bug problem in a duck pond

Our duck pond was recently sealed by pigs and we are excited about that. I do have a bio-filter planting area but it had no plants, until today, as it was just lower on the priority list. Anyway, the problem is that the water is red. Red with some sort of bug larvae. Their are millions of them in there. Not sure what they are going to turn in to. Flies perhaps, by some slight internet research.

Anyway, the problem is what to do with these things. They've gotta die, somehow. Whatever they're going to turn into I'm pretty positive I don't want them that close to the house. Ducks aren't eating them, that I can tell. I don't know that the water is ok enough for fish. Also, we did go looking for feeder goldfish to throw in but we can't find any anyway.

Suggestions???

How big is the duck pond?  Are you sure it's not azola, a tiny-leaf pond plant that turns red when it gets hot.  I like azola because it composts really well and fixes nitrogen.  But you don't want to leave it on the pond because when there are high levels of nitrogen in the water, you'll get it covered with algae, and then you've got a real mess.

I have a pool scooper on a long handle that I scoop unwanted stuff out of the pond with, so you could start with that.  I compost plants I scoop out.

It's probably going to take a few years for trees and pond plants to grow in it so the frogs will have cover, the birds will hang out in the trees and handle a lot of the issues.  But levels of things, even pond plants, come and go from covering everything to not being there at all.  Birds bring in plants and insects on their feet that will keep you busy every summer!

Cristo Balete wrote:How big is the duck pond?  Are you sure it's not azola, a tiny-leaf pond plant that turns red when it gets hot.  I like azola because it composts really well and fixes nitrogen.  But you don't want to leave it on the pond because when there are high levels of nitrogen in the water, you'll get it covered with algae, and then you've got a real mess.

I have a pool scooper on a long handle that I scoop unwanted stuff out of the pond with, so you could start with that.  I compost plants I scoop out.

It's probably going to take a few years for trees and pond plants to grow in it so the frogs will have cover, the birds will hang out in the trees and handle a lot of the issues.  But levels of things, even pond plants, come and go from covering everything to not being there at all.  Birds bring in plants and insects on their feet that will keep you busy every summer!

This is probably true for many areas but water isn't something you usually find above ground in Wyoming. It is definitely a bug larvae. Midge flies perhaps. We put in 100 goldfish and they were doing a great job eating them. I did pen the ducks up but the little (&*&*^&*^ escaped and now we have perhaps 4 fish left. /sigh Looking into catching and relocating some dragon fly larvae now.