Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Stocking Tilapia for FA

Not being a smart a.. but what does the label say?

FWIW, AQUATIC USES:
Waters treated with this product may be hazardous to aquatic organisms. Treatment of aquatic
weeds and algae can result in oxygen loss from decomposition of dead biomass. This oxygen loss
can cause fish and invertebrate suffocation. To minimize this hazard, do not treat more than 1/2 of
the water body (excluding water infrastructure and constructed conveyances such as drainage
canals, ditches and pipelines or intakes and aqueducts for drinking water or irrigation use) to avoid
depletion of oxygen due to decaying vegetation. Wait at least 14 days between treatments. Begin
treatment along the shore and proceed outwards in bands to allow fish to move into untreated areas.
Application of algaecides to high density blooms of cyanobacteria can result in the release of
intracellular contents into the water. Some of these intracellular compounds are known mammalian
hepato- and nervous system toxins. Therefore, to minimize the risk of toxin leakage, manage
cyanobacteria effectively in order to avoid applying this product when blooms of toxin-producing
cyanobacteria are present at high density. In situations where rapidly reproducing toxic algal species
pose a public health threat to drinking or recreational water resources, applicators must receive
authorization from applicable state, local or tribal water resources authorities to apply copper at
intervals shorter than 14 days should the circumstance demand.

Certain water conditions including low pH (≤6.5) low dissolved organic carbon (DOC) levels (3.0
mg/L or lower), and "soft" waters (i.e., alkalinity less than 50 mg/L), increases the potential acute
toxicity to non-target aquatic organisms. The application rates on this label are appropriate for water
with pH values >6.5, DOC levels >3.0 mg/L, and alkalinity greater than 50 mg/L. Avoid treating
waters with pH values <6.5, DOC levels >3.0, and alkalinity less than 50 ppm (e.g., soft or acid
waters), as trout and other sensitive species of fish may be killed under such conditions if present.

Dye *might* kill some FA, depending on how dense you dye it and the water clarity now. Check with a secchi disc pre/post application. Plants/algae can grow 18"-24" deeper than the secchi disc reading. If I am not feeding the fish in the pond, I don't like to use dye.

If there are underwater plants in the pond, killing the algae and dye *could* kill some of the plants due to the increased phytoplankton bloom after the FA is gone, because of less light penetration, and dye will make that worse. Like we say here, "It all depends" (on multiple factors).