Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Fertilization Too Much Bloom

I need some help with a problem. My dad has a pond about 1 acre in size. I suggested fertilizing because the water was extremely clear. In this drought we are experiencing, his water has developed too much bloom. I don`t know enough about how dangerous this situation is,so I am asking you folks. Electricity is not available so I thought aeration might be temporarily done with my boat`s outboard?

Martin, I did the same thing last year. The water turned the color of pea soup. However, it only lasted a couple of days and apparently was not a problem. I have seen other posts indicating the same type of experience. I think it could turn into a problem if you have a dissolved oxygen crash caused by, as I understand it, hot weather and overcast conditions.

I agree with Dave unless it dies off real fast and takes away the oxygen, With a 1 acre pond I would discourage using an outboard motor to stir it up, but a trolling motor with the blade tip just out of the water but the hub still in the water where it splashes the water works amazingly well. Bob

Thanks guys! Dad is putting a trolling motor on his pier as I type! It sure is nice to have a place to go with stuff like this. Any other suggestions about this problem will be helpful.

Depending upon the degree of bloom (plankton or blue-green), you might consider reducing (but NOT severely crashing) the bloom with very low-dose sequential treatments of a chelated copper to limited areas of the pond. I've observed this tactic's successful in larger lakes (30-100 acres). BUT, I can't assure you that the use (or avoidance) of this tactic will avoid a DO problem. It is simply a concept for implementing a "controlled" algae reduction rather than allowing a potential weather-event to crash the population (and DO) in one fell swoop.

Martin, I don't know how much good a trolling motor prop attached to a pier will do over an acre. You might consider renting or buying a 2 inch gasoline powered pump and spraying the water into the air. Actually, a one inch pump might be better. You could hook it to a large sprinkler on the pier and not have to hold the output hose. Of course, by the time you do all of that, the problem will probably be over.

I went to dad`s pond last evening and I believe things are much better. The trolling motor was moving quite a bit of water and the visibility was back to 18 inches or so. Lots of algae on the surface but I believe that will go away. Also lots of daphnia(a good thing!) Thanks a lot for everyones help!

Glad things are looking better over that direction. Bob