Any suggestions to help my OVER fertilized pond? 2 acre pond that I fertilized with 14lbs of perfect pond granular, then came back one week later, no bloom so I added the remainder of the bag (6lbs). No bloom after two weeks so I added another bag, 20lbs 2 weeks ago. I now have a lovely pea soup from surface to out of sight. Can not see sand bottom in 4 inches of water. Disk disappears at about 6 inches. No dead fish yet, but I am expecting to find some every visit.

Advice would be appreciated, I can't be first dummy to do this!

Whups!!

I remember my dad saying "Patience is a virtue".

1) Is there any way to run a well into the pond and flush out some (or a lot) of the water?

2) Can you get aluminum sulfate?

3) Last resort but it isn't inexpensive.

http://www.sepro.com/phoslock/How-Phoslock-Works.aspx

Thank you and yep, it was a case of, "if a little is good, a lot must be great" thinking.

Additional water is not an option. Trying to reach my local "pond guy" to get chemistry checked. He may be out for the holiday since he hasn't returned my call, but guess I better get the chemistry checked BEFORE I do anything else. No dead fish yet, been 6 days since I discovered the pea soup.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll post when I get the chemistry done. Hope I am not making a mistake in waiting to see the chemistry.

Can anyone give me advice? I started fertilizing this spring using granular 0-46-0 and got a nice bloom within two weeks and kept a close eye on everything. visibility was about 18 inches and I added enough fert. to keep it there every two weeks or so. The ph is around 8 with no significant amount of nitrite or nitrate and the water hardness is high. About the beginning of July I've noticed the water start to clear up and green algae took off on the surface and is growing profusely. I am continuing fertilizing but the water is still quite clean. Any suggestions?? Thank you!

Can you post pics ? Facts like weather /rain and runoff etc. What are the alkalinity and hardness #s. What is the visibility now?

Weather has been bright and in the 80's with no rain or run off as of late. Hardness is about 300 and alkalinity 120. Visibility at least three feet. It cleared up quickly when surface algae started to appear and matted on about one quarter of the pond. Pond is an acre and a half being 16 feet deep in the deepest part. No pics at this time but hope this gives you an idea. Thank you.

Ps. Still adding about 4 pounds of 0-46-0 every week as I've been informed that once started don't stop unless visibility is where you want it but I'm wondering if too much P is causing the algae growth. I also added some 10-10-10 after the water cleared up thinking nitrogen may be the limiting factor but not until after the algae growth just to see if it made any diff. but noticed none.

I'm not a fan of fertilizing water to keep down on sunlight penetration. It is my belief that you are only fertilizing the algae.

I tried that until I got a fish kill. Never again.

I fertilized because fish were thin and lethargic and after fertilizing became healthy and aggressive. I just want to make sure it is balanced and I'm getting max results. The pond is 10 years old but now seems to be revitalized except for clearing up and algae mat.

Keep doing what you have been. FA was likely in place last winter growing on the bottom and not a result of fertilization. FA (assuming that is what you have)starts its cycle on the pond bottom and as it grows it floats to the top as the last part of its life cycle. Post a pic of the FA. Be sure using granular fertilizer that you get it up in the water column (platforms) and not on the pond bottom.

Thank you ewest,
I do put it on a plastic platform about 4 inches below the surface. Just had an over night rain and most of the algae mat is gone.

Keep us posted on results and if you can post a pic of the FA.

Jeezo Dave, seems like you've killed fish in about every possible manner. Tell us more about what not to do, please!

TJ, I'm probably not through yet. You'll have to wait for the book.

I would hope it's got scratch and sniff pictures...ah, the smell of a month old bloated bluegill on a 105 Texas afternoon!

Probable titles:

If some fertilizer in a pond is good, more should be great. Encourage the neighbors to do the same.

Weeds for fry to hide in should be encouraged.

A 1/4 acre pond should do nicely with 5 pounds of FHM, 500 BG, 100 CC, and 100 lmb. Be sure to fertilize here also.

Catch and release is good.

Encourage bass spawning.

Let the Grandkids name the CC's.

It always rains.

Hold my beer and watch this.

The last one "Hold my beer and watch this." is a classic. I usually hear it just before a human caused disaster where someone ends up looking real stupid and maybe in the hospital.

Try this title DD1 --" A thousand ways to lose your fishes" or should it be britches.

Sorry D - I'm partial to Eric's suggestion.

Hey, if you need help editing, I have Literature, Philosophy and Religion degrees collecting dust and are begging to stretch their legs! Rates are reasonable for PB members, and you definitely qualify for the AARP crotchety discount, too.

OH MY did I laugh at that one!!! One man comes to my mind.. Charles Darwin...keep watching because the gene pool is about to become a little shallower

After serious cogitation(how's that word for ya TJ? Feel free to look it up), I've realized that I still need a title. All of the previous could be individual chapters.

MNFISH, too late to worry about the gene pool. I and all of my offspring have already spawned.

Oh boy, I'm loving this.

How about...

"FISH: From me to you.
The story of a West TX renegade and his lifelong quest to raise fish with no water"

Suggested back cover. Every author looks smarter with a pipe.

Al, that guy doesn't fit me at all. First, he's wearing a necktie. Second, he has a nice moustache. When I try to grow one of those things, I look like a pool hustler. A beard makes me look kinda winoesque. And then, there's the pipe. Trying to keep a pipe lit was one of my bigger frustrations.

Adding another couple of chapters.

Always ask the guy on the fish truck how to stock in July. After all, he's a professional.

If it works in Texas, it ought to work up North.

Dave, I selected a placeholder picture of William Faulkner. One of the most revered authors in southern literature, Nobel laureate, and pipe smoker.

You can skip the facial hair, but the pipe's gotta stay. If your tome does what I think it'll do, you'll be a hero anyway.