Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Fertilization Pellitized Lime

I need to lime a small pond about 1/4. The co op guy said I should use pellitized lime. Are there any draw backs to this. I'm going to put catfish an BG in it.

Did the coop take a soil/water sample for alkalinity? If not, I would say to take a water and soil sample and send to the extension service to get your water analyzed. You could bring a sample to Slades fish hatchery and they'll do a simple test for alkalinity.

This past spring, EWEST of this forum suggested I buy and spread 500 lbs of pelletized lime in my 1 acre pond as a "stop-gap" measure because I couldn't get ag-lime because of the wet weather we were experiencing. My pond alkalinity was measured as very low, something in the 7-9 ppm range. Note that this wasn't enough and I later had the ag-lime truck bring in 3-4 tons of ag-lime in June.

Pelletized lime is actually made from ag-lime formed into pellets and, IIRC, has a higher content of calcium carbonate (the stuff that raises alkalinity) than that of ag-lime which is a good thing as it means you should need a little less. However, here in southern Mississippi it is normally suggested, in lieu of a pond soil survey, that you'd need about 3 tons of ag-lime per acre every 3-4 years so you'll need about 3/4tons(1500 lbs) of ag-lime if it hasn't been limed in the last 3-4 years. This calculates to me that you'd need about 1400 lbs or so of pelletized lime total. Thats alot of bags of pelletized lime!

I agree with DJS about getting the soil/water tested. You can use pelletized lime like this. The only drawback is that it has a binder in it. I have concluded that the binder is harmless in the amounts in question. I will find the link.

Here are the pics


Pelleted lime

Thanks I did have slade do a test came back 11 ppm.

Add some lime !

The same place that supplies fertilizer to farmers also supplies lime in bulk - both powder ag lime and pelletized lime. Pell lime is in pellet form because the lime is finer than the powdered ag lime.

I use Circle T just south of Poplarville, phone is 601) 795-2506.

Earlier this year, they told me their minimum delivery would be 5 tons which is more than you'll need and it costs $60/ton

Thanks for all the help I'll get to work on it.