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#451204 07/05/16 09:17 AM
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MUCK Offline OP
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Hello all, first I would like to say it is nice to meet you all and next.... boy do I need some help with this "extra pond duty".

I purchased property with a 1/4 acre pond this last year in Fort Worth Texas and boy is it a learning experience as the pond was not maintained at all for 10 years and thirsty/hungry, trees, grapvines, pond weeds and algae had taken over the pond.

1. So far I have cleared the trees around with the pond with exception of some shade trees, pictures from Drone above:

(http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/tfrank48/library/Christopher)

2. I have an installed an aeration windmill and intend on putting in a solar system at some point to help out.


3. This is a run off pond that is roughly 8 feet deep on center and the edges are 3-5 feet at the banks.

4. I have a massive amount of weeds on the side and red/green (duckweed maybe?) on the top of the pond, any help on identification would be very helpful.

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/ql1x78lvcmv0wfm/AAAYiiJd1Hdn3WV2UlU2eXEDa

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/vnaf6f9z2cx5f8x/AAD-syoWlbfnM_3rzCsGnD9ca

5. I have stocked it with 10lbs of Mozambique Tilapia for this year and have introduced no chemicals to the pond at all and I am not sure if they are even able to hold the growth back at this point.


Is there any hope for me at all? I feel like I am raising a swamp....





Last edited by MUCK; 07/05/16 11:29 AM.
MUCK #451209 07/05/16 09:53 AM
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Welcome Muck. If you can post a good, up close, pic of the weeds they will be a lot easier to identify.

That said, whipping any plant growth after it has become an infestation is almost a losing battle. As you kill it, the dying plants fertilize the ones that are still coming. I generally recommend that you start in the Spring when the plants are getting started.

There's a good chance that few if any fish are alive in it. However, it will certainly raise a bumper crop of mosquitos.

If it were me, and it's not, I would probably just put in some blue pond dye and have an attack plan for early Spring.

What part of Fort Worth?


It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
MUCK #451213 07/05/16 10:47 AM
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Muck,
Welcome!

Looks like you are headed in the right direction.

Your plant looks like Azolla. I had it early in our ponds life, but after the water rose in the shaded waters, it started to die off. And after the Tilapia were added, it was gone quickly.

If you have the ability, remove the root balls as well.

I like solar. It has its place, but look into sending air from you buildings to the pond. Air can be plumbed to your pond very reasonably. And, your buildings do not look that far away.


Brian

The one thing is the one thing
A dry fly catches no fish
Try not to be THAT 10%
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MUCK Offline OP
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Dave thanks for the response, I was afraid that I was gonna get this answer....

1. What methods do you recommend I use for next spring?

2. There are a ton of perch/sunfish in there and they are surprisingly active. Otherwise there are some catfish, some blue gill, and turtles as well (red ear and snappers. I don't understand how anything would survive in there....


3. Does the blue pond dye literally just turn it blue or does it provide some sort of treatment?


4. New closeups of weeds https://www.dropbox.com/sc/vnaf6f9z2cx5f8x/AAD-syoWlbfnM_3rzCsGnD9ca



5. I am in South East Fort Worth

Last edited by MUCK; 07/05/16 11:04 AM.
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High Flyer thanks for the response and as far as the buildings go the closest one is a Chicken Coop and the other is the Barn which does have power (about 300-400 feet away). The Tilapia idea came from this forum and I picked them up at Wilner Fish Farms (Great business!). I plan on putting them in every year until I get this under control.

Do you have any suggestions on which aeration system to go with that is most economical for a 1/4 acre pond as I have already spent $1800 on that windmill system (Newbie Mistake).

MUCK #451265 07/05/16 08:05 PM
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I have always thought that the ultimate aeration system would be a windmill with electric pump back up. If you could find the right control unit to switch to electric when the wind died down, your expense in the windmill might not be in vain.

Don't know if anyone makes such a valve/electric switch arrangement or not, but it would be a sweet (if expensive) system to have both.


John

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MUCK #451274 07/05/16 09:36 PM
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I wouldn't use dye but it might help. I would chemically spray everything as it emerges.


It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
MUCK #451276 07/05/16 09:46 PM
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If it's only 1/4 ac, consider draining it, cleaning it out with heavy equipment, and starting over. You might save a whole lot of hassle that way.

MUCK #451280 07/05/16 10:15 PM
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Muck,
There are several threads talking about aeration here.

You can build your own, or bye a turnkey system. Vertex is a good place to start.


Brian

The one thing is the one thing
A dry fly catches no fish
Try not to be THAT 10%
MUCK #452931 07/27/16 12:29 PM
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Welcome! I have nothing to add other than to say howdy from Oklahoma. I'm a newbie pond owner as well so I'm dumb. HA!


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