Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Help Water quality products.

In Texas, we're in the heat of summer and algae is a problem as well as organic debris. At the Pond Boss expo in Rockwall back in February I saw products from applied polymers. A log that hangs from a floating fountain. I can't afford the 300$ but I might get discounts on products like Aqua Control ClearAway. Normally the packs are thrown into the water but this is a unique situation. The water surrounds an island and is part of a larger water system. Water moves either clockwise or counterclockwise around the island and sometimes debris get stuck for days. I want to use organic instead of synthetic products. I'm planning on using a suet basket bird feeder or hamster ball as a dispenser and hang it below the fountain.

I'm not sure what I should do given the waterway is an odd design. I'll provide pictures later.

I attached pictures of what I'm working with. Basically the chapel island is where I work. The water around the chapel gets pretty nasty. Since Texas doesn't have consistently cold winters. Year round the algae never really goes dormant. Not to mention debris blown or put in the water. The chapel is used for weddings and I wish I could partially improve the water around here.

The water being attached to a larger city retention lake poses challenges. Since the lake is public, will I need to consult with the city before using water quality products?

I understand that since this involves a larger lake the treatments wouldn't be as effective as a smaller independent system. But I'm hoping to improve the problem not remove it.

I'm hoping to take advantage of physics around the water here. When the wind blows out of the north and east, the water flows counterclockwise around the island. When the wind is out of the south the water moves clockwise. Debris can remain around the island for days until the wind shifts. I'm hoping this would also retain any product in the target waters long enough to be somewhat effective.

The fountains labeled as 1 and 2 would double as the dispersing mechanism. The product which probably comes in little dissolvable packets would be placed in a basket or cage at the fountain's intake and product sprayed out.

I'm hoping someone who knows more than me can give me some feedback before I actually do anything.

I'm not sure there are many answers for treating a small part of a public body of water and getting meaningful results. Who owns the chapel and do they have either the $ and/or interest in making changes?

I think they mentioned it. I mean it's a lake. I understand it's going to have Algae. I'm still relatively new to lake management so I'm not sure what the best option is if any. The chapel is for weddings and I want to go the mile to make it look as good as possible. I can't do anything now. They partially drained the lake for an infrastructure project on the other side. Tomorrow y friends with Magnolia Fisheries are electro fishing. Once the lake is filled back up I can proceed which is why I'm trying to do my homework now to look at my options.

Yesterday I was there and I was talking with someone who lives nearby mentioned that the water quality has gone down hill in recent years. The waterway is a newer extension onto the existing lake. It's about 8 years old whereas the lake is about 30 years old. Probably took that long for the ecosystem in that addition to establish.

I'm not ready to go with a full treatment, but rather a trial to see if it's worth considering. I'm sure many suppliers might offer samples.

Met with my friend Bill of Lone Star Fountains and learned that using products in non-private waters without a 6th contractor license is illegal. Good thing I did my research and spoke with him first. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about the algae. Guess we'll have to put up with it for now.

The only thing you can do is mechanically remove it when it piles up in one area.