I have a 7.5 acre, 3 year old pond in central Alabama. It is constructed in the "black belt (alkaline)" area. I have had a very frustrating time getting a bloom. Alkalinity has been tested at 140. I have heavily fertilized (usually double the recommended rate), and after a week or two of no bloom, the filamentous algae takes over. I then spray the algae with Ktea or Cutrine, repeat the fertilization after weeds are gone, only to have the same thing happen. Right now (November) the water is so clear you can see the bottom at 6 feet and algae is everywhere. Is it possible my alkalinity is too high? Any suggestions would be appreciated. By the way, I have followed the advice of several pond specialists with no results.

Lee :

Assuming your 140 reading is correct that should not be the problem. Many ponds outside of the southeast have alka. readings over 200 with no problems. The optimum alka. level for LMB for example is 200 . I suggest you have your soil (pond bottom) tested and your water tested. Many state/county cooperative ext. agents can get this done and here the soil tests cost $ 6 last I checked. My guess is you are missing another part of the chem. equation. Those tests will tell you what is missing. Be sure if you go this route that the tests are run for pond production ( not crops like cotton or beans) What fert. are you using and how is it applied. Here is a hint. If you can grow FA then you should be able to grow plankton (bloom). Keep us posted. ewest

Thanks. Fortunately the fish are doing fine. I intend to send in soil water samples ASAP.

just got in town. IT is TOO Cold. Yep Ray Scott had about the same alk in your region. Is the pond really shallow? What fert are you using? If you started just a few weeks ago then yep too cold. Start backup next spring when temps reach 60-65. All of our fertilized pond in GA are super clear right now. This is common and you are wasting money fertilzing this time of year. Good luck next spring.

Lee :

I assumed that you had been trying to fert. over several summers --is that correct ? If you just started it is indeed to cold . ewest

I have used almost all different types of fertilizer over the last 3 years. I have used the prescribed rate and from time to time have doubled it, but I may need to increase it some more. I am not trying to get a bloom now, but have been frustrated by how difficult it is to get a bloom. I got one nice bloom the middle of the summer last year, but it didn't last long. Filamentous algae is a big problem. I have been trying to spray the algae and fertilize a few days later to get a bloom to decrease the algae problem, but the bloom doesn't happen, and the algae comes back. Very frustrating.

Lee :

I thought that was your situation and I think you are right to get the water and pond soil tested. Then you will have the info needed to fix or otherwise address the problem. ewest

What is your water flow like? Could it be washing your fertilizer out before a bloom occurs?

Water flow is just right. Only in very heavy rains does much water go through the overflow pipe. The pond is down about a foot now, but we haven't had any rain for several weeks now. Due to vegetation around the pond, very little mud or discoloration washes into the pond.

I see several of you guys are in Alabama. You might want to see this thread

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=002082

on the Georgia pond boss meeting - Feb 4, 2006 in/near Atlanta. I have a page on my web site where I will post details as they are available. We had a committment from Bob Lusk to fly in. Not sure what will happen now with the fire at his house--

Anyways see the thread and visit my website if you are interested. I will add you to the list.

Frank