Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants How to control FA (filamentous algae)

Rusto:

I use Cutrine Plus LIquid in a customers 5/8 acre pond that has 10' max depth, shaped sort of like a rectangle with rounded corners. I will use 1/2 gallon at a time, mixed with 5 gallons of water and sprayed with a backpack sprayer around the edges of the pond to kill the FA before we stock Tilapia, and maybe once more in the year if needed.

There are a dozen Koi in the pond along with LMB and BG.

I've been doing this for about 8 years now with no ill effects to the Koi. I wouldn't try a stronger dose of Cutrine Plus though. Some Koi in this pond are approaching 20 years of age.

Thank everyone for all the tips and ideas. This year will be alot different then the past years for me. The pond is full and just bout 2 hit the over flow spot (within inches). Lots more plants than last year and plan on adding more varieties also. I know I want some kind of lillies or lotus. Also going to make some floating islands at some point. Thinking about making 1 or more with just water hyacinth in it. Maybe like hula hoop size.

I ordered a gallon of Cutrine plus and a lake rake today. I have removed all of it I could reach with a lawn rake (not ideal for the job). Hopefully it works a lot better than what im using now. Got my fingers crossed. When the cutrine kills the algae do you still need to remove it ?

If you remove the algae, that is all the less nutrients that are in the pond for more to grow.

The answer is no, you don't "have to" remove it, but will help the pond if you do. If you do, place it in an area that won't see water running through that area back to your pond because as it decomposes, the nutrients could run right back to the pond. Just pulling it out of the water won't do much good.

Can ya give me any dos or dont about spraying this stuff. Do you give all a good soaking or just alil spray like weed killer? Any tips or tricks I'm all ears. By the way we just a new lil paddle boat. So I could use tht to get on the deep side of it and spray towards the bank which is were most of it has gather. I'm sure if it matters just an idea in my head.

If anyone is dealing with FA this tool is a must. Iv been using the small rake a couple weeks now. Pretty sure I just pulled more moss out in the last 30 minutes than athe last couple weeks.

The pond is looking great Rusto!

Are you going to have lumberjack shoulders the next time we see you?

Rusto, I'd think twice before adding water hyacinths. They are highly invasive & can take over a lake incredibly fast. Nearly ruined one of my favorite Texas cattle tanks, almost got unfishable.

I had some a couple years ago. They spread fast but I didnt have very many. Planning on put them on a floating island type of thing. Will watch them for sure. If they start to get carried away I will remove some for sure. Here they die off in the fall also. Even tired to keep some on my shop over the winter and they died also. But as always thanks 4 the heads up I will keep an eye on them.

Just received this also. Brings another question up. I have read the bottle but it dosnt give me an answer. Will this be safe to swim in when it gets warmer out?

Rusto,

From the product information sheet for Cutrine Plus:

Restrictions & Regulatory Information
Waters treated with this product may be used for
swimming, fishing, further potable water treatment,
livestock watering or irrigating turf, ornamental plants or
crops after treatment.

Do not use in waters containing Koi and hybrid goldfish.
Not intended for use in small volume, garden pond
systems.

I would STILL wait a day or two before swimming.

Also, esshup has a post (2/26/21) in this thread on his treatment protocol with the koi in his pond. I would hate for you to lose your old happy koi!

Good luck,
Rod

I dont want to lose it either. They FA is almost completely gone now. Havnt used the product yet. Wondering if I still should. I got prolly 90% out from taking. Dont mind some of it cause it sounds beneficial just dont want it taking over again. Also if the koi dosnt make it tht wont cause any lost sleep. I do look for the big fella every time I walk the pond. Havnt seen it yet since Thanksgiving day. And thanks you for researching tht for me.

Keep posting your stuff!

I am pretty sure I will have the exact same problems 4 years from now.

Wanted to ask if Cutrine Plus could be used in our pond that was stocked with trout. We are getting FA starting around the banks. I read you can’t use copper based products with trout in the pond. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

From one of the manufacturer's web pages,

"Cutrine Plus Granular can be toxic to trout if water hardness is less than 50 ppm. While most bodies of water are generally above this level, it is best to test for hardness using an economical and readily available hardness test strip if trout are present."

I would assume a similar caution would be applicable for Cutrine Plus Liquid.

Were it mine, I would not use the Cutrine if you can live with the current state of things. Good work getting it out. Going forward I do think it will help to grow and remove some TP each year. Such harvest should remove nutrients. Other types of cropping might help too. Like possibly circulating the pond water to grow champion tomatoes with outdoor aqua-ponics of some sort. I don't know of anyone doing this who is active at the forum but perhaps you could try it if you like to grow garden stuff too.

I like my tropical plants. Several different spots on my yard that have bannana trees and elephant ears. Those are the kind I do. My kids want to try pumpkins this year. So sounds like a pumpkin patch in my future. I'm sure it would be cool for someone but I'm gunna pass on that sounds like alot of setup and work. I enjoy projects but I like the one and done ones.

Prize winning 4H project for one of your girls?

Last year I did some experimenting with horizontal aeration and it seemed to impact my FA to a significant degree. From my understanding, FA is kept afloat by gas bubbles trapped under the FA. In my pond I had 2 circulators (de-icers) pointed the same direction to keep the water moving in a lazy river type of flow around my pond. When the FA got near the circulator, the current would 'tear' the mats of FA and the pieces would appear to sink to the bottom. Full Disclosure: I didn't do this all year and in fact I started it AFTER the peak of my FA season. This year I plan on starting as soon as air temps warm up.

Now this doesn't impact nutrient load in a pond to my knowledge, but it may put it to work in a different form (plankton possibly?). I can report my water clarity since turning off the circulators has been better than any other winter.

If anyone else is interested in similar, I do have some Do's and Don'ts to abide by.

Please post the Do's and Dont's!

https://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=526643&page=1

I'll try to add more to this later when I get time. I didn't have time to read through this thread as I'm headed out the door after paddlefish. I'm guessing I've learned a bit since that post.

I have to admit I was wrong dead wrong. When is said 90% i was off big time. We had some big rains and it was just under the water then. Every time the wind picks up alil the bank is covered. So tomorrow its getting the chemicals thrown at it. I plan on mainly doing my shallow side. I will post the results.

Here is some before pictures. This is Saturday morning. Sprayed maybe half a gallon around about half the edge.

Good luck in your battle!

RS, if it's truly that bad, maybe treat a third and wait 10 days. By the time the entire pond is done we'll have some tilapia for ya.