Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Fertilization What is a good fertilizer?

I am trying to get ahead with the purchase of fertilizer for the spring. Can someone recommend a quality fertilizer for a 2 acre new pond?

I have read about Sportmax, Pond Pro, and Trophy Grower all of which is 10-52-4 I think. Please help!

They are all about the same as long as it is water soluble. One company Pro-Sol use to make all of it and package it for different re-sellers.

Where are you - most Co-Ops carry some form of it. Also the fisheries outfits have it for delivery. I get mine from Greg Grimes when he comes through town. I also use some 0-46-0 pelleted on platforms and some 13-13-13 and once in a while some 45-0-0 when more N is needed.

In Columbus. The co-op here has Pond Pro 10-52-4 for $38.50 for 25 lbs. it is water soluble.
Do I need to wait till the pond fills completely to do a water sample in order to determine the correct fertilizer needed?

Greg sells a great fertilizer. Easy to use and very efficient. Check out Aquatic Environmental Services in GA. He advertises on Pond Boss, and can ship product to you.

Eric how do you determine you need nitrogen?

No that fert will work but check the alkalinity to be sure it is over 20. If not add ag lime. Then go slow until you have a season of results to gauge results.See this http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=96127#Post96127

If the alkalinity is good and I have added standard pond fert ( water sol 10-52-4) and the result is not good enough I will add some N as I know it is the limiting factor. P is most often the limiting factor and if I have added it without good results then I know its N limited. But keep in mind I have 20+ years experience with these ponds. At the PB V con we had a speaker on N limited ponds and the probability of it producing Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) rather than phytoplankton.

Hi all. I just had a 1/2 acre farm pond re-dug in the Florida panhandle just North of P'cola. It has filled up now with all the recent rain we have had. It has a very good clay bottom and I have not noticed any water loss. But man is it muddy! I have read a little about the negatively charged particles staying in suspension, and about the need to lime the pond to "condition" the bottom so the PH will be closer to ideal. (It's running around 6.2 right now) Will liming the pond settle these charged particles? Or is that just the first step toward applying something, ie "alum", to clear it up?

Liming may help settle the clay.