Originally posted by Meadowlark:
Cecil,
I agree with you...also am amazed at the ability of some algae forms to completely disappear after a real good rain. It would be interesting to know more about these "plants"..and by so doing, maybe be better managers of what they do to us and our ponds.
p.s. what do you do to control chara? About all I do is employ Tilapia and grass carp.
I'm convinced there is something chemical going on too. Rain typically has a PH lower than 7.0 while my water ranged from 7.5 to 8.5.
I have removed Chara in the past manually with a rake but don't want to remove too much as I prefer it over the FA. Additionally I'm convinced it acts as a nitrifying medium and helps me maintain my equiv. of 5000 lbs. per acre of trout in my little 1/10th acre pond.
I do have two grass carp in the pond but they don't seem to be moving a lot of vegatation probably due to the cool temps that never get above 65 F. They use grass carp in trout ponds in Manitoba and they say you jut have to plant more to make up for the lower temps.
