Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Fertilization feeding and fertilizing

I have heard that it is not a good idea to feed and fertilize a pond. But since bass usually don't eat fish food(I have not seen them eat much) can I feed the bream fish food and use fertilizer to help bass?

Thanks for your suggestions

The question has come up before, some pond guides say not to feed and fertilize. The Pros here said you can do both but use less fertilizer. You say you want to fertilize to help the bass, feeding bream as with fertilizing is an indirect benefit to the bass population

Fertilizer, if needed, actually helps the base of the food chain which ultimately helps the largest predators. I learned the meaning of the word "holistic" a couple of years ago and it accurately describes the pond cycle of life. Do a sechi disk test to see if your water hole needs fertilizing. If not, don't do it. If needed, prior to fertilizing, check your water quality for alkilinity. You may or may not need to manipulate your water through liming to get the fertilizer to do any good.

I would buy the book "Raising Trophy Bass" to get an overall explanation. It is about the best I've seen and it brings it down on the stupid level so I can understand it.

turkeyfootnc,

If you have any weeds in your pond, especially something like chara, do not fertilize. You will regret it and be searching desparately for a way to control the explosive vegetation.

I'm sure that you have read about a sechi disk. This is a good indicator of what to do. Doing both is right but every pond/lake is different and will respond differently as well. As you start out doing both - monitor your bloom and once you reach 18" in the Spring and Fall and 24" in the summer - back off either both or more probable the fertilizer. Listen to what your water is telling you - your hearing aid is the disk.

Great advice! some pondowners have naturally high fertility. High amount of fish food can contribute to this. SO this means if you fertilize you may use less if any. LIke stated if vis is greater than 24 inches fertilize to acheive that clarity if maximum fish porduction is goal. The combination is what we suggest in the SE to acheive max amount of bass, you just have to watch what you're doing.

I've got a pond less than a year old with coffee color water.Likely due to tanic acid from the numerous trees in my watershed and pond. How does one know if you need to fertilize more or less when I never could see more than 12-18 inches to start with?

Also, does the alkalinity need to be up for the excess feeding to cause a bloom, as with using fertilizer?

Many tannic acid lakes look dark in color but when checking with secchic disc you can see down farther than expected. Check with disk, but more than likely need heavy lime application to every get feed or fertilizer to create a good phyto bloom.

Yes alkalinity effects it the same way. If low, nutrients from fertilizer and indirectly from feeding will not go as well into phyto production.