I have been lurking here for a few years and read a lot of good info from very smart people on here. I am trying to decide how to start getting my pond to a healthier state. These are the details.
The pond is .58 acres. Middle of the pond is around 15 feet. Shallow around the perimeter. The pond is 18 years old. I would guess there is approximately 6+ inches of muck on bottom of pond. Located in the southeast corner of Indiana. It has catfish, bluegill, and large mouth bass in it. I put in an aeration system 5 years ago. I do know that Copper Sulfate was used before I purchased the pond. It had also turned over around 2002 having a pretty large fish kill.
My main problem like most is I have excessive amounts of filamentous algae. This year being the worst because of all of the rain. I'm assuming a lot of nutrients are coming from my leach field from my septic when it rains very hard.
Currently I built a 4 foot rake that floats and I pull out the FA with it. I did this 4 weeks ago and the pond is already covered again. Its not really hard work to pull out, just time consuming. I have used Cutrine Plus to spray the FA but that to me seems like just starting the process over and replenishing the nutrients? Not really taking care of the problem.
I thought when purchasing an aerator that it would eventually make the pond to where I had no FA? Basically my goal is to not have any FA. (Is this even possible?)
I have gotten some advice people telling me I need to use beneficial bacteria etc. I do know that I don't want to go the Tilapia route. What do you guys suggest? Clearly I have excessive amounts of nutrients in my pond causing the FA to grow rapidly. How do I turn this around to make it where there is no FA or at least manageable?
I am willing to go the beneficial bacteria route, but I don't want to throw out the money and 2-3 years from now be in same situation. What do you guys suggest or think I should do?
Thanks in advance and let me know if you need more info...
