Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Fertilization "the bloom"

The "bloom" is a mixture of millions of tiny microscopic plants and animals called "plankton". Plankton have pigment, which colors water. Fertilizer provides nutrients mixed into water, to feed the plankton. The bloom is determined by visibility. 18-24" of visibility is considered "perfect" by fish producers. Hence the arm to shoulder description from our man Brian Carmody. Promoting a bloom enhances the lake's ability to produce fish. In essence, the bloom is the base of the food chain, creating food for tiny insects which feed tiny fish. So, try to have a bloom during spawning season, to be sure newly hatched baby fish have plenty to eat. A side benefit...plankton blooms shade sunlight from the pond bottom, preventing noxious amounts of aquatic plants.