Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Cutrine Plus Granular and trout in hard water

I stopped the well running into my trout pond because the water is quite cold now and I have harvested all but 8 or 10 trout. Since the well is off, iron is settling out (typical) and the water is turning gin clear. I am flabbergasted by the amount of chara this year! In some places it comes up in 6 or 7 feet of water within three feet of the surface. I've put in grass carp but they didn't seem to have done much and I don't see them. I may have not put in enough for the cool water. I'm raking the Chara out but it's quite a task.

I have another new pond that has very sparse Chara on the bottom that I treated with Cutrine Plus Granular a few weeks ago after draining it down considerably for some dike work. (I wasn't considering putting trout in that pond at the time) I'm considering putting the next planting of trout into this new pond, and draining down completely the present trout pond, removing the chara, and allowing it to remain empty over the winter.

My problem is the Cutrine Plus Granular in the new pond. Will it be toxic to the trout 4 to 5 weeks after I applied it? I understand it is most toxic in soft water which I definitely don't have. Water hardness is 400 plus mg/l.

Anyone have any experience with copper products in trout ponds? Will I regret planting brown trout in the newer pond that was treated?

Cecil, Try Joey Leach and or Matt Johnson at Aquatic Controls www.aquaticcontrol.com or 800-753-LAKE as that one would be right up their alley !!(and they advertise in PB) With the halflife of Cutrine Im guessing you are fine.Ted

TLf

Thanks!

I've received an email back from the manufacturer of Cutrine Plus (very fast and friendly response) and the basic scoop is as long as I didn't apply more than the recommended rate to the entire pond I should be fine by planting time (five weeks total) especially with my very hard water. I was even told I can apply it to my existing trout pond with very hard water when temps go into the 50's as long as I don't apply it to more than 1/3rd of the pond at at time. However I still may opt for Green Clean in the future as it has no copper residue and is nontoxic to trout.

My only problem now is to figure how much I applied to the pond in question!

Cecil,

An East Texan isn't qualified to comment on your question, certainly to the extent that many have much more experience...however, while researching the winter time stocking of rainbow trout in my ponds, I've run across a couple of sources who warn strongly against the use of any copper based products where trout are present.

One of those sources, Ken's Fish Farm, has an entire page devoted to it in their catalog.

Hey Deb, maybe you could elaborate on the reasons behind the warnings on copper based products in the presence of trout for Cecil's thread. I'm sure it would be of general interest also.