Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Remove algae with tractor???

Anyone ever make attachment to go on a tractor bucket to remove FA from their pond?

Getting a fair amount of it on my pond this summer and I know the only real answer is to physically remove it, but that is pretty labor intensive especially with temps near triple digits right now. So looking for ideas on something to build to make things move along a little faster.

This isn't mine but I made one similar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV0id9CKJCo

I also made a "Algae Plow" out of pvc and attached it to a jonboat. The wife drives around the pond and collects it and I get the joy of pitchforking it into the tractor bucket.

Gklop

I have wondered about converting an old square bale loader or similar to have a conveyor that you could back in water and push the FA to, then it would land in trailer. If you caught the wind just right it wouldn't be to bad, or set up a 3-4" trash pump with discharge where water would flow back to pond but leave the FA on the ground 100 feet of so above pond.

http://www.equipmenttrader.com/Farming-Equipment/listing/-NEW+HOLLAND-520-115596643

Maybe something like this made to run in reverse????????

I put on waders and pull it out with a leaf rake, throw on the bank, let dry a couple of days, then haul it to compost pile.

Would you consider sharing the Algae plow from PVC design? I've been wanting to build one and have no pride regarding copying someone else's good idea...

That is kinda what I had in mind but I am not concerned with raking the bottom as much as just getting the floating stuff off. Any pictures of the boat mounted plow?

Here is a picture of the plow (maybe, never added a picture) It's not currently mounted to the boat. It will pivot at the top and the bottom so that the plow head will stay floating. Things I would do differently are (a)Add an arm to the top to attach a line to so that it can be pulled up from the back of the boat. This would allow you to raise the plow and nose in on the shore and then lower and pull the algae mats further out for collection. (b) I would have made it wider. (c) The tines are long steel spikes they are sharp and heavy. I should have used something lighter like plastic tent stakes. Hope this helps.

Thanks!

The FA has gotten ahead of me, and now covers about 75% of the pond, like big green pads of wool. Is it inevitable that I will get a fish kill when it dies off in late fall unless I rake most of it out? It would be a huge chore.

Here is a floating rake I made that works pretty well.

FA rake

My sediment pond is getting half to two thirds covered. It has aereation so not too worried about it. My other ponds have hardly any FA. The sediment pond had a big inflow of nutrients last year though so I think that is its problem.

I do not have a huge amount of floating FA, my problem is the FA that is still on the bottom. The fish do a great job of moving it when building nests. lol. Do any of you try to remove any of that or just deal with it as it floats up?? I would love to get some of it off the bottom in my shallow areas.