Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Identifying plants new problem weed

We have had problems in the past with Illinios pond weed and have it under control. Now we are having trouble with a submersed plant that looks like massive stringy roots. It is surrounding our entire pond and extends about 3ft. out. It is completely submerged. When looking at it, it appears to be slimey. When you walk on it in the water, it feels like walking on a thick bed of tangled string. It is very tough.

I raked out tons of it, and in 2 weeks there is more than before I raked.

I would like to know what it is and how to get rid of it. I have Aquathol K and Eraser AQ. Would one of these work?

Thanks in advance for your help!

You need to ID the plant. Check this link.

http://aquaplant.tamu.edu/database/index.htm

I'm from central Michigan. What you described sounds like what has plagued me this summer. My weed problem is Widgeon Grass. It is amazing how fast this stuff can spread. If it shows up next year I'll use a recommended herbacide to get rid of it or at least control it.

Try this then.

http://aquaplant.tamu.edu/database/submerged_plants/widgeon_grass.htm

Is Widgen weed really a big problem? I think that might be what is in my pond instead of Chara. So far we havent had much of a problem with it and it gives the small fish a place to hide and seams to have a lot of bugs in it, which I figure is good for forage. Should I be trying to get rid of it?

n-w-w, most of the time aquatic vegeation is healthy for the fish in your pond. It might be unsightly to look at times but it only becomes a problem for your fish when the weeds get so dense that is starts to interfere with the predator / prey relationships. Basically overly dense weeds give the prey to many places to hide from the primary predators in the pond and predation success declines and becomes difficult. You can usually tell if it has become too dense, your predators will start to to look skinny even when there is plenty of forage available in the pond.

Thanks Shorty,
So far so good.

Guys, Be careful on your definate identification of widgeon grass (ditch-grass family). Rarely does it occur in MI. Widgeon grass often most commonly occurs in somewhat salty, brackish, or vary hard waters. Not real sure about its frequency in IN. Other similar looking submerged vegetations in northern areas are sago pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus), several of the narrow leafed pondweeds (Potamogeton pusillus - slender or small pondweed; P.filiformis - threadleaf pweed; P.confervoides - alga pweed; P.diversifolius or P.spirillus -small & northern snailseed pweeds; P.foliosus - leafy pweed; P.strictifolius - straight-leafed pweed; P.vaginatus - bigsheath pweed), plus horned pondweed (Zannichellia), and the narrow, elongated, leafed species of bushy pondweed (Najas). All with leaves 0.2-1.0mm wide and usually more common in your particular areas than Widgeon grass(Ruppia).

Thanks Bill Cody, I'm not real sure what it is. At first I thought it was Chara and it may be. I just don't know if I should be to worried about it as it does give the wee little ones a place to hide. It seams thick in spots but its not hard to pull out even if you have a fish on. I figure some plant life is better then none, am I wrong?

Here are 2 sites with pics. The first is TAMU the second Purdue. You need a positive id to know if it is a problem and how to deal with it.

http://aquaplant.tamu.edu/database/index/visual_id_submerged_plants.htm

http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/WS/WS_21.pdf