Habitat - Outdoor :: Urget help needed...Why does my pond keep turning green?

[sheilacp]

Hi, all...noob here. We have two turts in a 100 gallon pond. We have a Cascade 700 filter. We got the turts 2 weeks ago today, and the water was fine until last Saturday when it started turning green. By Sunday morning, you couldn't see into the water at all...really opaque. So we pumped out the pond, cleaned out the "yuck", and refilled it. At that time I realized I had the heater set too high, so I turned it down. I thought all would be well after that. By Tuesday evening (yesterday) it was starting to turn green again, but not as bad. It was raining this morning so I didn't go out and check the water, but I have a feeling it will be opaque again by tonight. What gives? (I have checked the filter and it is working) I have two water plants in pots (not submerged, just resting on the shelf of the pond)...the problems started when I introduced those plants. Coincidence, or could that be the problem? I'm really stressed about this...I want to give Fred and Wilma a nice home! (And my hubby is getting ticked...he wasn't all for the turts anyway!) I heard somewhere that this isn't unusual and will go away, but I'm not sure if that is correct. Please help!

Vital stats:
We have city water so I use water conditioner
The pond gets some sun during the day but not all day
The water is typically around 70 degrees
We live in Michigan...warm days and cool nights (hence the heater in the summer)

[mzkitty23]

I don't think 70 is warm enough for the water for the turtles. but, as far as the green stuff, have you tried any of the liquid algae preventatives for the pond? Are there any algae eaters in there? (i recently dealt with an algae problem with my inside tank and my friend's outside pond).

[megcornell]

I think another solution is to grow something like duckweed in the pond. The duckweed uses the nutrients that are allowing the algae to growth so well in your pond, and may be a good option.

[sheilacp]

I have the water set at around 70-75 degrees, since that is what the lady I got the turtles from told me. I did have it set at around 80, but then I was afraid that the water being too warm (especially in the summer) might have caused the algea.

I haven't yet tried any of the algea preventatives...I was hoping to not have to use any artificial stuff, but maybe I'll have to.

I'll try the duckweed if I can find some!

Thanks for the suggestions...keep them coming please!

[mzkitty23]

I would get a submersable temp guage to see how hot the water gets during the day. You're right if you set it at 75 and it goes over 75, it would just shut off, but as far as I know 70 would be too cold for the turts (anyone else comment about this?) I think it's better for them to get hot than too cold! I don't think the heat matters on the algae, just the sun shining on it causes the algae. I know my friend's pond is very cold water and it was covered just like yours.

I can tell you that the algae preventative WORKS, that's what I had to do. I think mine was called "no more algae" and my tank went from totally green to totally clear when I started using it, but I had to clean out the existing algae first. But, if you want to try natural first, I would suggest a pleco in conjunction with the duck weed. Your turtle may or may not eat it, a lot of tims they don't eat those.

The Cascade 700 is for 65g, so your filter is not big enough. the 1000 is for 100g, so that prob. is an issue too, the turtles are pretty messy! I know that my friend has to clean hers out in the inside really often on her pond too.

[Terryo]

You need to get a UV (ultraviolet) sterilizer light. You can attach it to your filter. This will eliminate all algae.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... =3578+4393

[crackerlady2007]

We use some algae treatment in our tank. Doesn't seem like to completely takes care of it, but it helps.

[SpotsMama]

My turtle lives in the summer in a 500 gallon outdoor pond. It gets partial sun. He shares the pond with about 100 minnows, so the waste load is fairly significant. Last year I had occasional green water algae. I used a UV serilizer with a fresh bulb and, when it got bad, I'd take Spot out of the pond for a few days while I used Algaefix to clear the water.

This year the setup is the same except I'm not using the UV sterilizer and there's a lot of duckweed growing on the surface. There has been no green water - the water has been clear all summer. I think the duckweed, along with a coating of green algae on the floor and walls of the pond, consumes all the waste in the water. I love duckweek. It looks pretty, keeps the water clear, provides shade for Spot and the fish, and they eat it too. It grows so thickly that every few days we have to net out some so that it doesn't cover the surface completely.

Unless your turtles are fairly small, two turtles in a 100 gallon pond is a lot of turtle....and a lot of turtle waste. It will be difficult to keep the water quality high with that much turtle in the pond if the turts are more than a few inches long.