Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Algae Control Breakthrough

A few weeks back Ewest suggested the use of hydrated lime to kill filamentous algae. Ponds affected were fertilized ponds so I didn't want to use copper products for fear of losing my bloom.

We used 50 lbs hydrated lime around the edges of a .4 acre crappie production pond with outstanding results. We also used about 50 lbs in a .5 acre redear production pond with outstanding results.

Since then I've treated two more ponds and will be back with the results later.

Seems to me that the hydrated lime MAY prevent future growth in specific locations. Product was applied by hand, topical, and took about a week to finish off the algae.

A big thanks to Ewest, and a big warning to folks who might try hydrated lime....wear eye protection, dust mask, gloves.

OK.... why does Hydrated lime work? What would happen if you dosed the algae area with AG lime?
I'm battling that nasty stuff right now and dread what it may look like by August. Right now we are manually removing it and barely staying even.

Todd :

Thanks for the report. If anyone is thinking about this please be careful and read Todd's post in detail. This is a shore line topical application NOT A WHOLE POND TREATMENT. You have to know your appx. alkalinity. If it is on the low side then the lime will help a little for a short time and work on the FA without killing your bloom. I think what it does is raise the ph in the immediate area quickly to a level to high for the FA that it is on or very near and it dies. If you do this in an area slowly the fish can sense what is happening and move away. Don't just go throw a bunch in as it can kill your fish.

I don't think ag lime would be strong enough to do the job.

Yep, hydrated lime is the same product that we use to kill off our ponds before filling for new season. Be careful not to overdo it.

Hi: I am also fighting FA. I have spent numerous hours removing with rake and pitch fork, and it sucked badly. I just put 75 pounds of corn meal on one of my coves( l shaped pond 1.5 acres)
1. can I still treat the banks with hydrated lime
2. Can I try to treat the other cove with hydrated lime?
3. I treated with cutrine + on april 20th will that matter. Any comments will help, I am at my wits end with this FA

the less the better. when you do it early in the season , before it starts to take control is the best time. when you see it growing in the shallow water apply to the banks about 3 or 4 ft out. i spread it buy hand. after it has killed the algae , when it starts to return , take a paddle and just walk around the pond and stir up the shallow water. it will continue to kill it all summer long. i use 25 lbs for the whole year in a acre pond. it will kill fish eggs. thats about $3 each year for an algae free pond for 5 years now.

ok let me get this straight. i can get hydrated lime and throw it out around three feet and this will not harm my fish?

thanks for your help, i will stop by the feed store saturday

ok, i'll let my pond management inexperience shine through. you may have seen a couple of my recent posts in other forums. i just renovated a pond (last fall), am about to install aeration, have not yet stocked (want to start w/ just bluegill), have tested the pond into beginning of dry season to make sure it is holding water, and now it is beginning its anticipated massive algal growth cycle. Can see a lot of FA growing on bottom, and first floating mats are just starting to form. Tell me this is the perfect site to apply hydrated lime, and what type of store do you buy it at? i noticed brian said "feed store".....so I call my local feed stores....any where else?

""it will kill fish eggs""

I hope you all read this part of Ken's post!

yeah, I will clarify that highest degree of algal growth, and that which I would use the lime on would be along pond edges. I noted that the lime stays active long after application. Lots of other places in my pond for fish eggs other than edges, so probably wouldnt hurt a breedin population if I'm careful.