Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Creating the food chain Pond growth hormone?

Speaking of creating a food chain, what about using some bales of hay to superaccelerate growth of the zooplankton/phytoplankton? I am talking about getting a newly filled pond up and running. In high school all those many years ago I sort of remember a science experiment that involved putting hay in a quart jar of water - it was teeming with life in short order.

Anyone ever try this? Is there any way to assess if it is helpful? Would be very difficult to measure. I am wanting to add my first order of live fish to a pond that was finished last August and now has about 6' of water in it. I am alittle concerned there could be a food shortage when I add the forage fish - FH and BG. Mebbe I'll throw in a couple of bales of hay - can't hurt can it?

I don't know. I have known people who tried it but not sure it really helped. I think if you have a fertile enough pond, based on clarity as measured by a sechi disc, you shouldn't need it.

Dave - I have no idea what a sechi disc is. Measures clarity? Does that imply clear is bad? My pond is very clear at this point but very new. The little pond next to it is a lot less clear (20+ years old). How does clarity relate to fertility? Maybe mine does need a kick start.

Secchi Disk Thread

Scott:

Above is a recent thread on Secchi disks. They are just one of a veritable plethora of pond management items and techniques presented in Bob Lusk's excellent books on Pond Management, available here.

Scott, look at the links Ewest has provided. Yep, clear water is not good. It indicates a lack of of phytoplankton base that is the lowest and most essential element of the food chain. You evidently know something about that as you asked about the addition of vegetation (hay) to jump start the process. I don't know your area as regards alkilinity to see whether fertilization will work without the addition of lime. Other posters can probably give their judgement regarding that area.

Hey, keep on asking questions. You are on the right track. A lot of the questions are answered in Lusks books that Ewest has recommended. Those and a mag subscription are the cheapest and maybe the most valuable jump start you can get.

Many thanks. My pond education continues. The water in my new pond, as I said is pretty clear. I read the secci disc links. I can make a disc this weekend to see what I get. I will probably try some hay just for the heck of it. I now want to see some reduced clarity before I attempt the fish killing experiment for $150.

Would adding some of the darker water from the adjacent pond be adding things I don't want? The existing pond has looked pretty good for 20+ years, and as Theo pointed out, the stuff will find it's way eventually. Or possibly a few 5 gallon buckets of live stuff is meaningless in a 2/3 acre pond with average depth of 9'.

I don't think the hay will hurt anything but I just don't know. I've read from Biologists who have recommended it for Algae control.

I doubt that adding of the other water will help or hurt. You will get some of everything and we all do it inadvertently from time to time. There are dangers involved but the other pond is adjacent and wading birds and other wildlife will "carry" organisms anyway.

Have the alkilinity checked. None of this stuff is much good if your alkilinity is too low. I don't know enough about your region to make any type of call on that.

Thanks DD - I will check the alkalinity. I think it may be lowish ph in the old pond due to oak leaves. It has several large oaks on the adjacent bank that put a lot of leaves into the water every year. I am just guessing at this point but I think oak leaves are acidic. I'll test both.