How To Make Your Pond Water Blue

Blue pond water tips and tricks

One of the hardest things about having a backyard pond is keeping the pond water clean and clear.

Even small ponds can become a murky-looking green or brown color in a short amount of time.

So, what’s the secret to get beautiful blue pond water?

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pond liner

The quickest and easiest way to make your pond water an attractive blue color is to use pond tint, also known as pond dye. 

Blue pond dye will immediately give your pond a healthy blue appearance and it has other benefits as well:

Reduces algae growth – Blue pond dye helps to block the sun’s UV rays penetrating the surface of the pond.

Algae and pond weeds need sunlight for photosynthesis, so reducing the amount of sunlight entering the pond will slow the growth of algae and reduce algal blooms.

Keeps the pond cool – Blue pond tint helps to reflect the sun’s rays, which keeps the water temperature cooler in hot summer weather.

Cool water contains more oxygen than warm water, so it’s better for fish and the beneficial bacteria that lives in the pond.

Protects fish – Pond dye also helps fish to be less visible to birds and other predators.

Fish pond

Pond preparation

If you have a lot of algae, muck or debris in your pond, you’ll need to do a clean up first before adding the blue dye to your pond water, otherwise you’ll end up with a blue tinged murky soup.

  • Use a long handled net to scoop out dead leaves, flowers and other debris that has fallen into the pond.
  • Install a pond water filter if you haven’t already and rinse the filter daily to remove the algae.
Pond with blue water

Using blue pond dye

There are many different shades of blue pond dye to choose from including aqua blue, twilight blue and black.

Aqua blue is the most common dye for backyard ponds and it will give your pond a natural looking turquoise color.

You can also buy pond enhancer, which is a combination of royal blue pond dye and beneficial bacteria, so it helps to maintain the color and clarity of the pond water and break down debris in the pond.

Pond dye will stain your hands and clothes so you’ll need to wear gloves and old clothes when using the dye.

It’s highly concentrated, so you only need to use a small amount. You’re better to use a bit less than directed and add more later than overdoing it.

The dye usually lasts for three months, but it will fade quicker during the summer or if you receive heavy rain.

pond with blue tinted water

You can add a bit more dye when you see that the color is starting to fade.

Blue pond water dye is safe for all types of animals that may use the pond including fish, birds, frogs and other wildlife.

It won’t harm your pets either.

So there are my tips for using pond dye to get beautiful clear blue pond water.

Here’s a quick video that shows the transformation from green colored pond water to beautiful aqua blue water using pond dye.

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Have you tried using pond dye in your backyard pond? Let me know in the comments below.

Are you on Pinterest? I have boards dedicated to Backyard Ponds and Water Gardens that you may find interesting.

clear blue pond water
pond water blue

Also, check out the Must-Have Pond Products page where I list the essential pond products to make life as a pond owner much easier!

Kelly Martin

Hi, I'm Kelly Martin, a landscape gardener with a special interest in ponds and water gardens. For over a decade, I've been designing and creating beautiful gardens that feature stunning water features, from small garden ponds to large water gardens. Read more

This Post Has 9 Comments

  1. Brittany

    I never thought of using dye in a pond, that’s a great idea! Would it work to use a blue pond liner to make it look more blue?

    1. Kelly Martin

      Hi Brittany, yes you could definitely use a blue pond liner to get a blue effect in your pond. That would work especially well for a shallow pond.

  2. Nancy Doner

    I have koi and goldfish and I worry about using the dye as you said that it will stain your hands but how about the fish?

    1. Kelly Martin

      Hi Nancy, yes the blue pond dye can stain your hands in the concentrated form, but once you add it to the pond it’s heavily diluted so it won’t stain or harm the fish.

  3. Brenda

    I am continually draining my fish pond. I have 10 fish and it looks good for 3 weeks and now it’s green again I think I will try the peroxide and I have the blue pond tint. I will see how it goes.

  4. Laurie

    Hii! Just a bit of advice from my own frustrating experiences with backyard ponds… you’re making it basically impossible for your pond to create a beneficial ecosystem when you keep draining out the water. As frustrating as it is to see the water begin to turn murky, your best bet is to use a UV sterilizer and the blue dye. Once the ecosystem has been established, the pond will begin to clarify and it’ll maintain its clarity much better. Each time you drain the water, you’re eliminating the beneficial bacteria and it has to begin again from scratch. I learned that having a backyard pond requires a great deal of attention, work and patience. I pretty much ran out of all 3 of those requirements last year and decided to take a hiatus. (The blue heron that used my pond as a sashimi bar made the decision that much easier. I hope this info helped. Best of luck and enjoy your pond.

  5. Jennifer

    If you do use too much of the pond enhancer will it kill the fish, I am not sure the exact size of my pond. I have used things in the past and literally watched my fish one by one go belly up. So I am nervous about using anything in it.

  6. Michelle

    Can I use this inside a stainless steel vessel without fear that the stainless steel will be stained or damaged? And will it harm the pump components at all when water gets circulated throughout?

  7. Margaret Barrow-Smith

    I have a large vinyl lined pond with tilapia, catfish, river fish and, soon, sardines. Water hyacinths float around. Aereated by a continuous flow fountain. It is lovely to watch as the ducks and geese (African and Toulouse) paddle around. So, what is the problem? POOP!!! Especially from the Ruan ducks. I use 2 above-ground pool filters but the muck floats, rendering filters practically useless. Summer heat worsens a bad situation, pond dye no longer an option. I am at a loss as to how to make this work.

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