Learn the Basics of Pond Dye
There are many reasons to use pond dye from Chromatech, including algae management, minimizing fish predation, and giving your pond the striking visual presence that you’ve always wanted. Pond dyes work by limiting the amount of light that travels through the water, making it harder for algae to grow and creating places for fish to hide. Follow this guide to help you along in choosing the best pond dye for your needs.
Pond Dye Color Choices
When selecting a pond dye, there are three common colors that are available; turquoise, blue, and black. Each will have it’s own visual impact, and picking the right color can make or break the ambiance that you’re trying to create.
Turquoise pond dye will create a tropical looking body of water, and is best used in sandy areas.
Black pond dye creates a dramatic visual in terms of your pond. The dark color maximizes reflection and gives an impression that the water is very deep. Black pond dye is also valuable to keepers of ornamental fish, making it difficult for predatory birds to see them in the water.
Blue pond dye will give you a natural blue color while still reflecting some of the outside surroundings.
Pond Dye Application
The first step to adding pond dye is knowing how much you will need. Each manufacturer will have their own recommended concentration, but firstly you will need to know the volume or area of your pond. To approximate volume in gallons, use the following formulas:
- Square pond: Multiply length (ft) x width (ft) x average depth (ft) x 7.5
- Round pond: Multiply diameter (ft) x diameter (ft) x average depth (ft) x 5.9
In some cases you may need to know the surface area, rather than volume. To approximate the surface area in acres, use these formulas:
- Square pond: Multiply length (ft) x width (ft) and then divide by 43,560
- Round pond: Multiply circumference in feet by itself and divide by 547,390
- To calculate acre/feet, multiply the result of the above formula by the average depth of the pond.
Now that you’ve found the approximate volume or area of your pond, you can begin adding pond dye to the water. Follow the manufacturer’s recommended concentration guidelines, but generally speaking you want enough dye in the water that you cannot see an object suspended 1.5′ – 2′ below the surface.
There are two common forms of pond dye, either a liquid or water soluble powder dye packets. When adding pond dye it’s best to do so in multiple locations, letting the wind and natural current of the water disperse the dye. After 24 hours, or sooner if you’re using an aerator or fountain, most dyes will be evenly dispersed throughout the water. Periodically check the depth at which a suspended object is no longer visible, and re-apply dye as necessary. Typically, dyes will last 1 – 2 months before needing reapplication, but factors such as rainfall or water movement can reduce that time.
Contact Chromatech today to see how our pond dyes can work for you!