Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat Anyone tried BioHaven floating islands?

Greetings,

I've been talking to Watershed Consulting out of Missoula, MT. They claim that their BioHaven floating island will capture most of the excess nutrients and reduce or even eliminate the need for mechanical FA removal.

It is a very expensive product with big claims. I would love to hear some first person stories about this technology.

Here is the manufacturers website: http://www.floatingislandinternational.com/products/biohaven-technology/

TIA

Our mentor Bob Lusk introduced one to us in Pond Boss magazine several years back about his own floating island. He promised an update but it has not happened yet. The PB magazine has published a few articles by the owner of Biohaven floating islands - Bruce Kania. B.Kania gets good results of producing good water quality from his eutrophic water and turning those nutrients into fish biomass.

IMO there is too little info about how big and how many islands one needs for the eutrophication status of ones pond and how much reduction of nutrient concentration is desired. Too little info is promoted about which plants to use on the island to get the most nutrients sequestered per square foot of island. Clear, low nutrient water grows few fish pounds per acre which is why fertilization to produce eutrophic conditions are often promoted on this forum. Clear water also promotes rooted weed growth which can also be a big nuisance.

Do a google search of Pond boss forum floating islands for what we have discussed about floating islands and homemade varieties.

I have some Biohaven floating islands in my BOW. In my opinion, they do what Biohaven claims: help produce better water quality in eutrophic conditions.

Unfortunately, my BOW is relatively infertile. Far from being eutrophic, even after fertilization you can see down 3 to 3 1/2 feet. Thus, my situation is not best suited to the islands.

I was told that four percent water coverage was needed to handle really nasty water. Also, it is far more effective when current runs through it rather than still water.

The periphyton growing on the islands has helped my YOY fish in that area, a big deal when I had zero water plants.

My take: If you have the budget and eutrophic water, floating islands could really be worthwhile. They even have some utility in infertile waters, but aren't really designed for that situation.

Floating island phyto-filters are being used quite effectively in waste water applications. If they can remediate the nutrient levels in this type of water, they can surely be effective in a fishery pond.

[quote=
....I was told that four percent water coverage was needed to handle really nasty water. Also, it is far more effective when current runs through it rather than still water.[/quote]

They are telling me that I need 1% coverage to control excess nutrients in my pond (ie. not a wastewater project)

The original manufacturer of this product has another product they call Leviathan that incorporates an aerator to en-train water flow through the island. They claim that trout will spawn in this artificial waterway. However, at over $6,000 for 1% coverage for 1/3 of an acre, I'm not looking at any upgrades!

My pond is not eutrophic (I don't think) because I run an aerator and all the fish, turtles, insects, etc seem really happy. My problem is a dead end pond that flooded the adjacent meadows this spring and thus received a giant dose of excess nutrients. This happened 2 years ago and we eventually regained control by mechanically removing the FA. If this 3 year old pond is going to flood and get dosed with nutrients every few years then I need an alternative to spending my whole summer in the pond with a rake! I have grasses and some cattails on the waters edge, and plan on transplanting some local water lilies, so my next step in adding plants is a floating island. ?!?!?

I only mentioned Waste Water to give an example of the effectiveness of FWs in nutrient removal. To really be effectivelong-term they do require annual harvesting of the plants.

Do NOT transplant local water lilies. That natives will take over and are difficult to remove once established. Use hybrid lilies instead. Much slower growing, don't seem to spread via seed, and are much more attractive anyhow. Just pricey, but a lot less expensive than removal of the aggressive natives.

They are telling me that I need 1% coverage to control excess nutrients in my pond (ie. not a wastewater project)

The original manufacturer of this product has another product they call Leviathan that incorporates an aerator to en-train water flow through the island. They claim that trout will spawn in this artificial waterway. However, at over $6,000 for 1% coverage for 1/3 of an acre, I'm not looking at any upgrades! [/quote]

When I get aeration, am looking to place my floating islands around the aerators. Right now the islands are next to the dock.

Right idea on the aeration. But watch out for the island-eating geese. They will chase the roots of the plants right into the island matrix. PM me for more experience.

We placed 12 islands that are approximately 4'x5' (kidney shaped) on a 3.5 acre pond that has a high nutrient load. The pond was also treated with alum to tie up excess nutrients.

Water tests were done prior to get a baseline of nutrient levels, then again after the alum treatment. Water tests will be done annually to track how different things are working.

Some other things that have been done or are in the works is a 2nd liquid alum treatment and a bacteria treatment.

Over 400 native plant species (Indiana natives) were used on the islands. Geese are banned from the pond........

How do you do that? I have flashing yellow lights and have my old dog, 410, bark at them at my place.

They may land, but they won't stay long. There is usually someone there at the house, and the pond is very visible from the house. Most deterrent methods involve loud noises......... There are outside dogs that keep them off the grass too.