New member in MI with ?'s! - 03/22/15 12:59 AM
I have a pond in lower Michigan which is about 110 x 70 ft so by this forum's standard, small. We bought the home a year ago and I have been reading a lot sbout pond management. There is no form of aeration or pump nor is there any sign there ever was. Previous owner says depth is 12ft when very full so I think 8-9 is a good number. There are plenty of LMB and BG and a couple small CC were added last spring. Also added fathead feeders in spring and fall.
My worry is that without adding oxygen the pond is a ticking time bomb for a fish kill. I have resd up on stratification and it concerns me. Everyone who comes over comments about the large number of fish we have. After researching I feel this perception is helped greatly by the fact that they are stsying up in the oxygen-rich water. The deep middle of the pond appearx to be a "dead zone" when the family fishes the pond.
Is the only true way of clarifying the water and ensuring the heslth of its inhabitants the addition of an aeration system? From my understanding simply moving water with a surface feature will not change things a great deal?
I added 8 small LMB last spring because as far as I could tell there were only a few present. I estimate there are 12-15 LMB and hundreds of BG. Is this pushing the capacity?
In year one (for me - pond is about 15 years old) I did not add beneficial bacteria for suspended junk and bottom muck but plan on it this spring when water temps are appropriate. The pond is mostly unshaded so I was using dye in year one also.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
My worry is that without adding oxygen the pond is a ticking time bomb for a fish kill. I have resd up on stratification and it concerns me. Everyone who comes over comments about the large number of fish we have. After researching I feel this perception is helped greatly by the fact that they are stsying up in the oxygen-rich water. The deep middle of the pond appearx to be a "dead zone" when the family fishes the pond.
Is the only true way of clarifying the water and ensuring the heslth of its inhabitants the addition of an aeration system? From my understanding simply moving water with a surface feature will not change things a great deal?
I added 8 small LMB last spring because as far as I could tell there were only a few present. I estimate there are 12-15 LMB and hundreds of BG. Is this pushing the capacity?
In year one (for me - pond is about 15 years old) I did not add beneficial bacteria for suspended junk and bottom muck but plan on it this spring when water temps are appropriate. The pond is mostly unshaded so I was using dye in year one also.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!