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How to Make Farm Pond Water Turn Blue

Amanda Flanigan

Adding blue pond dye can create a stunning effect in your pond. Gone are the days of murky brown pond water. Blue pond dyes have a positive effect on ponds in other ways beside cosmetic.

The dye reduces the amount of sunlight that enters the pond thus controlling the quantity of plant life (including algae) that grows in your pond. Dying your pond blue does not cause any adverse reactions to fish or humans and is relatively simple to implement.

  1. Buy your pond dye. Blue pond dyes are available from many different companies even though the ingredients in the dyes are generally the same. Pond dyes can be found at many farm and tractor stores or from various online merchants. Read all directions and warnings on the label of the container before use. Be sure to follow the directions accordingly. Never use the blue pond dye in any other way than its intended purpose.

  2. Wear rubber gloves when working with the blue pond dye. Wearing rubber gloves will protect your hands from staining. If dye comes in contact with skin, wash thoroughly with warm, soapy water.

  3. Pour the blue pond dye into various areas of your pond. This will ensure an even dispersion of color. Apply at a rate of 1 quart of pond dye per 1 surface acre of water 4-6 feet deep. This may vary depending on the brand of pond dye you have purchased. For detailed instructions based on the brand you bought, follow the directions located on the back of the container.

  4. Apply more pond dye to your water when you start to notice the color fading. The dye typically lasts three months but could fade sooner depending on rainwater dilution and biodegradation.

  5. 48 hours after the initial application of dye, lower a weighted white object attached to a string into you water. Measure how far down the white object goes until it is no longer visible. This allows you to get a reading of how much blue color is present in the water. Every two to three weeks lower the weighted white object down into the water in the same spot that you took the initial reading. If you have to lower the white object farther before it is no longer visible, then it is time to add more dye.

Tip

For darker shades of blue, add more dye to your body of water. Pond dyes are safe for all animals and humans. After the dye is added to your pond, it will not stain clothes, hair or skin. Fish living in a pond that has been dyed blue are safe for consumption. Water from a pond that has been dyed can be used as irrigation of all crops.

Warning

Read all directions and warnings located on the blue pond dye container or packaging. Always wear protective clothing when handling any type of chemical.