Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations green pond iced over

i posted pics a week or so ago showing the green stuff on the pond surface. we have had some abnormally cold days here recently and the pond has iced over. any chance that i could be looking at a fish kill?? i think the green stuff is blue green algae after researching it.

Can you break the ice up ? That would help.

i could break up some of it. looks like we have some warmer weather on the way though..

Let us know if the green tint is there after the ice melts.

Ice formation on the surface film of bluegreen algae should cause cellularlysis (distruction of cells) of most all the floating living material. When ice melts, surface film should be gone and mostly settled to the bottom. Resurgance of nutrients next year in warm weather will liklely stimulate another surface bloom.

Scott, generally speaking, the blue-greens tend to appear at midsummer. When water is cooler in early spring and late fall, we tend to see green algae blooms instead. Bill, would you agree?

Same here Dave. The ice here tends to get rid of both on the surface (top 3 feet)when it melts (quickly here in winter) - rare to have a pond covered with ice for more than a week.

DrDave, I tend to agree that cyanobacteria esp those causing surface films generally do not persist into late fall and upto ice cover; although I hesitate to say never. I did not get to look at what was causing the scum on the surface, but it did appear (pics) to be a bluegreen probably in very fertile water; hypereutropic.
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Thanks, Bill. I agree -- never say never. It "always" gets a person in trouble.

our cool snap was quick. the ice has already melted. there is some green stuff still on the surface. i also noticed the strong smell again today. i dont know what is going on. i had the best looking water in the spring. summer came and it got brown just like last year.

since i installed the feeder, i have considered adding dye next year to try and keep the fa away and not fertilizing. reckon i could keep all the different algaes in check better that way?

Something, somewhere is going to utilize the nutrients. Be it FA or submerged plant growth. If those aren't in the mix I'll bet it will be a different type of algae.

Scott - add a history of the property/pond here. It may be that this is part of the breaking in of a new pond. The first thing I would do assuming the pond is acitic by nature (many SE ponds are)is add some ag lime. That plus winter may clear the water.