Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Controlling/removing clumps of algae

We recently purchased property with a one acre pond on it. The pond hasn't been maintained in 10+ years. There are tons of patches/clumps of algae in the water all over the pond (a couple feet in circumference) which make fishing almost impossible.

How should I go about removing these and treating the pond to help prevent this in the future?

In many cases algae exists in a pond because of an excess amount of nutrients that are not being utilized by something else. Older ponds will often suffer more in this regard, as will ponds that accept runoff from agricultural areas, or fertilized lawns.

Treatment of algae typically revolves around the use of a copper based algaecide, such as Cutrine plus. Hydrogen peroxide solutions are also available. And some, like myself, have some measure of success by applying a pond dye to inhibit the growth. But these are merely a treatment of the symptoms (algae growth), and not a cure for the problem. (excess nutrients).

Ideally, you would want to reduce the amount of nutrients available for the algae, such as diverting nutrient laden runoff, cleaning years of sediment out of the pond, or establishing some other form of plant to utilize those nutrients instead of the algae.

I wanted someone to look at the pond to give me recommendations for upkeep. I heard that Clemson University in South Carolina has a big agriculture department that will sometimes have people come out for free to look it over. Is there anyone that does that in Indiana?

Sometimes it is possible to enlist the help of our local extension office and recruit someone from Purdue University to lend a hand. But my experience is that those cases are the exception, rather than the rule.

Also, you may find that a a pond consultant from the private sector will be more open to your desired goals, and willing to devise a management strategy that works to achieve those goals. Here in my area, I find that tradition often takes precedence over more modern, forward thinking strategies. Here, the proposal is usually LMB, BG, and CC, with aquatic herbicides, aeration, and outside-of-the-box stocking scenarios frowned upon by corporate.

Is there something you could put in your run off area to help reduce the nutrient load? Like maybe plant a couple small trees in or near the run off? Or maybe some sod? Would this help or no?

RC

Tim for immediate relief I have had good luck
on my pond algae with Cutrine Plus Granules.

It is easy to just throw it out on the algae and pretty
quickly (a few days), especially if it is sunny, you see a big difference.

I always space out the days I throw it out so not to kill
too much all at once. I usually wait a couple of weeks at least.

Killing too much stuff in the pond all at once can cause a "fish-kill".



Before Cutrine Plus:


After Cutrine Plus:

Yeah I have to +1 on the Cutrine! That stuff works! I have used it myself. Once again tho it's not a cure just a temp fix, but it does work.

RC

+1 on the ideas of plants to utilize excess nutrients? whats a good attractive alternative to plant?