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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,511
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OP
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,511 |
With Fluridone (Alligare) treatments July 2012 (45ppb) and May 2013 (90ppb) it's coming back already! This was pulled out tonight in about 2-3' of water between the dock and the shore, from a large bushy clump. Fluridone is just too pricey and too much of a kills-all to continue using it but I just can't seem to get rid of it. Some of it is fine as it gives the YOY some cover but it just starts taking over. And I really expected this year's treatment to last (at least) the full year and the 8 GC to help keep it under control. Could there be something in the chemistry of the water that's not allowing the Fluridone to work, like hardness, PH, etc.? My clarity is only about 18" so hopefully it's limited to the shallows but if/when the water clears up,,,, here we go again Thanks for any help or advice! Keith
Keith - Still Lovin Livin https://youtu.be/o-R41Rfx0k0(a short video tribute to the PB members we met on our 5 week fishing adventure) Formerly: 2ac LMB,HSB,BG,HBG,RES
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,488 Likes: 2
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
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A 10x dose of fluridone won't kill the Chara (a higher form of algae) shown in the above photo.
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Joined: May 2012
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Joined: May 2012
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Thanks Kelly, and thanks for the correction! I've had such a problem with CT I really thought that's what it was, even from the plant ID photos, just without the bushy ends. After reading up on Chara, I do have some Cutrine Plus but it seems like it has some benefits "Chara can benefit water quality and clarity. It is a good stabilizer and considered valuable fish habitat" if it doesn't get out of control. http://www.aquaticbiologists.com/algae--...-branched-algae Thanks again!
Keith - Still Lovin Livin https://youtu.be/o-R41Rfx0k0(a short video tribute to the PB members we met on our 5 week fishing adventure) Formerly: 2ac LMB,HSB,BG,HBG,RES
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Joined: Apr 2002
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Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,488 Likes: 2 |
That's a concise and accurate assessment of Chara's benefits. Indeed, Chara generally isn't a "bad player" in a well designed fishing pond. Mother Nature does her best to insure that something occupies certain pond-environment niches. That being the case, Chara is a reasonably tame occupant compared to MANY other alternatives. One can always use CUTRINE PLUS GRANULAR to manage Chara in localized/high-use areas (around docks, piers, swim-areas, etc). Otherwise, I'd generally leave Chara alone and let it occupy spaces that will otherwise "fill in" with potentially less desirable organisms.
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Joined: May 2012
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Joined: May 2012
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Thanks Kelly!
I've noticed a lot of BG YOY hanging around the area of the Chara so maybe it's a blessing.
And with Chara being an algae would it add/contribute oxygen the way other vegetation would?
Keith - Still Lovin Livin https://youtu.be/o-R41Rfx0k0(a short video tribute to the PB members we met on our 5 week fishing adventure) Formerly: 2ac LMB,HSB,BG,HBG,RES
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,812 Likes: 75
Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
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Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,812 Likes: 75 |
Good question - but bear in mind that all plants respire, including algae. During the day thru photosynthesis it's O2, during low and dark times it's CO2.
These huge underwater skunkweed afros are growing because you have excess nutriets not being used by...whatever it was you had growing before [coontail, milfoil, etc]. This year has been really weird for me - my aquatic vegetation got a late start this year [American/Sago Pondweed] due to the cold Spring, and the FA took over with all the free nutrients available. My pondweeds have never really recovered, and now I'm seeing heavy planktonic algae blooms followed by heavy zooplantkton.
Guess what happened after I treated a very nutrient rich SMB reproduction pond last year with Fluridone? All pondweed gone, hello Chara. Never seen it before then.
Grass Carp love Chara, fyi. Bottom line is you have high nutrient loads in an aged bow like yours, something's gonna use them from FA, algae blooms, Chara, Milfoil, etc. Trick is to get beneficial plants you WANT in there to hopefully gain the upper hand over the undesirable ones. Not sure if you prefer Chara to other vegetation types or not, that's up to you. Think Arrowhead, American Pondweed, Lillies, Rushes and other emergent grasses.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,511
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OP
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,511 |
Good info there, thanks!
Oh, and the GC have exploded since stocking them last October, so they certainly like something in there (I'm assuming CT as well as Chara)!
I've expected a FA explosion after Fluridone treatments but I am extremely fortunate to have a very limited amount and only in one area. And the only weeds I've found in the pond at this point have been CT and now Chara. Which is better than FA but I'd much rather have beneficial emerged grasses/vegetation than submerged weeds or algae. But haven't been able to get any started due to the Fluridone treatments killing everything.
And I don't know the difference between phytoplankton, photoplankton, planktonic algae and zooplankton or even planktonic plankton, (LOL) but I know I've had a good bloom all spring and summer. (hang on, I'm trying to make sense of what I just wrote, LOL)
I guess since my water clarity has averaged 12-24" since Spring and my fish-guy in May commenting on having a great bloom (greenish color and good for the fish, he said), it hasn't really cleared up or gotten worse. So I'm guessing that's a good thing if it's food for the fish and the sun can't penetrate the nutrient-rich bottom. I can at least see the spawn beds and the fry swimming in schools, so that's cool!
My water level's at it's highest ever but I'm wondering if it wouldn't be a good idea to let the water level drop to get some preferred vegetation planted and then bring it back up. And whether this fall or spring would be the best time to plant. And which plants/grasses would be best, but you've given me some to consider.
Thanks,
Keith
Last edited by Lovnlivin; 08/20/13 06:24 PM.
Keith - Still Lovin Livin https://youtu.be/o-R41Rfx0k0(a short video tribute to the PB members we met on our 5 week fishing adventure) Formerly: 2ac LMB,HSB,BG,HBG,RES
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Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
Koi
by PAfarmPondPGH69, October 22
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