Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Fertilization Mussels

Looking for explanation for clear water. I have two clients that have big populaiton of mussells. To spite high amount of fertilizer no bloom, this the cause? Any bivalve experts in the house?

In theory this could be a big factor although it would take a high density of mussels to cause this problem. Lots of zebra mussels do have a limiting affect by harvesting lots of phytoplankton usually where ever zebra mussels become well established. I don't know the density of mussels or the 'filtration capacity' that it would take to significantly graze phytoplankton. Size of mussel and its filtration capacity would have to be 'looked at', and those numbers would be in the literature. This sounds like a good thesis or senior project for a student. Limno-corrals might be a good way to check for bloom capacity of the lake.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1749-7345.2000.tb00890.x/abstract

http://www.aciscience.org/docs/Regulation_of_phytoplankton.pdf

Thanks Bill my alma mater at UGA doing lots of research on mussels. From clietns email to me "I just went down to the lake with a 5 ft garden rake and raked up about 60-80 BIG mussels in 20 minutes over an area less than 200 linear feet. Considering my pond is probably 4000 linear ft plus of shore line, my gracious how many mussels must I have!!!!".

Also a great article on the subject here. http://www.usawaterquality.org/conferences/2008/pdf/Watersheds/OzbayDE08.pdf

Sounds like dinner to me.

Freshwater mussels are very bland in taste compared to their salty cousins...

Years ago (when it was legal) I tried freshwater mussels.

Now the crayfish were good from the same BOW.

I also tried mussles in my pond and they never took. I don't know why. I remember years ago reading how much Zebra mussles cleared up Lake Errie as air plane pilots reported the before and after results.

You should have seen the difference in the St. Lawrence River. It used to be murky and greenish (probably very healthy), could barely see more than 1-2 feet down. Crystal clear now, can see several feet down thanks to the mussles. In the main channel, it is creepy to look down into the abyss. It is really pretty cool to see bottom features that you could never see before, and it has probably been a boon to boaters who have to pay special attention to shoals around those parts. Lots of rocks barely under the surface.

we currently have freshwater muscles in our ponds... coons love them!!..

Esshup, did you clear your mussels in fresh water before eating?

No, I didn't know I should have done that.

They are not the hottest, and ya sorta should boil them first, but if ya know someone from the upper NE, they know how to fix the fresh water stuff.

Thanks to you, I just ate a can of Fancy Smoked Oysters. If I get sick, it's on you

My fried chicken ain't done yet, and am eyeballing that Octopus at the moment.

Let ya know how things go, but maybe not till 2-3am

OK, we can scratch Octopus off the list

I do like those Calamari rings tho.

Be careful walking around your pond bare-foot with those broken mussel shells (especially with young children). If you hit the shell right, its like stepping on a piece of broken glass.

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good tip.. yeah its water shoes always at the pond.. even when swimming... just in case of the shells, sharp flint, and fishing hooks!!