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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 116
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OP
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 116 |
I am considering adding some water Hyacinth in my pond to cut down on algae but also for the aesthetics and habitat. My big fear is I do not want it to spread it overtake my pond. It is a small pond, only about an eighth of an acre. I have read on water hyacinth a decent bit and seems like most people are using corrals. Is it necessary to have netting underneath a floating corral to contain it, or can I just put a floating border such as a hula hoop without worry of it overtaking my pond? Ideally I would like to just create a border in a couple of different spots in the shallows and have the plants growing naturally not floating out in the middle under netting. Does anyone have experience with this or do's and don'ts for managing water hyacinths? Thanks in advance
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,795 Likes: 274
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,795 Likes: 274 |
I'd be very leery of water hyacinth, Freg. Beautiful, but spreads fast in fertile environment. Honestly don't think a hula hoop will keep it contained for long. My favorite 12 acre tank in southern Texas got 90 percent covered with hyacinth and they had a dickens of a time getting rid of it.
That said, it's your place and your choice. Just be prepared to take quick action when & if it gets out of hand.
7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS -86
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 116
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OP
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 116 |
That's exactly why I have held off Thus far. Is there any way It could possibly spread if I planted it inside of netting?
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,795 Likes: 274
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,795 Likes: 274 |
Honestly don't know if netting would contain it, someone with more expertise than I would have to answer that. I do know that if you ever decide to eliminate the floating plant, it has seeds/shoots in the pond bottom that will come back again and again for years. Also, hyacinths increase water evaporation and actually raise water temps in the summer when you might not want that.
On the plus side, they really are pretty & make fairly good cover for small fish. When three friends and I raked out as much as we could, the LMB went nuts hitting the suddenly exposed prey fish. Unfortunately, two weeks later the water four guys spent hours raking looked just as hyacinth choked as it did before!
7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS -86
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,744 Likes: 512
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,744 Likes: 512 |
Water hyacinth is beautiful - and horribly invasive. It is actually a "prohibited" plant in Florida, where conditions are nearly perfect for it to spread. Conditions in TN probably won't be perfect, but should still be pretty good (to spread). Water Hyacinth - Florida AdvisoryYou might consider starting it inside your pond in single Walmart plastic kiddie pool. Level a place on the bottom of the pond, drill some water circulation holes in the plastic, and put some good soil in the pool. The water hyacinth should rapidly fill the pool. If you see any bit escape, I would drag the pool out of the pond and dig out every hyacinth shoot I could find in the rest of the pond. If the water hyacinth behaves in the pool, then you could consider adding more pools and determining attractive ways to hide the rims in the pond. In my non-expert opinion, there are many other rooted plants that will steal some of the nutrients from your algae, yet still not take over your pond and cause a NEW problem. There are some good plant threads in the forum if you use the search function. Good luck on your pond improvement project!
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 14,952 Likes: 407
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 14,952 Likes: 407 |
If your area in TN gets ice cover or frequent winter frosts water hyacinth will not survive in the pond over winter. I think it requires a minimum concentration of iron in the water for good growth. In a small 1/8 ac pond you should be able to remove enough plants regularly during the summer to keep it from overtaking the pond. With the hyacinth growing well in the pond water should be pretty clear and very little filamentous algae.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 116
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OP
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 116 |
We get cold temperatures and plenty of frost but rarely does the pond freeze over. That is good to know though that water heist and would be killed by the pond freezing. I currently have four water lilies and some cattails. The water will get very clear at times if we have not had rain, however there is a lot of algae and what I believe is American pond weed. I think I may go for trying to grow some water hyacinth in a tub or kitty swimming pool in the pond. OR does anybody else have other suggestions on plants that would do a good job of pulling nutrients out of the pond? I'm upgrading my aerator soon and using good bacteria to try to break down some of the muck. I've been informed by neighbors that my pond is at least 60 years old and was never taken care of until I moved in a few years ago.
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,795 Likes: 274
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,795 Likes: 274 |
Freg, is it legal to stock tilapia where you are? They won't survive your winter temps, but do a good job with algae. You'd probably only need a few for a 1/8 acre pond. Stock mixed sexes when water temps are reliably above mid fifties, they will eat algae & spawn more until water cools down in fall.
7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS -86
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Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 125 Likes: 28
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Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 125 Likes: 28 |
We had -8 degrees for a week 2 years ago and I can show you hyacinth in our lake today. I spray every patch i find and we still have it after 5 years of spraying. It is under control.
Ross Canant
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 116
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OP
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 116 |
Good to know. So do you wish there was none in there?
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 14,952 Likes: 407
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 14,952 Likes: 407 |
IMO There is a big difference between a 1/8 ac pond and a lake when dealing with water hyacinth.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
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1 member likes this:
RossC |
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 27,966 Likes: 645
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent  Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent  Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 27,966 Likes: 645 |
^^^ I completely agree with Bill. I had it in my small 8' dia pond when I had Mandarin and Wood Ducks there, and I had to put chicken wire around it or they'd eat it all. It helped utilize some of the nutrients that they pooped in the water. I'd take 3/4 of it out, and it'd fill the cage again in a month. Remove it for compost/fertilizer and repeat the process.
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1 member likes this:
FishinRod |
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Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 125 Likes: 28
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Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 125 Likes: 28 |
Good to know. So do you wish there was none in there? Yes, I wish it wasn't here so I wouldn't have to monitor and spray forever.
Ross Canant
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 116
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OP
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 116 |
I stocked tilapia one year but found they mainly ate the fish feed more than the algae.
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 116
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OP
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 116 |
That was my thought. If I kept it contained and monitored it, it would be unlikely to overtake my pond. I would hate to have a lake overtaken by it.
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,795 Likes: 274
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,795 Likes: 274 |
I stocked tilapia one year but found they mainly ate the fish feed more than the algae. I had a bad experience with TP when I did initial stocking. Not much algae, so they dined on the FHM I'd put in there to feed the bass. By the time I stocked the bass, most of the FHM were gone. Bass stunted due to lack of forage, except for those relative few shooters who turned into cannibals. A costly lesson, and not just in dollars.
7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS -86
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