Forums36
Topics40,944
Posts557,781
Members18,481
|
Most Online3,612 Jan 10th, 2023
|
|
7 members (Fishingadventure, FishinRod, Sunil, Shorthose, phinfan, Rangersedge, Joe7328),
975
guests, and
215
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12
Member
|
OP
Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12 |
I have recently identified the growth in my pond as Chara, a type of algae. Do grass carp eat this or do you have to treat with cutrine? Also, I have recently noticed a nutria (a beaver with a rat tail) in my pond. I have heard that they only eat aquatic vegetation and not fish. If this is true will they eat the chara and control it? I would appreciate any suggestions.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 494 Likes: 1
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 494 Likes: 1 |
Not so sure Nutria will eat chara.. in fact I am almost certain they wouldn't. As for grass carp eating chara.... I am sure they would as I do know that common carp, goldfish, and Koi will/do.
Owner/Builder of Ottawa Canada's first official off-grid home. http://www.mygamepictures.com - Hosting your outdoor adventure, fishing, hunting and sports related pictures!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1
Hall of Fame Lunker
|
Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1 |
Chara is not a bad plant if it is not too excessively abundant. It produces oxygen, tends to stay on the bottom and stabilizes pond soils. I have it in my ponds and do not have a problem with it.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,973
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,973 |
I have seen Chara become a big problem. I treat with granular Cutrine at the reommend rate, and have good control. Grass carp have a low prefernce for it. Years ago we stocked Bruce Sutters pond with grass carp about three times at a rate of 10/ac and still could not get them to control Chara. I feel even after loss there were at least 15/ac in the pond. Good luck!
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 188
Member
|
Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 188 |
Redfinger, the only time I've seen chara become a problem is in clear lakes that lose water fairly rapidly. That said, it can happen. Fertilization usually controls it well. grass carp are listed as providing 'good to excellent' control of chara in the 2002 North Carolina Agricultural chemicals manual, chapter 8. I haven't seen chara become a problem in ponds stocked with grass carp in Texas. One lake that had a severe chara infestation was essentially chara-free the year after stocking 7 carp/acre and fertilizing. Because chara is often in a band close to the bank, it is my experience that liquid cutrine can also provide good control. Your results may vary
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5
Junior Member
|
Junior Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5 |
When you apply cutrine, does it hurt the "bloom' from fertization? If the Chara appears just after fertilization, will it eventually die off by itself when the water turns green?
PondMaster
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 352
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 352 |
I'm in central Texas with chara. It does cover most of the bottom but they don't seem to get out of control. I do have carp though.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 5
Junior Member
|
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 5 |
Hi. I'm a fisheries biologist in central Texas. Chara is not usually a problem plant, so unless it is in your case, I wouldn't do anything to it. We have been allowing landowners to stock triploid grass carp for 11 years and my experience with landowners has been that they do not control Chara very well. That's not to say they absolutely won't eat it, they just don't prefer it. Again, if it's not a problem plant let it be. I agree with some of the other posts that it can enhance water quality through photosynthetic oxygen generation and ties up loose sediments. It also rarely ever tops out; another advantage as many of the submersed vascular plants, even native ones, do top out in summer and are impossible to fish through. Hope this helps and good fishing!
Jeff Henson, Natural Resource Specialist IV TPWD Inland Fisheries Bryan, Texas
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,587
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,587 |
Hey, Jeff. How are things down there in TX?? We were predicted to be in a drought year up here, but it rains about every other day! Pheasant crop is looking good.
Dave
Subscribe to Pond Boss MagazineFrom Bob Lusk: Dr. Dave Willis passed away January 13, 2014. He continues to be a key part of our Pond Boss family...and always will be.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 417
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 417 |
I have chara in my small pond. It just grows in a ring around the edge and it never comes to the top but my water level rose a few feet last year and I have had a pretty dense algae bloom all year and it's still down there. So a heavy bloom didn't kill it.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 171
Member
|
Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 171 |
I have had better luck controlling chara with granular cutrine plus than with the liquid. The liquid has been effective at reducing growth and keeping it closer to the bottom though. Up here it often calcifies later in the year due to hard water, and is pretty tough to treat. I often plant it in new ponds to reduce the chance of non desirable species getting established. Robert B
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,140 Likes: 488
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,140 Likes: 488 |
Last edited by Bill Cody; 01/18/13 11:00 AM.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
|
|
|
Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
|
|