Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Aluminum Sulfate

What is the recommended rate of dispursment of Aluminum Sulfate?

I have a ~.5 acre pond 8'deep at the deepest and it stays muddy. I just had it enlarged from ~.25 acre and before I had this done, it stayed muddy. Even with no fish in it.

There are no fish in it and I am planning on stocking in the spring so I am not concerned about fish kills. Probably start out with Channel Cats and Georgia Giants (GG intrigue me for some reason).

Also, where is the best place to buy Aluminum Sulfate? Feed store?

Here's a repeat of a previous post I've made.

"For application rates of alum, you can have your local pharmacist measure some alum into one gram increments. Then collect a one liter sample of your pond water--ideally getting a little from several different areas of the pond. It is probably wise to obtain your pond water early in the morning when pH levels are already low from plant respiration. Obtain an accurate pH measuring device and incrementally mix the alum into the water while measuring pH change. When reaching desired safe pH levels you now have a g/L or ppm value for application rate. Now calculate number of liters of water in your pond to estimate safe number of grams for total application. You probably don't want your pH to go under 6.5. If, for example, your estimated application value is 100 kg you could theoretically apply 80 kg first and check pH values after a couple of days before applying the last 20 kg to build in a safety net. If your starting pH is above 9 to start, you may get the added benefit of reducing your amount of unionized ammonia, which is toxic to fish. The alum will also bind with available phosphorous to yield aluminum phosphate which will settle to the pond bottom. Clarity will improve because fewer nutrients will be available for aquatic plants to use. A company known as General Chemical in New Jersey can help you get large quantities of alum possibly for a lesser price."

Along with the good info Bruce has, here is a website that goes into detail and shows you how to do an assay using tablespoons vs. gms. It also talks about the use of both gypsum and alum to clarify water.

Bruce must have a really nice pharmacist that is not as busy as mine (Actually there are three of them here) I can just see asking my busy pharmicist to do an assay as 20 people wait in line for their drugs, and him saying "You want me to do what!" (Regardless of how they say they go out of their way for customers on those phony commericals)


http://wildlife.tamu.edu/publications/0905a.pdf


And here is a website that basically says to use 150 to 300 lbs per acre of alum depending on how muddy the water is.

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/extension/fiw/fisheries/pondslakes/clearing_muddy_water.pdf

And here is a site that says about 25 to 50 lbs. per acre/foot.

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/Home/fishing/pond/muddy/tabid/6231/Default.aspx