11 Best Pond Dyes That’s Safe For Fish: Reviews & Comparison

Ever since you built your dream pond, you’ve been looking for the perfect way to make it stand out. Now that summer is here, it’s time to take action so your pond can turn heads.

Pond dye is an innovative addition that will really set your little oasis apart from others in town! Whether you want vibrant colors or subtle hues, there’s a product for everyone!

Adding a little dye to your pond will make it shine like the stars. But for that, you need the best pond dye that is aesthetically graceful and effectively beneficial for your pond.

So, without further ado, let’s hop right in and explore various kinds of pond dyes.

What is pond dye?

To put it simply, a pond dye is a coloring additive. Just like we use different agents in our food to make it taste better or look more colorful, using it in our pond adds a beautiful shade of color.

There are many different shades of blue to choose from when it comes time for your pond’s color. You can make the water appear deep and black or give off an otherworldly feel with light blue, green, cyan- just name any shade that takes your fancy!

11 Best Pond Dyes that will make your pond glow

Pond dye is a wonderful way to bring more life and color into your backyard pond. It can be used as an enhancement for the natural beauty, or just provide some fun colors that will make your pond or lake look stunning.

There are lots of different and beautiful-looking dyes in the market. Problem is, there is no way of telling their true colors [I just had to make that pun] until they’re in the pond. So, as a good friend, I’m here to help you filter out the good ones. You can look at my favorite picks for pond dyes below…

1. Pond champs Blue Lake and Pond Dye

Ponds and lakes can become murky from excess dirt, algae, or other particulate matter. This not only makes them less attractive to look at but also reduces the amount of sunlight that penetrates their surface, which in turn limits the photosynthesis and oxygen production of plants living below the water’s surface.

Thankfully, this fantastic pond dye from pond champs works effectively to enhance the water quality of your water feature. Moreover, this safe alternative to harmful chemicals clears up muddy ponds without harming humans, fish, livestock, pets, birds, or wildlife. So, you can rest assured that it’s 100% natural and safe.

Additionally, it helps settle out those dissolved solids for better clarity and color retention for up to 30 days! What’s even better, your pond’s water will achieve a royal blue color if you use this dye regularly.

This water-treating liquid comes in a 1 Gallon bottle and you can treat a 1-acre pond having 4-5 feet depth without any issue. It is super easy to apply. Just stand on any side of the pond and pour it. However, use gloves while mixing it in water. The dye will take only 24-48 hours to mix thoroughly with the pond water.

2. Applied Biochemists Aquashade Aquatic Plant Growth Control

If you are looking for an EPA registered Dye that can reduce algae issues and prevent underwater weed growth, then look no further. Presenting one of the best pond dyes in the industry from SePRO Applied Biochemists. This American company has gained trust among aquarists by providing reliable service for several years.

However, this excellent dye will do a significant water cleansing no matter what kind of water body you own. Yes, this liquid can be poured into any water feature including natural ponds, lakes, fountains, and manmade ponds and pools too. But, make sure that you don’t apply it to any chlorinated water feature.

To enhance the overall beauty of your pond or lake, this chemical treatment turns the water color into mesmerizing aqua-blue. This dye comes with a mixture of blue and yellow dye to prevent algae-friendly and underwater weed-friendly sunlight portions from reaching these plants.

Though it’s a chemical product, it’s completely safe for animals or humans. So, you don’t have to worry about using your water feature’s water for irrigation, animal consumption, or swimming after applying this dye.

Another fascinating thing about this pond dye is it’s very easy to apply and 1 gallon of this dye is sufficient for 1 acre of the water body.

3. Sanco Industries Crystal Blue XL Commercial Lake & Pond Dye

One of the common problems that pond owners face is that the local birds and critters steal their adorable and expensive fish from the pond. If you are one of them, then this commercial lake and pond dye from the Sanco industries will work wonders for you.

It not only creates delusions to outfox flying predators by bringing crystal blue color in your water feature but also tackles the algae and weeds by darkening the water. Another exciting thing about this 2.5 gallons of pond dye bottle is that it is very cost-effective and easily deals with 2.5 acres of water body of 4-5 feet depth.

Moreover, the water-treating chemical is 100% non-toxic. So, it won’t have any diverse effect on your pond fish, ducks, frogs, and other kinds of aquatic animals. You can even use the water for animal consumption, swimming, and irrigation purposes.

Plus, this pond dye will take a few hours to mix thoroughly with the water where you pour it. In most cases, it starts showing its magic fully within 48 hours of applying. Depending on the rainfall and other climate behaviors, it can last up to 30 days.

4. Airmax Nature’s Blue Water Soluble Pond Dye Packets

Here is another innovative and effective water treating product and this guy comes with water-soluble packets to turn your pond or lake’s water blue. All you have to do is to order the pack and toss it inside your water feature to witness the magic.

I believe that Airmax nature’s blue packs are ideal for those pond owners who love to bring a static appeal to their ponds with less effort. Apart from bringing an aesthetically pleasing look, this fantastic pond dye helps by providing shade in order to keep water cool.

Moreover, you can use 2 packets of Airmax pond dye to treat 1 acre of the pond having up to 6 feet depth. It starts working relatively quickly and you should reapply the same quantity of pond dye after every 4-8 weeks or as needed depending on the rainfall.

However, you use your water feature’s water for irrigation and animal consumption immediately after using the pond dye. Another great perk is that this non-toxic pond dye won’t cause any damage to the inhabitants of your pond or lake. However, it’s not ideal for small garden ponds.

  5. Airmax Pond Dye 4X Concentrated Liquid Pond Colorant

Airmax has been a reliable name in the pond equipment industry for the last 20 years and another noteworthy pond dye of this trusted brand is this 4X concentrated pond dye. As you can easily guess from its name, this liquid provides four times more intense color to your water feature so you need less amount of this chemical.

The brand claims that one quart of this pond dye is equivalent to 1 gallon of its competitor’s pond dye. However, this thing makes your pond or lake’s color twilight blue which enhances the overall beauty of the water feature.

Due to this amazing and deep color, the pond will have more shade and this unique color will effectively block UV rays. Like other pond dyes on the list, this Airmax product is sufficient for 1 acre of 4-6 feet pond or lake.

Though it comes with 4X more concentration, this dye won’t cause any harm to your fish, aquatic animal, and other animals or birds who consume water from the pond immediately after pouring the chemical. You can also swim and use the water for irrigation too.

Overall, the price of the product is reasonable and it’s easy to use. For those who love the twilight blue color, this Airmax pond beautifier can be the best pond dye for them.

6. Sanco Industries Sapphire Blue Pond Colorant

Sanco Industries came a long way in life. From their humble origins as a kitchen sink manufacturer to being a known face in various different industries, especially in pond and lake equipment, their journey has been inspiring. They also excel at making chemically treated pond products, which is where this dye comes from.

The sapphire blue variant pond dye from Sanco is one of their remotely new pond dyes, and it’s astonishing! They’ll transform your pond and give it a crystal clear blue color.

Even after a thunderstorm or heavy rainstorm, it’ll maintain its beautiful shade. I really like this color during winter, it’ll give your pond a magical look then.

In total, 1 gallon of this beautiful dye would cover 1 acre of surface up to 6’ depth. It’s also efficient in clearing out muddy pond waters.

Algae control is one of its other strong suits. It’ll maintain the color in the pond with full integrity for 30 days. So be sure to stock up a bit.

7. Microbe-Lift Bio-Black BIOBLK16 Pond Dye

Suppose you have a pond that stands directly below the sunlight. It’s gonna reflect a lot. Sometimes it’s irritating and distracting. In some cases, they betray the expectations you had for the pond aesthetics, especially if it’s a backyard pond. In such situations, you need a black dye.

This one is especially made for those who want their pond to have a black shade that reflects all light. You can mix it completely in a few hours. This variant of the dye weighs 16 oz and can cover 8000 gallons of water. And, applying is really easy and safe for humans, plants, and fish.

It has enzymes that will support the beneficial bacteria to create a healthy atmosphere in the pond. These bacteria would consume harmful waste and also reduce bad odor from the pond.

Another cool thing about this dye is that once it gets diluted, it’s not gonna stain the pond inhabitants, unlike a lot of other cheap dyes.

For best results, dilute the dye a bit with a bucket of water before pouring it into the pond. Apply 1 oz of dye for every 500 gallons of water.

8. Sanco Industries KoiWorx Blue Dye

Sometimes, our natural pond’ look gets ruined by a lot of external factors like debris, organic matter, and other impurities. And, all you want is to get your natural look back.

And that’s when KoiWorx blue dye comes in. It’s an aggressively potent dye that will give you back a blue natural tint to your pond’s color, not a fake foggy looking one you get from cheap knockoff dyes. You can stay chill as it’s not gonna be harmful for your plants or fish inside the pond.

Apply 1 oz per 1000 gallon and give it a while, and come back to see a beautiful pond glowing with a turquoise hue. If you have a small pond I’ll suggest you put a few drops at a time.

They last more than you would expect as well. Some users claimed the color lasted the entire summer for them. A jug can last pretty long for a small pond.

When it starts to dilute, it’s not gonna leave a stain on any of your pond inhabitants like fish, plants, etc. The same goes for any animals or birds that come into contact with the dyed pond.

I also love the fact that when it fades away it doesn’t leave any traces. Meaning you can start again like it’s new without any adjustments.

Be careful when you’re applying, if you get it on your hands, it’s not going away for a week. Here’s a suggestion from me, use 1/4th of the recommended amount as it’s too strong and would give a dark blue color.

9. PondWorx Lake and Pond Dye

True blue pond dyes are generally more popular than black or partial blue dyes. If you want the true royal blue experience, then PondWorx has the perfect dye for you. It gives your pond a dark blue color that is really easy on the eyes.

It’s 100% non toxic, making it a safe dye for pond plants, fish, and even you. One of the major reasons to add this product to this list was because it has the highest concentration of blue dye on the market.

This is also the reason you should apply it carefully, if it gets on your hands, it’ll stain. And anything your stained hand touches will get stained as well.

I must warn you about one thing, it’s best if you use this product after you’ve got rid of all the algae or it’ll give off an intense green hue, but once you’ve expelled all algae, it’ll block further algal growth in the future as it reflects a lot of sunlight.

It’ll be slow to turn the color of your pond if it is muddy. That’s why you have to clean your muddy pond water before adding this.

This pond dye is absolutely perfect for a backyard pond.

10. EasyPro Pond Products PD16 Blue Pond Dye

If you want a natural blue/dark blue tint but don’t want it to be extremely potent like the product before, EasyPro Blue Pond Dye is a great alternative. It gives off a natural-looking blue tint that makes your pond look absolutely gorgeous.

The blue color it goes for is a bit different than others, as it gives off a Caribbean blue tint which looks spectacular on a bright sunny day. And it’s tremendously good at reflecting UV rays. In fact, it’s one of the best pond dyes for direct sunny sunlight exposure.

While it might not be super concentrated like the PondWorx pond dye, it’s certainly loaded. 1 oz is enough to treat 1000 gallons of water. And, the color should last a month unless heavy rainfall or a downpour happens.

You have nothing to fear as it is perfectly harmless. Your fish, pets, and plants are safe from this non-toxic pond dye. You can use this not only in a pond but in pools, waterfalls, or even a fountain.

Just like any concentrated pond dye, keep caution handling it before you dilute it, otherwise, you’ll get stained. And similar to PondWorx’s dye, it also will give off an emerald green color if the algae problem is apparent.

11. TotalPond Pond Blue Dye

Finally, we reached the last product. This dye from TotalPond might not cost too much, but it gives a radiant blue color. The shade of blue it gives is one of my favorites. Turn your pond into a fabulous blue lagoon with this magnificent cost-friendly pond dye.

It does a solid job of reflecting UV rays and blocking excessive sunlight. Some users have been satisfied with how such an affordable dye could work so well, they’ve seen a drastic reduction of algae growth after applying it.

The bottle is 18cm in size. It contains 8 oz of deionized water and a coloring agent that can treat up to 1880 gallons of water. You should start by taking the dye in small cups of 5ml for a light shade and start adding more dye if you want to go for a darker look.

This dye won’t stain anything in the pond after it gets diluted. It’s totally safe for pond plants and other pond inhabitants. But, you should wait 7-10 days before you add fish in the pond after applying it or your fish might get sick.

Also, keep an aerator like a fountain or waterfall so that the pond doesn’t fall short of oxygen.

This pond dye is a direct proof that you don’t need expensive stuff to make a requiem. All you need is a good sense of aesthetics and preparations.

Best Pond Dye Buying guide: Factors To Consider

Pond dye can be a great way to revitalize a stagnant pond or remove unsightly water stains. However, before you take the leap and buy some of this product, here are a few things that you should consider first.

Safety

You want to be sure that whatever pond dye you use is safe for the fish and plants in your pond, so it’s important to check the label. Make sure that the product you choose contains only all-natural ingredients.

If you have any animals or birds around your pond, it’s especially crucial that you make sure they won’t face any problem by consuming the water after using the dye.

However, you should use gloves while pouring pond dye inside your water feature. Also, keep your pets and kids away from the water’s edge while applying the dye.

Cost

Pond dyes are typically not very expensive, but it’s still important that you compare the prices of different brands’ pond dye before you make up your mind about the exact product that you should buy.

Remember, expensive dyes do not always offer satisfying performance but in most cases they do. And, you rarely get good results from the cheap ones. So, choose wisely by reading customers’ feedback regarding any particular pond dye.

Result

When you buy pond dye, it’s necessary that you consider what difference the product will make to your pond’s appearance. Make sure that the color of the water is changed enough to give your pond a fresh look, but not so much that it looks like an entirely different body of water or gets an artificial appearance.

Algae control

Pond dyes can help you control algae growth in your pond, but they won’t be able to completely eliminate the problem. Make sure that when you buy pond dye, it contains ingredients that will target and fight off any algae in your water.

Size of your pond

The size of your particular pond will determine exactly how much dye you need to buy. So be sure to take accurate measurements before you head out shopping. Also, make sure that the bottle of dye is large enough to handle all of your needs.

Ease of use

When you buy pond dye, you must consider how easy it will be to apply the product. If you don’t like to deal with liquid dye, you can purchase packet dye and simply toss the pack into the water.

Pond’s surroundings

Be sure to take a close look at the rest of your pond’s surroundings before you buy dye. Your pond may not look gorgeous with any color dye because of its surroundings. So, you have to keep this thing in mind while buying the dye so that your pond become more attractive after applying the dye.

Pond Dye Application: How Do I Apply Pond Dye?

A pond dye will work like magic and as a pond owner, you should know the proper application of the incredible water beautifier. However, you don’t need to be an aqua expert to use this chemical. So let’s see how to use pond dye in a pond.

Step 1: Understand your pond’s condition and buy the dye accordingly

Some ponds face mucky water issues while others face algae related problems. So, you need to understand the water condition and choose an appropriate dye so that it solves the existing issue while making your pond visually appealing.

Step 2: Determine the amount of dye your pond requires

Now, if you pour 1 gallon of water into a small amount of water, your water feature may turn into your desired color immediately but the inhabitants of the pond face the consequence. So, you need to understand what amount of dye would be perfect for the volume of water in your pond.

In general, 1-gallon dye is ideal for 1 acre of water. So, measure your pond water and determine the amount of dye you need to use.

Step 3: Apply Pond dye

Now, just grab the pond dye container and pour it into the water sparingly. It’s recommended to pour pond dye in different corners of the pond so that it can work quickly and effectively. 

Benefits of Pond Dye

The benefits of using pond dye are many. Below I have pointed out some essential benefits of this water-treating liquid. Let’s see-

1. Beautifies pond or lake

Almost all pond dyes’ primary job is to make the water very clear and beautiful. These colors provide a catchy appearance to the ponds while balancing the natural ecosystem of the water body.

2. Protects fish

Pond dye also protects fish from predators because it makes the water reflective. So, fish become less visible to the predator’s eye. Also, pond dye provides shade which makes the water cooler and enjoyable for fish.

3. Help reduce algal growth

One of the best benefits of a pond dye is that it reduces algae in water by limiting sunlight penetration due to its black, blue, or green color. So, algae get less sunlight for their photosynthesis process and can’t grow rapidly. This way, you do not have to change water frequently because there will be no germs in your pond.

4. Non-toxic

Any other water-treating chemical can put various negative impacts on the pond water, fishes, plants. Also, these chemicals can make the water unusable and poisonous. Thankfully, all good brands’ pond dye is non-toxic and you can use the water for any purpose immediately after applying pond dye. But, I would recommend you not to drink the water.

5. Makes fish feel safe

In some cases, pond dye can make the fish feel safe too because they will also see a difference in light penetration due to its color. This way, the fish will be more active and lively.

6. Prevents UV rays

You can prevent UV rays penetration by using pond dyes. UV rays can harm fish’s eyes, skin, and body.  So by using pond dyes you can prevent this damage.

7. Economical

Pond dye is very economical and works like magic. To apply pond dye on an acre of water surface, you don’t need to spend even 100 bucks. But after applying pond dye, it will increase the value of your property by a hundred times.

Is Pond Dye Safe For Fish?

Though I have stated several times in the article that pond dye won’t cause any harm to pond inhabitants, here I’ve picked the topic again to assure you that pond dye is completely safe for fish.

First of all, pond dye contains harmful ingredients to cause any damage to any species of fish. Secondly, pond dye never hampers the pond ecosystem. Also, pond dye doesn’t interfere with pond chemistry. So, the pond ph level or temperature won’t change after applying the pond dye.

Now, I’m sure that you have been fully satisfied that pond dye is 100% safe for fish. However, an excessive amount of pond dye in a small water body can cause several issues.

Different Colors of Pond Dye

Pond Dyes come in different colors and various shades of those colors. Getting to know them is important because getting the wrong one for your intended aesthetics means at least a few days [or a month, depending on dosage] of waiting time.

I’ll be talking about the primary colors here…

1. Blue pond dye

Blue is by far the most popular color. It’s easy to turn your garden into an aquatically vibrant space with the help of a blue dye. My most favorite blue shades are the royal and dark blue, as they give the vibe of a sea. In my eyes, blue gives the most natural looking aesthetics to the pond.

From the turquoise hues of the swimming pool to the lavish radiant glow of the blue lagoon in Iceland, you can emulate anything.

2. Black pond dye

Black dyes create a very strong reflective service on the water, which is popular in ponds or lakes surrounded by forests as it allows for fantastic reflections. If you have your pond in a bright and sunny area, the reflections will look fantastic and create a magical atmosphere.

This deep shade allows you to see all the way through it and creates a very strong reflection of the light from surrounding trees beautifully in forests surrounded by water where this type can be used effectively.

Twilight black is one of the rarest forms of black dye but I really like it for the reflection it creates.

3. Turquoise/Aqua pond dye

Turquoise and aqua colors create the perfect background for a tropical look. These dyes are much clearer than blues, which makes them ideal pond dye choices for a garden pond.

These clear shades will help brighten up the calm blue of an artificial garden oasis in no time at all!

Now that I’ve discussed the most common kind of pond dyes, let’s talk about what might suit your pond.

What Color Dye Is Best for Your pond?

Pond owners love to see their favorite color on their water features and avoid any kind of artificial look. Also, the color choice largely depends on the surrounding environment of the ponds.

Apart from that, some colors also work effectively to protect ponds from algae and predators’ attacks. Let’s see which color dye is best for what sort of conditions…

Pond Dye For Algae Control

As sunlight triggers the algae bloom, you should choose a color that hinders sunlight to reach those algae and helps them grow. In such cases, royal blue or black dye will be great.

Pond Dye For Natural Look

It depends on the area your pond or lake is located. If it is placed near a tropical area, Aqua crystal blue will be appropriate. Also, black color dye will be an excellent choice for ponds situated near rocky and hilly mountains. And, if your pond is surrounded by lots of trees, greenish-blue pond dye will give a magical view.

Pond Dye For Deterring Predators

Flying Predators steal fish from ponds and lakes and a black dye will create a reflective pond surface that discourages those flying birds from attacking your water feature’s fish.

How To Maximize the Result of Your Pond Dye

You can do various things to maximize the results of a pond dye. Most of these ideas are easy stuff, you can do them in a jiffy. So, let me explain to you how to get the most of your pond dye:

1. Remove algae

Pond dye won’t be efficient if you put them while algae is still present. Some dyes could even make the algae even more visible and create yellow or green hues that look odd and ruin your aesthetics. Some algae even absorb pond dye.

For that reason, I’ll strongly advise you to remove all algae from the pond before you go forward with the pond dye application. There are a lot of ways to do so, you can shock your pond, or add algae eating fishes in your pond.

You can even find some great pond plants that control the algae bloom quite well.

Let’s not forget, there’s also the option to use algaecide in a pond, but I’ll suggest you take extreme caution about that.

2. Treat Tannins

Sometimes you might notice that your pond already has a brown or yellowish color. The culprit behind that is called tannin. Tannins are a natural organic dye found in ponds that can slowly turn the water brown or yellow.

If you find your water is turning these colors, make sure to treat it for tannin before adding any more dyes, otherwise, tannins will mix with the dye and make your pond look even weirder!

3. No activated carbon treatment

You’ll want to make sure that your activated carbon product has been treated before applying the color, otherwise, the dye will have reduced effectiveness.

4. Spread the pond dye evenly

Dyeing a pond can be difficult if not done correctly. It’s best to make sure the applied dye to the water surface is even and distributed for an even color tone. The first 24 hours are crucial for this.

But if you have a good flow in your pond this process does not need any further attention after that initial time frame has passed.

5. Follow the manufacturer’s guide

Follow the instructions on your dye to get an even, vibrant color for your pond. Sure, you can use too much or underdose and still have a great result if you’re an expert in this, but if you’re remotely new I don’t think it’s good to tamper.

By the way, if you’re really in the mood of doing it by yourself, then start with small drops. Underdosing is always better than overdosing in this case because you can always add more drops to balance things out. Because in terms of overdosing, you have to wait for the dye to fade a bit, which could take a while.

Frequently asked questions

Final Words

Pond dye is an important supplement of a pond. It’s a naturally occurring substance that can be used to tint or even lighten water in your pond and turn into a magical oasis. And, there are no harmful chemicals involved in the process which makes it an environmentally friendly option too.

I have given my favorite pond dyes and mentioned every bit of necessary info. Now it’s up to you to choose. Think logically but follow your heart too!