Pond Boss Forums Thread Like Summary - Feeder Ponds/Cross contamination w/ fish

I have a new 3.5 acre pond filling off of run off and wet weather springs. I have a small 1/4 acre pond up hill, across the dirt township road that has a pretty nice spring feeding it. I thought I may catch that overflow and run it into my new pond. Help turn over water, etc.

I have largemouth and bluegill in the "upstream" pond, but want to do exclusively SMB, perch, and RES in the new one. If I catch the run off from the currently stocked pond, is there any way to prevent contaminating the pond down stream? Or am I just wishful thinking?

Roy, I would definitely go the kill route. With the pond being upstream, and containing unwanted species, there's about a 100% chance they end up in the big pond, which would basically ruin your plans of SMB, YP and RES. I really like your idea of using this smaller pond as kind of a supplemental stocking source. Adding fish is not always the answer, but when it is you'll have a pretty creative way to do it. Keep us updated! Sounds very cool!

To start out I'd definitely consider Rod's advice on the pipe filter. Don't risk making a mistake at the beginning. After your predators are established, a single, or at least very few, unwanted species should not pose a problem.

And I'm no smarter than anyone else here, I've just read a LOT of great advice from folks with experience!

roymunson:

If you were a client, I'd recommend you killing the upper pond as well. Make sure you kill it completely. With all the time and $$$ you will be investing in the bigger pond, you don't want any contamination. Killing it is cheap insurance, and the genetics in the upper pond should be refreshed anyway - too much growing potential has been lost. BUT if those species don't fit in with your stocking plans, have no regrets and make sure none will be alive to make it to your other pond.

Using the upper pond as a forage pond for the bigger pond is a good idea.