Tractor and my pond

[plowhog]

I have a one acre pond which has suffered through four years of drought. In that time many aquatic plants began to grow.

For the first time this year, I have floating plants/algae. There are two established colonies-- one about fifteen feet across and one about ten feet across. I was advised to use a tractor to pull them out, but have no idea how to latch onto them? One thing I know is they are heavy. I rake small quantities of this material at the overflow, and just a single cubic foot weighs a LOT. Probably because it is mostly water.

Any ideas on how to latch onto this? I do have a logging winch but haven't used it yet. Or, some sort of rope system to the drawbar? It seems I need to get a number of attach points or the thing might slice in half?

 

[BoylermanCT]

They sell pond rakes for this purpose. Hook a rope to the tractor and to the rake, and off you go. Of course, this assumes you can get the tractor close to the pond, and have space to drive the tractor far enough to rake the pond.

 

[Wagtail]

Have a read through this thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/337516-alien-invasion-i-want-my.html

There are lots of suggestions in it that may suit your situation. It's a long thread but he did get his pond back.

 

[KennK]

Keep in mind that stirring up the bottom of your pond can add nutrients to the water which in turn can facilitate algae growth.

What exactly is your objective? Fish, if present, need the weeds to hide and seek shelter, so you don't want a pond to be completely weed free.

If your objective is to open lanes for boating (to keep from fouling up a motor prop) then you should limit your removal to what is needed. As mentioned, the two typical ways is by using something to grab the weeds and pull them out (I've seen people weld two hard-tine rakes together back to back and form a loop that is tied to rope. Another option that I've seen advertised is a wide blade that sinks a bit and theoretically cuts the weed stems. Then you'd have to collect the floating vegetation with a rake-like device.

The only use of the tractor would be if the "load" was so big you can't pull it in by hand.

Oh, and of course they make weed cutting boats, but they are really quite expensive and likely beyond your budget.

 

[LD1]

long rope and drop a spike tooth harrow on the other side. Pull the harrow across the pond

 

[boggen]

some links that might help you find other information.
pondboss.com = forum more for mud ponds
koiphen.com = forum more for liner ponds

if you are pulling weeds / plants / algae / moss out of the lake/pond make sure you pull it clear up and out of the water. and do not let the stuff "decay" in the water.

 

[Rustyiron]

Drag a (tractor 3 pt) rake across your pond with your logging winch.
I use a blue dye (aqua shade) or TSC has one they brand, it works very well but not for killing weeds. Put it in before the warm weather/water growing season.

 

[Tigershark]

Order reward herbicide and spray parts of your pond. We have a 1.5 acre lake and have 8 grass carp that do a good job but sometimes it gets too hot you have to treat parts

 

[plowhog]

Went to rake the aquatic stuff at the overflow today. Found a 10 inch bass had gone over the spillway, through the culvert pipe, and was somehow trying to survive in a small flow of water overwhelmed with aquatic stuff. Didn't know how long he had been there, and he was sort of upside down at first.

I picked him up, went to the spillway, and thought I would hold him in the gentle current to get some oxygen across his gills. But as soon as I lowered him into the pond --- WHOOSH --- and off he went. I'll get some pictures of the algae stuff tomorrow.

 

[KennK]

To be safe, grass carp - or any other non-native species - should NEVER be introduced into a body of water that has ANY chance of overflow into another body of water. History is filled with the nasty results of the best of intentions.

 

[LD1]

That's the whole point of certified triploid grass carp. They cannot reproduce. Therefore they won't explode in population and over take native species

 

[boggen]

That's the whole point of certified triploid grass carp. They cannot reproduce. Therefore they won't explode in population and over take native species

triploid / white almur grass carp. are normally female and been spaded. and many states require you to have a permit to even place them in a pond/lake, heck to even buy them, you will most likely asked to show proof of permit. at least that has been my experience.

 

[boggen]

i built my own moss rake. out of 1/2" to 1" galvanized conduit / metal pipe.

i bent the pipe into "hooks" much like a fishing hook. about 1.5' to 2' foot in diameter

mounted the hooks on a "think single axle mini trailer frame" that has a V shape tongue on it.

most of hooks go down, but on sides i have them angled out. so as to grab any looks chunks of moss that will want to float away.

at most you only need 2 rows of hooks (one in front another) spaced a couple feet apart, any more additional row of hooks more of a waste. or less you are floating the front end. and wanting to drag the bottom into the mud. which *meh* not a good idea.

initially the contraption will want to sink, if you can offer say a couple 5 gallon buckets that are sealed tight, and attached to the unit to help make it float near front of the unit. it will initial work better. BUT once it loads up with moss, it will want to stay more on top of the moss (fully loaded up).

the only issue with above you need a tractor with FEL (front end loader) or mini ex (mini excavator) or something to physically lift the few hundred lbs of WET moss and unit up out of the water and onto bank of shore. else you will be down there with a "pitch fork" shoveling moss up onto the bank. so the moss does not decay in the water causing additional issues with water and providing more nutrients for another growth of algae and moss to happen.

1.8 acre lake. and had so many chains/ropes/cables hooked up so i could even get something attached. it is rather scary pulling it. (weakest link breaking). and it has broken a few times.

i do have a 10 - 55 gallon drum raft. with trolling motor. so it is easier for me to drag contraption up on to it. go were ever. drop it. and then let out the cable/rope to a bank further down. if i was using a small bass boat with oars or like. it would be a large pain in the rear to deal with this contraption.

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aeration would be best suggestion for any pond/lake. it is not immediate effect. but long term give it a year or 2. and the benefits will start showing up better. other words it takes time for the bacteria and eco system in the mud in bottom of the pond/lake to grow. to point it can start breaking down more muck / black dirt in the bottom. and help offset any nutrients that would be feeding water weeds/moss/algae.

 

[AxleHub]

A real simple solution would be a "sand anchor" like is used in a river or a lake. Its typically used in areas where weight is not going to help anchor a boat. They fold and usually are a couple feet wide. You can likely buy a used one for $20 to $50 depending on size. I have one that is 30 inches tall and the width is 2 feet. May be able to get the rope for it already attached and part of the used purchase.

Works great in weed beds or sand bottoms and will release easily by just changing direction of the pull.

 

[LD1]

triploid / white almur grass carp. are normally female and been spaded. and many states require you to have a permit to even place them in a pond/lake, heck to even buy them, you will most likely asked to show proof of permit. at least that has been my experience.

Triploid carp are more than just females that have been spayed.

They can be male or female. The are missing a chromosome that causes reproduction.

Don't know the laws in other states. But have never heard of needing a permit to purchase triploid carp. Ohio don't have any restrictions. And a quick search of your state shows all you need to do is buy from a licensed dealer, and have a bill of sale to transport.

And make online fish hatcheries sell the triploid carp and ship to many many states. Do fine print or anything indicating a permit is required. (Like some firearm websites and restrictions shipping to California, NY, etc)

 

[AxleHub]

I'm just a little confused. I understand the whole concept of the trilogy process but not how do they reproduce o supply them?

 

[LD1]

According to what I could find, they shock diploid carp eggs ( ones that do reproduce) with either hot or cold water. This prevents a chromosome from forming that allows reproduction. Thus the fish, when hatched, are sterile. And each individual fish gets tested and certified that it absolutely cannot reproduce before it can be sold as such.

 

[plowhog]

I learned today you do need a permit and be approved for your location also. One of the decision factors is what happens if the carp gets out of the pond, then what? In my case, I am far enough from a stream that I believe I would be approved. It is improbable that the carp could go over the overflow and somehow wriggle long and far enough to get into another watercourse.

They are very cautious with approving these carp-- and those are the sterilized ones!!

 

[boggen]

never knew you could mess with the eggs like that. interesting.

most states do require a permit, it is well over 50% maybe 75% of all states in the US. require some sort of permit. carp in general, including koi to grass carp, and various individual species of them. are invasive species. it has been a few years looking at a map someone made, but the few states that do not have laws, are generally hot/dry desert like climate, were there are very few lakes/creaks/rivers within the state.

as far as fish getting out of overflow. (been there done that), 5 to 7lb channel catfish found in a culvert years ago. that came out of one of my lakes.

from regular liner ponds, to aquariums, have seen fish jump right on out of the water and end up dying before i got around and found them at feeding time. with overflows there is not much of a "lip" and water going down them. so it is almost a no brainier for a fish to get startled and just shoot quickly in one direction even if it means coming out of the water completely. and going right down the overflow.

when i have cleaned out the overflow on the lakes here. minnows will go straight down the overflow. if i do not re-set the grates up correctly surrounding the overflows. and slam the water to scare the fish off while cleaning the overflows up.

i have tossed fish on the ground, taking out of basket, and they will hope around 100 foot if they get going in a single direction. give them just a sliver of water to keep water on there gills. and they will keep on going in one direction. till they either die, or get to some deeper waters.

in the creek going through property, have found all sorts of bluegil and bass, and channel catfish. that have come out of someones lake up stream most likely. next large rain storm, they all clear out and continue on down stream.

it is not if fish will get out of the overflow, but when will they and how many will get out of the overflow over time.

i have concrete poured around my overflows. and then grating wall at edge of the concrete. so i can help keep sticks from going down overflow. the holes are 1/2" diameter. i still end up seeing minnows on the wrong side of the grate, along with tadpoles. it may only be 1/2" of water if that. but still there.

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i would not be to worried about all the stuff i did on my own overflows. with grates and like. i got one nasty clog one time. and enough was enough, so i poured the concrete myself and put in the grates, so i never have to ever deal with any clog like that ever again. the grates are not there for keeping fish going out the overflow, but keeping branches out of the overflow.

storm + 1 large tree branch + vertical overflow 30 feet plus deep. then lots of little iddy bitty twigs getting caught on the large branch, and filled the overflow right on up with more and more twigs.

 

[LD1]

Can't speak about the rules and regs of other states. Ohio needs nothing to get triploid carp for a pond. Those states that require a permit, I cannot imagine it involves much at all