Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Israeli Carp for Controlling Filamentous algae

1.5 acre pond, average five feet deep, deepest spot is 12 feet. Seeking to eliminate copper application. I have been advised to stock a few Israeli Carp to control algae. Does anyone have experience with these fish? Are they effective in controlling filamentous algae? Are there any negatives in a fishing / swimming pond environment?

Welcome to the forum. While it has beed said that they will eat algae, I don't know of one pond that can attribute algae control specifically to Israeli Carp.

Check with the laws in Pa. and see if Tilapia are legal to stock. (you may need a permit).

In Northern Indiana, we've found that stocking Tilapia at the rate of 40# per surface acre will control Fimamentous Algae. Be aware, if you have Largemouth Bass (LMB) in the pond, the Tilapia have to be at least 1/3 the size of the largest LMB in the pond to give them some chance to avoid being eaten. In the testing that I've done, stocking them at less than 40# per acre will NOT control the FA.

Until a winter fish kill three years ago that took out all of my fish I never had any algae problems in the dozen years of my 1 acre ponds existence. After the fish kill I had some bad algae about 20 feet out from the shore line to a heavy growth of lilies which stopped the algae on further out in the pond. I had pond friends around my area that controlled algae with copper sulfate and dye, and asked me every year "have you got algae yet, no! just wait, you will." I had 6 Israeli Carp, 20 KOI, that Zetts of PA recommended and it worked. Zetts said the Israeli Carp didn't reproduce because of Bluegill putting out an enzyme according to Auburn University. I don't know about that but I had LMB in my pond and never had an increase of Israeli Carp or KOI in all those years. Zetts said the Israeli Carp and KOI ate two different kinds of algae.

The only reason I don't go back to the Israeli Carp & KOI is because I am running a new experiment to see if the pond loaded with tadpoles and Golden Shiners can stop algae also.

With Israeli Carp & KOI


Without Israeli Carp & KOI

John,

Do the carp increase turbidity in the pond when foraging for invertebrates?

John:

Did the koi also die out with the winterkill? Did the amount of rooted plants that were in the pond change from pre to post winterkill?

I did a little more online searching for this topic to add to my knowledge about researching in mid 1980's for Koi for FA control. Since koi, common carp, mirror carp and Israeli carp are quite similar in body features and behavior, I still conclude they are not herbivors and are omnivorioussince they eat a variety of living and dead plants and animals. What they eat probably depends of what is most adundant considering their food preferences. I consider them 'aquatic rototillers' disrupting sediments searching for food items. They do not have stomachs but long intestines which does not allow them to binge feed and rest similar to to other sportfish. Without stomachs they feed frequently to keep food moving through the digestive tract. Large fish can IMO disrupt lots of bottom materials depending on what comprises the bottom of each pond. Aeration and wind action on a pond / lake would enhance the amount of resuspended sediments due to bottom feeding activity in the water.

Common, Mirror Carp facts:
http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/ansrp/ANSIS/html/cyprinus_carpio_common_carp.htm

NC State Extension:
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/wild/fisheries/weed_mgt/grasscarp/bio_control.html
http://www4.ncsu.edu/~djgofort/Miscellaneous1.htm

DNA of common and israeli carp
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/12265071.2001.9647624#preview

Old PBoss thread about Israeli, mirror carp for filamentous algae control:
http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=262112

Study of 8 fishes for weed - algae control. NOte that only one size as used in the studies. As the fish get larger their foraging habits would likely change especially in their ability to disrupt the bottom sediments. With good cover and habitat,, recruitment of the carp could become a problem of too many carp!
http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNRAA983.pdf

Read section about impacts of carp.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/pests-diseases/freshwater-pests/species/carp/general-information

KY Extension Reported on Use of common Carp for Algae Control - see pg 10.
http://www.ksuaquaculture.org/Pubs.htm/AquaNews%20web%20W-07.pdf

Cecil the water did turn more turbid but I could still see my fish when I fed them. I guess that would be one price you pay for controlling algae with carp. Of course some of the fish were easy to see like the KOI and I had some albino channel catfish and I could see my Israeli Carp but they probably weighed in at 20 lbs or so. After the fish died the water the first year was very clear, measuring down to 6’4” that I could see a pie pan on a pole I made. The second and now the third year the water isn’t as clear do to tannin.

Esshup there was a big change because I lost 17 of 18 grass carp that I put in the pond to take out Eurasian Milfoil that I planted as an experiment when the pond was new. They took out nearly every plant in the pond so well that the Eurasian Milfoil has not come back. My dominant plant now is Curley Leaf pond weed that I feel fortunate to have since it dies back somewhat in summer. I added six new grass carp, one died, plus my big old one that survived the winterkill and so far they are keeping the plants just about the way I want them.

Bill Cody I remember Zetts saying that he drained one of his ponds that had Israeli Carp and KOI in it and the bottom looked like a comb had been run through it. He also said he quit using grass carp because one day he saw them scooping up bass fry.