Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose New pond need advice

Levon, if your like most in the SE we have very infertilie soils so I think it might heklp you just have to tweak it wiht additional fertilizer. However if too excessive it can be a problem and of course it is uncontrolled. For sure take the runoff into consideration if you decide to do a fertilizer program and use less until you determine proper amounts to achieve desired phyo bloom. Windmills not a good option in the SE.

ML, I forgot to add on the GG we stocked in SC. ON the fishery survey not one was shocked, what happened we don't know they were supposed to be 4-5 inch. The pond is bass heavy but still unsure what happened to them so this is why I can not report the growth.

Yes having the drainage as a horse or cow pasture may well effect fertility of the pond. You may not need a fertilizer program at all. All the more reason to get the soil tested and keep it well limed. Go slow on the fertilizer (as in don't) until you get the soil tests and you know how the pond will do without it. It may need to have some added but watch your bloom first.

I can't say much about windmills. There are a number of very good discussions here about them. One key for DO (dissolved oxygen) purposes is do you have enough wind at the right time (summer nights in the south). Here is a link which contains several links to other windmill threads.

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=11;t=000176

Eric in our expereince with cow pasture runoff, usually just enough to casue a nasty filamentous algae infestation. we killed it off and started a fertilizer program to provide enough to shade out algae, so that is the reason suggesting it might be neccesary to tweak the natural fertilizer a bit.

Phytoplankton blooms, depending on the species composition, have three basic requirements 1. proper alkalinity, 2. proper dissolved nitrogen and 3. proper dissolved phosphorus. This assumes temperature is acceptable - usu above 60F. ALTHOUGH, there are some algae species adapted to bloom in cool water and some can even bloom under ice cover if there is enough light penetration or intensity for their "needs". Of secondary importance are macro and micro nutrients which are "USUALLY" adequate in most systems. Various algae species have unique adaptations or requirements for the above parameters. Thus some will bloom while others will wane or decrease because conditions are not just right. Competition (similar to fish communities) among algal species and predators such as zooplankton also can affect how well a bloom progresses.

Thus the nutrient runoff from a field may not have the correct "BALANCE" or ratios of nutrients to stimulate the desired bloom. If one can measure the basic nutrient concentrations to discover the defficiency, then the lacking nutrient can be added and a bloom usually develops. Although it is not ALWAYS quite this simple. Most people usually just GUESS when an intended bloom did not develop.

Before I made a decision on what to do I would want the results of the soil tests and an analysis of the water and runoff. It may have enough N , P and K and enough alkalinity to be fertile in its natural state. Maybe not . If not then add what you need to get what you want. With new fish about to be or having just been stocked I would not want to be shooting in the dark.

I spoke with the county extension agent this morning. I will be sending him a water sample tomorrow.

I guess I will go with CNBG, RES, CC and the LMB later.

I heard from the extension agent today. He said that I couldn't ask for the water to be any better in our area. He said that it was ready for fish now. The pond has come up about 2.5 to 3 feet in the last two days. We had a lot of rain today.

Now, if I can make up my mind, I am off work next week and it should be a good time to add the fish, shouldn't it? Or should I wait util the water clears from all the rain.

Thanks for all the information and assistance.

How long has water been in the pond and what is the visibility depth? Are you going to feed the fish? What size will the fish be? Is the State providing the fish?

Before the rain set in, you could see about 16 to 18 inches down. Yes, I plan to feed them up to 1 bag of feed per week. How much will they need during the fall and winter? I think we can afford that much on top of our feed bill for the horses and goats. I am planning to buy the fish. The less the government is involved in my business, the better I feel. I am not sure of the size at this time. I am planning to talk with the hatchery that Greg recommended earlier.