Yesterday while chopping down a dead acacia near the frog pond the chainsaw leaked petrol. This petrol has formed a layer on top, sticking to the plants, stone and wood.

We have tried to skim as much from the surface as possible, with the layer of fuel seemingly getting thinner and thinner, but still fully dispersing across the top of the water.

There are tadpoles and dragonfly larvae in this pond which I would like to keep alive, but I don’t know what else to try. Would a small amount of detergent make things better or worse?

What else could we try?

Speedy said:

Yesterday while chopping down a dead acacia near the frog pond the chainsaw leaked petrol. This petrol has formed a layer on top, sticking to the plants, stone and wood.

We have tried to skim as much from the surface as possible, with the layer of fuel seemingly getting thinner and thinner, but still fully dispersing across the top of the water.

There are tadpoles and dragonfly larvae in this pond which I would like to keep alive, but I don’t know what else to try. Would a small amount of detergent make things better or worse?

What else could we try?

wood chips? saw dust?

Speedy said:

Yesterday while chopping down a dead acacia near the frog pond the chainsaw leaked petrol. This petrol has formed a layer on top, sticking to the plants, stone and wood.

We have tried to skim as much from the surface as possible, with the layer of fuel seemingly getting thinner and thinner, but still fully dispersing across the top of the water.

There are tadpoles and dragonfly larvae in this pond which I would like to keep alive, but I don’t know what else to try. Would a small amount of detergent make things better or worse?

What else could we try?

Drag a broom across the surface, so it sticks to the bristles?

Holding an ice cream container so the upper lip is just below the surface will ‘skim’ the surface.

Skim with kitty litter in a colander?

There’s an enzyme that’s poured onto marine oil spills, which is mixed in with small boats. Contact your local water emergency people (In Vic, it’s DELWP )

Drag a polypropylene (because it floats) rope across the surface and corale the petrol into a small area, then blot it off with newspaper?

If you have to use a detergent to clean the rocks and such, make sure it’s phosphate free. Algae absolutely love phosphate.

The enzyme product approved for Australian waterways is called Oil Spill Eater II, which I think is distributed in Australia by these guys

Rule 303 said:

Speedy said:

Yesterday while chopping down a dead acacia near the frog pond the chainsaw leaked petrol. This petrol has formed a layer on top, sticking to the plants, stone and wood.

We have tried to skim as much from the surface as possible, with the layer of fuel seemingly getting thinner and thinner, but still fully dispersing across the top of the water.

There are tadpoles and dragonfly larvae in this pond which I would like to keep alive, but I don’t know what else to try. Would a small amount of detergent make things better or worse?

What else could we try?

Drag a broom across the surface, so it sticks to the bristles?

Holding an ice cream container so the upper lip is just below the surface will ‘skim’ the surface.

Skim with kitty litter in a colander?

There’s an enzyme that’s poured onto marine oil spills, which is mixed in with small boats. Contact your local water emergency people (In Vic, it’s DELWP )

Thanks Rule. I have tried using the container to skim the surface, but the layer just gets thinner and thinner. I will try some of your other suggestions :)

Arts said:

Speedy said:

Yesterday while chopping down a dead acacia near the frog pond the chainsaw leaked petrol. This petrol has formed a layer on top, sticking to the plants, stone and wood.

We have tried to skim as much from the surface as possible, with the layer of fuel seemingly getting thinner and thinner, but still fully dispersing across the top of the water.

There are tadpoles and dragonfly larvae in this pond which I would like to keep alive, but I don’t know what else to try. Would a small amount of detergent make things better or worse?

What else could we try?

wood chips? saw dust?

Thanks Arts

have you tried fire?

The oil will disperse/disappear naturally in due course. The trick is keeping the inhabitants alive in the meantime. Small inverts and tadpoles should be right for a day or two, although you could use a small aquarium bubbler or pond pump to make sure. Even a desk fan on the surface would assist.

Bogsnorkler said:

have you tried fire?

I hearty endorse this suggestion… but please film it

Bogsnorkler said:

have you tried fire?

I considered it, but I don’t need more excitement here today.

Dark Orange said:

The oil will disperse/disappear naturally in due course. The trick is keeping the inhabitants alive in the meantime. Small inverts and tadpoles should be right for a day or two, although you could use a small aquarium bubbler or pond pump to make sure. Even a desk fan on the surface would assist.

I turned the pump off last night. Do you really think it is better to run it? Is the intention to aerate the water?

Speedy said:

Dark Orange said:

The oil will disperse/disappear naturally in due course. The trick is keeping the inhabitants alive in the meantime. Small inverts and tadpoles should be right for a day or two, although you could use a small aquarium bubbler or pond pump to make sure. Even a desk fan on the surface would assist.

I turned the pump off last night. Do you really think it is better to run it? Is the intention to aerate the water?

Yes.
The only problem I can see with oil on the surface of the water is it preventing gas exchange that would normally happen. Water circulation will hopefully cause the oil layer to get thin enough in parts to allow that exchange, especially if the stream of water breaks the surface.

The oil itself is no real hassle, in the quantities you are dealing with it will be degraded eventually.

Dark Orange said:

Speedy said:

Dark Orange said:

The oil will disperse/disappear naturally in due course. The trick is keeping the inhabitants alive in the meantime. Small inverts and tadpoles should be right for a day or two, although you could use a small aquarium bubbler or pond pump to make sure. Even a desk fan on the surface would assist.

I turned the pump off last night. Do you really think it is better to run it? Is the intention to aerate the water?

Yes.
The only problem I can see with oil on the surface of the water is it preventing gas exchange that would normally happen. Water circulation will hopefully cause the oil layer to get thin enough in parts to allow that exchange, especially if the stream of water breaks the surface.

The oil itself is no real hassle, in the quantities you are dealing with it will be degraded eventually.

If uou overfill the pond the slick will be outside the pool.

roughbarked said:

Dark Orange said:

Speedy said:

I turned the pump off last night. Do you really think it is better to run it? Is the intention to aerate the water?

Yes.
The only problem I can see with oil on the surface of the water is it preventing gas exchange that would normally happen. Water circulation will hopefully cause the oil layer to get thin enough in parts to allow that exchange, especially if the stream of water breaks the surface.

The oil itself is no real hassle, in the quantities you are dealing with it will be degraded eventually.

If uou overfill the pond the slick will be outside the pool.

That’s thinking outside the pond.

Dark Orange said:

Speedy said:

Dark Orange said:

The oil will disperse/disappear naturally in due course. The trick is keeping the inhabitants alive in the meantime. Small inverts and tadpoles should be right for a day or two, although you could use a small aquarium bubbler or pond pump to make sure. Even a desk fan on the surface would assist.

I turned the pump off last night. Do you really think it is better to run it? Is the intention to aerate the water?

Yes.
The only problem I can see with oil on the surface of the water is it preventing gas exchange that would normally happen. Water circulation will hopefully cause the oil layer to get thin enough in parts to allow that exchange, especially if the stream of water breaks the surface.

The oil itself is no real hassle, in the quantities you are dealing with it will be degraded eventually.

I think it’s a threat to animals if it coats them / gets in their holes.

Rule 303 said:

Dark Orange said:

Speedy said:

I turned the pump off last night. Do you really think it is better to run it? Is the intention to aerate the water?

Yes.
The only problem I can see with oil on the surface of the water is it preventing gas exchange that would normally happen. Water circulation will hopefully cause the oil layer to get thin enough in parts to allow that exchange, especially if the stream of water breaks the surface.

The oil itself is no real hassle, in the quantities you are dealing with it will be degraded eventually.

I think it’s a threat to animals if it coats them / gets in their holes.

Yes.

Rule 303 said:

Dark Orange said:

Speedy said:

I turned the pump off last night. Do you really think it is better to run it? Is the intention to aerate the water?

Yes.
The only problem I can see with oil on the surface of the water is it preventing gas exchange that would normally happen. Water circulation will hopefully cause the oil layer to get thin enough in parts to allow that exchange, especially if the stream of water breaks the surface.

The oil itself is no real hassle, in the quantities you are dealing with it will be degraded eventually.

I think it’s a threat to animals if it coats them / gets in their holes.

Plus petrol would sting their little eyes….

Dark Orange said:

Speedy said:

Dark Orange said:

The oil will disperse/disappear naturally in due course. The trick is keeping the inhabitants alive in the meantime. Small inverts and tadpoles should be right for a day or two, although you could use a small aquarium bubbler or pond pump to make sure. Even a desk fan on the surface would assist.

I turned the pump off last night. Do you really think it is better to run it? Is the intention to aerate the water?

Yes.
The only problem I can see with oil on the surface of the water is it preventing gas exchange that would normally happen. Water circulation will hopefully cause the oil layer to get thin enough in parts to allow that exchange, especially if the stream of water breaks the surface.

The oil itself is no real hassle, in the quantities you are dealing with it will be degraded eventually.

Okay thanks DO. I have switched on the pump again and raised the outlet out of the water so that it breaks the surface (it is usually submerged). It was only a small amount of petrol, but the pond is also small, at around 500L only.

The broom held on the surface seemed to work well before, so there are now areas with no slick across the top. Unfortunately at this time of year this pond sees no sunlight, so it will probably take a little while longer than usual for the rest of it to degrade.

Speedy said:

Dark Orange said:

Speedy said:

I turned the pump off last night. Do you really think it is better to run it? Is the intention to aerate the water?

Yes.
The only problem I can see with oil on the surface of the water is it preventing gas exchange that would normally happen. Water circulation will hopefully cause the oil layer to get thin enough in parts to allow that exchange, especially if the stream of water breaks the surface.

The oil itself is no real hassle, in the quantities you are dealing with it will be degraded eventually.

Okay thanks DO. I have switched on the pump again and raised the outlet out of the water so that it breaks the surface (it is usually submerged). It was only a small amount of petrol, but the pond is also small, at around 500L only.

The broom held on the surface seemed to work well before, so there are now areas with no slick across the top. Unfortunately at this time of year this pond sees no sunlight, so it will probably take a little while longer than usual for the rest of it to degrade.

I would be interested in knowing how long it takes to get back to normal – keep us up to date :)

Dark Orange said:

roughbarked said:

Dark Orange said:

Yes.
The only problem I can see with oil on the surface of the water is it preventing gas exchange that would normally happen. Water circulation will hopefully cause the oil layer to get thin enough in parts to allow that exchange, especially if the stream of water breaks the surface.

The oil itself is no real hassle, in the quantities you are dealing with it will be degraded eventually.

If uou overfill the pond the slick will be outside the pool.

That’s thinking outside the pond.

There is an overflow outlet that runs through a garden, and the next-best overflow also runs into gardens that will drain back into the pond…it’s complicated…but yes, we tried that last night, ensuring that the water overflow was then diverted to a sewer line (rather than the stormwater as we live beside a creek). As it seemed that we were creating more of a mess, we gave up on it.

In cleaning up oceanic oil spills, it’s normal to cleean up as much as possible by skimming it off the surface.

Then add just a little detergent to get rid of the rest.

As you add the detergent, little by little, try to generate bubbles by shaking the pond with your hand to stir it. As soon as you get any permanent bubbles that way, stop adding detergent.

mollwollfumble said:

In cleaning up oceanic oil spills, it’s normal to cleean up as much as possible by skimming it off the surface.

Then add just a little detergent to get rid of the rest.

As you add the detergent, little by little, try to generate bubbles by shaking the pond with your hand to stir it. As soon as you get any permanent bubbles that way, stop adding detergent.

Thanks moll. This is pretty much how it has gone so far. When I tried washing the broom with dishwashing liquid, despite rinsing it in water several times, when it was placed back into the pond it was obvious that rather than attracting the oil, it was now repelling it. I have taken a look this morning and it is looking much better, with no obvious film over the top.

Speedy said:

mollwollfumble said:

In cleaning up oceanic oil spills, it’s normal to cleean up as much as possible by skimming it off the surface.

Then add just a little detergent to get rid of the rest.

As you add the detergent, little by little, try to generate bubbles by shaking the pond with your hand to stir it. As soon as you get any permanent bubbles that way, stop adding detergent.

Thanks moll. This is pretty much how it has gone so far. When I tried washing the broom with dishwashing liquid, despite rinsing it in water several times, when it was placed back into the pond it was obvious that rather than attracting the oil, it was now repelling it. I have taken a look this morning and it is looking much better, with no obvious film over the top.

Sounds good.

>>>>>>>> I have taken a look this morning and it is looking much better, with no obvious film over the top.

Excellent.

:)

Speedy said:

mollwollfumble said:

In cleaning up oceanic oil spills, it’s normal to cleean up as much as possible by skimming it off the surface.

Then add just a little detergent to get rid of the rest.

As you add the detergent, little by little, try to generate bubbles by shaking the pond with your hand to stir it. As soon as you get any permanent bubbles that way, stop adding detergent.

Thanks moll. This is pretty much how it has gone so far. When I tried washing the broom with dishwashing liquid, despite rinsing it in water several times, when it was placed back into the pond it was obvious that rather than attracting the oil, it was now repelling it. I have taken a look this morning and it is looking much better, with no obvious film over the top.

Be careful with detergent in a closed system such as a pond – it can be worse for the inhabitants than the oil.

Dark Orange said:

Speedy said:

mollwollfumble said:

In cleaning up oceanic oil spills, it’s normal to cleean up as much as possible by skimming it off the surface.

Then add just a little detergent to get rid of the rest.

As you add the detergent, little by little, try to generate bubbles by shaking the pond with your hand to stir it. As soon as you get any permanent bubbles that way, stop adding detergent.

Thanks moll. This is pretty much how it has gone so far. When I tried washing the broom with dishwashing liquid, despite rinsing it in water several times, when it was placed back into the pond it was obvious that rather than attracting the oil, it was now repelling it. I have taken a look this morning and it is looking much better, with no obvious film over the top.

Be careful with detergent in a closed system such as a pond – it can be worse for the inhabitants than the oil.

It can indeed.

Dark Orange said:

Speedy said:

mollwollfumble said:

In cleaning up oceanic oil spills, it’s normal to cleean up as much as possible by skimming it off the surface.

Then add just a little detergent to get rid of the rest.

As you add the detergent, little by little, try to generate bubbles by shaking the pond with your hand to stir it. As soon as you get any permanent bubbles that way, stop adding detergent.

Thanks moll. This is pretty much how it has gone so far. When I tried washing the broom with dishwashing liquid, despite rinsing it in water several times, when it was placed back into the pond it was obvious that rather than attracting the oil, it was now repelling it. I have taken a look this morning and it is looking much better, with no obvious film over the top.

Be careful with detergent in a closed system such as a pond – it can be worse for the inhabitants than the oil.

Thanks DO. Although I considered it, I did not add any detergent intentionally. What is in there now is the detergent that was not rinsed off completely from the broom, even though it had been swished around in a bucket of clean water and also rinsed off with a hose. It formed no bubbles and the only reason I know it is there is because I watched the film of oil slowly move away from the broom head when it was floated on top of the water. I think it will be OK :)

Speedy said:

Dark Orange said:

Speedy said:

Thanks moll. This is pretty much how it has gone so far. When I tried washing the broom with dishwashing liquid, despite rinsing it in water several times, when it was placed back into the pond it was obvious that rather than attracting the oil, it was now repelling it. I have taken a look this morning and it is looking much better, with no obvious film over the top.

Be careful with detergent in a closed system such as a pond – it can be worse for the inhabitants than the oil.

Thanks DO. Although I considered it, I did not add any detergent intentionally. What is in there now is the detergent that was not rinsed off completely from the broom, even though it had been swished around in a bucket of clean water and also rinsed off with a hose. It formed no bubbles and the only reason I know it is there is because I watched the film of oil slowly move away from the broom head when it was floated on top of the water. I think it will be OK :)

It sounds like it. My words of caution were in response to Molly’s suggestion, which while practical, are probably not suitable in this instance.

Speedy said:

When I tried washing the broom with dishwashing liquid, despite rinsing it in water several times, when it was placed back into the pond it was obvious that rather than attracting the oil, it was now repelling it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miWlDVOhrSE

mollwollfumble said:

In cleaning up oceanic oil spills, it’s normal to cleean up as much as possible by skimming it off the surface.

Then add just a little detergent to get rid of the rest.

As you add the detergent, little by little, try to generate bubbles by shaking the pond with your hand to stir it. As soon as you get any permanent bubbles that way, stop adding detergent.

With apologies for the public correction, this is not how oil spills are cleaned up. I gave the information, and links to further information, up there^. Please don’t put detergent in your pond.

Rule 303 said:

mollwollfumble said:

In cleaning up oceanic oil spills, it’s normal to cleean up as much as possible by skimming it off the surface.

Then add just a little detergent to get rid of the rest.

As you add the detergent, little by little, try to generate bubbles by shaking the pond with your hand to stir it. As soon as you get any permanent bubbles that way, stop adding detergent.

With apologies for the public correction, this is not how oil spills are cleaned up. I gave the information, and links to further information, up there^. Please don’t put detergent in your pond.

True too.
Blue green algae is indicated in an increase of MND in the locals. Other than the many other problems that phospates cause in waterways.

roughbarked said:

Rule 303 said:

mollwollfumble said:

In cleaning up oceanic oil spills, it’s normal to cleean up as much as possible by skimming it off the surface.

Then add just a little detergent to get rid of the rest.

As you add the detergent, little by little, try to generate bubbles by shaking the pond with your hand to stir it. As soon as you get any permanent bubbles that way, stop adding detergent.

With apologies for the public correction, this is not how oil spills are cleaned up. I gave the information, and links to further information, up there^. Please don’t put detergent in your pond.

True too.
Blue green algae is indicated in an increase of MND in the locals. Other than the many other problems that phospates cause in waterways.

ph phhh

roughbarked said:

roughbarked said:

Rule 303 said:

With apologies for the public correction, this is not how oil spills are cleaned up. I gave the information, and links to further information, up there^. Please don’t put detergent in your pond.

True too.
Blue green algae is indicated in an increase of MND in the locals. Other than the many other problems that phospates cause in waterways.

ph phhh

There’s phos-free detergents that are safe for washing the oil off (birds, plants, rocks etc) but that assumes you’re removing the object from the water and washing in a bucket, then rinsing before returning it.

Rule 303 said:

roughbarked said:

roughbarked said:

True too.
Blue green algae is indicated in an increase of MND in the locals. Other than the many other problems that phospates cause in waterways.

ph phhh

There’s phos-free detergents that are safe for washing the oil off (birds, plants, rocks etc) but that assumes you’re removing the object from the water and washing in a bucket, then rinsing before returning it.

A pond full of plants won’t care about a little phosphate, and will probably benefit from it.

It is the surfactant nature of detergents affecting the biological and gas exchanges of invertebrates and fish that would be the main concern.

Dark Orange said:

Rule 303 said:

roughbarked said:

ph phhh

There’s phos-free detergents that are safe for washing the oil off (birds, plants, rocks etc) but that assumes you’re removing the object from the water and washing in a bucket, then rinsing before returning it.

A pond full of plants won’t care about a little phosphate, and will probably benefit from it.

It is the surfactant nature of detergents affecting the biological and gas exchanges of invertebrates and fish that would be the main concern.

Yeah, I was thinking more about not feeding the algaes.