How we treat a clay bottom pond

Most clay/earth bottom ponds are chemically treated causing more problems for the pond owners and leaving them frustraited with how to manage their pond's water quality.
In this video, our first visit to this pond, we showcase how we'll implement key components almost all ponds neglect to have that will promote a healthy ecosystem which results in higher water quality.
The Constructed Wetland Filtration System is a very simple yet effective Filter. It’s a combination of controlled water flow rates combined with a sedimentation chamber and specific grades of River rock that will provide the necessary surface area for microbial colonization.
But before I describe the functions of the Wetland I need to stress the importance of a Mechanical Pre-filter such as a Skim-Cove/Intake Bay both of which will remove large organic compounds from the water before it reaches the Wetland or sinks to the bottom of the pond.
If this simple device is not in place the Wetland Filter will not function properly for two reasons.
1st the leaf debris, uneaten fish food, etc.... will overload the sedimentation chamber over time.
2nd reason is due to dissolved oxygen which we all know is critical for a healthy aquatic ecosystem.
In this particular instance the skimmer or Intake Bay draws the surface water from the surface of the pond during operation.
The surface water will have the highest dissolved oxygen level because the water is in direct contact with the atmosphere.
A healthy Wetland Filter consumes oxygen through a variety of biological processes, the greater the fish load the more critical this becomes, the mixture of sediments, fish waste, dissolved nutrients and oxygen will allow flow into the bottom of the filter.
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Hi, my name is Dan Put, owner of Put’s Ponds and Gardens, LLC. Thanks for tuning in to our channel, be sure to subscribe to our vlog, we’ll be showcasing projects, pond tips and journeys we've been on... Your comments help us to do better and remember to hit that like button!!!

[@freethoth]

I wondered about that snoring. I used to have a Boston Terrier.

[@56PapaBear56]

Looking forward to your updates.

[@PutsPonds]

56PapaBear56 is too 👊🏼

[@julianchoque7402]

the proccess of decaying does not end, u can take the ag and place it as fertilizer

[@specUVdust]

Dude, anybody who has experience keeping aquariums and things like that knows all the stuff already. Most people don’t know it, but the fact that in the first few minutes of your video I was able to say well they need to just remove all that stuff, makes me believe I can handle a pond no problem. I would remove a bunch of the material, and I would make some 50 gallon tote cultures of Infusoria. I might do five cultures for that pond. Now the pond already has Infusoria, but if I added 550 gallon tote cultures to the pond, they would Have a feast on all the organic matter in there. Then you can just let the Infusoria die off, or put in minnows to eat them.

[@frankparrish5657]

This is a great video. I get tired of the instant fix chemical cures that are bad for the pond or artificial to say the least.

[@PutsPonds]

Thanks 👊🏼

[@ericpaulsen8968]

Are there any follow up videos on this project?

[@dennisfeldmann7399]

WOW looking forward to seeing this project. Will the State shut down affect you starting this pond and doing other projects??? Good luck see you soon.

[@PutsPonds]

Dennis Feldmann yes we’ve been advised to Stay Put!!! Governor’s Executive Orders...

[@Rick-the-Swift]

@@PutsPonds Hope you stayed Put because it was the right thing to do, and not just because of some BS "Governor's Executive Orders" lol. That's when it's time to start writing orders back to the Governor for all that they should stop doing which is endangering lives ;)

[@unclegeorge7845]

Where's Part II of this pond video?

[@katreyu2967]

Definitely a big problem of people not knowing what’s happening

[@freshimpactco.8698]

I agree bro, no long term solution....

[@keithburwell]

Is your dog snoring in the truck?!? haha that's hilarious - sure sounds like it

[@keithburwell]

oh! yep - you mentioned it. oops lol

[@PutsPonds]

Yeah she’s a loud snoring puppy that’s for sure…

[@bmike410]

What’s with the snoring?

[@PutsPonds]

😂

[@jumpyfrog5058]

What type of pumps did you end up using on this application? Internal or External? Also what was the flow rate for something of this size? Thank you for the video, very helpful!

[@PutsPonds]

We used submersible pumps with a flow rate of 7500 gph

[@jumpyfrog5058]

@@PutsPonds Great! Thank you for insight!! Appreciate the videos

[@andrewwilson8776]

I have the same type of pond. In regards to the intake bay, what happens when the water level gets to low from summer heat and evaporation and falls below that skimmer that goes into the intake bay? I’m planning on making an intake bay as well after I finish my wetland filter.

[@PutsPonds]

Not all ponds are created equal, this pond happens to have a spring that flows into it...

[@PutsPonds]

You should know your low water mark prior to setting your weir of the intake bay

[@brandydoolittle4026]

Any update?? My husband and I are looking to add a natural pond to our property. We’re in very heavy clay with a high water table. We generally have a seasonal/ wet weather creek that runs through our back yard. Gotta slow it down a bit 🤣

[@Rick-the-Swift]

My wish is to never put a pond in where it will slow down a creek. Most of the the time you will destroy/displace so many invaluable creatures and plants only to have an oversized mosquito pond for your viewing pleasure. It's best to dig a pond where water never was. Then you will be helping the environment and not demolishing it. Hope that helps!

[@johne7123]

@@Rick-the-Swift if you slow down a creek it gives the water a better chance to soak into the ground. Sometimes seasonal creeks can become year round through this technique

[@MrThatguy333]

@@johne7123 I know this is old, but I'm wondering if you have a direction I can look in to learn more about this. Thank you

[@Rick-the-Swift]

@@johne7123 Interesting. Could you explain a bit more about how the process works, maybe with a real life example? I understand how putting a pond in will slowly saturate the ground around and beneath it, just not sure how it could make a seasonal creak become a year round one. Sounds fascinating

[@bradshantz2272]

Are you gonna hand pull a lot of that algae bloom too , to give things a head start on getting rid of extra nutrients or are you gonna let the cove suck it in

[@PutsPonds]

Brad Shantz the homeowner will start bacteria treatments prior to us starting our portion. When we arrive yes we’ll most likely hand skim what we can from shore so it won’t clog the skim cove over night

[@Rick-the-Swift]

I thought the same thing. Still not quite understanding the process lol. Oh well, not my pond to worry over.. cheers

[@peters6850]

I just bought a house with this exact problem! I want to drain it, dredge out the muck, put a liner down to keep the rocks from sinking into the clay. Line the whole bottom with rocks, put a wetland filter on one side and an intake bay on the other just as you've described in this video. My question is, will the rocks stay exposed so their biofilm helps the pond or will it eventually get buried with silt and stuff? The pond is big enough that I can't/won't want to drain it to clean it out once it's in place. Thank you

[@PutsPonds]

Great question 👍🏻 if you’re going to that extent, go the extra mile and install an intake bay/skim cove to skim the surface of the water and keep the extra leaf drop off the bottom. Add aeration and use Aquascapes Pond & Lake water treatments (4 products) and you won’t have to drain every year 👊🏼

[@peters6850]

@@PutsPonds thank you! I appreciate it and can tell you know your stuff

[@captaincanuck5400]

Hi, I have a small pond in my backyard I need some advice on. I have done nothing with it yet, do I need a wetland filter?? Its like a big mud puddle now. What should be my first steps?? Cheers

[@PutsPonds]

If you’d like to discuss your options feel free to give us a call... phone number is on our website 👊🏼

[@JanieBee]

Dont some fish eat algae? Personally I think it's just nature- so what if it doesnt look pretty 💛

[@PutsPonds]

I love the way you think…!!

[@Rick-the-Swift]

Good information and assessment of problem. I would have liked to have learned something about why the original builder's waterfall filtration system didn't work. Was it electrical equipment failure? Under-sized pump and/or filter? Either way, hopefully your solutions to whatever the problem was worked.

[@PutsPonds]

The original contractor just built a waterfall and not an up flow wetland filter… it didn’t trap heavy organics from the system.

[@Rick-the-Swift]

@@PutsPonds whoa, I just now found your reply on youtube after 2 years, lol. Hope things are still going well for you. I agree that wetland filtration is the way to go when you can move water. But what about an earthen pond which has no pump- how does one go about keeping algae at bay in still water? Not that I currently have that problem, as I'm still yet to build my first pond, just asking for a friend right now, lol.

[@PutsPonds]

@@Rick-the-Swift aeration, beneficial bacteria, phosphate binders… check out our “how to treat” earthen pond video with lake treatments

[@landen99]

This video is titled clay removal but focuses only on algae and muck management with skimmers.

[@PutsPonds]

Because it’s how we improve water quality in earth bottom (clay) ponds without the use of chemicals… chemicals (algaecide and aquatic herbicide) only add to the nutrient loads on the bottom of ponds… by treating ponds naturally ( and adding filtration) we can game n water quality over time

[@landen99]

@@PutsPonds Any tips on clay removal from a small backyard pond? Some clay is dissolved and some is on the bottom with some clay soil. Currently using bacteria and gypsum pellets and cotton fabric in the filter.

[@willharvell9753]

What causes the bubbles rising in ponds that you see on some golf course ponds?

[@PutsPonds]

Will, pond that are not maintained are subject to high nutrient levels (muck). When the levels build up so much, undisolved oxygen build up and turn the nutrients over, this is called thermocline, sending the nutrients around the pond causing algae. Aeration and proper management can cure this

[@willharvell9753]

I just googled it. It's called diffused areation.

[@subz3ro43]

Alligator

[@dragonladee3721]

Our duck pond was dug on a clay area...TOTAL NIGHTMARE! Algae non stop and difficult filtration that is blocked every day. We are now pumping all the water out, putting down a liner and putting a fountain in. Going to replant tons of plants again and fence those off because the ducks and geese just tear them all out every year. We wanted a natural pond but that did not work out at all because of duck and goose poop. All algae treatments were useless. Barley was useless too. Ponds are difficult to maintain without proper circulation, filtration and oxygen. Hopefully we'll get it right this time. :)

[@PutsPonds]

Good luck to you

[@dragonladee3721]

@@PutsPonds Thanks! I love my pets and want the best for them. I'll take pics. ;)

[@clydebethatway7485]

How big is your pond and how much is your liner gonna be I just did a pond from my in-laws and got the same problem respond back to me it will be interesting to see how you make out

[@dragonladee3721]

@@clydebethatway7485 50 feet diameter . Pumped all the water out and just refilled as is. Didn't put down a liner because then would have needed to get 2 loads of dirt at 275$ each, 2 liners taped together, etc. The cost ended up being over 1000$ BUT, pumping all the water out actually did so much good. No more green water. It is grayish beige like the clay. Replanted bushes around half of it that the geese don't bother with so the plants are nicely rooted. Even had a blue heron land in the pond and stay for a little while. The clay makes it impossible to have clear water but loads of frogs in there so just pumping out years of algae was really satisfying. I will do it each year now and keep it healthy. When the frogs move in, you know you have good water. :)

[@clydebethatway7485]

@@dragonladee3721 I’m

[@MrManueleh]

Could you harvest it for compost?

[@PutsPonds]

You could yes…

[@Kicks001]

Any update on this project? I'm very interested in what you are doing here.

[@PutsPonds]

We will be posting weekly updates to our KZbin channel... just have to get through editing the content

[@randolphtorres4172]

THANKSGIVING ??What bacteria are you using to speed up the process.

[@PutsPonds]

We advise aeration as well as Aquascapes Lake Bacteria Booster

[@randolphtorres4172]

Thanks very much young man.

[@Rick-the-Swift]

IMO you;d just be adding bacteria that will compete and slow down the existing bacteria. Just let nature take it's course. You'll be fine

[@DJ-uk5mm]

Grass carp is the best solution

[@andreaberryman5354]

Algae is beautiful...☹🤷‍♀️

[@Rick-the-Swift]

Except to a bunch of spoiled rich capitalist commies who don't like the look of it...☹🤷‍♀️

[@coryrichmond4651]

Does the pump get clogged with all the floating debris? Do you come back everyday for the rest of the customer’s life to keep the intake clear? It’s a good idea until you analyze it. I’m with Maggie on this one...Zzzzzz

[@PutsPonds]

The intake-bay was designed to skim the surface of the pond so it can be collected and not sink to the bottom of the pond. During the fall season, peak leaf drop, yes daily physical collection can be needed.... but consider the alternative

[@EliMooner]

Update on this?

[@PutsPonds]

Not yet...

[@epicdabber1008]

hi

[@keblee2443]

Hold up... you were recording a video on your phone, and holding a sleeping pug......... while driving. Okay see this is why we cant have nice things.

[@PutsPonds]

For the record.... she’s a Boston Terrier!!!

[@Rick-the-Swift]

Hold up, so you are blaming Put for his ability to handle a car, cell phone, and doggie all at once as a reason for governments restricting your own ability to have stuff?? I think I'm going to soak my head in a sink full of cold water for a bit before I a consider this comment thread any further..whoa

[@visgotti]

homie you shouldn't be recording while driving especially with a dog on your lap lol, good info in the vid tho

[@PutsPonds]

😂 good point… pretty sure the camera was mounted, maybe not.

[@whisperingsage]

I love when KZbinrs include their pets in the video.