Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations algae

Tom:

I'm curious - do you have any filamentous algae floating on the surface yet? I have only small amounts of FA apparent yet (although it's growing) in the pond, although a couple of small sumps in my woods which have runoff from the neighboring subdivision septic systems have had dense, lush, floating FA for a month/month and a half now.

My FA differences above suggest to me that your problem is probably aggravated by/due to the agricultural runoff. I am not sure whether "shutting off" the runoff into the pond during rains would curtail the amount of nutrients (as a percentage of the water) as I think you are theorizing. You've still got ag nutrients coming in when the runoff is slow, and you're missing the "flushing" action you would get during the rains. I just don't know which approach is best, but maybe someone else here does or has a way you can check the incoming water nutrient levels and decide to flush or not to flush.

As I'm sure you have read here elsewhere, White Amur really don't do much to control FA. If you haven't seen the current thread on FA in the "Controlling Unwanted Plants" section, check it out. They are discussing several alternate FA controls - Aquashade, Cutrine, aeration, and Tilapia - and this might give you some ideas.

Are you worried about eating fish due to the FA (I don't believe that's a problem with fish edibility) or chemical control measures (I don't have a clue, but we have several experts, like Kelly Duffy, who should know everything you could ask)?

I wish you luck with your FA; mine is not so bad and my control measures are just raking lanes in it to fish from shore through for a month or so each Summer.