I need a big help on Watermeal problem!
I have a pond its size is about 1/2 acre and the avg depth is about 3ft (starts 1ft then deepest is 5ft). I am having a big problem with watermeal that covers almost entire my pond.
Initially, the pond had all kinds of algae and pondweeds. I put a KASCO surface aerator but it�s got clogged often by pondweeds. With treatment of Reward+Cutrine+Aquashade, about 2/3 of bottom algae and pondweeds were gone. There are still floating half-dead pondweeds and cotton candy like algae (filamentous), and my wife and I are spending at least 4-5hrs every weekend to scoop them out, with a rake. ( When we treated Reward+Cutrine, watermeal and ducweeds turned to brown and appeared died, but the watermeal reappeared within 72 hrs.)
I think the problem is that whenever rains, all neighborhoods fertilized gardens get washed and the fertilized rain-water comes to our pond. Unfortunately, our pond is at the lowest point of neighboring ground and I cannot control the nature. ( in the pond, there�s a L shape drainage so that if the water level reaches above 5 ft, then the water discharges out to other side). Another problem is that over the years, muck/debris built up and it became shallow.
To get rid of watermeal, I�ve heard that I should use "SONAR", but my problem is even if I treat it now, if it rains, the concentration would be washed away and I think the watermeal would grow back � that�s what�s happening with �Reward� treatment now.
Someone suggest that I should try a skimmer instead. Since I need to invest a lot of dollar on SONAR over the years (I will need at least once or twice a year treatment), I would think that I�d install a skimmer and run the pump to skim out the floating watermeal. I think a Savio Skimmer filter (Model SSW1600), $375, plus 2hp pump on ebay, about $300, which would skim about � acre. Although I will be spending more $$ on Skimmer installation initially, I would think that it will be a cost saving for a long run.
Any thoughts on using a skimmer instead SONAR? Any advice will be appreciated.
JP - From Southern MD
