Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Herbicide Application Equipment

I'm curious what types of spray-equipment PB Forum members use or have available for herbicide & algaecide treatments. Descriptions would be nice; photos with pump-specs even better. An estimate of the investment, and whether the equipment is used for other purposes might prove helpful too.

I don't spray in my pond but I may this year. I have a one gallon pump sprayer for small work but If I really get serious I will use the 15 gallon sprayer 12 vote sprayer in the picture. I can drive around the pond and spray cattails or put the sprayer in my boat with a 12 vote battery and do more thorough spraying. This unit can be bought on sale in farm stores for only $69. This takes the work our of spraying at a cheep skate price.

Here is what I use on my three acre and one acre ponds. Internal battery good for about40 gallons before it runs down:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200332331_200332331

I generally don't use it as a backpack, just take it out in the boat or carry it around the bank.

Any others???????

Blueberry sprayer that is PTO driven and hooks up to a 3 point. Green and yellow in color. 60 gallon tank. It has a hose and a nozzle, or it can be used to spray straight downward. It also can be adjusted to spray horizontally left or right, each is controlled by a ball valve, so you have a choice of left, right, down or any combination of all 3.

Will dig up specs tomorrow.

Is there a sprayer that will spray more then 30 ft.?

Oh yeah! It all depends on volume, pressure and nozzle/hose size.

I need a hand held or backpack to spray homes with clorox. Any ideas?

You need a backpack sprayer to spray more than 30 feet? May I ask why?

Look at Northern Tool. They have a backpack sprayer that can be pumped to 90 psi with the optional plug instead of the check valve. They also have a 60" brass wand available.

There are others on wheels that might offer more psi/volume.

I have one house that is 56 ft. tall,as you know a 40 ft. ladder is good for only 32 ft. and is a pain to powerwash. Agri-supply used to have a long distance sprayer but not now. Of course the tall side is on the north and the mildew in Va. is terrible.

56 FEET? What is it, 5 stories tall??

Dang, that's up there! I know some people put a copper or zinc strip at the top of a roof to keep algae from growing on the roof. I wonder if spraying some of those copper based cleaners would work for a longer time than bleach?

It isn't the roof but is the siding which is hardee plank. Newer roofs don't have the mildew problems like the older ones.

I was thinking you might be able to put a narrow strip of zinc near the top and when rain hit it would carry the zinc down the side of the house without discoloring it.

But, spraying once a year might be safer.

Solo makes a very good back pack sprayer in a few different sizes. I own three and they hold up and do an exceptional job. I have a Fimco 25 gallon ATV sprayer with fold out booms that will cover 10 foot width. It also has a hand wand. I have been happy with it as well.

Kelly Duffie will appreciate this post even though it is a bit late.

The setup: John Deere Gator and a 60 gallon Schaben sprayer on a skid with customized booms to handle different conditions.

Cost according to John Deere's website: Gator = $16,700, Sprayer - $500 and probably another $250 in nozzles, metal, and toggle switches.

Not too sure of the specs.

I forgot to bring the camera and take pics when I sprayed Glyphosate a couple of day ago.

I'll be using it again next week and I'll remember to bring the camera.

Kelly,

Can you post a picture and description of your new spray rig? Prices?

I use a three gallon spot sprayer and a 25 gallon cart sprayer ($200 to $300.00).

I don't like to spray the pondweed growing along the bank because it seems to keep duckweed locked up instead of allowing it to drift around. Unfortunately, the hand wand doesn't allow the spray to be concentrated against the bank. But this year we've bad so much rain that I decided to spray rather than risk a bank cave-in that might cause my tractor, mower and me to go into the pond.

I also use the 25 gallon sprayer to spray webworms in the pecan trees. The 60psi pump allows the spray to reach a vertical height of around thirteen feet, which won't reach the little buggers next year.
If anyone has a suggestion that would address that problem, please post it.

Sure Steve! It’s not necessarily appropriate for many folks here, but I'm proud of it.

The SBD Sprayer (TM) is a 12v “tank-less sprayer” that sources water-diluent from over the boat's transom. A herbicide or algaecide (contained within the coupled jug) is metered into the flow of diluent only when the spray-gun is triggered. Velocity is sufficient for algae-mat penetration and volume is suitable for most topical vegetation treatments. Spray-range is approximately 25-30', and the discharge solution-ratio may be adjusted as high as 2.5% in the rig's standard configuration.



The unit’s price-tag will generally limit its use to commercial or large-scale applications (esp. lake mgmt companies and irrigation canal operations), but pays for itself with these users through improved efficiency by eliminating the down-time required for loading and mixing convention tank-sprayers. Eliminating an onboard mix-tank also reduces weight, as well as the boat-size and propulsion-system that is needed to transport such tanks. It’s silent operation makes the treatment process much more pleasant, and avoids the drone of a gas engine.
A short video of the unit in operation is linked to the image below.



I also build “conventional sprayers" for use in boats and UTVs. Twin 3.6 gpm 12v pumps (45psi max) may be used independently (with 2 guns) or together through a single spray-gun. Connecting the spray-hose to a transom-mounted sub-surface injector-bar (with dropper-hoses) adds to the rig’s versatility. The dual pumps also provide a “back-up option” in case one pump becomes disabled during an application. Refilling the tank with water (while aboard a boat or UTV) is accomplished by tossing the “refiller device” into water and flipping the switch on a tank-mounted control-panel. The refiller loads the 50-gal tank with water in approximately 3.5 minutes; which is just enough time to measure and add product through the screw-on tank-lid. An internal jet-venturi agitator provides thorough mixing of the tank’s contents prior to resuming an application. Total weight of the 50-gal tank assembly (empty) is approximately 40 lbs. Smaller tanks (30 & 10 gal) and single-pump set-ups work great in narrower confines.

Hi Dudley. It's been awhile!
The 60psi pressure is less critical for distance than the pump's flow-volume rating. If 60psi is your pump's "max pressure", it can't actually achieve or sustain that pressure while delivering more than 30% of its max-rated gpm. Between these variables, and the gun's spray-tip, the system's range is probably limited.
You'd be better off with a 12v pump that's rated at only 45psi max, yet produces at least 3 gpm (3.6-5 gpm even better). With the proper spray-tip, such a pump should provide a 20-25+' vertical range.

Dang it Kelly, you done good there with the sprayer system!

Thanks, Kelly! Can I get the pump you recommend through your company? If so, please PM me with details. Sheesh, what a problem solver! It surely must be nice to have a brain to compliment all that other guy stuff.

Dudley - If possible, PM or email to me a broad-view photo of your current spray-rig, along with a close-up photo that shows your current pump's intake and discharge fittings/connectors (and the pump's make & model#). Also, confirm the diameter of your spray-hose (3/8" or 1/2") and identify the type of wand/gun in use - and its spray-tip size if known.
Different pumps and brands usually have their own unique intake and discharge ports (couplers, m/f threaded, barbs, etc).
If you currently have a ShurFlo pump, the model that I have in mind might be an easy retrofit replacement. If not, it might be better to source a higher volume pump that has the same port-fittings as your current pump - or, go through the adapter-process (sometimes a real pain).
Like so many other mechanical assemblies, all of the components within a spray-rig must "match-up" to maximize its performance (pump, hoses, gun, spray-tip, etc).
The photos and make/model of your existing pump - and the hose/gun descriptions - should tell me what I need to know.

Kelly, I would not involve you in a project that could consume hours of your time. I recognize that you are a paragon of kindness and, as such, willing to make that sort of commitment and I sincerely thank you for it, but I can't allow that to happen.

If you know of a rig on the market that would serve my purpose, I would like to know details. Other than that, I prefer to believe that you use your spare time having a cup of coffee or a soft drink while helping us on the this forum.