Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Fertilization Floating Scum Just Started....Why?

I did my second fertilization 2 days ago with liquid fertilizer. Today I noticed alot of little patches of floating green scum all around my pond on the surface. This is a new pond built this past February. Did I apply too much fertilizer by chance? Thanks in advance for any responses.

It sounds like it to me, but.

Give more info & the guys that know the answer will be able to help.

What is your visibility? Do you have a secchi disk?
If you stick your arm in the water up to the elbow can you still see your hand?

How much fert?
How big is your pond?
When was the last fert added?
Aeration?

What else can you tell us about your pond?

My pond is 1/2 surface acre. Built in Feb. of this year (05). I fertilized with liquid fertilizer this past Sunday which was 21 days since the the 1st fertilization. I was told to fertilize every 21 days until the water temp falls back to 60 degrees. Right now if you stuck your arm in the water you could not see your elbow. I diluted the fertilizer in 3 gallons of water and then equally distributed it equally around the pond. I used 1/4 gallon of fertilizer to 3 gallons of water to dilute.

My second question is if I did indeed add too much fertilizer will it negatively affect my pond or fish? My bream are between 3-5" and my F1 bass are about 2" which were added about 3 weeks ago.

Dont panic. It will go away. Next time go easy on the fertilizer. Look, you have a new pond. By now there are many little critters for the food chain even without fertilizer. Do you have any way of aerating yur pond? Water pump to spray water in the air, anything? Prepare to do this. You will probably have a D.O.(dissolved oxygen) crash when your algae bloom dies out. You need to protect against this. Small fish can probably survive this, but go to Lowes and get a water pump. spray some water in the air. You will need bottom aeration in the future. Lots of posts on this.

Thanks a million for the help!

I have almost the same deal going except that I haven't added anything to the water. None of the cattle ponds in the area have this stuff and they don't get it. Is it because it's a new pond?
I have fresh well water running into it this summer as I'm losing a lot of water being the first year and all, is this causing the floating scum???

I think that the well water can cause a lot of algae. Research the archives.

I dunno, but I got the same scum layer...only happens during a few days in a row with little/no wind action. Seems to dissipate quickly once the wind comes up. The fatheads treat it like meringue, though...constantly nipping at it.

The scum is gone now. Only lasted a few days. Thanks for the advice.

RLewis,
Yes it can negatively effect your pond.

You shouldn't be adding fert. by a date on the calender.
A pond is fertilized to maximize fish production.
Water clarity is the determining factor as when fertilizer is needed. You should try to maintain 18" to 24" visibility as measured with a secchi dish. Or use the aformentioned arm/elbow test.

If water clarity becomes less than 12" it is time to be concerned.
The green color is from phytoplankton. Phytoplankton produces oxygen during a sunlit day & consumes oxygen during the night or on cloudy days. When you have too much bloom ie less than 12" vis. it is very possible to have a DO (disolved oxygen) crash & loose fish.
This normally occurs early in the AM when the over abundent plankton has used all the DO just trying to get through the night. The plankton dies & more oxygen is used as it decomposes.

If I were fertilizing I would not add any more until vis. was >= 24".