Hello folks, still plugging away at my pond trying to learn all I can...
Refresh:
New guy (obviously) never owned a pond before, We recently bought a Farm in Southeastern Indiana that had an existing 2.5 acre 50 year old pond on it. The pond sits mostly in the open with a wood line that provides ample shade on the West side. The pond is 20 foot deep on the dam. My first problem was cattails, they were 10 foot into the pond all the way around it, the solution: eradication and removal with heavy equipment. We also raised the overflow to drown out and suffocate new growth. The pond cleaned up real nice, with the exception of spraying some rodeo on a few small cattail starts here and there I have had no more problems.
However a new problem has arisen...ALGE! I have seen it popping up over the last week and in no time it has spanned along the whole bank's perimeter and is about 1-2 foot out in the pond.
My goals for the pond is healthy fish (BG and LMB) yet I want it to be esthetically pleasing to look at. (house overlooks pond) I have yet to aerate but plan to do so sometime in the near future good Lord and finances permitting.
I tested the water today with a 5-way pool test kit. (all I had)
Alkalinity- 80
pH- 7.2
Total Hardness- 120
I guess my main question is about pond fertilizer, if I fertilize would this rid me of the FA? I just need a path forward cause I don't know what the heck I'm doing.....There are no pond environmental services around me or anyone I can call to do a survey or study of the pond or I would..Although
ESSHUP is north of me...(hint,hint lol) In the meantime looking for a POND for dummies book, and trying to learn all I can can from this awesome forum..It's just all a bit overwhelming I guess at first, but I'm not giving up..
Thanks for
ANY input folks...
