Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Nitella/chara/coontail control

I am now the proud possessor of rapidly spreading nitella (one biologist), chara (my guess), or coontail (another biologist). I'd show the image but apparently will have to downsize pic to post.

Nitella and chara are closely related. The reason why I think it is chara is a distinct garlicky smell when I crushed a plant.

I've fished BOW with chara before, and they are helpful in moderation. But they can need controlling.

If chara, then both TP and GC should eat it. Or am I mistaken? I do have TP in the pond, but the plant is spreading fast anyway.

Assuming it is nitella or chara, any comments or suggestions for control? I'm gonna have much better CNBG recruitment, which I like & need, but don't want this stuff to completely take over.

PS I fertilized 50 lb a couple of months ago, then added desirable pond plants a month ago. The suppliers assure me that they only put plants in my BOW that were grown in individual pots, so little chance of a hitchhiker. I guess this could have happened at any time, especially after fertilization, but still disappointing to see unwanted plants flourishing while the good stuff is scarce.

PPS Tracy, I offered you some of my fast growing plants to help control your excess fertility issues. Now that I've some idea what it is, I don't think you should take me up on the offer!

Nitella looks like Chara, but is slick/slimy, rather than crunchy to the touch. It also has no odor. It's not real invasive. Grass carp will eat it, but prefer pondweeds over the algaes. With the amount of fertilizer, I'd expect a bloom, but with the rains you've had, a bloom may or may not happen. If you choose to control it, an algaecide works. Be careful, though. You can eradicate it, but with clear, warm water, you are likely to have something else take its place...and like that plant less.

Thanks. Definitely strong garlicky smell, crunchy rather than slimy. Almost certainly chara.

My pond runs somewhat acidic, which may limit chara's growth to some extent.

I've fished chara BOW before and it efinitely enhanced the fishery so long as it didn't take over. As you say, there's worse things out there!

Would fertilization be smart at this point? Chara has cleared the water about an extra foot of light penetration, and apparently it can grow as deep as it can get sunlight. A bloom would limit that. On the other hand, I'm a bit scared of fertilizing during summer.

Plan to go ahead with your aeration plan as soon as electric company wires it up, probably a few more weeks. Would it be best to hold off fertilization until aeration installed & running, maybe a month? Or would fertilization only serve to supercharge chara growth?