I want to mention a special problem with fertilization. I think of filamentous algae as facts of life. Fish around the stuff and forget it, I say. .
But Herself really, really hates the sight of the "green slime monster" in the pond. She's not overly fond of the smell, either, but then I also have to explain to her on frequent occasions that the fishy smell of a bream bed is a good thing. Almost as much, she hates my beautiful pea-soup bloom. I hear murmurs of "sanitary lagoon" and "How can you eat something that BREATHES that garbage all day?" (Today's shocker for the boss was when I let it slip that the geese "do number 2" in the water. I had my head in that proverbial dark place at the time.) Have I mentioned that my better half is a city girl transplanted to the country? When I took her out west to visit relatives, she was shocked to discover my aunt making tamales. Apparently she thought they grew on tamale trees, each cluster surrounded by a can.
Well, I had 170 lb. of Tilapia nilotica delivered today. I have assured her that they will eat the green slime, so please don't anyone tell me anything different. I also sorta'' implied that they would filter out the pea soup phytoplankton, as well. In fact I promised that I would make sure that the water would be clear by winter. Not a lie, after all!
By the way, can anyone tell me why oil of clove knocks fish out so well? That's really impressive stuff. In the end, they all woke up and were fine, but I was nervous for a while.
Lou, Shelby Cnty., AL 13.5 acres
