Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Help New to forum

I am so, so, so glad I found this forum that I could scream! I have subscribed to the magazine and can't wait for my issue to get to me. FINALLY I have found a place where I can get some real answers! YES YES YES!! I've been looking forever for answers and had even started a little journal/blog thing hoping someone that knows something would find it and be able to direct me. No one did but my mother enjoyed reading the silliness of it anyway. I have been trying to get through all the information available out there but there is so much hype because each place has a "better" solution because they are trying to sell so I just couldn't sort it all. I started going through the back files here this morning and am finally starting to "get" it - well sorta kinda. I would like to know where I can get some kind of testing kit to monitor my pond though. I want it to be the very best it can be. I do have some photos posted and some of my problems mentioned here: http://downatthebasspond.blogspot.com/ ANY advice is more than welcome. I am just so relieved at having found this forum! Now, I gotta go down to the pond.

A big welcome to you, Bassponder. You'll surely get a response soon on the test kit. I'm currently researching this same question, so if you don't hear something soon PM me.

I'm sure we'll be seeing more of you.

BTW, I think "chicken lips" might be a redear sunfish.

Chickenlips is a redear sunfish? Well, I'm going to have to tell the little girl across the street! Thanks! See? That's why I'm here! I learned something already in five minutes!

C

Guys, don't you think "chicken lips" (lower left) looks like a rogue redear? That would explain the different looking mouthparts.

Here's another view of a redear sunfish (RES). This is a big one, but it looks like it might be the same as yours.

Bassponder,

Welcome to Pond Boss.

In reference to your question about test kits (for water quality), here is a link that may be of some use.
http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=38861#Post38861


Russ

Thanks for the test kit info. My pond clarity is getting worse by the day and I do so enjoy being able to see my fish.

I read the post you directed me to about the test kits and I'll be looking for the LaMotte aquaculture kit AQ-2 on line. In the meantime I am going to assume I'll have a fish kill this year. The pond is extremely low (down probably more than 2 foot) and when the weather really changes I suppose the pond will have it's big turn over. I have no aeration system and I guess it's a bit late for that anyway. One thing I'm gathering (and please correct me if I'm reading the old aeration posts wrong) is that the only real way to put air down in the pond is through agitation of some sort (like a paddlewheel or something?). The bubblers just move the water around basically so you don't have the dead space? (Too late for me I have plenty of dead space) I've read here and there about a few university studies and they basically said the same thing. At this point I don't really know what to do to avoid a fish kill this year. I spoke to one woman somewhere that took a motor off her boat and somehow mounted it on her dock and would let it run so long per day. Guess it worked for her. Any ideas?

I wouldn't throw in the towel yet and assume that you're going to have a fish kill.

There are plenty of things you can do to move the water around. Pumps, boat motors, etc.

Whatever you do, you should start gradually.

I don't have much water left that isn't in the deeper part now as the pond is so low. I'm afraid to stir it up now at all. I haven't even been in there swimming. What would anyone recommend? I also have had a pretty sudden thickening in the clarity of the pond's water. It's turning real green real fast. Is there anything I can do? Do I need to do anything? I sure like to be able to see my fish. A real funny thing happened while I was down there yesterday. Actually something funny happens everyday down there but yesterday was particularly different. I've noticed that my bass will lie near snakes and wait until a suitable bluegill gets between them and the snake before they make a run. The bluegill can't run in the direction of the snake so they have that side covered. Anyway, yesterday when I saw my bass who I call Meanandean coming up to a snake I thought I'd throw in a piece of hotdog to see if I could lure a bluegill in between them. I caught this on tape and if you click on the screen if will show the video:

Very entertaining bassponder, not the outcome I was expecting.

Sure wasn't the outcome I was expecting either!!! Who woulda ever thought? Don't know I would have even believed that one if I hadn't caught it on camera!