Thinking about dyeing my pond and had a couple of questions.

1. Are there any downsides, potential concerns?
2. Any recommendations on the "best" brand?

I really like the color of the water in the first pic under "Newly Uploaded Images" over on the right.

Thanks

Dye may suppress the natural phytoplankton bloom, which of course is the foundation of the natural food chain in your BOW. I honestly never gave that aspect the attention I probably should have, since I feed pellets. In my case, I consider the tradeoff very worthwhile.

I like the way my water looks with the dye. it's also easier to see the fish coming to the surface at feeding time, as they contrast against the dye quite well....not nearly as camouflaged as they are in my un-dyed water.

I prefer Aquashade brand dye.

Ditto. Those are the exact reasons I use dye in my brood pond.

With all the rain this spring, I've had tons of algae. The dye really helps with that also.

I don't like it. I prefer a natural phyto bloom along with the damn weeds.

FWIW As usual, I agree with you Dave. I am resisting dropping any chemical in my puddle. Someday I may be forced too but, until that day, let nature take her course. Can always drop some craws or GC if veggies get out of hand. Heck, the veggies do all kinds of good things.

I also understand, if you have a heavily managed pond targeting a specific fish species, the chems are a great tool for ya so, to each his own.

Yep, we all have different views and management strategies. Out of our five ponds, we only dye one....the HBG/swimming pond. The other four we are content to allow mother nature to do her thing......thus far.

It has been my experience that her goals for the ponds don't always mesh well with my own plans.

I have never been a fan of using dyes for the reasons mentioned by Dave. I have several friends whose ponds I help manage. One had a terrible time with weeds, algae, and very murky water. They kept adding copper, dye, and other things that didn't help much.

We did a bunch of grading and landscaping to lessen the nutrient load. We stocked about 15 8-10 inch grass carp. Last season and this season, so far, it has looked great.

Maybe if the dye didn't make the water look so much like Tidy-Bowl, I'd have fewer issues with it.

Haha. That's really my main concern. I don't want the water to look too fake. (ie. the photo below...that just looks ridiculous to me...I don't want a swimming pool.)



My water is relatively clear now, down through 2 feet or so, but just too swamp green. Guess I just need to wait until all of this rain subsides, because it'll obviously change appearance without the constant runoff.

I can see where, in some cases, dye might make sense. That is in case of a serious plant infestation in a fed or production pond.

That said, I would rather nuke green stuff but some would disagree and I certainly understand that. Al Hall has found that killing one type of plant can result in getting a different one that you might like even less.

Against all common sense, governments actually discourage/regulate the use of natural tools like grass carp and/or tilapia. I have to fence in grass carp and am only allowed to use one type of tilapia.

Dave, did you have any trouble filing the grass carp application? How long did it take to get a response? Was it the states' requirement that you fence it in?

I've already filled out the application, but have not yet sent it in.

Five inches of undyed pond water.


Five inches of dyed pond water.


Secchi disc readings at one foot...dyed water.


Two feet.


Three feet.


Four feet.


Please be aware however that plant control is secondary in this application, and the dosage is approx. 1/2 of what the label specifies. I look at adding pond dye like I do with making chili.....better to add half the seasonings, taste it, and go from there. I can always add more, but it's downright difficult to remove it once it's added to the mix.

I add some dye, wait 24 hours, and evaluate what I have. If I were set on limiting plant growth as the primary reasoning behind using the stuff, then I would need to pay greater attention to the dosage, the particular species of plant I was concerned about, the time of year it was in relation to the growing cycle, and the depth where the plant was most problematic.

Sparkplug,
Nice illustration....

Edit, it's a requirement. I've done several of them and used hog wire and T Posts. Take a pic and send it in with your application.

I assume you are required to do the fence due to the chance of the fish getting out and making its way into local waterways, correct?

My pond is relatively close to a creek, but I don't have a spillway and there is no chance of fish escape...barring a total dam failure. Due to design, my pond can't overflow or anything.

I'll include a picture with the application. In fact, it may require it. If I recall it asks you to include a layout, etc.

Thanks,
-Brad

I'm not sure what the criteria is without an overflow pipe or spillway. But, then I'm not the State government.

Dave,

I am curious. What do you mean by "fence them in?" Do you have to put up some kind of fish fence at water's edge to prevent their escape at high water?

I have historically used the blue dye in our small pond...it absolutely inhibits plankton growth. This has been our swimming pond as it's primary purpose so I'm OK with that...up to now the fish have been secondary.

This year's effort to reset that pond has changed my mind on that particular front. As of now I haven't applied any dye to it, and probably won't for at least a few years.

I really like the way the pond looks dyed but am not willing to sacrifice the nutrient foundation it prevents, at least not now.

Well I am trying to have my cake and eat it too.

We dye our pond for swimming and looks. I only add the dye when the secchi gets to 8-10"s and even then the water is still aqua blue. It will drop to 18-20" after for a month or so. Then I add another pint. Might use a total of two pints all year on our one acre pond.

This is what I use. Natural blue.

DonoBBD, would you happen to have a picture of your pond dyed?

I was considering this brand (twilight blue though), because it has such good reviews.

Are you adding dye for aesthetics, or to help suppress plant growth? If limiting plant growth is the objective, research the dye and see what it claims in this regard. I know the aquashade does not mention aesthetics, but instead appears to focus on limiting specific wavelengths of light necessary for photosynthesis. I'm wondering if this might translate into reducing the amount of dye needed, in order to obtain the same degree of effectiveness.....no "tidy bowl" look???

Guys here are 3 outstanding threads on fish coloration and dyes.

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=34878&fpart=1

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=20&Number=85635&Searchpage=1&Main=8267&Words=%26quot%3B+chromatophore+%26quot%3B+ewest&topic=0&Search=true#Post85635

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=20&Number=74247&Searchpage=1&Main=7429&Words=%26quot%3B+chromatophore+%26quot%3B+ewest&topic=0&Search=true#Post74247

Trying to fix the links

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.ph...true#Post103969

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=34878&page=1 ***** read this one

Here is some of the darkest it can be and the light green is what it is 80% of the time.

Cheers Don.

Yeah, I like the look of that. Thanks Don.

I used the same dye on mine and I like it in the evening but in the morning it looks to fake. My neighbor uses the black and I really like the look of it. If you don't like it just wait a few months and it will change.

here is mine in the evening.

Looks good. I have noticed the same thing. With a very blue sky the pond takes on the colour of the sky or its reflecting the light. I am about 1 acre and put in about a half a pint every month or so.

Cheers Don.

You guys did me in! You tempted my low tolerance level for trying crazy things.

I was in town yesterday and bought a gallon of pond dye, just to see what it would do.

Well, I think I "over-dood" it. I put about 12 oz., into my upper-most 1/3 acre pond. It has a maximum depth of about 7-feet, and an average depth of about 4-feet. It flows into three lower ponds at least 300 days a year. It rained lightly all of last night.

This morning, that pond looked like I'd put a whole gallon of Tidy-Bowl in a toilet. It worked its way down through three of the settlement ponds, and is now beginning to affect my 0.7 acre pond.

I'm embarrassed. I'm thinking we will move our neighborhood Memorial Day fish fry to a friend's farm.

Tell them its all the pollen!....:)

Hmmmmm....well if ya go back and buy some yellow dye and toss some in the pond, it should turn green. Now exactly what shade of green that might be I can't say.

Sorry. Did not mean to laugh at your problem. Just the thought of a tidy Bowl fish fry..................

Actually, If you would go back at it with black dye it should tone it down. Let me know your results if you decide to try.

I wish I could. Many of the guests are friends with ponds which I've helped rehabilitate, or which I presently manage.

I've been a fairly strong opponent of pond dyes!

My friends are all very wise country and farming folk. They know the difference between peeing in the water, pollen, and dye.

No rainstorms are predicted until next week.

I'm in trouble! As much as I will hate to do it, I guess I'll just have to 'fess up!

Ken I have the exact opposite problem. I dyed my pond 2 weeks ago, black to darken the shallow water. Then last weekend we had 4" of rain. Out the east end it flowed and now I'm back to gin clear water.

Just tell them it is an object lesson so they can benefit from your experiment. You saved them from having to make the mistake themselves on their own ponds.

They will not buy into it, but it's the best shot you got. Like a murder defense attorney. You don't have to produce proof of innocence, only reasonable doubt.

I wouldn't worry about. I'm pretty sure the color goes away after 300 flushes!

What kind (brand) of dye are you using Ken? My standard dose for the HBG pond is 32 ozs of aquashade, wait 24 hours, check and normally add an additional 12 ozs or so. This pond is 2/3 acre, max depth of 10', and average depth of 4'.

I've never come close to achieving what I would call the tidy-bowl effect?

Tony,

I put in less than 12 oz using a plastic picnic cup. This was in my 1/3 acre HBG/HSB/CC pond. It is 7-feet deep, with an average of around 4-feet, with steep sides. I too am using AquaShade. It has colored the three forage/settlement ponds below, that feed my 0.7 acre pond, but hasn't affected that pond - yet.

If I do it again, I'll start with about 4 oz.

Ken

I wonder if it reacts differently with the various water types?

+1 I was just sitting here thinking the same thing. Why not just keep adding small amounts every few days until you get the color you are trying to get. As far as I know, it is not like it goes away in a short time if you don't add enough upfront.