does anyone know where I can buy gypsum powder in the dallas area?

If you have access to pelletized gypsum you can soak it in water over night and it will turn into powder.

I am having trouble locating any form of gypsum

James, HD sells Pennington lawn gypsum, but I'm not sure what else is in the Mix. Maybe a feed store could order some.

I may go and try it tomorrow on a water sample. Its 98% gypsum with 2% something else?

I have also found liquid gypsum which they claim is equal to 200# gypsum per gallon on your yard? Not sure what it would do to a pond? Its 50 dollars a gallon.

I find that hard to believe (not the price, but the equivalent factor).

X2
This claim reminded me that the Cardiff Giant was born from a gypsum quarry (< completely unrelated, but amusing).

I have now located the gypsum to put in the pond what are the reccommendations on how to apply 50-70 tons of gypsum? i was thinking of just putting it around the edge of the pond with the front end loader? Will it disperse around the pond if its just put around the edges or will i need to get in a boat and take it all over the pond?

I did a bucket test with a small amount of the gypsum. within a short time the clay had settled but it left the water a tea color? When I used the alum it settled the clay but it left the water drinking water clear.

James, I checked on it about 10 years ago but didn't use it. AS I RECALL, it had to be spread like alum. They told me to also do the banks of the pond where water runs in.

As you can see the pond is very muddy. The gypsum clears the water along the shore where we are putting it but it returns to muddy in about six hours from the water mixing from the center of the pond. I am next going to try to move the gypsum out to the center in a boat. I havnt quite figured that out yet. any suggestions would be helpful

we have put about 20 tons along the shore line and I have about 50 tons left to try and put out in the middle. I was thinking about trying to build a barge out of plywood for the flat surface and then barrels or pvc pipe to float it? I have a lot of 6 inch pvc pipes I could cap the ends off and then put them under the plywood or maybe barrels not sure?

James:

Each 55 gallon barrel can float approximately 400 pounds. when the barrel is barely submerged. Depending on the amount of barrels, you can float a lot of gypsum. A small outboard and a small gasoline powered trash pump will allow you to move around the lake washing off the gypsum from the "barge" as you go.

For my own edification, why are you using gypsum and not alum if alum worked better in the bucket?

I wasnt able to solve the chemistry problem with the alum long term. I am hopeful that the gypsum will be a longer term solution. It is also much less expensive and is non toxic to the fish. There is no risk of ph issues. It is also non toxic to handle. lime and alum both burn your skin and lungs. after saying this if i thought I would have success with the alum i would use it.

esshup I have located plastic 55 gallon barrels. how do I attach the platform to the barrels?

James, you have to contain the barrels "inside" the platform. As teh people saw that were at the doings at my place, the floating pier has 2x10's/2x12's on the outside, and the barrels are inside. I ran 2x10's as joists between the barrels, narrower than the barrels are wide so they get jammed in there before they want to pop thru the joists. I'd top your barge with plywood.

Or if you are going to be doing this on a semi-regular basis, see about scrounging up an almost trashed pontoon boat and use that for a barge.

gypsy barge one. I think I will add two more barrels to increase the carrying capacity. right now it has six barrels. I have now added about forty tons of gypsum and have about thirty left on site to add.

still not gin clear but a vast improvement. Still adding gypsum. I am at about fifty tons added and hope to finish adding the additional 20 today.

If my body holds out I may order another 25 tons next month depending on what adding the 20 tons i have left does.

James, it's an improvement!

How many pounds can the barge float comfortably with the 6 or 8 barrels?

the barrels are supposed to support 400 lbs each. I have been loading about 2000lbs with the front end loader each time. I weigh 230 so that has to be added also. I was afraid I was going to sink it more than once. I am now seeing the bass both white and black feeding along with the bluegill at the feeders. I think muddy water is very detrimental to all of the fish species that are sight feeders. The only fish that the muddy water didnt seem to harm were the catfish. Muddy water is bad for fish and is unsightly if you can do something about it you should at least try.

Let us know how this works !

beforeso far

It seems that the gypsum works slower and dissolves slower than the alum. It is less expensive and not as toxic but much more labor intensive due to the amount required. It hopefully will also add ca to my water which was very low. The bass fishing has improved dramatically. I caught over forty today on a green brush hog. The largest being just over three pounds.

Here is another question. It seems that my vertex aerator is pulling up clay from the bottom or at least thats what it looks like. would putting a piece of plywood under the aerator help with this?

Here is another question. It seems that my vertex aerator is pulling up clay from the bottom or at least thats what it looks like. would putting a piece of plywood under the aerator help with this?

I think Bill Cody talked about elevating the aerator off the bottom almost 10" or so...?

It has now been about six months since adding gypsum. The water has remained clear. We had a good rain and the pond turned dark for a day or two but then returned to clear. Best thing i ever did for my pond.

James...something more durable underwater would be better...like a plastic floor pan, 3'x3'..also raise your diffusers 10-20 inches off the base. Diffuser units without a wide, flat base often sink into the substrate over time.

Rubber truck mud flaps are great also, if you frame them...Cheap in almost any auto parts store....they come in 18"x24"...24x30 and 30x36...about $8-$18ea

James where was your PH before you added gypsum? Just wondering why the choice of gypsum for your water chemistry. I personally do not like gypsum for water treatment for large body's of water or well water. It will effect the water permanently. Rarely will it give up the calcium ions that is why it is so safe.

Cheers Don.

I'm diggin that "gypsy barge."

<a href="http://s112.photobucket.com/user/james12_04/media/20140112_090944.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n165/james12_04/20140112_090944.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20140112_090944.jpg"/></a>The fishing is excellent even in january and the fish are very healthy. The water looks much better!

even the shad and baitfish are doing better! this was our best match for what the fish were eating. all of the fish were caught with this lure

Looking great James!!

Nice fish James. Water looks good also.

thanks guys having blue water instead of brown makes me happy!

James,

Where did you get gypsum in bulk? All I can find is 50 lb bags at boat cycle in Henderson, TX.

I ended up using about five tons per acre with the red clay It took about three months to clear the water and a lot of hard work. i get the gypsum from just south of oklahoma city at the quarry there. they deliver it in twenty ton increments for I believe 900? The bulk of the cost is the delivery at 600. If you are closer it would be cheaper or if you could drive up there with a trailer or a truck the cost would be very low. For me the cost has been well worth it since before adding the gypsum my pond looked horrible and it made me sad to look at it.My contact at the mine is tony his phone number is 4056139762 If i can help in any other way let me know

Mr. Holt,
Thank you very much. We added 6tons to our pond late last year. It is much clearer now, not sure if it is the gypsum or the winter we had. He pond has been very green all winter but we can see down about 14 inches now. For some reason we have really fertile water since we built he pond late year. Thanks again. Zach

I think I need to add some more to add some hardness too.

Adding gypsum may be something that has to be done on a regular basis in order to maintain clear water especially in a drought condition. I have just added another ton today. After having clear water now for about eight months it is starting to suspend clay again and Im not sure why? I did the bucket test today and the water in the bucket turned clear very quickly so there must still be gypsum in the water just not enough?

James, if your bucket test water cleared quickly, only mechanical action like wind/wave could be stirring your water up. Any bottom rooters in your lake, like bullhead catfish and common carp?

large numbers of catfish and bullheads also high wave action

Once winds calm and your bass get rid of the fresh spawn of bullheads, your water should clear back up pretty quickly then. I can't think of any harm adding the minerals in the extra gypsum.