Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Water chemistry How much lime to use for the initial shot?

I'd like to get some consensus on how much lime I need for an initial shot to get the pH/alk headed in the right direction and the delivery method. I have a 9 acre lake in SC that use to be a sand quarry, averaging 5-7 feet deep. Ground water or spring feed. clay bottom with sand everywhere else. Just got the water report back, see below.

http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag9/tmorgan28/Test_zpsfc0ce11c.jpg

Thought about getting 24 tons to start and having the lime dumped at the bank in multiple locations around the pond and try to slurry it in with a 3" trash pump and a 100" of hose. I'll use the Jon boat to pull the hose out to the full 100' and try to put it as far out as possible. May try a fire hose end also to shoot it a little farther. What do you think?

Talk to them and see if they have a spreader truck. Back it up to the pond in a couple of locations and let 'er fly.

I think you'll need at least 2 tons per acre.

Talk to Hesperus (send him a PM) about making a slurry and getting it into the pond. He did that and is still trying to get the pile that formed distributed around the pond.

Can you verify that the report says 0 total alkalinity and a hardness of 4?

I have never seen a 0 alkalinity. 4 which is very bad is the lowest I have heard of. also it looks like very low to 0 nutrients in the water. Is that correct also?

Can you describe how the water looks? Clarity etc. ?

See this

https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/getFactSheet/whichfactsheet/262/

Here is what Esshup is describing

They do have a spreader truck but I'm afraid it would just pile up in the 30' radius the spreader could throw it. I'm going to try to use a trash pump and slurry it out as far as possible.
Yes it is 0 alkalinity, 4 hardness and a pH 4.97. The water is very clear to about 2-3' then turns emerald green when it drops off. See the image gallery posting "My new Lake" for a pic and notice the clear shallow water with the emerald green in the background. Guess I'm starting with a blank slate except there does seem to be some green sunfish in it.

Cover the largest area possible using several methods - boat , pump , truck etc.

Use at least 2 tons per acre and count on repeating it in 6 mths. then test and see where you are.

Thanks,
I thinking maybe I should have the lime truck go around the bank and lime the area immediately around the pond too. From reading some other state agriculture sites, it looks like it may take 5 tons per acre total to get it right.

Tim, lime all the area possible that enters the pond...if your pH, alkalinity and hardness numbers are right...you almost can't have too much lime!

I agree Tim. If the truck can go all the way around the pond, lots of lime can't hurt.

I just got a soil test back for an area where it's recommended to apply lime at the rate of 5,000 pounds per acre. Soil test, not water.

It will take a little bush hogging to get them all the way around, maybe a weekend. Then lime it heavy.
Just found something new, Has anyone ever heard of Neutra Lime Dry?
http://www.turboturf.com/Liquid_Lime.htm
It's a concentrated fast acting lime, much finer than ag lime, and says a 10lb bag is equal to 1000 lb of ag lime. If I can't broadcast spread it, I'm thinking slurry/dissolve it in a barrel and drip spread it from a boat very carefully to get the pond pH up some from my 4.97. Says it lasts 12-18 weeks and that would buy me some time for the weather to warm up and to get the big ag lime project going.
The pond only has a few bucket stocked fish that a neighbor told me he put in it, only seen one green sunfish so far and some minnows, so I don't think the chance of killing any fish is too great.

Tim, my first priority would be to tell my neighbor not to bucket stock any more fish. That can screw up a fishery quickly, and potentially cause you a LOT of $$$ in the future.

Depending on your goals for the pond, him stocking fish could completely screw up your fish plans for the pond.

If you read the fine print, they refer to changing the pH of the top 1/2" of soil in that acre. I don't know of any fish that live in only the top 1/2" of water in a pond.......

When it comes to ponds, especially a 9 ac pond, I've learned that there is no such thing as a fast acting magic bullet to make changes besides Rotenone and copious amounts of Hydrated Lime.

Stick with ag lime. You could use 4 tons per water surface acre without any concern. Any you put on land close in the watershed would be a plus.

Yes the neighbor has been told no more bucket stocking as I would be working on the pond. And though it is tempting to try the fast way, I will stick with the Ag Lime. I'll Lime the perimeter very heavy to stop any more high pH rain run off. Then get started liming on the pond. Thanks to all for the experience and wisdom.

Tim

Someone bucket stocked bass into my pond and messed it up costing aLOT more$ than had they not . Listen to these guys and they will lead you in the right direction (most of the time) LOL. A few bucket stocked fish at the wrong time takes a long time to fix. Good luck



Pat W

Whaddaya mean, most of the time?? You mean standing 20 yds away from 10# of tannerite to shoot at it isn't the right thing to do??