Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Rust Colored bloom -- Help

Went to feed the fish and found that a Rust Colored bloom was going on in the pond. I don't think that we have been putting to much feed in the pond...but?

The bloom is about a foot under the surface and looks like its coming from the bottom up.

Any suggestion on what it is and what I can do?

Thanks
Gordon

Gordon,

I may be way off base on this but do a search on Iron Bacteria. I believe Steve Young posted on this subject a while back. Either that or maybe you got the pond boss version of red tide.....


Russ

I went back later today and looked at it again and Rust may not be right. On second and a closer look it looked like a more yellow green with slight orange tinting.

I've only got 4 smallies and 1 largemouth in this 1/4 acre pond. Lots of sunfish and some yellow perch. All are fat and happy it looks like.

When I went back, I dug some wigglers and stood on the back and toss them to the bass. Of course, the brim (sunnies mostly) love the worms too but give way to the bass. They are like little dogs and follow me around the pond as I walk the bank looking at it.

I feed the sunfish a trout food as its the only thing in 1/4 inch I can get and they like it.

Thanks Russ, I'll do that. I hope others will chime in and give me your thoughts.

Flatlander - You have some sort of algae bloom which you already surmised. No one will be able to tell you what species it is unless they look at it with magnification. Send me some and I will identify it. Go out and scoop some up in a small plastic jar 1 oz to 3 oz. Put about 0.5 to 1 teaspoon of Betadine or idodine skin cleanser in it to pickle it and stop decay action. Send it to me and I will ID it. Get my address from an email to me.

Thanks Bill alot!!! I'll do that tommorrow.

Gordon

Bill Cody

I just wanted to chime in to tell you thanks. It is people like you that really need to know how much we (rookies) appreciate all the help!

Bill,

Is iodine tincture 2% USP (skin antiseptic)the right thing to put in the bottle of alge? If it comes back I'll grab some.

Did you like the bass all hovering around the edge of the pond waiting for thier worm?

Flatlander - Iodine tincture 2% may work to preserve algae; I have never used that specifically. Betadine skin cleanser is povidone-iodone 7.5%. You can try the iodine tincture and we will see how well it works. I do not have any iodine tincture or I would experiment with it as an algae preservative.