Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Water chemistry Now what?

A couple months back, our local ag man tested a water sample from our pond. He said everything checked out but that we should wait until the water returned to normal level, test again and then decide what to do. Well, we are approaching the end of May and the pond is probably as high as it is going to get this year (still 3' below normal). I tested using pool strips and get a ph of 7.2 and alkalinity of <20. He tested alkalinity and got between 13.6 and 20. His recommendation was not to add any lime but if I did, no more than one ton per acre.

This would be great news except it still does not explain why no plants survive other than a few lily pads. Don't get me wrong, it is nice to fish without any concern for algae and the fish are doing great. But I am a duck hunter and no plant life means no ducks. I want my cake and eat it too.

What am I missing?

plant millet, milo, and/or rice around the edges and pray for rain.

I'm doing my part. I planted Sorghum, foxtail millet and cow peas a month ago (coming up nicely with the rain we did get). Just planted Japanese Millet this past weekend. No rain in sight.

The pond does not have much clear area around it. Being in East Texas, pine trees and sweetgums do their best to crowd everything else out.

For the life of me, I just can't understand what is keeping any plants from growing. I took a soil sample and will be sending it in this week.

Sandbox,

Be careful what you wish for! This is typical of new ponds. However you may have the reverse situation in the future.

I do feel kind of silly for bringing this up but I have just never seen a Texas pond without some vegetation. Not knowing anything about correct ph and alk levels, I was hopeful some of you could shed some light on what, if any, actions I should take. I did not mention that the visibility is about 15 to 18".

If I should never get any algae on this pond, I will not shed a tear. I guess I would just have to start another one from scratch.

Cecil, thank you for your response. I should have also added that the pond is at least 25 yrs old as the pine trees on the dam indicate. My dam is the model of what not to do. The trees are beautiful but, I suspect a leak is in my future.

In that case I would suspect if there is something retarding your aquatic plant growth it's your bottom strata or soil composition.

I wouldn't worry about the trees until they die and the roots decompose leaving a void.

Sandbox :

Where were the soil samples taken ? Here are 2 articles on lime in ponds. Acid soils and water will stop many plants from growing (like plankton) but many others like acid soils. It is difficult to get and sustain a plankton bloom with an alkalinity below 20. Adding lime will help even if you do not plan to fertilize. In fact I would suggest that before you think about fertilizing you get the alkalinity above 20 (higher would be better say 40) and see what happens. You may get a good bloom with out adding any extra nutrients. Soil samples of the pond bottom would tell you a lot.

http://www.mdsg.umd.edu/Extension/finfish/FF7.html

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA028

Perfect! Thank you. The soil samples I collected were next to the pond in a food plot. This area is supposed to be, and usually is, under water so the soil test may prove to be pretty valuable.

SandBox, I have 2 nice ponds with no vegetation. One of them is about 100 yds downstream from a small pond with brushy pondweed.

I wouldn't sweat it.