My wildlife pond has no filter or pump and this is its third year. Other than a little blanket weed which I keep in check with barley straw and by fishing out the rest with a pole from a blind (useful hook on the end!), I only got slightly murky water in spring which cleared itself. That was until recently when the water started to turn grey and a bit smelly. I inherited some goldfish last year and they were on the surface a lot, which I know is an oxygen problem. I had to resort to using 'Clear Pond' which worked once before when this happened, but didn't seem to be so good this time. I did a partial water change of about 25% which nearly did me in because the pond's 9' x 8'.

I have loads of oxygenators, Elodeas and Hornwort and the surface is well covered with Lilies, Parrot's Feather and another plant.

I've since put in Sludge Buster and I've also bought Bio Start, which I haven't used yet.

Any help would be very gratefully received. Please don't tell me to get a pump or filter because that isn't my plan. I have frogs, snails and at least one newt that came with the donated Hornwort. I manage to keep the water really clear usually, but I believe it could be the stuff from the Lime trees which turns the water at a certain time. Any ideas anyone?

Thanks in advance.

I know it's not a popular idea, but I share your hesitance about pumps and wonder if ponds, particularly wildlife ponds really do need the technology or chemicals for that matter. But that does mean letting the life (including fish) find their own balance given the size, available oxygen and nutrients in that particular habitat, and accept not every species will thrive in my own particular hole in the ground.

The other thought is whether something large has died in your pond...

The sticky stuff is nothing to do with needing netting...it comes down like very, very fine droplets. I think it might be honeydew?

I also think it could occur only at a certain time, which is probably why it happened last year as well, but I managed to clear it with Clear Pond. Would using Sludge Buster in July/August next year help? The rest of the year I have no problem and the pond seems to have found its own balance without the aid of chemicals.

I didn't build the pond underneath the trees. They are now stretching nearly a third over my garden. It would personally cost me hundreds of pounds to get a proper tree surgeon in to cut back everything that overhangs my garden. I'd do it if I won the lottery. I had to ask them to pollard the trees some years ago but, annoyingly, the guys that did the job took branches mostly from their side where the trees grow and not from my side.

Extra oxygen would would help the fish, and should greatly accellerate the breakdown of whatever nasties are in the pond (either by natural bacteria, or by sludgebuster).

Remember, oxygenating plants only make oxygen when there is sunlight. At night they will CONSUME oxygen instead - in extreme cases you will see the fish gasping at the surface in the early morning because the oxygen levels can drop dangerously low. Keep your "so called" oxygenators under control...

I only started the Sludge Buster after I'd used Clear Pond, which didn't work as well this time. I've now tried Bio Start and will alternate these for a while on advice of a friend.

The truth is that the disgusting black gunk that sticks to plants is the problem here. It is obviously poisoning the water and I've now approached the estate agent which deals with the place. Unfortunately the owners have been letting it for a few years, as they're in Australia. Typically, they've now decided to sell, which adds to my problems, but with a bit of luck, I might be able to get the letting agents to employ tree surgeons before any sale goes ahead. These trees are about 60 feet high and branches stretch out over a third of my garden now. Keep your fingers crossed for me that I can get something done.....

Thanks, all.

As I understand it (and please bear in mind I am no legal expert!) I thought you were OK to lop any branches overhanging your property. OK, you can't totally cut down anything that isn't on your property, but I am sure that I've heard that you can cut back anything that overhangs your property as far as your border.

My totally unprofessional advice would be to lop back anything overhanging your boundary & then talk to new owners when you get them - and in the meantime seek advice from Council and Citizens Advice Bureau.

Plus, owners are in Australia so who's going to know?

I suggest you contact your local council, who have new laws to combat this, & CAB to find out your rights, but am sure you can cut back anything overhanging your property!

This is a conservation area, so that's one problem that will delay things. I have, in fact, contacted the estate agent dealing with the property, as it's been rented out for a few years now and they are dealing with the property till some time in 2006. The guy I dealt with was meant to be contacting garden people capable of doing the job last week and I'm due a visit so the trees can be seen by them. It's not just the end of branches that's causing the problem. They overhang my garden now by about a third. The Yellow Flags, Water Lily leaves and other plants in my 9ft x 8ft pond all have this nasty black gunk on them. All the branches that overhang my garden need to be cut back and most of them are too high to reach myself, even with a 20 foot pruner. The trees are approximately 50 - 55 feet high and it really is a major job.

My little digital camera doesn't give a good enough idea of the scale of the problem, but believe me, it's no joke!

I'm hoping I get lucky and the estate agent gets someone in to do the job before the flat gets sold, otherwise the new owners won't be happy about paying hundreds of pounds out after they've just bought the place.