Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Fish Kill 5 year old 3 acre pond Southern Illinois

RE: aeration.

What kind of compressors, and what pressure are they running at? Rotary vane, diaphragm or rocking piston? Are the compressors in a cabinet where there is sufficient air flow to keep them cool?

He will need to either do something to help reduce the nutrient load in the pond or start up an aggressive herbicide application program to keep it under control. Since Watermeal is a flowering plant, there is a tremendous amount of seeds on the bottom of the pond waiting for sunlight and warmth. Then they explode.
https://extension.psu.edu/duckweed-and-watermeal

Have him read that link and pay attention to the nutrient reduction and treatment options. With the upper end in dead/standing trees to me that means that the topsoil was not removed before the pond was filled, and I'm guessing that is where a lot of the nutrients are coming from.....

When watermeal covers the water surface, no or very few underwater plants can grow, and there is not much O2 transfer from the air to the water either.

Catch 22 here. He can stock a lot of Triploid Grass Carp. They will eat any and all vegetation in the pond and when that runs out they will start eating watermeal. (eat that or starve) Once that is gone they will start rooting around in the bottom for something to eat and muddy the water. It's Illinois, so you can't stock Tilapia.

As for the Tiger Muskies, they are typically only available in late October/November and have to be pre-ordered earlier in the year, as they are not a fish that hatcheries keep on hand. BUT to stock them and expecting them to only eat "X" fish is unrealistic, they will eat whatever swims in front of them when they are hungry, as long as they can fit it in their mouth, from 4" fish to ducks.

Try calling Nate Herman @ Herman Brothers Pond Management in Peoria, Illinois. https://www.hbpondmanagement.com/

We have a client in Newton, Illinois, and drive thru Effingham every few weeks, but try Nate first; who knows, he may still be able to source the Tigers for you this year.