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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 32
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OP
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 32 |
Hey all, my name is Will. This site seems like a nice, helpful community. Recently I purchased some land in the North Eastern corner of Tennessee with two ponds already established: one year-round spring fed 1/2 acre pond and a seasonally filled 2 acre pond. My obsession is to stock the 2 acre pond with a largemouth bass/ bluegill mix and possibility stock the smaller pond with trout (I think it may be cold enough). There doesn't appear to be anything living in the large pond and I think there are bluegill already in the smaller pond. While the small pond looks perfectly healthy, I'm concerned about the larger pond. There doesn't seem to be any aquatic plants growing, the water level is considerably lower in winter, and the water seems more brown than green. Ponds are brand new to me so hopefully a few of you could lend some advice on how to kick start a happy fish habitat. Half acre pond Half acre Two acre in summer Two acre in winter Is water level drop normal???
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1 |
Welcome to PBF Will,
I am not a pro but IMHO first thing to do is get the water tested in both ponds to figure out where yer at.
I am sure more experienced folks will be along to offer advice.
Again...Welcome to PBF!
Bill D.
Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New!
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 977 Likes: 1
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 977 Likes: 1 |
Will, Welcome to Pond Boss...tons of good info and helpful folks here....pretty place you've got there...
...when in doubt...set the hook...
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,980 Likes: 15
Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,980 Likes: 15 |
That's quite the fluctuation. How deep are the ponds? Any pond history that is known to you? (from previous owners, neighbors). I like the water test idea also.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 32
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OP
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 32 |
Thanks for the compliments and warm welcome! Unfortunately the previous owner couldn't provide me with any history or information about the ponds when I asked. Figuring out the depth shouldn't be too hard, but I'll have to look into how to test the waters. Searching these forums should shed some light on that, I'm sure.
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1 |
You can get a idea of where you are with a swimming pool test kit. Make sure you get one that will test PH and Alkalinity as a minimum.
IMHO The fact that you report there is effectively no life in the large pond would have me wondering if there was a pretty big water quality issue.
Last edited by Bill D.; 06/05/15 12:12 PM.
Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New!
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Joined: Jun 2015
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It has me concerned as well. Although, I can't imagine where possible quality issues would come from as all water in the pond is rain runoff from the side of a large, wooded hill. Thanks for the pool kit tip. Does anyone think it is possible the runoff lacks nutrients for aquatic life and the pond just needs some fertilizer? I just read about fertilizer in a PDF put out by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1 |
I am not a pro but the "brown" color you describe could be tanin which may be coming from your tree covered water shed. What kind of trees are they?
Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New!
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 621
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 621 |
I'd suggest taking a water sample from each pond and sending it to a University's Extension Service. I sent mine to Texas A&M. They can provide you with a huge amount of info on your water. It may not mean much to you, but it will to a pond manager.
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,315
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,315 |
You could also throw in $20.00 worth of FHM to see if they live. If they can't, nothing else will. And it will jump start your forage program, provided they are all FHM and no hitch-hiking predators. If they die, no big financial loss.
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Joined: Jun 2015
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Joined: Jun 2015
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 32
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 32 |
Oh wait. Fat head minnow?
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,315
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Joined: Sep 2011
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Joined: Jun 2015
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 32 |
Ah yes, I see. Just stumbled across a post about fertilizer usage. Looks like I have plenty of forum reading ahead of me and lots to learn. Thanks.
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Joined: Jun 2015
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Joined: Jun 2015
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Will,
That's a good looking piece of property. I'm also in Tennessee and I am also new to the site. That is a major fluctuation in pond level so I would be concerned about a possible leak. Due to the soil composition in Tennessee it seems that leaking ponds are a major problem here.
If there is no fish in the 2 acre pond there's a good chance there was a fish kill event at some point. It certainly could be a water quality issue but I'd be more inclined to think it was an oxygen related issue. If the pond is relatively shallow to start with then it will be extremely shallow if it drops 4' or so like it appears in the picture.
As far as the nutrients go, the pond definitely gets a fair amount of nutrients from the surrounding trees. Fertilizing may be an option in the future but that wouldn't be the first thing I did.
See how the pond holds water throughout the summer this year. You may want to do some leak detection or consult with a pond excavator.
Anthony
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 32
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OP
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 32 |
Thanks for the good advice, Anthony. Is there a common fix to ponds that lose water? Does one have to add clay to the soil holding water or something?
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 32
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OP
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 32 |
To be honest, there's not a whole lot of testing I can do right now as I'm currently in Afghanistan. Only a whole lot of thinking and planning (and dreaming). But Anthony's fish-kill comment got some wheels turning. The more I read and the more I think about it, perhaps all the pond needs is an aerator. With a lack of aquatic vegetation or consistent running water, I would guess there is a serious lack of oxygen.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,386
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,386 |
Thank you for your service!! I built a 1/4 acre pond 7yrs ago and it filled to capacity the first winter. By July of the next yr it was 3' below capacity. Had I read enough on here I would have realized water seeping through the side about 3' down indicated a gravel or sandy seam. The original contractor is a real jerk (thanks Doug Wilson of Edgerton Oh) and refused to do anything. I was depressed for a couple yrs but have come to the realization that it is fine as it is. It's what is called a ground water level pond and the depth depends on the depth/pressure of the aquifer I live on. There is much fun and satisfaction in even a small and not so deep pond. No matter what ya do you are gonna be at the mercy of ol Ma nature. Ask the guys in Texas who endured many many ponds literally dry up just to struggle to deal with all the destructive floods this spring. Good luck and keep us posted.
Do nature a favor, spay/neuter your pets and any weird friends or relatives.
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