I have recently taken up a responsibility to bring this beauty back to life and I need help. Anyone interested in walking me through? I have 2 photos but am uncertain as to how I can get them on here. I would be happy to email them if you wish. Thank you!
For a little guidance on uploading photos, try this link.
If you still can't get it nailed down through that means, consider clicking the "File Manager" link below the new message window (the window that appears after you hit reply) and following the steps there. While it won't load the photo into your message, it will provide a link that will appear in your message.
Once you get those figured out, tell us a lot more about what your project is and what the goals are. Then we can give you some meaningful feedback.
Looking forward to seeing what it is you've got going!
My first attempt to add the 2 pictures I didn't lose on my camera.
Picture #1 is not the one I want to post but the only "full" shot that survived from my camera. There is a growth of some sort of lilly pad, as well as some algae. I do not know the food source of the algae, yet.
Picture #2 is a close up of the algae.
My goal is to cut down on the amount of algae in the pond. And also to build up the dam. I will post pictures of the dam soon to show you what I am concerned with. This is wonderful! I am so glad to have found this forum. Thank you all!
Honestly, I doubt that anything can whip it this year with a head start like that.
Next Spring, start spraying it with Cutrine Plus when it first appears. When the water warms up enough, I would add about 20 lbs of tilapia per acre and keep spraying it.
Last edited by Dave Davidson1; 05/07/1101:15 PM.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP Grandpa
That's a LOT of FA. If the manpower is available, I'd get to work raking it out. Chemically, I'd look into one of the non copper based algacides. (Green Clean Plus, etc.)
Great! This is wonderful help. I am not sure how to get tilapia in Missouri but I will be looking around. Can I put tilapia in my pond? I knew it was going to take alot of work but I am ready for it. I will hopefully get the pictures of the dam up here soon. Any other advice is welcomed. Thank you so much!
Jig, DEFINITELY start raking that stuff out! I have spent a lot time this spring raking FA out of my pond that gets it and it's worth the effort for sure. Every bit that is removed is just that much less plant life that will die and become nutrient for more growth next season. Wait for a good windy day where it gathers near one of your shores and you should be able to get an awful lot of it out of the water.
And, as has been suggested, look for some chemical killing options for next year along with considering tilapia. As for getting tilapia, it just so happens that one of the single best sources is right there in MO with you in forum member Rainman. Rex delivers blue tilapia all around the country and could certainly give the info you are after. We also have some other folks on the forum who sell tilapia, but I am less sure of their geographic range although I know they don't sell as far away as WV.
You also need to consider the point of looking for the source of your nutrient influx that could be contributing the extent of FA you have - as was mentioned, that is a LOT of algae! If you can identify the source of the nutrients, you can begin taking action to correct the root of the problem as opposed to the symptoms of the problem.
Definitely FA, and you've got it bad alright. As others have mentioned, getting a head start on it is paramount to controlling it. If it's any small consolation, It was terrible in one pond of mine last year, so I got on it early this Spring, and now there's no sign of it. In the meantime, I agree with manual removal - a lot of work, but low cost, I used a fine mesh net and scooped it out when it drifted to shore on windy days.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
I agree with manual removal - a lot of work, but low cost.
....not including the chiropractor's bill.
Seriously, when you physically remove the algae, simply drag it a short distance beyond the water's edge and let it dissicate for a day or two. At that point, the remnants will weigh 99% less than when you pulled it out - and should then be removed from the lake's watershed so the nutrients won't wash right back into the lake during the next rainfall event.
BTW: the lilies appear to be American Lotus (white bloom, large pad elevating above the water's surface with the supporting stem attached to the central area of the pad). Not positive of this id, since the image isn't overly detailed. The shoreline plant looks to be one of the many species of primrose (yellow blooms, alternating leaves along the main stem).
All of you are amazing!! Thank you so much for your help. I hope to post some more pictures with more questions soon. In the meantime I'll start rakin.
I'm not sure what the source is. I do have a low grade hill sloping down to the pond on the south side but there is nothing but those yellow flowers in the field. I'll keep searching. Thank you all again!!
btw - common duckweed also appears to be resting on top of the filamentous algae. That's the very small twin-leaf plant that has a single 1/2" root dangling beneath it. It may be small (size of a pencil-eraser, or smaller), but it can pose a big problem if it gets out of hand.