famr pond clear water for swimming

[pdmholmes]

Hi y'all - I have a 1/2 acre farm pond, 3 or 4 yrs old, and want to keep it clear enough for swimming. I have an bottom aerator I placed last year but this year have noticed an increase in algea and a few floating little islands on the far side. I want to stay ahead of a problem if possible - a second diffuser placed at othe rend? more beneficial bacteria?
also my floating dock is fairly tippy so looking for a better design for a second one - maybe just wider? mine is around 4x4 feet

 

[HarryN]

I'm curious to hear solutions to "clear" the water. Good luck.

 

[OldMcDonald]

I will receive a lot of flack for this post, but please be aware of the dangers of swimming in still waters. The top water is warm and then there is a sudden drop in temperature. Every year many people around the world die from cramping up when they hit this depth. There have been quite a few deaths reported already in Portugal this year and summer has hardly started. According to a government statement I saw last week, inland water deaths exceed those in the sea most years, and this is a country with more than half its border being the Atlantic, with huge numbers of northern Europeans, plus locals, flocking to the coastal tourist resorts. I am personally aware of people that have died, and know two more that were lucky enough to survive. No need to forego your fun, just take care, and make sure that there are always more than one swimmer at the pond in case a rescue is needed.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

No, I don't think I'd be concerned about the cold water - but - this one bothers me a bit.

Waterborne Illness Naelgeria Fowleri | American Camp Association

 

[moeh1]

watched a guy on Deadliest Catch jump into a crab tank on the boat for a $100 bet. That has to be about 31 degree salt water. I thought I might die just watching...

 

[OldMcDonald]

I am talking about farm ponds too. Cold enough for adults, let alone youngsters, to cramp enough to drown. It happens many times every summer all over the world. I have already posted about Portugal. Many people do not know that cramps drown people in farm ponds, did you? I did say no need to forego his fun, just take care.

Of course those who habitually swim in such conditions acquire a sort of immunity through training in colder conditions (the same as altitude training by athletes when they are going to compete in events at high altitude) and they become accustomed to low temperatures. The English Channel is frequently swum and the temperature is low but these people spend maybe a couple of years in training in similar conditions before attempting the swim.

 

[oosik]

Couple of things here. OldMcDonald is describing what is called the thermocline. At a depth(normally 2-3 feet) in a body of water where the temps make a dramatic change. Most dangerous when you dive, head first, into a body of water. Your head & upper body penetrates the thermocline and encounters cold or very cold water. Natural reaction to this is inhale deeply because of temperature shock. Natural conclusion - end of story. My little lake develops a thermocline at about 3 feet below the surface. It is most dangerous for those who have never experienced this condition - they are not prepared and can react very violently to temperature shock.

It is important for a pond or lake to keep as much of farm yard or agricultural land runoff out of the lake. The added nutrients will result in increased algae growth. Increased aeration will reduce algae. Be aware, if you increase aeration it can cause what is called "overturn" in your pond. Its where all the crud on the bottom comes to the top, becomes oxygenated & dies and creates one horrid stench. If this should happen - do not turn off the aerators, they will be your eventual salvation. The crud will become fully oxygenated and the odor will go away. How long this process will take depends upon the amount of crud, the amount of aeration, weather and water temps. Usual time for an active system to overturn and clear 7-10 days.

 

[farmer2009]

He shouldn't have to be concerned with water stratification. He said he has a bottom aerator. One of the benifits to them is that they are suppose to equalize the temperature from top to bottom. But the down fall is a murky water. But murky water is good because it cuts sunlight infiltration aiding in algae control.

Now back to the op's question. You can dye the water and add copper sulfate for some control. But if the algae is bad then you may have to resort to herbicides as algae is a plant. Was told at one point you could add Alma (?sp). It's used to drop everything out of the water but I bet that would get expensive. The second defusermay be your best shot. There are online sites to determine how many defusers you need for your pond.

 

[txdon]

[h=2]Organism in ponds, lakes can be deadly.[/h]
We had a child in the community die some years ago from swimming in a pond when he contracted primary amebic meningoencephalitis. Be careful.

"To protect themselves, people should avoid swimming in smaller bodies of water between July and October when it is very warm, health officials said. People who swim or dive in lakes should use nose plugs, said Jean Carver, information specialist for the St. Johns health department. Also, avoid swimming near the bottom or stirring up sediment where the amoeba cysts, or eggs, are commonly found."

 

[Larro Darro]

People around here buy a few carp to put in their ponds. They will keep it clean for you. You should get the kind that can't reproduce though, or you will have a carp problem. But we always swam in our pond, which was full of moss and lily pads. It was about a 5 acre pond though.