Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat PVC color question

I have been doing a lot of reading lately as I prepare to have a pond built on my farm later this summer. At this point I intend to build and place some "PVC trees" in the pond before it fills, for added structure.

Somewhere, I read a comment that one should not use white PVC as it is not a natural color underwater and fish would avoid it so as not to silhouette themselves, etc. Is this something that is a concern that I should take into account in the opinion of the experienced people here?

What I was intending to do would include using white PVC for the horizontal "branches". But I could switch to gray electrical plastic conduit if the white is a bad idea. Thoughts, ideas, comments are welcome. TIA.

I have not heard that and have seen many white structures work.

I do suggest that any pvc be roughed up (sand paper , or wire brush etc.) to enhance the ability of microorganisms to attach easily.

See these archives for structure that works. Here.

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92463#Post92463

Structure pics compliments of the guys from FISHIDING. Take a close look at what is going on in the pics.

In a nutrient rich pond, I've had white PVC coated within a week, and that was without roughing it up. It was all brown and you couldn't tell it was white.

That makes sense, thanks for the help. I won't worry about it if I use some white material then for underwater structure.

This whole deal about color is crazy!

When someone else has PROOF that it does not work....show us.
We have been showing hundreds of pictures of fish on lighter colors from installation through being covered with growth for over 7 years....????

We have been installing and diving on all colors of habitat, the pictures show color has no bearing. We also feel that although the color does not show through for long in almost all cases, some fish use the color to their advantage.
shiners, fry and many panfish are light in color and appear to use the light habitat to their advantage.

If white/light colors don't work, why are you using white PVC pipes?

How many pictures of light colored material holding fish do we need to dismantle this crazy ASUMPTION? Show us data to back up the proof?

pics below are of the same cribs in Wisconsin Hatchery grow ponds
[img:left]https://goo.gl/photos/TpAvRJ8cnYrwRy1f7[/img]
https://goo.gl/photos/9UHhLWPaYDKDsMHb9

I don't think anyone did anything other than ask a question. The question was answered by both text and pics (Peepaws' that I posted)and confirm that the posters don't think color makes a difference.

Good question Dave - I understand the impetus and reasoning behind the inquiry - it does make sense. If you want to go grey, go grey - the electric conduit is cheaper in my experience anyhow. Anything in my ponds turns a green/brown in a matter of weeks, and I follow Eric's advice on the roughing with success. Thanks Erik!

Something tells me this isn't the first time Peepaw has had to address this question.

I doubt color would have any adverse effect as structure. In fact, I would think the light reflection of lighter colors would actually speed algae growth and quicken it's attraction to bait fish over darker colors.

As ewest said, roughening any smooth structure to provide a better substrate for plant growth is what is most beneficial, on any color or composition.

Thanks for the support guys....I am a bit touchy on this topic, sorry for my shortness. Who was the first dude who said white stinks
People seem to shop for appearance, fish simply want cover. Most folks think the shiny and newly manufacured means better, this is not in the case with habitat materials. Wild,dense, abstract and unruly is what fish excell within. Years of underwater diving/testing continues to confirm this. We don't want the fisherman to be able to access all their hiding spots!?
Color has come up from day one, way back when nobody wanted to accept PVC as cover at all, let alone over wood, remember?
Periphyton will grow on glass..........a textured surface simply gives it a better foothold but not the determining factor of fishy success.
Surface area is cover, square footage of shade, it's a most important part of success. Symetry is not natural in nature.

Now that pvc is getting it's deserved place in the arsenal, we still deal with misconceptions and old beliefs.
Eric the photographer has recanted his first negative opinion of white, because of the lack of birch tree use he see's.....not a scientific approach of determining fish color choice. he now believes a lighter color is an advantage, mostly for the reasons pointed out above.
The ocean is full of color and species work with it to their advantage, prey or predator.
If color was important, believe me we would be producing habitat in that color. Siding is notoriously lighter in colors, but we use pvc from black to white with no difference in fish preference. Siding is only one of many sources of reclaimed PVC we produce habitat with.

I have been underwater as our light cribs have been dropped, only to see smallmouth rush upon them to investigate not only the crib, but myself. It's tough to break old thinking, even biologists like Dave Beasley state color matters........
"Lastly, note that fish tend to prefer darker, more natural fish cover. Installing cover that is lighter will silhouette the fish and, as a result, the cover is not as desirable since the fish are unable to hide as well. But, over time, most types of artificial structure covers with a dark mass of periphyton."
Depends on what color fish you are I guess....
We could manufacture any color we wanted.....we choose not to stamp out identical parts because the fish have told us they don't care what color, they want diversity in texture and size! How about black?
Self righting, no assembly artificial habitat in a box
Fishadow self opening habitat with Vertical UpRiseTM*

I have made cover and or fish attractors from all kinds and colors of pvc and up to 4" in size. White, grey, green along with black tubing of all different sizes. Some I have rough sanded, others scared with saws and some I did nothing. A lot of this stuff I have found at different places and was free. I have built cribs from pallet wood and filled with as many as a dozen cinder blocks and built with white pvc and plastic deer fencing. And tires stacked in different shapes. I like using reclaimed stuff that people discard as trash. Treasures to me

Tracy

"I like using reclaimed stuff that people discard as trash. Treasures to me smile"
Thanks for that, we couldn't agree more!