Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations What is this green stuff ?

Anyone know what this green stuff on the surface is?
Overall water clarity seems OK - I can see about 24" or so.

Ooh...cue ominous music...Looks like watermeal. Can you take a few closeup shots of it? Or, if you've examined it closely, is it really fine, as in as fine as sand? If so, it's watermeal, and there's only one chemical that will kill it, Flouridone. The other option is to stock tilapia, which are said to eat it well and are recommended as a control option by several state agencies. Don't let it get any worse or you'll be looking at a guaranteed fish kill. If it is indeed watermeal, it's the worst weed going.

It could be wind blown plankton but can't tell . Can you get a close up pic.

Walt there are now other options like habitat ( Imazapyr salt ). http://www.cdms.net/LDat/ld6H2000.pdf

I would need a close up.

The really thick stuff I first thought might be pollen. However, this probably isn't pollen time in Pa. Then I noticed the smaller stuff at the bottom of the picture and wanted a better pic.

I have seen this on my pond as well and was wondering what it was. I have stocked tilapia and don't see it anymore but was it a coincidence that it disappeared with the tilapia stocking?

I'll get a closer picture tomorrow.
The stuff disappears when it rains - don't know if that offers any clues.
Hope maybe it is just pollen......

Looks like dead planktonic algae.

Doesn't sound like a bad thing, is it ?

I see it mostly in highly fertile ponds. It can cause problems when too much dies at one time. The DO can be affected by it. Other than that, I don't think its a terrible thing.

Well I wouldn't doubt the nutrients are high in this pond.
It sits below some cropland that no doubt has some fertilizer/manure runoff occasionally.

Pond is only 1 year old. I'm hoping to get some aeration there soon. I have to cross a State Road with power or an airline.
Just haven't got to it yet.....

It's normal. I wouldn't worry about it. As it dies off, the likelihood of a better plankton bloom is better.

Thanks Bob.
This isn't the first time I've noticed this but it seemed to be covering more of the pond this time.

Closeups?

Looks like pollen to me.

We had rain last night and a little this afternoon - it pretty much disappeared.

Maybe tomorrow I can get a closeup.

Hoping it was just pollen or plankton as some have suggested

Yes, I hope so as well. Probably Bob and Eric are right.

Green stuff basically gone.
I'm wondering if it was pollen from the nearby corn fields.
The corn shot tossels (sp?) a few weeks ago.

IT'S BACK !!!
Now I'm worried
Hope this close-up is better, Picture taken with phone, so not the best clarity.


Opinions ?

Can't tell for sure. Did you pick some up ? If so what can you describe. Look at this link and see what you think. DW does not come and go like you described.

http://aquaplant.tamu.edu/database/algae/planktonic_algae_pics.htm


http://aquaplant.tamu.edu/database/floating_plants/common_duckweed_pics.htm

ewest,

I definitely don't think it's duckweed based on your link.
If I try to pick/scoop up in my hand it virtually disintegrates.

I also looked at the watermeal image on the tamu.edu webpage.
I'll have to see if I can get some to stick to my hand tomorrow and get another photo.

Scott

Do you have a decent-quality digital camera, or know someone you could borrow one from? Cell phones, as you're obviously aware, don't provide the best resolution, and the image is so blurry above that it's impossible to tell. We can tell you what it is if the image is clear. You're close enough now to the weed, just need better resolution.

If you're able to get hold of a digital camera, set it to autofocus, or have the owner do so. If it's one of those fully automatic sure-shot types, it will focus automatically anyway; if it's a more expensive camera it will have an option on there to set to autofocus. Digital cameras now are light years ahead of what they were just ten years ago, and the autofocus is pretty accurate as long as there's not something else besides your subject prominent in the frame at a different distance from the lens.

If it sticks to your hand and is as fine as sand, that's watermeal. It doesn't look like such from the photo, other than the bright green color, which is very characteristic of WM. A sharp photo would solve the riddle.