Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Lake Dye

Have any of you folks used pond dye instead of fertilizing? My pond has alot of water flowing through it and also suffers from low alkalinity even after adding over 5 tons lime per acre. I have a trash rack that extends 8 ft. below the surface, will this keep the dye in the pond?
Experience anyone?

Needless to say (?), the dye will stay with the water to which it is added. If the water discharges from the pond, so will the dye.

Fertilizing (if the water chemistry is appropriate and if administered correctly) would likely be your cheaper option to reduce water clarity (if that's your objective), and would be of much greater benefit to your pond's fish-carrying capacity.

Thanks for your reply Kellie. I realize the dye will stay only with the water in which it is added, but will the trash rack help retain the dye similar to the fertilize since the trash rack extends 8 ft. below the surface?
As for carrying capacity, would an intense feeding program be just as beneficial as fertilize and supplemental feeding?
Thanks

I think I follow what you're asking now, assuming that the trash rack (unsure what that term implies) causes water to be discharged from the sub-8' level rather than from the surface.

A lake dye will likely diffuse evenly throughout the pond's water-column. Whereas, phytoplankton (in fertile ponds, or resulting from a pond fertilization program) will generally occupy the upper levels of the water-column. In my opinion, you'll be adding lake dye on a frequent basis if your pond repeatedly discharges water and you wish to maintain a reduced level of water-clarity.

Directly feeding your forage fish is an option to using a fertilization program, particularly if your pond's water isn't well suited to phytoplankton growth. However, fish food represents a variety of nutrients - only a portion of which will be "retained" in the fish. The excreted nutrients may provide sufficient fuel for a weed or algae problem, especially under clear-water conditions.