I added fertilizer to the pond and water visibility went from 36" to 22" in one week. And with all the rain and water additions from the well (pond came up 3"). And after 3 weeks time the visibility seams to have stabilized @ 26". So I am thinking of adding more fertilizer but I am nervous about it. So now before I add more of the fertilizer, I thought I might try organic (alfalfa pellets). So any recommendations from you, before I mess things up and like Dave said " not a pond master till u kill some fish". So what do u guys think

Note, I have only seen one dead cnbg since I started this pond, but after fertilizing I have seen 1 to 5 floating FHM per day. maybe nothing to do with it, there were a lot of FHM stocked in this pond. All dead FHM were big minnows.

Thanks

Tracy

Tracy, I don't think 26 inches is all that bad.

BTW, the dead fish or "UH OH" is not a very exclusive club but I'm trying to not do it again.

Dave, thank you for your response here and I am trying to avoid any over treatment, but I am at or near spawning for my forage fish and I would like to achieve the most fish the water will support. I just remembered what you had said earlier this month about over treatment. I am trying to have some patients here lol. But the Good Lord me a hurry up kinda of guy What is the feeling here about organic fertilization? I am thinking it might be a slower response or maybe smoother to more of the 12-61-0 chemical fertilizer, is there any difference when fertilizing water?

Thanks

Tracy

Tracey,are you feeding as well?

Can you post pics of the water ?

Chasin, I am feeding and ewest, I have not posed any pictures here since joining up here with u good people. I may have to give it a try. I am a Blackberry guy and not an I phone guy, so posting pictures has not been in my vocabulary, so to speak. The water has a green tent and really looks good but when I ck the visibility it is @ 26 to 27". I have had rain every day and now the visibility is @ 22 but due to some suspended clays, so I am holding off adding the alfalfa pellets till I have a better handle on the visibility from fertilized water or the clays. It normally will drop out the clays in just a few days. I am attempting to fertilize to feed the many fry that will be here sooner than I think. FHM fry are all around the shorelines now. I would like to see around 18" of visibility with the green water

Thanks

Tracy

It can be difficult to get optimum plankton growth (visibility) early in the spring for various reasons like temps and rain. You are wise to not over due early.

The most important thing I have learned from this forum is not to be a hurry up personality. It's hard for me to slow down. But I am trying to let the pond dictate to me and not me dictate to the pond. The pond will tell me what to do if I just take the time to listen. And thanks to all here for teaching me, a new pond builders-owner.

Tracy