Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Floating green algae

we had some heavy rain at my house the past week and got my spring that feeds my 2 acre pond flowing - it was great to get the rain but now I have a bunch of floating green algae - what is suggested to best treat this with? Cutrine Plus?? - I have 4 aerators running that should help keep the oxygen levels good -

Before treating the algae it is wisest to remove the floating mats as much as possible. This not only removes the algae but it also removes the absorbed nutrients from the pond that made the algae grow in first place. Ponds gather more nutrients in them each year it is your managerial job to remove some of those nutrients whenever possible. If it were my pond and after removing some of the floating algae, I would add tilapia(TP) to eat some of the algae and as the TP grow, then in Fall ALSO remove as many TP as possible. This again removes more nutrients from the pond. Nutrient management.

Thanks so much Bill - I am in Georgetown - suggestions on where to get some Tilapia?

Overton's in Buffalo Texas is 138 miles away, I don't know if there is a place that is closer.

how many would you put into a 2 acre pond? It is full of bass and bluegill -

Up here in Indiana, 40# per surface acre seems to be the tipping point if they are sexed 50/50 You also have ot kill the algae that is in there when you stock the tilapia. They can't eat all the old stuff plus the new stuff.

Tilapia are a pond management tool. The amount or number of TP to add to a pond for the first time is an evaluation process year by year. Too many quickly reduces the amount of algae in several weeks, although more TP costs more. Very slow or little visible loss of algae over the summer means that you did not add enough TP for that year's amount of algae problem. As manager it is your job to evaluate the initial amount of algae present and amount of TP, then adjust the amount of TP next time. As esshup says each one can eat just so much algae per size of individual. If you have lot of hungry bass they will eat proportionally the smallest TP and the young new TP who also in high numbers do eat lots of algae. Remember that using TP to reduce algae is the only type of algae treatment that you can use to eat at the end of the year. You can not eat any of the chemical treatments.

well I spent part of the day with a large rake pulling the algae out - it was over 100 degrees here today so it turned into workout! - I got about 1/4th of the algae cleared - hopefully I can get the rest of it tomorrow - I am 72 years old so I am trying to be careful not to injure my back -

Wow!

That is excellent work for 100 degrees! I am going to have to do a lot of "workouts" at our property this summer just to approach your level of fitness.

LOL - I failed to mention I run 15 miles a week and have for years - I always look for a way to burn some calories and stay in shape - so I am treating this rake job as just an extra workout