Pond Boss Forums AERATION Should I aerate? River fed pond

I think you should be testing the pond water during a blue/green bloom (Cyanobacteria), not testing during non-bloom times. Monitor (record) when the blooms occur to see if there is a seasonal pattern or after water filling. During the bloom time also test the water that is being used to fill or what is in the river nutrient wise to fill the pond. IMO the bloom would most likely occur due to a pre-river water filling event - thus the reason for monitoring of filling and timing of blooms. Upstream dischages into the river could be fertilizing the blooms and possibly be introducing contaminants suppressing aquatic life. Certain B/G blooms can at times also produce toxins that can suppress aquatic life forms. When the B/G cells lyse (decompose) is when they release their toxins. Kill all at once can be problematic. Remove one plant and release of nutrients can stimulate another plant specie. Mgmt company should know this if they are competent. Sometimes a B/G specie may or may not produce toxins depending on water nutrient content as it is known by current science knowledge.


After the initial test by the company return here to report the results and their suggestion/s. Then it might be a good idea to do our own testing by getting a LaMonte chemical test kit for just primarily nitrogen and phosphorus to do your frequent needs for testing of fill water events and bloom events. Fill when N-P is low in river. The (N&P) ratio are the 2 main chemicals that usually stimulate blue-green (cyanobacterial) blooms. When you have another b/g bloom it should be analyzed microscopically for what the specific specie b/g is causing it. I do that - PM me. Almost always the blooms are predominately one specie sometimes stimulated be certain nutrient ratio conditions. Once the nutrients are introduced into pond it is very difficult to get them back out. Blooms of something will always want to develop,