Fish Kill = New Beginnings! - 04/08/12 08:04 PM
Hey all I'm currently experiencing a fish kill. First known in 35 year history of this pond. On one hand it's a bummer, on the other like Rotenone from GOD!
Last summer I took a new interest in my pond. I had the tube replaced and the water level increased by 3 feet.I dont wish to sound redundant, but that's where it's all began in my opinion so far. The water came to full pool in about 3 weeks. I had a 15 foot wide band around my pond, with dense pondweed.
As the water rose, the existing PW lived, and filled in to the shore. I also have been in the process of ridding the pond of CC, and GSF and natural hybridized BG. Being new to the whole world of pond management, I thought it would be a task, difficult but not impossible. I had considered rotenone, but thought hey it will be fun.
This spring, with it's unusually warm weather, my pond came to life very rapidly. BG feeding great and growing nicely.FA coming in early, and I could see the Pondweed coming into growth.
Last summer I fished and caught a ridiculous amount of small GSF. I thought I was doing a number on them. This spring, it was like I had never caught a GSF last summer. I also noticed I had an enormous amount of BG coming to hit feed. It would take 2 tons of AM to grow these to decent size.
After taking out over 100 CC majority of over 2 lbs., I thought I had put a decent dent in the CC. I did, but there's still alot to go. These boogers started hitting my feed, and now saw at least 30 big CC to go.
About a week ago, I threw some floater into the shallowsat night. I got my 2 million CP spotlight out........My God. Big golden shiners everywhere, and CC. My pond was way over populated to say the least.
A few days ago, we had a nice cold front come through. 4" of cold rain over about 2 days, and cool daytime and nighttime temps. We had 3 days of 90* weather led by several days of 80's.One day 90, the next day 65. The FA that was floating disappeared. The PW I was talking about earlier, is now dead and decaying.
As far as I can tell, the cold water had dropped my floating FA, and colder temps,killing my PW, causing a decent vegetation dieoff, and crashing my DO. Is that a reasonable assumption? I think it will take a few more days for the PW to fully decay.
Last night I had some fish actually feeding. I took a row around the pond today, and saw the large amounts of dieing PW.I am still seeing stressed fish in the dieing process.The water is more clear than I've ever seen it before. I can see at least 6 foot to the bottom inplaces, and It's like I'm in a glass bottom boat.
I'm almost happy, because now, I can restock, and restock properly. I know there will probably be some GSF and CC when this is all over, but nothing like what I had. I needed new BG genetics, as these were probably so inbred and side bred, it wasnt funny.
I will probably start with some fatheads in about 3 weeks, I'm also going to try and locate some award winning BG.I assume my zooplankton will skyrocket, now that my hungry little mouths are gone.
I probably sound like a freak hey?
Last summer I took a new interest in my pond. I had the tube replaced and the water level increased by 3 feet.I dont wish to sound redundant, but that's where it's all began in my opinion so far. The water came to full pool in about 3 weeks. I had a 15 foot wide band around my pond, with dense pondweed.
As the water rose, the existing PW lived, and filled in to the shore. I also have been in the process of ridding the pond of CC, and GSF and natural hybridized BG. Being new to the whole world of pond management, I thought it would be a task, difficult but not impossible. I had considered rotenone, but thought hey it will be fun.
This spring, with it's unusually warm weather, my pond came to life very rapidly. BG feeding great and growing nicely.FA coming in early, and I could see the Pondweed coming into growth.
Last summer I fished and caught a ridiculous amount of small GSF. I thought I was doing a number on them. This spring, it was like I had never caught a GSF last summer. I also noticed I had an enormous amount of BG coming to hit feed. It would take 2 tons of AM to grow these to decent size.
After taking out over 100 CC majority of over 2 lbs., I thought I had put a decent dent in the CC. I did, but there's still alot to go. These boogers started hitting my feed, and now saw at least 30 big CC to go.
About a week ago, I threw some floater into the shallowsat night. I got my 2 million CP spotlight out........My God. Big golden shiners everywhere, and CC. My pond was way over populated to say the least.
A few days ago, we had a nice cold front come through. 4" of cold rain over about 2 days, and cool daytime and nighttime temps. We had 3 days of 90* weather led by several days of 80's.One day 90, the next day 65. The FA that was floating disappeared. The PW I was talking about earlier, is now dead and decaying.
As far as I can tell, the cold water had dropped my floating FA, and colder temps,killing my PW, causing a decent vegetation dieoff, and crashing my DO. Is that a reasonable assumption? I think it will take a few more days for the PW to fully decay.
Last night I had some fish actually feeding. I took a row around the pond today, and saw the large amounts of dieing PW.I am still seeing stressed fish in the dieing process.The water is more clear than I've ever seen it before. I can see at least 6 foot to the bottom inplaces, and It's like I'm in a glass bottom boat.
I'm almost happy, because now, I can restock, and restock properly. I know there will probably be some GSF and CC when this is all over, but nothing like what I had. I needed new BG genetics, as these were probably so inbred and side bred, it wasnt funny.
I will probably start with some fatheads in about 3 weeks, I'm also going to try and locate some award winning BG.I assume my zooplankton will skyrocket, now that my hungry little mouths are gone.
I probably sound like a freak hey?