Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Bacteria?

My 6 acre pond averages 8 - 10 feet deep. As far out as I can wade, there is a 2-3 inch black layer of bottom sediment that is very sticky. Should I consider using bacteria ? Do any of you have any opinions or suggestions ?

Lots here on the subject. Mixed results. It is a tool that has worked in some cases. Aeration might be a better option to start. One thing to consider is cost. Bacteria for 6 acres is a large bite.

One more thought is the use of tilapia. It is too late in the season now, but early next spring you could put a load in there. I don't know that we have a lot of scientific evidence that they work, but we sure have a lot of empirical evidence that seems to indicate that they will help clean up a lot of muck. From what we've discussed here over the years, it takes about three seasons with tilapia, but they do seem to do a pretty good job of clearing out muck.

I put them in my ponds for the first time this year. Much at my urging for 6-7 years, it took until this year to get our DNR and Agriculture department to approve the use of tilapia in WV ponds. I think I may be the first one in the state to try them for this purpose.

They need water above about 60 degrees to live, other than that, they are tough as nails. Interestingly, we put six in a 375 gallon aquaponics tank last July. They were about 2-inches long. We also put in fathead minnows, bluegill, and goldfish. The water got down to 48 degrees last week and it was beyond time to drain the tank. Because most of the plants had died from a heavy freeze, the water was horrid because nothing was really filtering it. The tilapia had grown to 6-8 inches in that time. The goldfish, fatheads, and bluegill were nowhere to be seen. But the tilapia were healthy. I've now got them in my basement in a 40 gallon aerated/filtered tank. One tried to commit suicide a couple of days ago. I had fed them and didn't put the top back down on the tank. About an hour later I went back to the basement and there was a lifeless tilapia on the floor. I put it back in the water, moved it back and forth for a minute or two to try and revive it. It started to move and I let it float. Within about five minutes I couldn't tell which fish it was that had jumped out.

I believe that Bob Lusk, Mr. Pond Boss himself, sells tilapia for use in ponds. Bob is north of you near Lake Texoma. You would need to wait until it starts to warm up in the springtime, but ...

At least to me, six acres is a pretty large area to aerate. Maybe Sue Cruz from Vertex will see this and have some good suggestions. She is a real expert on the topic of improving ponds, especially through aeration.

Drawing the water down several feet, or even it drain it completely. Then bringing in heavy equipment is another possible option. But, from my personal perspective, it would take several years before you would again have a good productive pond.