Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Fertilization floating scum no fertilization

I have patches of brown floating scum. Dam was built in December 2004 and is filled by rain water. It was about 1.5 to 2 acres during the biggest rain fall and now is about 1/2 acre. Fish seem to be doing fine. Bass, catfish, bluegill and fatheads. Water has been leaking since the beginning but has slowed a lot. It was very muddy but has now cleared to about a foot visible. I have my well water running into it for this year assuming it will seal better as the pond gets older. None of the cattle ponds in the area have this scum. It looks really bad and increases daily. I have never done any fertilization or added anything except some fish food pellets and the well water. Can take pic.s and email if someone needs to see it. Any ideas?

pondslave,

In the first year of my new pond, I also had the brown "scum" which in my case and in all probability in your case is algae.

In succeeding years, the algae was always the green regular scum variety. I've often wondered if algae takes on the color of the water that its in...brown ponds in first year, brown algae. May be just coincidental. If one of the plant pros such as Kelly knows about this it would be interesting.

At any rate, it is usually easily treated with something like Cutrine plus liquid and/or granules. Lots of posts to read on treating algae...just do a search and read away. You may even find one or two that recommends Tilapia, which I happen to do. They eat algae in copious amounts and turn around and feed your LMB the algae in the form of numerous offspring. Its a system I like very much, very much indeed.

after closer inspection it does have some green to it, nasty looking stuff with large patches covering the whole top area except where the fresh water is running in. If it only last a little while no harm no foul but will it last all summer or longer???

Actually, in my experience, it is most prominent in early spring during cool but warming temps. In hot summer temps, especially when accompanied by occasional rain showers, the algae becomes much less of a probelm. In winter it is not visible.

By the way, what you are seeing is actually the last life stages of the algae. It starts on your pond bottom...look closely in water 1 to 3 feet deep and you should see it forming. At some point, it releases its attachment to the bottom and becomes the floating mats of scum that everyone abhors. It actually does a service, as do most things in nature...it utilizes nutrients from the water. It is harmless but not pleasant to look at or throw a fishing line over. It does provide cover for fish, on the positive side. I hope I have helped.

Pondslave,
Could be Lyngbya, a blue-green algae. Is it growing under the water, on the bottom, and breaking off into sheets? The sheets then float on the surface.This algae can be difficult to control due to its small spongy masses of mucilage, but I have controlled it using a mixture of 2 products & a surfactant. If you choose, send me a photo to [email protected] and I can verify if it indeed is Lyngbya.