Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Fertilization threadfin shad

After numerouse tries of trying to get my alkalinity up by applying ag lime I am about to try something else. Please give me your input. I have a 2.5a lake and have applied 30 tons of ag lime over the past 3 years in January in prep for the upcomming spring. In March my Alk goes up between 25 and 30 and initially I get a bloom but by late summer Aug, Sept I am back down to 15 and cant get a bloom to reestablish. I have used Hydrated lime before and know of its ability short term to get the Alk back in range. Would it be accecptable to use this year round. I check the Alk with the Cole Palmer kit and as it begins to fall I would apply another aplication about 250lbs about every 6 weeks or when my Alk drops below 20. I also know to be very carefull with hydrated lime as to much can cause a fish kill. Also I am going to add threadfin to my lake located in south Georgia and am concerned about the ability to survive if I elect not to fertilize. I realize that they are plankton eaters and filter there food thru their gills (I think) so would they do ok if I failed to establish a good bloom. Is it advisable to place threadfin in a pond that you dont fertilize?

Thanks for your help and Merry Christmas to all

Still scrarching my head as to how the alk goes down that fast. You must have alot of water running through. We manage several very clear 10-15 ft vis. lakes that have threadfin survivial. POint is not if they will survive but how much gain do you get in clear lake with little food supply for the shad to thrive. They do marginially well improving bass growth in a clear lake as opposed to a fertile one.

Thanks Greg for the input. What about the hydrated lime question?

IN your case I think using hydrated lime properly would be an option. Much lees effort to "spike" your alkalinity. Not sure of long term effects of using it. ANy others with an opinion on long term effects of Calcium Hydroxide?