Forums36
Topics40,961
Posts557,952
Members18,500
|
Most Online3,612 Jan 10th, 2023
|
|
11 members (LeighAnn, Bobbss, Jambi, catscratch, jludwig, John Folchetti, shores41, Theo Gallus, Shorthose, phinfan, Zep),
1,132
guests, and
312
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 55
Lunker
|
OP
Lunker
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 55 |
Hi, I'm cleaning my Michigan pond slowly but surely.
It's surrounded on two sides by large trees, some hanging over the water. the largest tree is a 6' diameter willow. It's huge and old and always dropping debris into the water.
Over the years there's been quite the muck layer accumulation.
I've started aeration a couple of years ago and adding bacteria to break up the smaller particles, but there's plenty of big stuff (sticks, leaves, etc.) to remove.
I've done the pond raking and it seems every time I rake near the aerator the next time I go out there, I have another new layer to pull out. I'm assuming the bacteria is breaking up the small stuff leaving the larger sticks that are now easier to remove.
I've used spades, pitch forks, manure forks, scoop shovels, lake rakes, and have scooped up yards of this stuff for the garden (nothing better once that smelly muck has dried out to form the blackest soil!) but it's still time consuming.
Other than dredging the pond, has anyone had a novel way of harvesting large amounts of muck quickly? I guess I'm looking to stay manual, but trying to find the perfect "scoop" to get as much per shovel as possible.
Bennie LMB, HBG, YP, CC, FHM, located SE Michigan 1/3 acre 8-9' deep, aerated 24/7 1/4 hp rocking piston
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 544
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 544 |
You are a better man than I am, I pumped my pond dry and used an excavator to harvest my muck, my back wouldn't have taken the other options, heh heh.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,721
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,721 |
I think you are doing everything that can be done without using equipment.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4
Fingerling
|
Fingerling
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4 |
I am cleaning out the muck on my 0.6 acre pond. The muck has been accumulating for over 60 years and is 2-3 feet deep. I decided to do the work myself while the pond remains filled so I do not disturb the large bass. While it is time consuming, it is really pretty easy with the right equipment. I am pumping all the muck into a series of 80 mesh 8 oz non woven dewatering bags. The muck will consolidate about 8:1 when dried and it makes very good and friable topsoil. That means that a 24" thick layer of muck will dewater to about 3" layer of dried soil. My first 10' x 15' bag is full and drying now. I just ordered a 15' x 25' bag that I am going to place on my weed covered garden. When dry this Spring, I will just cut off the top of the bag and plant vegetables....no weeds either. I fabricated a suction strainer from a small plastic waste basket and I am pumping the muck out underwater using a gas engine driven diaphragm pump adjacent to the shore. I tried several different centrifugal pumps but the small shells, stones, and twigs kept binding up the impeller. Once I switched to the correct pump, it runs until I get tired. I did invest in a wet suit, divers boots, and divers gloves. The 55 oF water felt warm in that outfit so I will continue pumping this fall. Rather than renting the equipment, I purchased used and can work on the pond whenever I have the desire and time. It sucks up leaves, small stones, algae, shells, twigs...anything that can fit through the 1" square openings of the strainer. The pump can actually handle up to 1 3/4" solids. Anything that doesn't fit, I pull off by hand while the pump is running. So far, I have pulled out small rubber balls, a softball, tin cans, bottles, and an old snorkle. I had researched this for some time and it works!..........Doug
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,099 Likes: 23
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
|
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,099 Likes: 23 |
Doug, Welcome to the forum!
Your method is very interesting. Can/will you post some pictures of everything?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,854 Likes: 1
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,854 Likes: 1 |
Hi, Doug.
Very interesting post. I'm very interested in pictures. Please keep us informed on this process.
Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,365
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,365 |
Doug, I always thought pump dredging was the most efficient way to clean out a pond without disturbing the fish too much. You can use a pickup boom rather than wading into the pond. Ran across these: http://www.piranhapumps.com/dredge_selection_chart.159.html
Last edited by bobad; 10/08/08 09:04 AM.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 15
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 15 |
What about using a venturi tube setup, this allows the water to pump through and the venturi picks up the sediment. Its really easy to fab one up.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,854 Likes: 1
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,854 Likes: 1 |
What about using a venturi tube setup, this allows the water to pump through and the venturi picks up the sediment. Its really easy to fab one up. I'm sorry, but I can't picture what you're talking about. Can you elaborate for me a little bit?
Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 15
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 15 |
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTefcVMu1I6W...6sigb=138e8o3rtSomething like above only bigger. We use one here at work to clear sightports on high temp furnaces, it blows nitrogen through the tube and the 3rd line pulls out debris from the sight port.
Last edited by 14737; 10/08/08 05:23 PM.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,074
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,074 |
DougOhio This deal sounds great, If you can send pictures.
Otto
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2
Fingerling
|
Fingerling
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2 |
Hi,
I am new to this forum. Very interesting and look forward to more.
Regarding the "muck" harvest. We offer a service that may fit your needs. We use a small but very efficeint hydraulic dredge to clean sediment out of ponds and other bodies of water. As an example we recently renovated a 50 year old 1.5 acre pond with orignal depths of 16'. Silt accumulation was as much as 6'+ in some areas. Water quality had gotten to the point it could not be controled and the fish population was suffering.
We removed nearly 10,000 CY of material in-situ. This pond was fully stocked with fish which were left in the pond with zero losses in the process. Very little turbidy in the process as well. In this case we pumped some of the material into very large dewatering bags and some into a retention area. Once the material dried out the client spread it and has since seeded it expanding his little 5 hole golf course on the propery.
We also did a small spring fed trout pond. It was about 30' wide by 120' long. It was only about 2' deep and we were able to take it down to 4' very easily. the pond was full of very large rainbow and brook trout. All the fish stayed in the pond with again no loss of fish.
This process has minimal if any disturbance to the property and is normally a fair amount less than mechanical dredging with backhoes or draglines.
(Bob Lusk edited out the phone number until we get to know Kpetersen a little bit better.) We offer this service throughout any where east of the Rockies.
Kent
Last edited by Bob Lusk; 10/27/08 01:34 PM. Reason: We haven't gotten to know each other, yet. I'm protecting our advertisers.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,655 Likes: 1
Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
|
Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,655 Likes: 1 |
Bob:
I think your editing it at this time makes total sense.
I hope this guy is great and that he will make interesting contributions to the web site.
When I want to deal with someone I don't know on this, or any other site, the first thing I look at is the profile which each of us fills out when we first register. I am always a little suspicious when they don't put anything in that profile. No occupation, no hobbies, and especially not even what part of the country they are in. Narrowing it down to the state at the very least.
If I had my say relative to this site a person would never get a rating above fingerling until they at least revealed something about what they are about.
Bing
"I love living. I have some problems with my life, but living is the best thing they've come up with so far." � Neil Simon,
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,902
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,902 |
Pond Boss Subscriber & Books Owner
If you can read this ... thank a teacher. Since it's in english ... thank our military! Ric
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2
Fingerling
|
Fingerling
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2 |
Sorry about the lack of info, have not done much with forums before and I am learning more about how they work. I missed some of the details in the sign up. Having just found this site I am excited about being a part of it. I have a pond of my own and I am fortunate enough to live on a 120 acre lake with 25' visability. Many lakes in our area are becoming infested with Eurasion Milfoil and other invasives - very concerned about protecting our resources.
I certianly appreciate any suggestions as I try to take part in conversations in this forum. I now understand business is to be promoted on the ads on the web as well as print - spoke to Bob about that and look forward to supporting Pond Boss.
Just got my new fins so I am learning how to swim.
Kent
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,748 Likes: 295
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,748 Likes: 295 |
Welcome aboard Kent.
It's a great place to be (when you can't be at your pond, that is!)
Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:" "She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,655 Likes: 1
Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
|
Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,655 Likes: 1 |
I think Kent is on the way to being a Lunker.
Lake dredging and muck removal services sounds like a great seminar topic / magazine story.
Bing
Now, how about some of you others adding some content to your profile.
"I love living. I have some problems with my life, but living is the best thing they've come up with so far." � Neil Simon,
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 647
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 647 |
What type of info should be put on the profile: Water World Addict, trying to fix a subdivsion lake? Have been taken over by gizzard shad, want bacteria to improve the lousy 21" clarity???
HUSBAND AND CAT MISSING -$100 REWARD FOR THE CAT! I subscribe too, but tried and failed at the fish logo.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,497 Likes: 266
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
|
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,497 Likes: 266 |
Welcome aboard Kent. Order the mag and join in the fun. It is ok to do business via pm (private messages) also. Just not on the open forum.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,074
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,074 |
Welcome aboard
put some pictures on the site so we can see what is going on.
When the phone rings here it is about water loss or cleaning out a pond.
Otto
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,435
Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
|
Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,435 |
Welcome Kent, you'll fit in just fine.
Just do it...
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,655 Likes: 1
Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
|
Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,655 Likes: 1 |
2CatMom:
I don't think you got an answer to your question, but I think the subjects you suggested are more like topics you want to discuss than profile items. The profile asks for: Occupation, Hobbies, and Location. I believe these are meant to tell forum members a little about you without getting into specifics. There is also room for your email address and web site address if you care to share them. To me these help us understand one another, and perhaps allow us to make responses that are more specific to your situation (an example would be that knowing where you are located helps in stocking, and other pond considerations).
Bing
"I love living. I have some problems with my life, but living is the best thing they've come up with so far." � Neil Simon,
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,055 Likes: 277
Moderator Lunker
|
Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,055 Likes: 277 |
I've always kinda wondered why people don't provide that type of info. When a person wants to ask questions, their location really does matter. To a certain extent, their profession also might dictate the type of response; especially if they are in a pond related business.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,972 Likes: 276
Moderator Lunker
|
Moderator Lunker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,972 Likes: 276 |
Or some kind of cannibal headhunter.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,615 Likes: 5
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,615 Likes: 5 |
Kent, welcome to Pond Boss. We're glad you found us. Since you have already spoken to Bob it sounds like you are off to a great start.
Profiles: Ah the subject of profiles. I can honestly say that it bugs me when people don't fill out their profiles. When a new forum member comes on board I frequently look at their profile just to get an idea as to what area of the country they are in, what they do for a living, are they a cat person or a dog person, what they had for breakfast.
When the profile is empty I get suspicious... maybe they don't have a pond, maybe they've never even been to a pond. Perhaps they are a predator, a Pondifile - - lurking and trying to trap an unsuspecting pond meister in to an unsavory pond rendezvous. Sure they may wisper sweet things about water and fish but in reality they might be crazy eyed guy sitting in a run down hotel room in the middle of New York (the crazy city, not the beautiful countryside) surrounded by concrete, tapping away on a dingy laptop, looking at photos of ponds and lusting after them.
Don't be a Pondifile. Fill in your profile. Do it now.
Oh and sorry I didn't mean to "muck" up this thread. Go ahead discuss muck to your heart's content.
Last edited by jeffhasapond; 10/30/08 09:56 AM. Reason: to differentiate between the city of New York versus the rest of New York.
JHAP ~~~~~~~~~~ "My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." ...Hedley Lamarr (that's Hedley not Hedy)
|
|
|
Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
|
|