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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 9
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OP
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 9 |
Hi people,
Yes, my first post, and I know Im on the right track now that I realized there is a pond forum and eliminate guessing!
So, maybe if its appropriate, I'll tell you my problem: All my largemouth bass have been killed, period. 6 years of caring/feeding/even avoiding family members to fish them, even on barbless hooks. Geez. They were my dear fish- I hated even killing a fish! Even for "food".
Anyway, must have been O2 levels dropped like mad since we had about 3 weeks on/off rains here- record for the month in 12 yrs. Measeured DO after the kill, and got 2.5ppm . Bluegill are still OK, apparently (just 1 dead). Pond is about 1/8 acre.
I know I have to install an aerator. I can buy ($$) or make home made (?). Any feedback appreciated.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,541 Likes: 845
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,541 Likes: 845 |
Welcome to the forum! Yes, with that low of DO reading that's what caused the fish to die. Now the big question is what caused the drop in DO?
Can you estimate how many pounds of fish you had in the pond?
Since my free time is short, I'd buy a turn key aeration system for a couple of reasons: 1)You know it's going to work and is the correct sized system for your pond and 2) I don't have a lot of free time, and it can be put to use doing something else.
Vertex is in Florida, if you are looking for turn key, talk to Sue there.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,055 Likes: 277
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,055 Likes: 277 |
I'll bet that all of the bass didn't die. There are usually some small ones that get into shallow water and survive the crash.
Back to Esshups question of why did it crash. A pond has a carrying capacity and you may have loved your fish to death by not culling them. That happens pretty often. Yeah, I've done it several times.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,722 Likes: 282
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,722 Likes: 282 |
I thought that I lost all my LMB, BG, and CC due to low DO under snow covered ice this past Winter. There were dead fish everywhere and I did not even see any minnows alive. In fact some LMB and BG survived and bred this Spring/Summer. The LMB are not large but actually look much fatter that the ones that were there before. There are small LMB everywhere which I assume are canabilized by the larger ones. I have not caught any CC, but there were likely no small ones that could survive (or at least very few survived). You may need to wait a while to start fishing again, but you may find that the new fish get bigger.
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 9
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OP
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 9 |
Gee, thanks, people. Yeah, I believe there are still small/fingerling lmb, just havnt been able to see any yet in the shallows cuz water is now coated with powdery/light floating stuff. Not sure if its algae. Never had this before- so much of the surface coated.
What I meant was, all my sizeable bass are dead. Yeah, maybe I should have let the kids fish some out.
Esshup: I Have maybe 50 bluegills, and the 6 larger bass. Also, tiny gambuzhia minnows were always there. Always sun shining in FL, so I never figured an O2 crash. I am convinced the lack of sun for about 3 weeks prevented the plant life submerged to give off the needed O2. Sound likely? We have had record rain here in 12 yeqars. Kinda a smoking gun.
I will contact Sue at Vertex....... Thanks, People!
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,541 Likes: 845
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,541 Likes: 845 |
Cloudy windless days contribute greatly to an O2 crash. Unless you stocked those BG this year, I'll bet you have more than 50. I thought I didn't have that many LMB in my pond either. But, I took out close to 80 LMB this year. They are all healthy and a good RW, but the BG population is declining. You'd be suprised on how many fish are in your pond that you don't see!
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 9
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OP
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 9 |
Cloudy windless days contribute greatly to an O2 crash. Unless you stocked those BG this year, I'll bet you have more than 50. I thought I didn't have that many LMB in my pond either. But, I took out close to 80 LMB this year. They are all healthy and a good RW, but the BG population is declining. You'd be suprised on how many fish are in your pond that you don't see! LOL....I hope youre right, esshup. I did stock the BG- I stocked them AND the bass. But, dont BG multiply either way, whether you stocked them or not(?) Got an appointment tomorrow with a pond "pro". Hes gonna advise me on stuff. And an aerator. Geez, 80 LMB- you must have a huge lake/pond, for that many.
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 9
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OP
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 9 |
oops- just noticed at the bottom of your post- how big your pond is (1-13/4.........)Thats nice.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,541 Likes: 845
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,541 Likes: 845 |
Thanks. The pond will bounce around in size according to how full it is. Right now, I'm down 33" from full pool.
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 9
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OP
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 9 |
Sigh.........(left elbow on desk, holding head in left hand), wonder how long it takes for a pong guy to recommend a system- anxiously waiting to see what I need- Oh well, hes taking time to engineer the right system for me. Patience.......(hope no more fish die)
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 709
Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 709 |
Hi Juan ~ Who are you waiting on? It should be a fairly quick recomendation.
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 9
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OP
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 9 |
Sue,
PM sending asap......
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 9
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OP
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 9 |
Well, my "excitement" to be on the forum is gradually reduced, since I just buried 2- 5 gallon pails of bluegill/bass/fingerlings. Water now is all brown (why). O2 levels strangely is 3.4ppm- lot lethal level, I understand.
If O2 is OK, why all the dead fish? Even an aerator, if ordered NOW I believe, is too late.......
Sadly, Juan
Last edited by Juan; 10/04/11 07:16 AM.
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 529
Fingerling
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Fingerling
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 529 |
Lessons learned hardest are learned best.
We've all done things in our pond that we'd like a "do over" on.
Hang in there.
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 29
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 29 |
Well your DO levels aren't great but you're right... it shouldn't be lethal to BG from what I've read.
But that doesn't sound like the only thing going on. I would get some water samples analyzed to see if you can find another cause.
Is your pond fed by a stream or surface runoff?
This is just a WAG but maybe the spacing of the rain events was enough to set up another thermocline and you've been getting multiple turn-overs?
Regarding the aeration - if today might be too late, tomorrow is definitely too late.
Bottom line is, your pond is telling you that something is out of balance. If you're still getting fresh fish kills after two weeks, you really need to pinpoint the cause(s) and correct it(them). Maybe you can contact Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission?
I wish I could give you a more direct answer. Good luck and keep us posted. I know that I had assumed you got an aeration system and that it was working - until your last post anyway.
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 9
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OP
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 9 |
Thanks, people. One thing I can say - this forum is a very welcome place.
To answer some of the above: it is a "closed" pond. I thought a pond was a pond vs lake cuz a pond does not have another source of water entering it/exiting it (?). At least, thats what I learnt in Ecology 101 back in College.
Also, yeah, I tried to call UFL labs, but no one returned my call. Sheesh.
I will be measuring pH again tomorrow, but still, I donet believe even a pH of 6-0.1 is lethal. maybe to fingerlings (?), but perhaps not adults. Im thinking to test for ammonium (NH3/NH4)and nitrite. I dunno.
Yes, Manris- the sooner I decide on an aerator the better, if I even want to pursue this all over again. I fear that this has really shot me down and I shouldnt start again with a "high maintenence" hobby.Oh well. Lets see what happens in the next few days, people.
Regards, Juan
Last edited by Juan; 10/04/11 02:07 PM.
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