Pond scum

[kfd82]

Anyone here know about spraying ponds? Every summer I get some floating scum, and some kind of water weeds. Also some cattails in one end.
I know I could go to the extension office and have the agent come out and identify each thing. Then I would have to go to an applicators class, then buy the proper chemicals.

I would like to avoid this if possible. Anyone here spray ponds for extra money? Or just want to help a brother out in return for some beer and bbq?

Drop me a line, give some Ideas. I might even look in the yellow pages to find a service but I dont know what to look under. I dont think there is a heading for pond sprayers..

[bwssr]

grass carp

[kfd82]

Would that effect my catfish and bass? What all do they eat?

[Bily Lovec]

I thought this was a political post...


use the grass carp, Ive had great luck with those.... may wanna throw you some koi in there also for color..

[cheez]

Do a search for pond management or the Texas Aquaculture Association to find someone that will treat your pond. The Texas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society has produced a manual for managing small ponds. You can find it here:
http://www.sdafs.org/tcafs/manuals/index.htm

The only one I can remember right now is Malcolm Johnson of Johnson Lake Management. He is out of San Marcos. I know there are a couple around Houston but can't remember the companies right now. Malcolm's web page is here: http://www.johnsonlakemgt.com/

[sq2shooter]

how do u go about getting some grass carp, i have this same problem

[Roscoe]

Go to the "Pond Boss" website. They are a NE Texas based website..some good folks on there and TONS of knowledge about pond management.

As far as pond scum. I assume you are talking about green "cottony" looking stuff that is such a pain when fishing and lookslikes it would be majorly slimy to the touch, but is not? Tilapia are great alternative to chemical for this stuff. These suckers breed like rabbits and will wipe the floating scum out. They are relatively inexpensive for the job they do and you don't have to do the chemical thing with them. The downside, unless you are in south Texas, you gotta restock them every year because they can't handle the cold temps in winter. Still, better than chemicals, good eatin fish by all accounts, and your bass will love their offspring!

I see you are from Madisonville, contact Todd Overton w/Overton Fisheries. He's right on the interstate between Buffalo and Centerville. He's good people and will point you in the right direction regardless of what you decide to do on the problem. http://www.overtonfisheries.com/

[Bobcat]

Go to Pondboss.com and ask Bob Lusk this question.

He's a fishery biologist that writes and works nationally.

How large and deep is the pond? Water type? Sun exposure?

Triploid Grass Carp is one solution, but they have their pitfalls as well. You need some underwater vegetation, they can wipe it out completely.

Pond scum may be indicative of a water that becomes to hot leading to low levels of oxygen or to much sun down deep. The scum might be a symptom of a pond not functioning as well as it could.

If you are feeding any kind of fishfood then the uneaten and rotting food is also fuel for oragnisms that feed off of the nutrients and use oxygen leading to pond scum. (bacteria & algae especially) Heat promotes this process.

The cattails are a problem all of thier own. Ask that questionly specifically. treating them is the most sure fire way of killing them, but only certain herbicides should be used to treat them due to their impact on fish and water quality.

[Roscoe]

I see we had the same idea BC!

[trophy8]

my buddys uncle owns a stocking service. he uses koi and grass carp to clean em out, then stocks bass etc. he sprays a few but doesnt like to cuz he thinks it messes with the fish that are already in there? idk. but i do know the carp and koi work for sure.

[mavrick]

Pond

The cattails are easy. You can use Eraser AQ or Rodeo. Both are recommended for aquatic use. Both can be bought over the counter. You really have to know what the pond scum is to make it go away. Do not use Roundup, the active ingredient is the same as Rodeo or Eraser AQ but Roundup has a surfactant that kills fish. Just add a little soap with either product.

If you have any questions email me at wesleystokes@cs.com.

[Bobcat]

Roscoe I think we were typing at the same time

Bob is a nice good guy who knows his stuff from experience as well as education. He allowed me to tag along with him on a field trip to Freer to evaluate pond construction and dam building techniques. It was a great experience and one that I still vividly remember 15 years later.

[kfd82]

Well I was all fired up about getting some grass carp and tilapia. Grass carp for some of the weeds, and tilapia for the scum... aka FA?? then I found out you have to have a permit from tpw to nuy the carp. Its gonna cost me 35 bucks for permit fees, then I have to buy the fish.

Anyway, thanks for the help guys! I really think I'm gonna go with fish to clean it up. (except the cattails)

[huntmaster]

Karmex, get it at the feed store. 5#'s will cost 75.00 but it will do a 1A tank twice.

[Roscoe]

Yep, FA is what i was thinking. I used the tilapia in a small pond and they made it disappear!