Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Lord whats next

I did not go to this pond.. For 2 days.. been moving hay.. This is the pond with Tilipa

Are those dead tilapia along the shore line?

Nope..Nothing dead, that I can see.. I can not win for losing

I don't know the answer but I have some suspicions based on my own forage pond experience.

It appears that you are about 4 ft. low. However, that doesn't stop fish from reproducing and tilapia are among the most prolific of fish. It is possible and I think highly probable that the tilapia have overstocked themselves and are living in a cesspool of their own making. You may have an external factor that is affecting your water quality. Take a look at the thread started by Condello regarding Carrying Capacity.

I've done the same thing but not with tilapia. My problem was a small forage pond with BG and fatheads. I quit seining but the fish didn't stop reproducing. Nor did any rain come. Too many fish fouled the water with their manure and everything died. Aeration may have helped but, like you, my ponds are a long way from power.

Tilapia have been called a miracle fish by some here. They are a good tool but only if there are enough predators, including the pond owner, to keep them cropped and enough rain to freshen the water. Those of us in arid climates need to think twice about these highly prolific tools. I'm scared to mess with them. The possible penalties, to me, are just too great.

Thanks... And you are probably correct.. We have a 50% chance of Heavy Rain this afternoon..I got my toes and fingers crossed..

I just can't see how tilapia could do that in 1 season. Is it possible a lot of them survived the winter? Good luck with the rain! Wish I could give you my excess!

Loop is your question what is the green stuff ? Looks like blue-green algae bloom. AKA plankton bloom. With high nutrient level from runoff and evaporation and fish concentration it can happen quick. You could knock it back with copper sulfate dissolved in water but that has risks including a DO crash.Not suggesting it either.

Bobad, Tilapia are breeding machines. I've killed untold numbers of BG and fatheads by letting them overbreed. Tilapia are just too darned prolific unless you have the right environment and get lucky with rain.

You folks an't gone beleive this... After 0.30 of rain.. This small pond looks normal again.. I have not been over to the big Pond today..

Well, so much for my bright ideas.

LoopTech,

Could you elaborate on what you saw at the pond? Is it an algae bloom? I can't make out from a dark screen. You have posted pictures recently of nutient laden pond from a nearby chicken farm. Is this associated with that situation?

Often a rain with some wind, will mix the surface floating "bloom" and non-filamentous algae (unicellular and colonial, including bluegreens) throughout the upper water column (mixing zone). The bloom surface algae often does not die when redistributed below the surface. After a few days the algae works its way back to the surface. You may likely see the surface film reappear.

Its my small pond.. And its not in the same drainage area as my large pond..

This appeared to be green film on the surface.. Unlike the large pond.. Which the water appeared to be dyed Green,

There look to be a lot of foot prints in the close end of the picture,could something other than fish be fertilizing the water?

maybe.. The cattle do water once or twice a week

Cow manure is very good algae fertilizer.