I need some advice on cleaning small ponds, because a friends has become very murky and muddy so you can't see much of whats going on. They don't really want to replace the water, would some sort of fountain or filter help?

If anyone has any ideas I would be very grateful!

How long is a length of string? If is is only a small wildlife pond I would read up an aweful lot & see what they think about biological filters. They are not even too hard to make from a plastic toilet tank. If you go down the route of fountains you have to have some clear water or you will be forever cleaning out the strainer on the pump, Although one good way in addition to that is make a small waterfall & grow watercress in the waterfall that in itself becomes a  biological filter.
Elodea crispum planted in plant pots at the bottom of the pond is one sort of 'oxygenator' & will help use up nutrients that algae feed on if you have green water.
Personally I would get the water out & keep dig out the mud , replace the water back in & top up. Plant up & wait for it to clear. If all else fails then looks for other ways. If you are talking about green water  the success is in the planting , oxygenators ,marginals & then cover 2/3rds pond surface with either lily leaves or a good thing for a wild life pond is duckweed.(although it goes mad all you have to do is keep clearing a viewing area).
If you go down the fish route (ie we keep koi) what are you doing for the next millenium???

This post was last modified: 01-06-2007 09:27 PM by tibbar.

Thanks Tibbar, I'll have a chat with them and see exactly what they want. I think I remember them saying that they intended to keep fish in there in the future if they can get it clean.