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Why is my water foamy?
ASKED BY: Luke of Belen, NM
ASKED BY: Luke of Belen, NM

Why is my water foamy?

A:  Is foamy water making your pond look more like the inside of a washing machine than an aquatic oasis? All that bubbly white or gray buildup is likely being caused by an excess of organic material in the water.

Accumulation happens when too many fish are living in the pond, you're overfeeding them, filtration is inadequate or there's runoff seeping into your water garden. Then, as the water flows down your waterfall, air and water collide, causing the proteins and other organics to be trapped inside bubbles rather than turning into ammonia and nitrites. Air-water collision is why the foam forms, particularly the base of your waterfall.

What's the Solution?
Short-term, you can change out part of the pond's water to remove the foam. When you do, be sure to add some Stress Reducer Plus to the fresh water, which will form a beneficial slime coat on your fish and make tap water safe for them. In addition, add Defoam to your water. Safe for fish, plants and wildlife, you simply shake the bottle and pour the recommended dosage into the pond. The foam will disappear in no time.

Long-term, you have several options:

  • Increase Filtration: Boost your filtration by adding plants to your pond or increasing the capacity of your existing filtration system.
  • Relocate Fish: Too many fish will produce excess waste, which means more foam. The rule is to allow 1-2 koi or 2-3 goldfish per 200 gallons of water, so if you have too many koi or goldfish in your pond, you might want to think about finding new homes for some of them.
  • Cut Back on Meals: If you're feeding your fish too much or too often, the excess food adds to the extra organic material in your pond's water. Only feed your fish an amount they'll eat in a few minutes.
  • Add Nutrient-Eating Bacteria: To help break down the nutrient load in the water, add beneficial bacteria in such as, LiquidClear to work. They digest the dead organics in the pond, making the water crystal clear and foam free.
  • Aerate the Water: Aeration will also help reduce the nutrient load by circulating the water column and feeding fresh oxygen to the busy bacteria.

Foamy water can be a nuisance, but once you achieve some balance in your pond's ecosystem, those bubbles will disappear in no time.