Farmall Cub

My buddy has a pond we fish in pretty regularly. I was wondering if anyone has used any of that pond dye, or I've heard burnt lime, to make the water more clear and attractive? I've heard lime will kill the fish, just wondering? Thanks Brandon.

Brandon:
Is it Muddy, algae, do you have rocks along the edge?
algae - copper sulfate.
Phil

It's mostly just muddy. In late summer it does get plum scummy on top, when you go through it with a boat it parts the scum. It's lined by woods on all sides with heavy timber and is completely tree lined except for the dam and it's natural slate rock.

It's really a beautiful natural place, I try to keep it mowed and we camp down there alot. I just thought if I made the water a little more clear it would just be that much nicer. Plus his grandmother loves to see that someone takes interest in it and cares for it, and I greatly enjoy having a nice place to fish and camp. Brandon.

Brandon
I would use copper sulfate for the algae, the mud will only be stoped by one removing fish or line it with gravel. The pond being surrounded by woods , it probally doesn'get enough areation. If you can try a bubbler to get the water moving. That may be the main problem.
I put Goldfish in our pond 3 yrs ago, not expecting them to live. (feeder fish from walmart. 1 in long.) have not even though of them until this year. they started doing what carp do , churn mud up. the pond was filthy. They were a HONKING 6 " long. I got them removed and the pond is clearing up. I have no stone around our pond. More of a amphibian pond(No Fish)
Phil

The blue dye will inhibit algae growth but it needs to be used early in the spring. We built a pond for my son 4 years ago, used the dye every spring and no vegetative growth yet.

P.S. Do not add lime as lime will encourage vegetative growth.

You can use limestone to increase the pH if you have a problem with acid rain.

If the dye kills the vegetation, will it hurt the fish population?

I would steer away from the dye. It looks good for a while, if it is a huge pond. I have swans in our pond they will clean up submerged vegetation.
The eco system you have, weeds harbor fish ,however weeds tangle hooks to catch the fish. you will have to deal with one to get the other. I would be more concerned about the water quality than meer appearance.
My.02
Phil

Brandon:

Phill has a valid point. Aeration is a big deal.. it is something that needs to be done on a regular basis is there is not enough natural aeration such as a large inflowing stream etc.

I use sump pumps.. they work very well, and are pretty inexpensive. However you do need electricity or you need a pump that can be driven by say your Cub's pto or a 12 volt pond pump. Run it for a couple hours if possible. The fish WILL like it and they will be much larger and stronger too...

Phil: how much copper sulfate? in a pond 500 feet by 50-100 feet and the deepest say 20 foot, how much is right and won't hurt me trout????


East end of the pond

Panning toward the Southwest end of the pond

Southwest and the deepest end of the pond. The pump is currently out of the water as it is being outfitted with a much larger capacity, constant flow pump that should provide me with even better aeration than I have now.

Oh, there are approximately 5,000 or so Brook and Rainbow Trout living there.. you should see them jump

Rudi
I don't recall , there is also a product called catrine. works for algea as well
It is a liquid product, copper sulfate is, If I remember, a Powder.
Phil

The pond I'm talking about is a little bigger than rudi's but not much bigger. I'll try to take some pics next time I'm there. There's no electric within half a mile of there, so the pumps are out of the question. Thanks Brandon.

Problem killing a lot of weeds at one time is the oxygen drain on the pond as they decompose. Time to get weeds is early in the year. The grandkids swimming in my pond provides some aeration and a lot of fun. Though not enough for 3 1/2 acres. I have never used it but I have heard that barley straw will keep algie down. Some places sell it for that purpose. I guess the sterile chinese cxarp or what ever the name is will help too.
CRS sets in and I only remember 1/2 the story.[/b]

The key is to turn the lower surface water and debris suspended and moving to the top. Kind of like a sewage system moving lower wastes to the top to keep the system oxgenated. as Beaconlight suggests. Decompsing and keeping things moving. Thus the word Stagnet , setting Idle and foulingl.
Phil

Brandon Webb silverta16 wrote:The pond I'm talking about is a little bigger than rudi's but not much bigger. I'll try to take some pics next time I'm there. There's no electric within half a mile of there, so the pumps are out of the question. Thanks Brandon.

Brandon..

That is a good use for one of your Cubs. Put a genny head on it and run a sump pump or floatation pump or even an irrigation pump into a fountain head. Run that a couple times a week and you should see an enormous improvement. Plus it gives you the added benefit of filling a need for a specific Cub, getting seat time and the joy and satisfaction of building something that puts back into the world instead of taking..

Those are all reasons why I do what I do.. especially putting back. If we all put a little back into nature, we will definitely guarantee a wonderful future for our grandchildren.. and your kids that you and your wife want to have..