Pond weed management

[3gunr]

I have a 4 acre lake and had a dozen grass carp also , they did great for yrs but are all gone now . This yr the rains have kept the lake so high and muddy it looks bad. I also know have a beaver damming up my overflow pipe and cutting trees along the bank. guess ill have to go huntin the beave.

 

[Alan W.]

I was told that the grass carp slow down on consumption when they reach maturity.
Weeds were so thick in mine I believe you couldve walked across on them.
I placed 6 juvenile grass carp in the pond and most weeds were gone the first year and totally gone the second. They were also working on my wife's beloved water lilies. All but one have died or were eaten by the river otters.

 

[Diggin It]

So, more fish? New fish?

 

[murphy1244]

Have you ever contacted Jones Fish? This fish is a herbivore Tilapia – Jones Fish Hatcheries & Dist., Inc.

 

[the old grind]

"Although grass carp will probably not reduce mature stands of aquatic flora, they may eat the new sprouts and prevent further expansion by these plants." (MO Dept of Conservation)

I have about 4 ac and an avg depth of ~6' or less (<1/4 ac >8' deep). We are not allowed to purchase or stock grass carp in MI except under a host of conditions. My pond is self-contained, man-made, entirely on my property, and more that 1000' from the nearest natural 'creek/drain', but the only way I could stock GC is with a special permit and cooperation of an institution that is studying them in situ. :irked:

Most of the better herbicides will be hard on other aquatic life. Glypho is by far the most 'safe' but quickly breaks down when in contact with soil or water. It is the standard for early fall spraying of common reed grass (Phragmites Australis) but it would be ineffective below the surface. :2cents:

Windmill. :confused3:

 

[LD1]

Have you ever contacted Jones Fish? This fish is a herbivore Tilapia – Jones Fish Hatcheries & Dist., Inc.

Going to call them this morning.

I called a company that specializes in farm field spraying, good folks and always helpful and just right down the road from me. Wanted to hear their opinion.

They do tilapia in their farm ponds. But the cold kills them off every year if you dont plan on catching and eating them. So for me that would be a waste. The suggested jones too

 

[the old grind]

'Creeping fertility' is inevitable. Leaf litter composts and exacerbates it. Weeds generates O2, which seems to be a good thing, and seek CO2 while making it. Problems with weeds compound when they inhibit circulation, which works on many levels to enrich and thus cloud the waters.

Fountains in small ponds and windmill 'aerators'/circulators for larger ones are IMO the best 'passive' tools to clear our waters. (why there are often fountains in retention ponds for multi-family housing). I helped put up a 16' four-leg (metal) windmill all of 15 years ago on a barely 1 ac pond. It's been 'tilted down' for service twice that I know of since then. Once for a squeak and a 'checkup' and once for an ice-up that caused no harm. It has fulfilled every promise it was expected to.

A dealer told me I need nine emitters and 2x $4k pump system(s) with $60/mo total electric bill, based on Google Map plotting and digital analysis of my 'puddle' (~4 ac). He said my idea of trying just one windmill alone would give results worse than doing nothing. btw, the 'nothing' I did was any biz with him. I'm just dragging my feet here, hope to switch between three or four air-stones off of one mill from day to day.

 

[Gem99ultra]

View attachment 612492
View attachment 612493

Oh. And I put in a dozed 10-12" grass carp 3 years ago. They have gotten big and fat...probably 26-28" long now, but haven't made a dent in the weeds

Same here. I added 10 grass carp 3 years ago. All are gone except for 2, which have grown to about 3'. Those adults eat very little grass, if any. So I've added another 10 - 8 incher's this year. If they're eating anything at all, I sure can't tell it.

I've also added an aerator to one of the 3/4 acre ponds. What a great improvement! Fish are getting larger, grass and weeds almost non-existent. Water appears cleaner. Aerator might be something the OP would consider.

 

[LD1]

I called Jones fish. Diquat dibromide is what they recommend. Which is syngenta reward trade name. So I ordered some.

Triclopyr is hard on the fish they said.

They said of the three weeds I have, the curly leaf pond weed is all they like. So explains why carp aren't working.

Don't want a fountain or aerator. Just more maintenance, and I like the pond to freeze over solid in the winter so we can get on it. Rather than have a hole, or thin spot left from an aerator.

Due to power consumption, and logistics of putting in a fountain or aerator, the ONLY thing I would even remotely consider is a windmill aerator, and would disable it in the winter. But those are $$$$.

If I can get by with $150 worth of low-maintenance chemical each year, that's money well spent if it works.

 

[murphy1244]

Well did it work for you?