Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Copper Sulfate

pond is 1/2 acre approx 20 ft deep in the center. Average depth is probably 6-8 ft. Can someone tell me how much Copper sulfate I can use.

ok.. let me refrase my question.
IS 15 lbs too much, around the perimeter?.. Not that I can do anything about it.. It's already in there.

Are there fish in the pond ? Tell us what the pond looked like and alkalinity if you know. What was the reason for adding CUSO4 ? By putting it in where it sinks and comes in contact with the dirt causes it to bind with the dirt rather than dissolve in the water and kill plants. Best to put it in a sack and pull it through water so it dissolves.

Make sure you use the large crystal form of copper sulfate rather than the crushed form, it disolves much slower when dragging it in a bag and you are less likely to get a dangerous concentration of CS in an specific area that causes a fish kill. I would also lean towards applying a conservative amount of CS rather than a liberal amount. I would also treat one side, wait a week and then do the other side of the pond. 15 lbs around the perimeter might be a little much for a single treatment.

Established pond with fish. Goal was to get rid of algae and there is a lot of it.

..sounds like we really screwed up.

oh, and I don't know what the akalinity was but the water was pretty clear.

With the water temps as cool as they are you are probably OK. If you see a lot of fish cruising the edge of the bank that wont hit a lure then you could have the start of disolved oxygen sag. If you have an aerator then I would turn it on to keep the disolved oxygen levels up for the fish at least for the next few days. Copper Sulfate does work well on filmentuous algea but it also kills the macrophytes that are beneficial to the fish.

Thanks for your help Shorty and Ewest

we are trying to gain the upper hand on algae. It is the floating mass kind as well as the pea soup kind. Right now, it's only at the edges, but is getting larger. We believe it is from the rotting bottom plants from winter that is causing the nutrients for algae. We've sprayed liquid algaecide and that killed the floating stuff, but 2 days later another whole bunch of it. That's why we think it is coming from the bottom. We don't want to kill the plants - fish cover - but just take care of the algae. How much CS04 to use in 1/2 acre pond with wind aerator? We have bass, catfish, (goldfish - wife threw them in ) - and bluegill.

we appreciate your help!

anybody?

If it has been in there 3 days and no adverse reaction from fish then you should be ok. I would not add more. FA forms on bottom and through respiration traps gas under it a then it floats to the top. That is why often when you push on it when near the bottom you get bubbles.

What is your water color and visibility ?

3 days.. no dead fish.
We have aquashade in... so water is blue
Clarity is pretty good.

It is good that sometimes mother nature smiles on us and gives us a pass.