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#491814 06/14/18 09:39 AM
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 6
J
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J
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 6
I have an approximately 1/4 acre pond that is 12'deep in the middle and is stocked with crappie, hybrid blue gill, blue gill, sunfish, catfish, and minnows. The water is green with algie or planktin? Are there plants that I can get to clear the pond up or what are my options? I don't have any pumps or anything. The fish seem to be doing fine, but the pond is looking bad and the kids swim in it as well.
Forgot to mention that the alge isn't just on the surface of the water, its like the water its self is green.

Last edited by Jeff Funk; 06/14/18 09:49 AM.
Jeff Funk #491817 06/14/18 10:29 AM
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,892
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There are ways to see how the color changes in response to light/dark or in response to just letting the water set still and see if the green settles out.

but if it is suspended green in the water then it probably is a 'bloom' of algae or small 'plankton'.

It is very hard to have a nice clear swimming pond and a fertile pond for growing and supporting all species of fish at the same time. Swimming ponds need to be almost sterile of nutrients and suspended critters to stay clear. On the opposite end of the spectrum, most folks who manage their pond for healthy and growing fish want the whole food chain to be very strong. Thus they would see a bloom to be a huge plus as it means that the micro-organisms have tons to eat.

of course heavy blooms that don't go away can mean too many nutrients and can consume too much oxygen leading to oxygen crash and dead fish. That is nature's way of removing the excess biomass and to try to restore balance again.

A 1-2 week bloom should be no problem. Certain blooms are not good on humans so other experts may weight in here and say that your kids shouldn't swim.

Google pondboss and 'jar test' for more info on this.

algae blooms do not necessarily mean that there is too much nutrients.

there are a lot of strategies to reduce nutrients, plants can be helpful, stocking tilapia and having them die at the end of the season can help, consider adding a dark pond dye to reduce sunlight penetration which can also help with the aesthetics of the look of the pond which seems to be your main concern.

edit...just checked and allow it appears that you can commercially raise tilapia in IL you cannot stock them in your pond is that true?

others can weigh in soon as well...

Last edited by canyoncreek; 06/14/18 10:55 AM.
Jeff Funk #491832 06/14/18 12:08 PM
Joined: Jun 2016
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Here is a link to a thread of mine from last year when I found myself in a similar situation...

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=35937&Number=470475#Post470475

Short story is that it turned green "overnight", worried me some, then we received 6 inches of rain, pond got flushed and a bit muddy and I have not seen that crazy of a green since. There are a still a few tidbits in the linked thread that might be worth reading.


Fish on!,
Noel
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 6
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J
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Posts: 6
my pond looks identical to the pictures of your pond. I also have billions of tad pole as well. I bought some stuff from Rual King to clear up algae, should I use it or try something else? My main concern is the fish.

Jeff Funk #491851 06/14/18 02:34 PM
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I would do nothing until you get the attention of some of the more seasoned PM members and get their advice. I will quote Bill Cody from my older thread...

"Your green planktonic algae is at a density capable of a fish kill when conditions are correct. Warming water and a few days of cloudy conditions or if the algae runs out of nutrients will result in death of all the algae quickly. This quick extensive death and the immediate algae decomposition will cause an oxygen shortage that could get low enough for to fish suffocate. "

Notice he says "when conditions are correct". He is leading to the sudden death of the bloom. If you kill the bloom with the stuff from Rural King, you will be creating "conditions that are correct for a fish kill". The green stuff dies, other stuff starts breaking down the green stuff which consumes the oxygen in the water...then fish die.

Hold tight.


Fish on!,
Noel
Jeff Funk #491857 06/14/18 03:24 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
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Lunker
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Plantonic algae bloom most likely. Post photos will help us direct you. Per previous posts, treating algae blooms can be tricky. For folks with nutrient level issues it's helpful to establish good rooted vegetation to help utilize available nutrients which helps manage filamentous algae and planktonic algae blooms. DIY aeration systems for a pond your size won't break the bank and help prevent kill events - strongly consider installing one ASAP.


Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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