Tracy,
From my readings on these forums, there are quite a few things that can contribute to algal blooms. It should be stated that effective management of excess algal blooms in ponds includes not only Optimal feeds but also advice and management strategies provided by expert lake and pond management personnel
We are certainly aware of the role feeds can play in causing algae blooms. To minimize the impact of our feeds we use a combination of approaches. First, we meticulously source protein sources with high digestibility to promote fish growth and not algal blooms. Undigested feeds pass through fish and accumulate in the water column. Second, we are constantly working to increase the pellet properties of our feeds to minimize the amount of dust or fines that contribute to water quality issues. Thirdly, we are quite sensitive on not only the amount of phosphorous in the feeds, but how bio-available it is. Like poor quality proteins, some phosphorous sources are not readily absorbed in the fish, and pass through into the water column. For example, many plant based products contain phytate which is not readily available for most fish species. Fish definitely require phosphorous, but we’re careful not to exceed what we believe is required for maintaining excellent growth rates.
I’m not sure if you are looking for anything in particular, but hopefully this helps!
