Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Identifying plants Is this stuff Filamentous Algae?

Hello all, I have a 1/4 acre fish pond with bass and bream in Southern Louisiana. Had this stuff growing in pond last 4 years. I end up taking most of it out ever so often with a long handled rake but it comes right back. It’s not covering the whole pond but there’s enough of it and a pain to manually remove it every 2 to 3 months. I will attempt to post some pics of it.

I uploaded the photos but they did not go through I will upload two links and try that:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ol1hzp22xrd261w/Photo%20Jul%2001%202023%2C%202%2032%2006%20PM.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3d2dexdci4pu7nr/Photo%20Jul%2001%202023%2C%202%2032%2020%20PM.jpg?dl=0

Well that didn’t work, can someone explain how upload a photo, it does work to copy each link and past in browser

I am learning plants also, so I would love to see your photos. Alas, the forum royally sucks for posting images.

Here is a solution:

Use a photo hosting site that allows you to copy the BBCode of the image. imgur is a good site for this. Just ignore all the extraneous social media crap that goes with it. Copy and paste that BBCode in the body of your forum message. The image will appear in-line without requiring the reader to click on a link. Good luck.

Tks I’ll try that, FYI each picture I uploaded directly was under the 2 meg size and it seems like the post took it but it doesn’t appear.

Test

I hear you. I tried the same. The image tools in the forum don't work, period. You need to use a 3rd party site.

Only way I could do it is to get some links, please press them to see the pictures, embedding them did not work

https://ibb.co/pJVQkSP
https://ibb.co/hZg501s

Hmm, I pasted your photo's BBCode from ibb, and the image shows up.

As for the filamentous algae, my guess is no, but let's have the experts weigh in.

Thank you, I don’t know either, this is nuts, at least the experts can see it

From that crappie picture, it is possible that stuff is Chara - a coarse branchy sometimes twiggy form of algae. It is possible it is 'small pondweed'. No one can see any structural details of the plant other than it is green. One cannot see any form of detailed structure in that compact "wad" of greenery to put an acurate name on it. Try again. Here is a link to how best take and present pictures of aquatic plants and algae.
https://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=371748#Post371748

Thanks Knobber figured it out now, rather have a wisdom tooth pulled, lol

Thank you so much Bill Cody will do, I will try again to get good pic in daylight following the directions

Ok trying, this as close as I can get with camera, once I dried it started falling apart and breaks apart easy, this on a regular 8x11 sheet of paper

Definitely not filamentous algae.

What do think it could be to kill it without killing the fish, I’ve tried roundup but not working i guess I could try some 24d. I will take pic of pond and post

The pond is about 35 years old huge cypress trees around it and I do have about 8 huge coy fish that took care of my duck weed problem and other big vegetation that was rooted to the shallow areas but they won’t eat this stuff

The stuff in the last picture looks like FA to me, but if it's the same stuff that is on the hoe it's not FA, and I have no idea what it is. If Glyphosate doesn't kill it, I doubt 2,4-D will.

I would try generic Clipper - the active ingredient is flumioxazin. Or Green Clean Pro. Typically you use Cutrine Plus liquid for 95% of the algae that is out there, but if used too heavily it will kill Koi. I use 1 quart mixed in 2.5 gallons of water and spray around the edge of a 3/4 acre pond that has Koi in it, but I'm only spraying the 3-4 feet closest to the shoreline and the Koi that are in it are fine.

You could also try going here and see if you can ID it. https://aquaplant.tamu.edu/plant-identification/

FYI - the koi or fish that ate the duckweed and big vegetation could have indirectly caused the current "green" problem by eating and reducing large amounts of green growth. This large amount of plant reduction by the fish resulted in lots of nutrients to be recycled and be available. "Nature abhors a vacuum" so something in the form of a new type plant moved in that likes lots of nutrient conditions and was able to grow because the fish will not eat it. Now the new plant can grow unrestricted based on availability of nutrients. IMO the koi did not really fix the problem they just ate the resultant plant growth that was growing from too many available nutrients. It is very similar to blowing your nose when you have a head cold. Blowing the nose reduces the drainage but it does not fix the problem of the cause - viral head cold. The drainage is just a symptom of a head cold, just as excessive plant growth is a symptom of too many unused nutrients.

Thanks for the information from both of you, and yes that is the same stuff on the hoe, that’s where I got it from. There may be some regular algae mixed in with some of it but when I rake it out manually it looks just like on the hoe no slimy type algae attached to it or mixed with it.

For giggles I will try some 2-4d since I have some already. The Glyphosate definitely did not kill it. The reason I will give it a try is we have a problem with Artillery Weed that Glyphosate will not even wilt but 24-d kills it dead. If that doesn’t work then I will try maybe some of that Clipper. Thank y’all again.

In just 1/4 ac of water maybe dipping it out as it floats up may be the best way to deal with it. You should be able to remove lots of it in one hour using a long handled 1/4 mesh net. Look for a smelt / shad net. Removing it removes the nutrients that it absorbed for growth. Killing it just recycles those nutrients back into the pond for growing the next plant episode.
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-shad-smelt-shrimp-net 6 ft handle
There are smelt nets available with longer handles up to 11 ft. Longer handles increases shipping cost.


If you are somewhat 'handy' you can buy just the dipping net with no handle and adapt it to fit a telescoping threaded extension pole from a Big Box Store. Some of these handles are long - maybe 20 ft.
One option is a: 15 ft. Telescopic Commercial Swimming Pool Pole (3-Piece) 1 1/4" pole OD
or
HDX POOL SKIMMERS - Nets Heavy-Duty Aluminum Leaf Rake for Swimming Pools and Spas Home Depot


Just the Net Head for adding your own handle.
These nets are very durable and built with the Monorail Hoop that protects the netting from abrasion. The netting channel reinforces the hoop against bending or breaking. The peripheral cord holds the netting securely in the hoop.

http://www.jonahsaquarium.com/JonahSite/netdipnet.htm
Perfect Dipnet Net Head Only includes the hoop, netting and yoke. Yoke accepts 1-1/8 inch diameter round handle. Other yoke sizes may be special ordered. This is the net head only without a handle. Hoop is 16.5 inches wide and 20 inches long with yoke.
1/4" Mesh plus smaller mesh sizes
Model 1H Net Head 16.5" hoop, White 1/8" Ace netting x 10 inches deep $33.00 Order
Model 2H Net Head 16.5" hoop, Black 1/8" Ace netting x 10 inches deep $33.00 Order
Model 4H Net Head 16.5" hoop, Green 1/8" Ace netting x 10 inches deep $33.00 Order
Model 7H Net Head 16.5" hoop White 1/32" Micromesh Bug Netting x 10 inches deep $33.00 Order

I have been using a small rake taped and attached to my fiberglass handled tree saw for reach. I do already have an above ground pool extendable aluminum pole, I just need to get a good net like you suggest. And boy the last few times I’ve manually removed it I can only get a little bit at a time with the rake, it’s definitely heavy if I grab too much. Tks for the suggestion

You will discover the net works a lot better for removing certain things compared to a rake. Rakes are very good for certain tasks. Always best results are using the right tool for each job. Length of the handle is also important. Be careful to not over load the net or you will bend or break the net frame and maybe the pole.

"Removing it removes the nutrients that it absorbed for growth. Killing it just recycles those nutrients back into the pond for growing the next plant episode."

P.S. When Bill says to "remove the nutrients", you need to move the FA out of the entire watershed basin above the pond. If it just decays on land, then the next rain will wash most of the nutrients back into the pond.

Sorry to make MORE work for you, but I want your work to be productive!

Tks for the heads up Fishinrod, but I have a 6 foot levee around pond when I have been pulling it out I throw it down levee so when it rains it does not go back into pond just down onto dirt/grass surrounding pond then out to coulee.