New Pond Help, Western PA - 12/11/21 05:02 AM
Hello Pond Boss folks. I'm a long time lurker, but finally created an account today. I've been reading as much on this forum as I can. I have a pretty good idea of what direction to go, but have a few questions I am hoping I can run past you all. Here's where my pond is at so far. I'd post pictures, but can't figure out how to get them to a less than 2mb size. Apologies in advance for the long post.
Located in western PA. The pond was dug August of 2020, and filled completely by early December 2020. It is approximately an acre and a half, round, and clay based. Steep sides go down to 25-30 feet (we hit sand and decided to keep going). Fed by three good springs that run even in very dry conditions, in addition to very significant run off. We are at the north facing base of a ridge line and get a ton of water. The ridge is all forested, with the exception of a powerline, no farm land to worry about. In almost a month of no rain last year summer, we only lost about four inches of water height. Most of the land around it is pasture for a few horses and cows. I do not lyme it. One side is bordered by woods, and the ridge, so is shaded for the hottest hours of the day. Clarity is currently 2-3 feet. Someday I may try to clear with alum sulfate, but am not to worried about it yet. I would like to aerate, but will need to go with wind or solar. This probably won't happen until 2023 at the earliest. Still working on structure. Adding additional Christmas trees, rip rap, gravel, spawning and hiding habitats, plus beach this Spring/Summer. Plants are desired. Currently only have some small volunteer rushes.
Goals: Swimming for sure, no one here is worried about fish nibbles. We will be building a smallish beach/spawning area, maybe 30 feet wide, with landscape tarp, pea gravel, and sand. There will be a floating dock that goes out 20 feet or so, depending on how many 55 gallon drums I acquire by spring. It will go out far enough for weed free swimming. The other goal is fishing. Trophy sized fish would be a plus, but healthy non stunted fish are all that is desired. We'd like to be able to pull enough out to eat a couple times a month. More or less as needed, we enjoy fishing. I still fish for chubs in the small creek that runs below the pond :-). I'd like for it to be a mostly self sustaining fishery, but do plan to feed a couple times a week or so to keep a better eye on things, and enjoyment. Some put and take is anticipated.
Stocking: Going for a YP, RES, SMB base. I want to stock everything now so bad! This waiting is for the birds, but I am being patient and getting it done right. Last June, 200 bull frog tadpoles and 500 large FHM ordered online from Anderson's were put in. I later read here that they were probably all males due to the size, but saw massive fry clouds all the way around the pond all summer long. I think they are off to a great start, although I never see many adults with my clarity. Spring 2022, I'd like to put in breeder sized RES, SFS, BNM, and appropriate crayfish. Also two sizes of YP, maybe a month after the forage species. Late Fall 2022 I'd like to add SMB big enough to hopefully spawn the following spring. After that, spring or fall 2023 I'd like to add some WE and HSB, and will ladder stock as needed.
Does this sound okay? Should I hold off on the YP and SMB for the other forage species to establish?
Questions.
I need help with stocking amounts of the fish and recommended sellers. I don't want to heavily stock to the point I need to feed heavily. I have Zetts in Drifting PA, but would like to avoid them if at all possible for fish and plants. Especially the RES and SMB. I'm in zip code 15701. I have called and emailed several vendors that ship or in my area I have found on here, but have not received any response, and most seem to have closed. The places that do ship don't have the species I'm looking for other than YP and WE except Delmarva, but I've gotten no response from them. Willing to drive, but am limited to what I can haul bagged in my car. I don't believe I'll have room for buckets and bubblers.
Would a few larger CC be doable with my mix when WE and HSB are added?
GSH, yes or no?
What plants would you recommend besides lilies and where can I order them? The deer ate all of my lilies I planted last year. Hopefully the Bambie currently residing in my freezer is one of the culprits. I need something submergent and less tasty. I'd love duck potatoes, but have a feeling the deer would annihilate those too. Thinking eel grass, val. Carolina. I have some south American varieties in tropical aquariums and love it. I would need to find a supplier also. Ordering it through my usual channels for aquariums is going to get extremely pricey very fast. I do have a supplier for some blue iris and am encouraging the small rushes that volunteered to spread. Some maintenance is okay. I do not want more than 20% or so planted with submergents and have no trouble getting in the pond and pulling before they become a problem. No cattails per my husband. It's his only request for the pond besides how the dock is designed. I may stock crayfish at a later time once plants have established.
Thanks for taking the time to read. I appreciate all the advice I can get.
Located in western PA. The pond was dug August of 2020, and filled completely by early December 2020. It is approximately an acre and a half, round, and clay based. Steep sides go down to 25-30 feet (we hit sand and decided to keep going). Fed by three good springs that run even in very dry conditions, in addition to very significant run off. We are at the north facing base of a ridge line and get a ton of water. The ridge is all forested, with the exception of a powerline, no farm land to worry about. In almost a month of no rain last year summer, we only lost about four inches of water height. Most of the land around it is pasture for a few horses and cows. I do not lyme it. One side is bordered by woods, and the ridge, so is shaded for the hottest hours of the day. Clarity is currently 2-3 feet. Someday I may try to clear with alum sulfate, but am not to worried about it yet. I would like to aerate, but will need to go with wind or solar. This probably won't happen until 2023 at the earliest. Still working on structure. Adding additional Christmas trees, rip rap, gravel, spawning and hiding habitats, plus beach this Spring/Summer. Plants are desired. Currently only have some small volunteer rushes.
Goals: Swimming for sure, no one here is worried about fish nibbles. We will be building a smallish beach/spawning area, maybe 30 feet wide, with landscape tarp, pea gravel, and sand. There will be a floating dock that goes out 20 feet or so, depending on how many 55 gallon drums I acquire by spring. It will go out far enough for weed free swimming. The other goal is fishing. Trophy sized fish would be a plus, but healthy non stunted fish are all that is desired. We'd like to be able to pull enough out to eat a couple times a month. More or less as needed, we enjoy fishing. I still fish for chubs in the small creek that runs below the pond :-). I'd like for it to be a mostly self sustaining fishery, but do plan to feed a couple times a week or so to keep a better eye on things, and enjoyment. Some put and take is anticipated.
Stocking: Going for a YP, RES, SMB base. I want to stock everything now so bad! This waiting is for the birds, but I am being patient and getting it done right. Last June, 200 bull frog tadpoles and 500 large FHM ordered online from Anderson's were put in. I later read here that they were probably all males due to the size, but saw massive fry clouds all the way around the pond all summer long. I think they are off to a great start, although I never see many adults with my clarity. Spring 2022, I'd like to put in breeder sized RES, SFS, BNM, and appropriate crayfish. Also two sizes of YP, maybe a month after the forage species. Late Fall 2022 I'd like to add SMB big enough to hopefully spawn the following spring. After that, spring or fall 2023 I'd like to add some WE and HSB, and will ladder stock as needed.
Does this sound okay? Should I hold off on the YP and SMB for the other forage species to establish?
Questions.
I need help with stocking amounts of the fish and recommended sellers. I don't want to heavily stock to the point I need to feed heavily. I have Zetts in Drifting PA, but would like to avoid them if at all possible for fish and plants. Especially the RES and SMB. I'm in zip code 15701. I have called and emailed several vendors that ship or in my area I have found on here, but have not received any response, and most seem to have closed. The places that do ship don't have the species I'm looking for other than YP and WE except Delmarva, but I've gotten no response from them. Willing to drive, but am limited to what I can haul bagged in my car. I don't believe I'll have room for buckets and bubblers.
Would a few larger CC be doable with my mix when WE and HSB are added?
GSH, yes or no?
What plants would you recommend besides lilies and where can I order them? The deer ate all of my lilies I planted last year. Hopefully the Bambie currently residing in my freezer is one of the culprits. I need something submergent and less tasty. I'd love duck potatoes, but have a feeling the deer would annihilate those too. Thinking eel grass, val. Carolina. I have some south American varieties in tropical aquariums and love it. I would need to find a supplier also. Ordering it through my usual channels for aquariums is going to get extremely pricey very fast. I do have a supplier for some blue iris and am encouraging the small rushes that volunteered to spread. Some maintenance is okay. I do not want more than 20% or so planted with submergents and have no trouble getting in the pond and pulling before they become a problem. No cattails per my husband. It's his only request for the pond besides how the dock is designed. I may stock crayfish at a later time once plants have established.
Thanks for taking the time to read. I appreciate all the advice I can get.