Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Creating the food chain Plankton

There's 2 ways to utilize Tilapia for FA. 1) stock a higher rate to let them catch up to the FA that is already in the pond or 2) whack back the FA with chemicals and then stock the Tilapia. 49#/surface acre won't catch up to the FA if Tilapia are stocked in a nutrient rich pond when water temps are in the low '70's.

I've found that FA needs to be treated about once every 5-6 weeks in fertile ponds if a bloom doesn't get established to cut down on sunlight penetration and there aren't Tilapia in the pond.

You can whack back the FA, then a couple days later fertilize to get a bloom going quickly. Monitor the bloom with a secchi disc and like Bill said treat if necessary. FA will outcompete the bloom.

Phytoplankton produces O2 during the day, but uses it an night. That's where the aeration system comes into play.