Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Algae benefits more than harms?

The last couple of years I've had TP added to my pond with the idea that they would control the algae and help feed my LMB. But I'm thinking about not adding TP in 2018, as they may be doing more harm than good.

Two reasons. First, the TP have NOT fattened the bass. At least, not the 95 percent LMB which stunt when they are small. Maybe they help the few that grow larger, but even that is uncertain.

Second, my pond lacks cover & is relatively infertile. Small BG have a hard time making it, both in terms of food and a place to avoid being eaten.

If no TP, then I do get some algae. With TP, it quickly is eaten. Thus, no cover for YOY BG.

I'm trying to think this through, and clearly I need to fertilize more & put in cover. But maybe TP are doing more harm than good.

Thoughts from those more knowledgeable than myself?

I can't answer your question but I can provide my experience. We fight FA all summer here. I never try to remove it all, just the really thick mats. It takes me a while as I examine each net full and return as many critters as I can to the pond. It is amazing how much life lives in and depends on that slimy stuff! When I catch a CC, their belly is typically full of FA they've consumed in pursuit of that bounty.

Tilapia definitely have pros and cons based on one's goals for the pond. Each fish species should be evaluated as to if it fits into the goals for one's pond.

Everything that I am aware of in pond management has pros and cons; positive and negatives. Sometimes many occurrences and features of a pond/lake are a matter of opinion as to if they are a plus or minus. One of many examples would be bluegill - sometimes they are definitely a benefit and the backbone of the food chain, but when they are present in an all minnow pond without predators BG could be considered a negative. Another example that was taught to me in limnology class was the topic of nutrients. Nutrients are very good for a pond where high fish production is desired. However excess nutrients are considered pollution when they cause excess algae growth when clean crystal clear oligotrophic water is the goal.

Hay there Frank and a Merry Christmas. As you know I am sure no expert with ponds but thought I would point out what I see with the Tp in my pond. I very seldom see a lot of Tp from my 12 lbs per acre stocking. Even now as the water temps drop and they slow down and die off, I don't see very many. I am sure they are feeding my lmb and hsb. I do see one or two small schools(10 or so) of 2 to 3" ones almost daily during the summer and if it were not for the lmb feeding on them I would have Tp everywhere and in high numbers. I know that because I have been there and done that when I had low lmb numbers. Tp were everywhere swimming in schools of 20 fish or more in all different sizes. My point here is that the Tp in my pond are forage for the lmb and hsb and the predators defiantly feed on them or I would see them everywhere in the pond like I experienced before. So I think that is just one benefit not to mention I really don't have any FA in the pond when I have Tp. Another thing is when I added the brush piles along the shoreline(as per Todd Overton's recommendation) I saw BG in the 2 to 3" sized everywhere along the shoreline last June. Brush piles really improved the BG fry survival and got them to the 2 to 3" range. It was crazy how much the brush piles helped in BG survival. So, as you describe your undersized lmb, I think the Tp will help more than they hurt. And after Christmas you might round up 20 or so discarded Christmas trees and add them to your shoreline near any place where you think the Bg are spawning. From my experience and looking at a pond your size I would have at least 10 brush piles minimum along the shoreline. Best wishes and Merry Christmas

One of the things I have heard mentioned as a positive, is with the LMB concentrating on the TP during the die off period, it takes the pressure off the existing BG populatikn leaving them for later winter and early spring feed for the bass.