Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Should I use algae for improved growth

I am managing a huge pond (>200 acres) and I would like to use Spirulina algae to help growth of my YEP and WAE spirulina is a FA that is extremely high in protein and it is used in some fish and shrimp aqua culture outfits with good results. My worry is the algae will form too many mats and cause problems. The lake will be emerald shiner FHM YEP and WAE. Let me know what you think.

I have always looked at FA as a food to be utilized if possible. In my experiences Israeli Carp, KOI and Tad Poles consume FA. I have seen Blue Gills eat FA when they were an inch long but not when they were any bigger then that. I took this picture just yesterday of new hatched Tad Poles eating the heart out of FA. A person on the forum said where he had lots of Golden Shiners he didn't have FA, so I put GSH in my pond. I've never seen them eat FA but perhaps they do.

I guess I'm really interested in whether or not fry will use it. If I can pump up the protein intake in fry i think it would boost growth and thereby improve fry success.

Where in Wi? (just curious) I'm going to be at Dairymans fishing next week, and will be bouncing around Minaqua, Boulder Junction, Presque Isle, Park Falls/Fifield area while up there too.

In a lake that size I don't know if you will be able to get any food in place specifically for the fry unless you know where they are congregating and can target those areas.

Here's a link to the acronymns: http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92442#Post92442

Well the location is somewhat hush hush but very generally it's near the EauClaire area. I am building the spawning areas this summer and I will be observing spawn and egg deposition areas so I should have an idea where the fry will be (in general). Spirulinas high protein content (57%) intrigues me as to whether it will boost WAE fry growth possibly giving me a greater success rate. I know there are a ton of factors involved though. The big thing is will it get out of control and make my lake a algae matted mess.

Check into what the fry of those species eat, and at what size they eat "what". It might not help or it might help a lot.

I'd make sure that there was enough dense cover for the fry to hide in close to the spawning areas.

Close enough area wise!