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Joined: Mar 2013
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OP
Joined: Mar 2013
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1.5 acre pond, average five feet deep, deepest spot is 12 feet. Seeking to eliminate copper application. I have been advised to stock a few Israeli Carp to control algae. Does anyone have experience with these fish? Are they effective in controlling filamentous algae? Are there any negatives in a fishing / swimming pond environment?
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,534 Likes: 841
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,534 Likes: 841 |
Welcome to the forum. While it has beed said that they will eat algae, I don't know of one pond that can attribute algae control specifically to Israeli Carp.
Check with the laws in Pa. and see if Tilapia are legal to stock. (you may need a permit).
In Northern Indiana, we've found that stocking Tilapia at the rate of 40# per surface acre will control Fimamentous Algae. Be aware, if you have Largemouth Bass (LMB) in the pond, the Tilapia have to be at least 1/3 the size of the largest LMB in the pond to give them some chance to avoid being eaten. In the testing that I've done, stocking them at less than 40# per acre will NOT control the FA.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,105
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Member
Joined: Jun 2002
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Until a winter fish kill three years ago that took out all of my fish I never had any algae problems in the dozen years of my 1 acre ponds existence. After the fish kill I had some bad algae about 20 feet out from the shore line to a heavy growth of lilies which stopped the algae on further out in the pond. I had pond friends around my area that controlled algae with copper sulfate and dye, and asked me every year "have you got algae yet, no! just wait, you will." I had 6 Israeli Carp, 20 KOI, that Zetts of PA recommended and it worked. Zetts said the Israeli Carp didn't reproduce because of Bluegill putting out an enzyme according to Auburn University. I don't know about that but I had LMB in my pond and never had an increase of Israeli Carp or KOI in all those years. Zetts said the Israeli Carp and KOI ate two different kinds of algae. The only reason I don't go back to the Israeli Carp & KOI is because I am running a new experiment to see if the pond loaded with tadpoles and Golden Shiners can stop algae also. With Israeli Carp & KOI Without Israeli Carp & KOI
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Joined: Aug 2002
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Hall of Fame Lunker
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Hall of Fame Lunker
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John,
Do the carp increase turbidity in the pond when foraging for invertebrates?
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,534 Likes: 841
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,534 Likes: 841 |
John:
Did the koi also die out with the winterkill? Did the amount of rooted plants that were in the pond change from pre to post winterkill?
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,105
Member
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Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,105 |
Cecil the water did turn more turbid but I could still see my fish when I fed them. I guess that would be one price you pay for controlling algae with carp. Of course some of the fish were easy to see like the KOI and I had some albino channel catfish and I could see my Israeli Carp but they probably weighed in at 20 lbs or so. After the fish died the water the first year was very clear, measuring down to 6’4” that I could see a pie pan on a pole I made. The second and now the third year the water isn’t as clear do to tannin.
Esshup there was a big change because I lost 17 of 18 grass carp that I put in the pond to take out Eurasian Milfoil that I planted as an experiment when the pond was new. They took out nearly every plant in the pond so well that the Eurasian Milfoil has not come back. My dominant plant now is Curley Leaf pond weed that I feel fortunate to have since it dies back somewhat in summer. I added six new grass carp, one died, plus my big old one that survived the winterkill and so far they are keeping the plants just about the way I want them.
Bill Cody I remember Zetts saying that he drained one of his ponds that had Israeli Carp and KOI in it and the bottom looked like a comb had been run through it. He also said he quit using grass carp because one day he saw them scooping up bass fry.
Last edited by John Monroe; 03/17/13 03:25 AM.
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