Small ponds will tend to be greener than bigger ones as they heat up more quickly in spring, creating the perfect conditions for algae etc. It's important to have some 'muck'in the bottom for wildlife though. Make sure you remove any leaves or debris falling in - that will help. I use a handful or two of watercress in spring which absorbs many of the nutrients blanket weed feeds on, and that will clear it quickly - just chuck it in and it will root, or tuck it in somewhere at the edge. It's easy to pull out if it grows too much, and just spreads across the surface helping to give some shade too. Full sun is best for a pond, but as long as it gets some sun through the day it'll be fine. Good luck with it Wendy
My tiny pond is now very clear but has plenty of stuff for any little creatures. The tadpoles all 'frogged' successfully !
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
What are your tadpoles feeding on? They usually feed on decaying matter and daphnia (water fleas) and other tiny creatures in the water. If you're putting fresh water in the pond where are they going to get their nourishment from?
“I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh
Right ok so should i buy some daphnia and put them in,not sure what to do? they do have pond weed in the bucket there in at moment. I read they eat algae,noticed them eating off the side of pond before!
Newly hatched tadpoles eat algae - as they develop they become omniverous eating plant matter/algae and daphnia and other small invertebrates. You can buy daphnia from most aquatic centres and pet shops, but the pond water you threw away probably had plenty in it.
Will you be able to keep the pond from freezing over winter?
“I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh
A pot of water 20" deep will freeze solid in a hard winter and your tadpoles will die - have you got somewhere frostfree where you can move it if we get bad weather this winter?
I would get a bag of daphnia from an aquatic store for your tadpoles.
It is buried in the garden,should it just leave them in the bucket that there being held in and look after them in doors,got me worried now two of the tads are nearly frogs,so what shall I do!
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Lyn, I always top mine up from the tap. The water here is fine, and mercifully for us, un-metered.
Small ponds will tend to be greener than bigger ones as they heat up more quickly in spring, creating the perfect conditions for algae etc. It's important to have some 'muck'in the bottom for wildlife though. Make sure you remove any leaves or debris falling in - that will help. I use a handful or two of watercress in spring which absorbs many of the nutrients blanket weed feeds on, and that will clear it quickly - just chuck it in and it will root, or tuck it in somewhere at the edge. It's easy to pull out if it grows too much, and just spreads across the surface helping to give some shade too. Full sun is best for a pond, but as long as it gets some sun through the day it'll be fine. Good luck with it Wendy
My tiny pond is now very clear but has plenty of stuff for any little creatures. The tadpoles all 'frogged' successfully !
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
How long should I leave tap water to stand before adding back my tadpoles?
What are your tadpoles feeding on? They usually feed on decaying matter and daphnia (water fleas) and other tiny creatures in the water. If you're putting fresh water in the pond where are they going to get their nourishment from?
Right ok so should i buy some daphnia and put them in,not sure what to do? they do have pond weed in the bucket there in at moment. I read they eat algae,noticed them eating off the side of pond before!
Newly hatched tadpoles eat algae - as they develop they become omniverous eating plant matter/algae and daphnia and other small invertebrates. You can buy daphnia from most aquatic centres and pet shops, but the pond water you threw away probably had plenty in it.
Will you be able to keep the pond from freezing over winter?
Well the pot is about 18 or 20 inches deep so hopefully it will survive! So what can I feed the tads in the bucket with while my pond settles?
A pot of water 20" deep will freeze solid in a hard winter and your tadpoles will die - have you got somewhere frostfree where you can move it if we get bad weather this winter?
I would get a bag of daphnia from an aquatic store for your tadpoles.
This may be helpful http://www.arc-trust.org/advice/faqs/spawn-tadpoles-larvae/captive-tadpoles
It is buried in the garden,should it just leave them in the bucket that there being held in and look after them in doors,got me worried now
two of the tads are nearly frogs,so what shall I do!
Ah, well ... fingers crossed then
Remember to float a ball on it or keep an area ice-free in some way to prevent noxious gasses building up in the water underneath the ice http://www.froglife.org/info-advice/pond-problems/