Adding dye to your pond can improve the appearance of your landscape, reduce unwanted algae growth, and protect your fish from predators.
Learn more about the benefits, colour options, and application tips in the content below.
Pond dye is a liquid or powder colouring agent designed to enhance the beauty of your pond, provide a natural pond shade, and improve water quality. This guide will teach you all the basics and help you find the right pond dye for your pond or lake. Keep scrolling or select one of the quick links below to jump to the section you want to read.
Benefits of Parklink’s Pond Dye
There are several benefits of pond dye beyond changing the colour of your water. While it is great for aesthetic purposes, pond dye also limits sun exposure, protects fish, and promotes a balanced ecosystem in your pond or lake. Excessive sunlight promotes overgrowth of submerged aquatic plants and algae. Pond dye actively blocks specific portions of the sunlight spectrum, slowing growth and keeping your water clear and clean. Note that pond dyes do not inhibit the growth of emergent plants (e.g. duckweed and water Lillys).
In addition, using pond dye can keep your fish safe in two ways. First, predators that fly above or lurk alongside the pond will not be able to see them as easily, giving the fish time to flee to safety. Second, as temperatures rise, dissolved oxygen levels in the pond are reduced. Using pond dye will keep the water cooler and allow fish to breathe easier during the summer.
Pond Dye Colours
The most popular reason to add dye to your pond is to enhance the natural colour and beauty of your landscape. Pond dye colours include blue, and black. Colour choice is a matter of personal preference. However, different shades are better suited to different environments, so it is important to consider your pond’s features and what looks natural in your surroundings.
REGEN-Blue: Looking for a darker shade of blue? Check out Parklink’s REGEN-Blue for a deep shade that will add a pop of colour to your pond and really stand out.
REGEN-Reflect Dye: Do you want to showcase your landscape? Consider using REGEN-Reflect pond dye. Designed to add beauty, this option can turn brown or Gray water into a beautiful display. It creates a mirrored surface that reflects surrounding trees and natural rocky landscapes, making it perfect for natural ponds in wooded areas.
Application Process
Adding dye to your pond or lake is easy. Simply pour the concentrated pond dye into the water in several spots along the pond’s edge or toss the easy-to-use, water-soluble pond dye packets in the water. Remember that you can always add more dye, but once it’s poured in, only time, evaporation and rainfall can dilute the colour. Pond dyes on average will last between 4-8 weeks depending on rainfall.
Knowing how much pond dye to use can be tricky if you don’t know the average depth of your pond. If you’re unsure how deep your pond is, grab your boat and a weighted string. Be sure to test different areas to determine the average depth and follow the instructions once you have a good estimate.
If you can’t measure the depth, apply a small amount of the liquid dye at a time. Shortly after application, you should see the colour spread throughout the water column. Keep adding until your desired colour is achieved, and keep track of how much dye you use so you are prepared for the next treatment.
Is Pond Dye Safe?
A common concern with any dye is whether or not it will stain clothing, skin, or other surfaces. In its concentrated form, pond dye can cause stains, so be sure to wear gloves and work clothes while adding it to your pond or lake. After 24 hours, however, the dye will be diluted throughout the pond and will no longer stain. Make sure you wear gloves when applying.
Once mixed with the water, pond dye is completely safe for agriculture and irrigation purposes. Immediately after treatment, you can use your pond for recreation, fishing and other activities. While it’s not recommended for ponds that provide drinking water for humans, it’s safe for swimming as well as watering horses, livestock, birds, pets, fish, and wildlife.
Next Steps
Now that you know more about the benefits, colour options and application process of using pond dye, it’s time to take your own pond to the next level. Browse our selection of pond dyes to find the one that’s right for you, or reach out to our customer service team with any additional questions.