Originally Posted By: Rainman
FF, perhaps your definition of "Carrying Capacity" is different. Typically, Carrying Capacity pertains to the average pounds of fish any given BOW can support, NATURALLY. That means, non-aerated, unfed, and unmanaged. Any human intervention changes "carrying capacity' toward more maximum socking densities, BOD capacity, management capability and more, but it is no longer related to the "carrying capacity" of the pond once it becomes an unnatural assistance....


Every natural pond has a constantly changing carrying capacity based on temperature changes, nutrient availability, BOD changes during different seasons (temp changes) and an almost infinite list of variables.


Point 5 refers to the fish being fed.

My definition of carrying capacity is the maximum amount of fish the pond can hold before crashing. You are right about many variables coming into play. Lets say you stock a pond with plenty of vegetation with the maximum number of tilapia the pond will hold once they are ready to harvest. The fish grow to a nice size eating all of the vegetation killing their oxygen supply. The fish die because they got bigger and in the process took away their main source of oxygen.

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