Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Herbicide algae control and aerator on or off?

Hello, I want to spray Chrystal Plex Algae Control on my 1/3 acre pond. Should I shut off my below surface aerator? or leave it on? Chrystal Plex is cooper sulfite pentahydrate. I have planktonic algae. Thank you for your advice.

I would think the aerator would ensure pretty uniform dispersal of the algaecide throughout the pond.

Another important consideration for you is determining why you have excessive algae. The algae is just the manifestation of the root problem. Get that under control and the algae will be more manageable.

Welcome to Pond Boss. Great to have you here. Tell us a bit about your pond.

Thank you for info...pond Is in SE Iowa. 1/3 acre, geothermal coils below it, stocked with bluegills, channel catfish, and large mout bass. But I don't fish.... I think I have algae due to a tile break and the lack of aquatic plants. (Tile is scheduled to be fixed. I am inviting folks to fish.) I test water oxygen, nitrates, phosphate, pH, etc...all good. When we moved here 4 years ago, my partner subscribed to Pond Boss for me. It's one of two magazine that I still get in print. I want to support this community. Have found it very useful. Any additional advice on algae would be appreciated.

I don't know the right answer, and I hope an expert weighs in soon. However, when I spray surface algae in shallow water I turn my fountain and aerators off. My theory is that reducing water movement in the pond will keep the spray in the shallow water areas longer where I want them to do their job, rather than pulling the water away from the impacted areas and distributing them throughout the water.

I'd spray 1/3 of the pond at a time, and turn off the aeration for 5-6 hrs after application. I looked up Crystal Plex. Basically it's dissolved Copper Sulfate in water. If it was my pond, and I was looking at buying Crystal Plex, I'd re-think the purchase and look at Cutrine Plus. (copper sulphate pentahydrate 19.8% vs. Copper Ethanolamine Complex, Mixed (Mono CAS#14215-52-2 and Tri CAS# 82027-59-6)*...27.9%

Roughly the same price, with more % of the active ingredient.

I believe Chelated Copper products are a bit better to use in a pond too.

While you wait on an expert Ill offer this.With Sancos Crystal Plex it is a bit of a catch 22. If "planktonic" is the issue you will want to treat the top 3-4 ft very evenly with the aerator "off" so you get contact time and very little dilution. But the label will tell you to treat only a portion even with planktonic which is an instant "dilution factor" to help prevent a DO crash.Treating a portion of the surface acreage with Crystal Plex for planktonic algae does not work. Even if you knock out the current plankton it is supported by nutrients that will most likely repopulate quickly. Normally a good plankton level indicates healthy water even though it may not meet your goal. If your going to treat I would apply the 3-4 ft depth rate very evenly on a very sunny morning and then by sundown turn aeration back on. Just my 2 cents.

Why do you think the planktonic algae growth is a problem? Goals for the pond? Clearing the water to visibilities of 4ft to 8ft may result in a big growth of filamentous algae that uses all the nutrients from the rapidly decaying dead planktonic algae.

I missed the planktonic algae part. What is the visibility now, and what are your visibility goals?

Thank you for the help..."it depends" are approriate answers (in my opinion) since balancing a pond is tricky. I would like the pond to be clearer---for swimming aethics. I don't mind some plankton algae (which I assume I have after doing the let a quart jar sit for week test). Cutrine Plus seems like a better choice. Will do a disk reading to check clarity level.