I have been a lurker for nearly 2 years and have greatly appreciated the wealth of info here as well as the humor. I have a 1/4 ac pond that is about 8 yrs old, 14 ft deep. Twp would not allow a 3/1 slope so I am constantly battling algae. However, because of this forum I really want to try and have a more balanced pond. I have LMB, snails, crayfish and frogs and do not want to harm them. I have always had a company treat my pond which killed all algae and plants. Did not have the money this year so have been nearly killing myself raking out the algae. However, the water is clear and smells clean. But am dealing with chara, am pondweed and a few cattails (which I WILL spray) The chara is growing great which isn't so great. I was talked into buying straight copper sulfate by an "expert" who said I was crazy to rake out my pond. I read about it after the fact and now am afraid to use it. I don't want to kill everything and worry about the long term affects. Could someone advise me? I want a balanced pond. I do have a windmill for aeration but it is 95 plus right now and I lost one 15" bass for no obvious reason. And I like to swim in my pond. Yall are great! Thank you!

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