Pond Boss Forums INTRO New Forum Member Introduction NE Kansas New Member

Good afternoon-I've been an on again and off again lurker for several years, and have decided that it's long past time to come onboard.

I'm the proud owner of 2/3 of one 2 acre pond, about 1/5 of another 2+ acre pond, and full owner of another .7 acre pond here in Douglas County, Kansas, plus 4 more at my wife's farm in NC Kansas near the Kansas-Nebraska state line.

This site has helped me get more comfortable with managing the ponds, and already today has given me guidance on building a system to aerate the pond closest to our house here at our home place. Great information!

Last year I purchased a used Koender Windmill for our small pond, and it made a huge difference in the quality of the water. In fact, I did not have to use any chemicals to control that pond. If that trend continues, the windmill will pay for itself in 4-5 years.

I'm currently trying to get additional information on beneficial bacteria to treat the fiberous algae that we get a couple times a year on our big pond. From my research, I've determined that I'll never again use a shock chemical to kill it off, as I now understand that that will also kill off good bacteria. I'm now using the liquid bacteria that I can get at our local farm stores.

Although it's hardly scientific, I have also had excellent results by simply using Rid-X (septic tank treatment) mixed in warm water and then poured directly onto and around the algae mat. Within a short time, it also works well. Has anyone else tried using Rid-X?

Tell us more about the co-ownership of ponds if you are dealing with any problems or not.

How well does your Koender Windmill system work? I have looked into them as there is no electricity at our ponds.

Never heard of the Rid-x idea. Sounds interesting and may be a fairly cheap fix. How well does it work?

Our property lines run through two ponds. We've got the west 2/3rds of one and the southwest corner of the other, and own outright the 3rd. Our neighbors are great, and we simply share responsiblity for upkeep. I mow and weedeat the one closest to our home, and our neighbor maintains the one closest to his home. We work together on brush mowing. I also rototill his gardens, and he helps me with his post hole digger and other projects. I'm fortunate to be on good terms, as I know the problem stories I've certainly heard about, but the property was too nice to pass up, and was worth the chance in our minds.

The Koender Windmill works great-better than I could have asked. Frankly, it would have been worth it just because it really adds to the view. Both of my Grandparents had windmills, although their's were for pumping water for the cattle, so it really adds to our rural setting. As I said earlier, I didn't have to add any chemicals or bacteria to that pond last year, not even Rid-X!

Speaking of Rid-X, my results have been very good. We're on a septic system and I routinely add Rid-X to help insure good health for it (yogurt also is very beneficial from my research), which gave me the idea to try it. I'd already been using Rid-X at our previous house (also on a septic system) on a small water feature with good success to help with accumulated leaves and other debris that had blown in. And I had already been using the liquid bacteria with success on two of our ponds, so I just decided to give Rid-X a try on a larger scale.

I can buy 8 boxes of Rid-X for about the same cost as a gallon of liquid bacteria, but I have no idea of how that compares. And the liquid is certainly easier to apply-it's already mixed. But I've had good results, especially on mat algae that crops up a couple times a year. Not very scientific, but it has worked well for me.

I do think good aeration might prevent most of the mat algae in the first place, so that's why I'm planning to build an electric aeration system for the pond closest to our house. Just have to finish my Bride's house projects first!

GGB