I have not tested my ph since the pond was in its first year, but I know I am having the same problems with the FA and not having a good enough planktonic algae bloom to keep it down.
Seems like the water is clear early in the season and the FA gets the jump on a planktonic algae bloom.
Treated the outside 3-5' of the pond with Cutrine granuals then later sprayed a small amount of the Cutrine liquid around the outside foot. Seems to have knocked it back pretty well at least temporarily. Trying to use as little as possible and still get shore line control so I don't kill all the algae in the entire pond. Is that an unrealistic goal?
But last year the FA ended up covering out to a 4 or 5' depth and entailed a significant portion of the pond area. So I am trying some pond dye to see if that helps. Started out with 2 quarts of Black DyeMond pond dye (a quart of this concentrate is supposed to equal a gallon of regular pond dye) and saw what it looked like. Put two more quarts in a day later after the first had dispersed. Recommended rate is 1-2 quarts per acre for an average 4-6' depth pond so I would say I am at the current lower end at 1 qt since my pond is three acres. It appears to have helped keep the light from penetrating so deep, but we will see. Will wait a few days and see if it appears to be helping.
I don't like the idea of using the dye because as I understand it will also tend to inhibit a planktonic algae bloom, which is wanted to feed the natural food chain. The Cutrine also kills the planktonic algae so it also reduces pond productivity. So both seem to have negative aspects to using them.
Seems it is darned if you do, and darned if you don't try to control the FA.
From my experience last year, the FA harbors lots of beneficial insects for the fish to eat. I don't mind a little of it because our pond is not kept as a manicured urban estate. But I do not like the huge floating globs that make fishing difficult and the pond unsightly.
We will see how the spot treatment with Cutrine in combination with dye works. I've avoided fertilizing because I think my problem is already excessive nutrients and I don't want to add to the overall problem. I feed 3-4# feed daily per acre and that is already adding a lot of fertility.
Last edited by snrub; 03/13/16 12:58 PM.
