Lake Restoration Dye in a pond with shallow to deep water.

Pond Dye: The Ultimate Guide 2024

Pond dye is used to enhance the natural color and beauty of your landscape, provide a natural pond shade, and improve water quality. This article will help you find the right pond dye for you. Pond dye is best used in conjunction with herbicide and algaecide applications.

3 Reasons to Use a Pond Dye

  • A Prettier Look: Ponds, like any body of water, are constantly affected and altered by the environments around them. Pond dye infuses water with a burst of color. Cloudy, brown, or green water transforms into a beautiful and inviting shade of blue or a brilliant, mirror-like black. Pond dye completely revitalizes the aesthetic of a pond and its surrounding environment.
  • Helps Control Algae Growth: A natural growth that can cause your water to turn a sickly color is algae. Lake Restoration dye works by filtering sunlight colors (red-orange and blue-violet) that are known to promote underwater weed and algae growth (critical to photosynthesis). It helps block some of the sun’s rays during those hot days, which can reduce the formation of an algae bloom.
  • Promotes a Balanced Ecosystem: Excessive sunlight promotes overgrowth of submerged aquatic plants and algae. Using a dye limits sun exposure, protects fish, and promotes a balanced ecosystem. It protects fish by keeping the water cooler which allows them to breathe easier during the summer.

What’s the Best Color?

Choosing the best pond dye is as simple as choosing a color. Our pond dye comes in a variety of colors, including bright blue, deep blue, reflection black, and Sapphire Bay. Bright blue, deep blue, and reflection black pond dyes are all more concentrated, so they are applied using one quart per acre, and Sapphire Bay is applied using one gallon per acre. Here is some information about each of these colors:

Sapphire Bay color

Sapphire Bay is a great choice for those who want to add a splash of color to their pond without going overboard. It is a Caribbean blue color. This color can give your pond a subtle, natural look that is perfect for those who want a more understated look. Sapphire Bay is comparable to Aquashade.

 

Bright blue color

Bright Blue is a popular choice for those who want to enhance the natural beauty of their pond. This color can give your pond a bright, vibrant look that is sure to impress. Bright blue is kind of like pool blue, so if you want your water to look like the swimming hole of your dreams, it is recommended to go with bright blue.

 

Deep blue color

Deep Blue is our most popular choice for those who want to enhance the natural beauty. This color can give your pond a deep, rich look that is perfect for those who want a more natural look. Give your pond a fresh look with this beautiful color, and you will help restore it back to its full potential.

 

Reflection black color

Reflection black is a great choice for those who want to create a dramatic, moody look in their pond. This color is often chosen if the pond is in a woody area. Black dye is very reflective; it reflects the natural surroundings of the pond. This will give your pond a bottomless and reflective appearance.

 

Overall, the color you choose will depend on your personal preferences and the look you are trying to achieve. Whether you want a bright, vibrant look to a dark, moody look, there is a color that is perfect for you.

Before and After Photos

Black dye before and after.pond dye before and after

Frequently Asked Pond Dye Questions

How do I Apply?

To apply liquid, pour a small amount into several areas of the pond straight out of the bottle. To apply powdered dye packets, open the outer packaging and discard. Toss the inner packet directly into the water. It will dissolve and spread quickly. Do not spray or mix, and be careful when applying because it can spread easily and stain clothes and skin.

How Much Do I Need?

One concentrated quart or one gallon of Sapphire Bay covers one acre with a four-foot average depth. If your average depth is more than four feet, then you should use more. The dye will spread throughout the treatment area by itself within a few hours. If the color isn’t dark enough to your liking after your initial treatment, you can add more.

If you are applying the packets, one packet treats ¼ acre up to four feet deep. Two packets treats ½ acre up to four feet deep, and four packets treat one acre up to four feet deep.

When Should I Add It?

Applying in early spring, when the water temperature is below 60° F, will help ensure that it is evenly distributed throughout the water column. This will also help reduce weed growth by filtering the amount of sunlight that gets to the underwater plants and algae, effectively slowing their growth. We recommend re-applying dye during the season to continue these effects and limit the amount of regrowth.

How Long Does it Last?

Pond dye lasts for 30-60 days depending on various factors such as the amount of sunshine or rain your water gets. It is important to repeat your application sometime within this timeframe to maintain the beautiful appearance.

Is it Safe For Fish?

Yes, pond dye is safe for fish, birds, and other wildlife. It is also safe for you and your pets! Plus, it has loads of benefits that go beyond making your water look pretty. Dye can keep your fish safe in two ways. First, predators that fly above or lurk alongside the water will not be able to see the fish as easily, giving them time to flee to safety. Second, as temperatures rise, dissolved oxygen levels in the water are reduced. Dye can help to reduce the amount of sunlight that penetrates the water, which can help to keep the water cooler and increase the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water.

Safety Concerns

Dyed water may be used for irrigation, swimming, and other recreational activities. If a person wants to swim, it is recommended to wait 24 hours or so after adding dye before swimming so that the dye can fully resolve.

Recommended Actions

Keep your pond, lake, or water feature looking its best. To enhance the overall health of your water and reduce the amount of regrowth, we recommend using our Pond Treatment Products. You will be able to eliminate floating and submerged weeds, reduce the nutrients, clear up remaining algae, and diminish weed growth.