, but it's not something I need as another project. So, it just is what it is.

IHDiesel73L · Jun 22, 2020

Industrial Toys said:
Sorry. Yes I ramble. I did mistake your OP for suggesting that Turtles and Frogs didn't matter in your pond endeavours.

I re-read my post and I think I see the reason for the confusion. I had stated that there is no life in the pond beyond turtles and fish so I was not worried about releasing toxic gases into the water. When muck is disturbed it releases hydrogen sulfide gas which is a byproduct of the anaerobic digestion process. Therefore, if you have a mucky pond with fish in it, stirring up the muck or rapidly aerating it has the potential to wipe out all of the fish, so great care must be taken when removing the muck. I don't have any fish to begin with and frogs and turtles, being amphibians aren't really affected by H2S-they can simply go hang out in the swamp right next to the pond if it bothers them. Fish, however, don't have that choice. In any event, the goal is to get the water quality and habitat into much better shape by next spring at which time I will stock with the appropriate fish and await the return of various amphibians that inhabit the pond.

big bubba · Jun 22, 2020

I can't say I really understand what is going on here or what this has to do with the thread? Right now I have a mucky, buggy and not very healthy pond that ONLY supports frogs, turtles and leeches. What I'd like to have is a clearer, healthier and not so buggy pond that supports frogs, turtles AND fish that is as leech free as possible. I don't recall ever expressing that I wanted to get rid of the frogs and turtles ihdiesel73L

just responded to a post that misunderstood a comment on wildlife. tangents are to be expected in a forum like this. after all, i assume one of your pond objectives is to promote & attract wildlife

you didn't say whether the pond is spring fed or runoff. personally i'd go w/excavator as another poster mentioned. otherwise looks like you'll be investing a lot of time & money in a questionable outcome. an excavator will remove underlying muck that a pump cannot.
nonetheless, an interesting project that it seems you've researched quite a bit. good idea to post on the forum
be patient with tangental comments, part of the turf here best regards

Industrial Toys · Jun 22, 2020

Natures idea and ours of what constitutes a "healthy" pond are two entirely different things.

I still think the fish matter is all a matter of areation. No flowing water and no air equals no fish. My worry, if I ever got a windmill or such, is that having done that, now I feel the fish are my responsibility, and if that system fails, the fish will suffer and die.

big bubba · Jun 22, 2020

interesting read, OP may want to research before the project. as Industrial Toys mentioned, aeration is key. spring fed ponds tend to be better aerated. also check out the aquatic plant aerators. looks like you've already done your homework, you may consider the following links as well. best of luck

Pond Eutrophication | Pond Owner Magazine
The Best Oxygenating Pond Plants (Top 8 Plant Species) - Pond Informer

IHDiesel73L · Jun 22, 2020

big bubba said:
you didn't say whether the pond is spring fed or runoff.

I guess you would consider it spring fed. Essentially a big hole was dug in what was a swamp where the water table was fairly close to the surface to begin with. Essentially the hole extends to a maximum depth of about 5'-6" below the water table. It does receive some runoff/sheet flow primarily from the north side. However, in the nearly three years we've been here the water level in the pond has never dropped more than 4" or so-even in the driest spells.

Industrial Toys · Jun 22, 2020

That EXACTLY describes our pond.

I didn't think springs amounted to any aeration to speak of.

We had the pond cleaned up twice. Drained water in the course of a few days with critters making a retreat into the swamp. Then bring in excavators. Really the only game in town. Had pond built out of a wet area with a TEREX 8230 that promptly got stuck and had to bring in a D8 to get it out. Fun! Back in 72.

IHDiesel73L · Jun 22, 2020

Industrial Toys said:
I didn't think springs amounted to any aeration to speak of.

Me either-I would be interested in learning more about that. I always assumed that water only became aerated by tumbling over rocks in a brook or splashing down into a pool, etc... However, I suppose that if the soil has some level of oxygen trapped in it that the water would absorb some as it percolated through.