Tractor and my pond

[LD1]

CA certainly has some strange laws.

Guess I didn't realize this was in CA so my bad. But the advice is still the same, the triploid carp are one of the best ways at controlling the aquatic weeds without being toxic or detrimental to the other fish like chemicals.

The only concern is them competing with native weed eating fish. But for a built (not naturally occurring) farm pond that is stocked with bass, bluegill, catfish, etc.....nothing is really native. And most of the fish people stock don't eat the weeds, so they aren't gonna compete and starve your other fish.

If it ain't too much work to get a permit and put in the carp, do so. And with what you said, it could go either way. Might have a waiting period, jump through hoops, etc. Or it could lean the way of the prostitution bill and be nothing required at all?

Triploid carp typically get stocked 10-12 per surface acre.

And personally I like to stock them in even numbers. Even though there is no science behind it, just my personal observation of seeing more than a dozen ponds, with anywhere from 4 to 16 carp......never see an odd number. They always seem to swim in pairs. So I don't want one fish to be left out, or have to be the third wheel

 

[rekees4300]

Triploid carp typically get stocked 10-12 per surface acre.

I stocked 12 Triploid (sterile) carp (aka Amur) minnows (5 inch) into my 1 acre pond 2 years ago. Now they are 24 inches and all of the American Pondweed, algae, and Cattails are gone. IMO mechanical methods (been there done that) to remove vegetation are a never ending waste of time.

 

[plowhog]

An expert from the local district seems to think even two carp could really make a difference. Apparently they only eat vegetation and the bass, bluegill, and catfish don't. Or, they don't eat enough of it to be a concern.

I agree on the futility of mechanical harvest. Just skimming at the edge is a *lot* of work.

Here is a picture of the floating stuff. The ripple to the left is a bass taking a bug on the surface right when I snapped the picture.

 

[crackerjack222]

I don't know the answer to this so will ask the intellegencie here. Why not use copper sulfate to kill the vegetation? OK I know you should only kill a small amount at a time to prevent oxygen depletion due to the decaying vegetation but over time you could control the vegetation to only that which might be beneficial.

 

[rekees4300]

I don't know the answer to this so will ask the intellegencie here. Why not use copper sulfate to kill the vegetation? OK I know you should only kill a small amount at a time to prevent oxygen depletion due to the decaying vegetation but over time you could control the vegetation to only that which might be beneficial.

Copper sulfate will kill algae (aka scum) but it wont kill plants like Pondweed or Cattails.

 

[plowhog]

There is an aquatic herbicide called Sonar that is effective at controlling the plants in my pond. But, I am in California. It is prohibited in my County.

The stuff is also expensive. Something like $400 for 16 ounces.

 

[LD1]

And there is alot of back and forth on copper sulfate and the effects on fish. Can you eat fish from a pond that has been treated? Too much treatment will kill the fish. Not enough is a waste of money. A lake would be a different story. But it's hard to just treat a small area in a small farm pond. And the OP's looks to be about 1/3 acre.

Regardless of permits, regulations, state limitations, etc. Triploid grass carp is the most natural way. It's a slow process. And when it comes to ponds, slow is good as to not "shock" the environment with a sudden change. Such as mechanical removal all at once, or a chemical kill.

Also a blue dye. No chemicals in it, just really strong dye. It blocks a certain spectrum of the uv light that the plants need. Won't do much for surface plants, or ones that have already reached the surface. But it prevents new growth.

Blue dye + grass carp. It's what I am currently doing with my pond now as well. Put 12 carp in there last year that were the size of baby bass. Maybe 10". Every once in awhile I catch a glimpse of them. They are now the biggest fish in the pond by far. And I've got some nice 17-18" bass. I'd guess the carp are pushing 6# and 22+" long.

And they say a carp will consume 200% of it's body weight a day when younger. So 12 fish that weigh 6# each should be eating 144# of weeds per day.

 

[boggen]

An expert from the local district seems to think even two carp could really make a difference. Apparently they only eat vegetation and the bass, bluegill, and catfish don't. Or, they don't eat enough of it to be a concern.

I agree on the futility of mechanical harvest. Just skimming at the edge is a *lot* of work.

Here is a picture of the floating stuff. The ripple to the left is a bass taking a bug on the surface right when I snapped the picture.

grass carp help. but not an end all final ticket to a solution. you still require to do manual chore work. keeping the lake maintained. along with dealing with how water comes into lake and keeping the water filtered (no erosion).

younger grass carp in my experience tend to eat more. than the older adult grass carp. kinda like regular human kids they can eat you out of home, and then as adults not as much food.

and grass carp will eat other smaller fish. if it fits in there mouth it is food. in this regard they can help deal with over-population of fish which can cause stunting of overall fish population. and as they get larger 2 feet to 3 feet plus in length. i would imagine there diet changes some what from vegetation to minnows.

 

[BufordBoone]

Sonar costs so much because it is worth it.

I wasted a lot of time/money trying to get my lake weeds (Elodia) under control. Finally went with Sonar and I now have a beautiful lake, clear of weeds.

 

[AxleHub]

Probably a dumb question - but if you do a small amount of weed cleaning initially - then add catfish as "cleaners and gleaners". They are hardy, not the same issues as carp - don't require chemicals in the water, and they are like nature's version of a "goat" for water aren't they ??

 

[plowhog]

The pond is stocked with catfish, bass, and bluegill. There are 20+ large catfish, some probably 10 lbs plus. I don't think they are touching the floating aquatic stuff at all.

 

[Ryansweatt2004]

Catfish are predators/scavengers, they won't do anything for controlling aquatic vegetation.

 

[plowhog]

I used to believe catfish were bottom feeders. But I occasionally throw cat food onto the pond surface, and the catfish come along and "vacuum" it up.

I cast my fishing line and lure at the floating muck. Set the hook, pulled, and BANG the line snapped. Like in the movie Jaws, "I think I need a bigger boat!"

 

[rekees4300]

Like in the movie Jaws, "I think I need a bigger boat!"

Record Grass Carp for Indiana is 65 lbs. 2 oz. and that was from a farm pond!

 

[plowhog]

If one of these was in my pond, I'm not sure I would be comfortable going swimming. I don't exactly know what it would do, but it would sure do something!!

 

[LD1]

Grass carp aren't going to bother you. 65# vegetation fish scares you going swimming? Does a 150-200# Deere scare you from going in the woods?

 

[TomSeller]

Does a 150-200# Deere scare you from going in the woods?

That is a very light weight John Deere.

 

[rScotty]

I stocked 12 Triploid (sterile) carp (aka Amur) minnows (5 inch) into my 1 acre pond 2 years ago. Now they are 24 inches and all of the American Pondweed, algae, and Cattails are gone. IMO mechanical methods (been there done that) to remove vegetation are a never ending waste of time.

So what happens next year? Having eaten all the pond plants, what do they eat in the future?
rScotty

 

[Texasmark]

Lots of answers and you are probably bored by now. But if you are still following this, my comments.

You get one chance at pulling moss out of your pond. After that the banks are so slick you dare not get on them with your tractor....how do you think I know that....grin?

You need some vegetation for the small fry to survive: Algae/plankton to feed them when fry and coon tail moss or something to offer cover.

Any fertilization of your surrounding area, aka watershed, eventually will affect your pond's aquatic growth.

I have used chemicals from Aquacide Company for quite a few years. They have a nice brochure and fine products; been in the business for a lot of years. I use their Aquathol Super K (pellets) for Coontail Moss and it works as advertised. Is pricy but doesn't take much so per dose/per year reasonably priced.

They have a new product out "Aquacide Pellets" that is advertised as a top seller. Price is much easier on the pocket book. When I finish my second 25# tub of Super K, I am going to try some of the Aquacide; but that will be way on down the road as it doesn't take much per year.