Posted by john wesley on July 21, 2011, 7:48 am
About a month ago we bought a pond lily: Nymphaea Marliacea Alblda in
aquatic compost of 100% clay granules it said on the packet.
The instructions were to remove fish put lily in pond and wait util the
water clears, then replace fish.
Since its difficult to find a place for the gold fish we left them in the
pond (or more accurately a large water storage tank about 4' x 4' x 5') and
put the lily in a large bucket (with a couple of goldfish to eat the worms
that are eating the leaves) and we occaisionaly run water through it to
clear the water, which is still going very cloudy.
Having just read the packet again more carefully it says *not* to change the
water to get rid of the cloudiness and let it clear naturally.
What causes this cloudiness ? And we wonder why we are still getting it a
month later. Grateful for any suggestions as to what we should do next.
Thanks.
Posted by Stephen Wolstenholme on July 21, 2011, 8:23 am
On Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:48:21 +0100, "john wesley"
>About a month ago we bought a pond lily: Nymphaea Marliacea Alblda in
>aquatic compost of 100% clay granules it said on the packet.
>The instructions were to remove fish put lily in pond and wait util the
>water clears, then replace fish.
>Since its difficult to find a place for the gold fish we left them in the
>pond (or more accurately a large water storage tank about 4' x 4' x 5') and
>put the lily in a large bucket (with a couple of goldfish to eat the worms
>that are eating the leaves) and we occaisionaly run water through it to
>clear the water, which is still going very cloudy.
>Having just read the packet again more carefully it says *not* to change the
>water to get rid of the cloudiness and let it clear naturally.
>What causes this cloudiness ? And we wonder why we are still getting it a
>month later. Grateful for any suggestions as to what we should do next.
>Thanks.
The clay granules make the water cloudy. It will eventually clear
unless there is water turbulence caused by a waterfall or fountain.
Steve
--
Neural network software applications, help and support.
Neural Planner Software www.NPSL1.com
Posted by Chris Hogg on July 21, 2011, 10:50 am
On Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:48:21 +0100, "john wesley"
>About a month ago we bought a pond lily: Nymphaea Marliacea Alblda in
>aquatic compost of 100% clay granules it said on the packet.
>The instructions were to remove fish put lily in pond and wait util the
>water clears, then replace fish.
>Since its difficult to find a place for the gold fish we left them in the
>pond (or more accurately a large water storage tank about 4' x 4' x 5') and
>put the lily in a large bucket (with a couple of goldfish to eat the worms
>that are eating the leaves) and we occaisionaly run water through it to
>clear the water, which is still going very cloudy.
>Having just read the packet again more carefully it says *not* to change the
>water to get rid of the cloudiness and let it clear naturally.
>What causes this cloudiness ? And we wonder why we are still getting it a
>month later. Grateful for any suggestions as to what we should do next.
>Thanks.
Probably the goldfish. They nose about in the 'mud' that the lily is
growing in, looking for food, and stir it up. Alternatively, it may be
that the pH of the water is such that it naturally supports a haze,
either of algae or fine clay particles. Adding a bit of ground
limestone might help, found these days masquerading as 'lime' in
garden centres, but usually isn't old fashioned lime, as garden
centres don't want the H&S hassle of handling such caustic stuff (but
you'd better check, just in case....). Westland do granulated ground
limestone.
But I wouldn't be in a hurry either to expect the water to clear or to
put the lily in the pond. When I bought lilies for my pond, I had them
in small barrels for about twelve months (as the pond wasn't finished)
before planting them into big containers in aquatic compost, then
covering the soil surface with coarse gravel, and lowering them into
the bottom of the pond. Mind you, they were rather small when bought,
(GBP 1.50 each from Morrison's, red, white and yellow, look lovely now
in the pond.)
--
Chris
Gardening in West Cornwall overlooking the sea.
Mild, but very exposed to salt gales
Posted by Charlie Pridham on July 21, 2011, 5:47 pm
> About a month ago we bought a pond lily: Nymphaea Marliacea Alblda in
> aquatic compost of 100% clay granules it said on the packet.
> The instructions were to remove fish put lily in pond and wait util the
> water clears, then replace fish.
> Since its difficult to find a place for the gold fish we left them in the
> pond (or more accurately a large water storage tank about 4' x 4' x 5')
> and put the lily in a large bucket (with a couple of goldfish to eat the
> worms that are eating the leaves) and we occaisionaly run water through it
> to clear the water, which is still going very cloudy.
> Having just read the packet again more carefully it says *not* to change
> the water to get rid of the cloudiness and let it clear naturally.
> What causes this cloudiness ? And we wonder why we are still getting it a
> month later. Grateful for any suggestions as to what we should do next.
> Thanks.
Part of the cloudiness is being caused by the fish digging, part by the
algae which feeds on nutrients in the water, the reason not to change the
water is that eventually the lily will start growing and use a lot of these
nutrients plus its leaves will expand and cut the light available to the
algae. by changing the water you are constantly adding more nutrient which
will stop the water having a chance to clear, too many fish make getting the
balance right hard as well.
--
Charlie, Gardening in Cornwall
Holders of National Collections of Clematis viticella
and Lapageria rosea cvs
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Posted by Bill Grey on July 22, 2011, 5:36 pm
> About a month ago we bought a pond lily: Nymphaea Marliacea Alblda in
> aquatic compost of 100% clay granules it said on the packet.
> The instructions were to remove fish put lily in pond and wait util the
> water clears, then replace fish.
> Since its difficult to find a place for the gold fish we left them in the
> pond (or more accurately a large water storage tank about 4' x 4' x 5')
> and
> put the lily in a large bucket (with a couple of goldfish to eat the worms
> that are eating the leaves) and we occaisionaly run water through it to
> clear the water, which is still going very cloudy.
> Having just read the packet again more carefully it says *not* to change
> the
> water to get rid of the cloudiness and let it clear naturally.
> What causes this cloudiness ? And we wonder why we are still getting it a
> month later. Grateful for any suggestions as to what we should do next.
> Thanks.
Goldfish, being carp, love to dig in the soil. You have to put stones
on top of the container soil to prevent this.
Bigger stone for bigger fish.
You will probably get green algae too. Caused by nitrogen from the
fish crap. You need a water treatment sytem to clear this.
A couple of bags of Daphnea from your local pet shop or fish food suplier
will soon clear any algae
The Daphnea will probably turn green having eaten the algae.
Bill
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>aquatic compost of 100% clay granules it said on the packet.
>The instructions were to remove fish put lily in pond and wait util the
>water clears, then replace fish.
>Since its difficult to find a place for the gold fish we left them in the
>pond (or more accurately a large water storage tank about 4' x 4' x 5') and
>put the lily in a large bucket (with a couple of goldfish to eat the worms
>that are eating the leaves) and we occaisionaly run water through it to
>clear the water, which is still going very cloudy.
>Having just read the packet again more carefully it says *not* to change the
>water to get rid of the cloudiness and let it clear naturally.
>What causes this cloudiness ? And we wonder why we are still getting it a
>month later. Grateful for any suggestions as to what we should do next.
>Thanks.