Alien Invasion - I want my pond back !

[Eric Salop]

Feeling Blue

The ability to continue to grow over winter is a neat trick for a plant, maybe one that could be turned to advantage one day. With help from the internet I found out that a few trials were going on to see if the growth of Crassula could be halted, or at least reduced, by introducing dye to the water to prevent the underwater leaves from absorbing much sunlight.



I tracked down the company producing this and for 50 pounds (75$) bought enough for at least one years treatment. It is a food grade dye that is similar to that used to color water features in places like golf courses. A reference sample is taken when the dye first goes in, then each month or two you take another sample and compare it with the original. This allows more to be added to make up for what has been diluted away by rainfall or degraded by sunlight. The water ends up a very deep blue.




At first I was very wary handling the dye so as not to get it on my skin. It comes as a fine powder in water soluble bags. As long as you wear gloves and place it gently in the water, it is easy to work with.

Last time I topped up, I wondered what would happen if I threw the bag of dye onto the surface of the Crassula, instead of into the water. The answer was nothing much as far as the weed was concerned. As soon as the rain came it washed off into the water, leaving the surface green again.

The effect on me and our house was more noticeable, though not immediately. That night as I cleaned my teeth, my wife pointed to the basin and in it were streaks of dark blue dye. My hands were clean but my forhead was fringed in blue. I rubbed my hair and my hands were now blue too. I guess some of the powder had come out of the bag into my hair, as I had foolishly thrown the bag overhand to reach further into the pond. With a shower and a good scrub I thought that it was gone and that would be the end of it. Not so, little traces of blue kept popping up all over the place for days and weeks afterwards. It is only noticable when the surface gets wet. Only this week my wife pointed out a small memento on the side of the door that refuses to wipe clean, I will have to sand it out. Oops.



In the long term I may be able to replicate the effect of reducing light in a more sustainable way by introducing some bottom feeding fish to stir up the mud and increase turbidity. Cloudy water may not look as pretty as clear blue, but it's a better prospect than me spending more time in the dog house.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

In the long term I may be able to replicate the effect of reducing light in a more sustainable way by introducing some bottom feeding fish to stir up the mud and increase turbidity.

Here in the US we have a fresh water fish called the Blue Gill. It may be appropriate even before you stop using the dye. :laughing:

 

[KevT]

This is the fish that most of Florida uses in ponds and flood control lakes, unfortunately they steal bass beds

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilapia

 

[Eric Salop]

June 2015

Our "Rural Land Register" map has just been updated. This now shows the pond to be just over half an acre, slightly larger than I first thought. Maybe that is why it is taking me so long to evict the alien. More likely it is that I've been spending too much time on TBN when I should have been sorting out the Crassula.

Today I have about two thirds clear. Doesn't look too bad when you look from the west side.

When you look from the other side, you can see there is still a fair bit to do with the remaining third.

If anything, the Crassula in this part has grown thicker than ever this year.

Getting this out may be fun as here the pond is at it's deepest - and I have no boat.
At least the wasps have moved out.

I still intend to try and drag it away. Could be time for some tractor action.



The End

Well, that's the end of the story, or at least the historical time warp. We are back into real time.

I can take pictures to show future progress if anyone is still interested.


.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Perhaps you have a friend with a swimming pool that has a ph test kit for the water. That would allow you to compare acid levels in the two ponds, and perhaps gain some insight on your theory.

Please do keep us updated, Eric.

I'd especially like to see underwater shots of you in SCUBA gear wielding your scythe :laughing:

 

[95XL883]

Eric,

For $10 to $20 you should be able to get a nice PH and NPK test kit from ac aquarium shop. I have no idea how that compares to a pool supply store. When I ran planted aquariums, I learned that an imbalance of NPK and high light levels can drive undesirable plant growth. And a balance of carbon, NPK and light can really drive plant growth. Pretty hard to control light on a half acre pond but eliminating light for three days would wipe out certain undesirable algae in aquarium. Good luck. Hope the crassula doesn't come back to where you have removed it.

 

[95XL883]

Eric,

A quick check of a couple of aquarium websites. The bad news is the stuff is almost unkillable. It tolerates a wide range of water conditions. Altering PH, carbon, NPK will likely be ineffective. There was a reference that it is light dependent. The good news, if it good, is it controlled in aquaria by pinching off stems. In other words, your scythe is the recommended method of control. But it is not eradication. Good luck.

 

[TJP89]

Eric,

For $10 to $20 you should be able to get a nice PH and NPK test kit from ac aquarium shop. I have no idea how that compares to a pool supply store. When I ran planted aquariums, I learned that an imbalance of NPK and high light levels can drive undesirable plant growth. And a balance of carbon, NPK and light can really drive plant growth. Pretty hard to control light on a half acre pond but eliminating light for three days would wipe out certain undesirable algae in aquarium. Good luck. Hope the crassula doesn't come back to where you have removed it.

Yes, I would chemically test the pond, especially for ph. (although as a chemist, my tendency is to chem test everything) I would guess that something is out of whack, and could be corrected, resulting in reduced plant growth. Or you could find the ideal ph for the crassula, and then knock the pond ph out of that range.

Failing in chemical warfare, the most exciting option would be to blast the stuff loose with explosives, then drag it out. The moderately exciting option is to rig a big, or several, grappling hooks, attach them to the tractor, and pull. The boring option is to continue by hand.

Good luck!

 

[dave1949]

Something like a giant, weighted draw knife pulled across the pond bottom by a cable attached to your tractor draw bar.

Position the knife on the pond bank, shoot an arrow with a lead line across the pond, use the lead line to pull the cable across.

Underwater sickle bar mower? Snorkel equipped Army surplus tank?

 

[Doloe]

What a nightmare! Sorry about your situation.
It has been a entertaining read though.
Thanks for putting this up.
I've got nothing to suggest.

 

[farmer2009]

Eric how feasible would it be to cover the remaining section with tarps and tie off to the banks. Even if done in stages. Something was said about it could live in many areas just not darkness. Thinking maybe you could stay in shallow waters to deploy them.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Dig a new pond? You'd have a good place to put the dirt!

 

[FentonFarmer]

I loved this thread, but deep down I knew like many things in England an Aussie was going to cause trouble. I am really sorry for the damage to your pond after all your efforts. I think it's fair to say that there aren't to many instances around the world where an introduced species has been entirely beneficial for the local eco-system.
Might I suggest that whilst therapeutic, be careful with the mechanical removal. I understand it's a bit like some cacti, with small broken remnants able to re shoot and spread. I read that on a guide but cannot find the link, sorry poor form (It's 4 am here, not at my peak searching form). I think it was a UK Centre for aquatic plant management, will look in the daylight.
Once again like everyone I wish you good luck with the process and hope you can achieve a result for all of your efforts.
B.R.

 

[FentonFarmer]

I loved this thread, but deep down I knew like many things in England an Aussie was going to cause trouble. I am really sorry for the damage to your pond after all your efforts. I think it's fair to say that there aren't to many instances around the world where an introduced species has been entirely beneficial for the local eco-system.
Might I suggest that whilst therapeutic, be careful with the mechanical removal. I understand it's a bit like some cacti, with small broken remnants able to re shoot and spread. I read that on a guide but cannot find the link, sorry poor form (It's 4 am here, not at my peak searching form). I think it was a UK Centre for aquatic plant management, will look in the daylight.
Once again like everyone I wish you good luck with the process and hope you can achieve a result for all of your efforts.
B.R.

 

[Eric Salop]

Eric how feasible would it be to cover the remaining section with tarps and tie off to the banks. Even if done in stages. Something was said about it could live in many areas just not darkness. Thinking maybe you could stay in shallow waters to deploy them.

I don't fancy paddling with too many ropes in the water. Unlike last year, my new tractor has a loader, so if I can get the bulk of the Crassula to the bank side, I may be able to grab it out, then pile up and cover to rot down. Just have to be careful I don't take the Iseki for a swim in the process.

Dig a new pond? You'd have a good place to put the dirt!

You are a bad boy Luke.
If anyone missed Luke's "No longer a regen virgin!" thread, I'd recommend having a look, it's really funny (To anyone not aware, some of the latest tractors run hot every few hours, regenerating their exhaust filters by burning off the soot to comply with emission regulations). http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/339102-no-longer-regen-virgin.html

I loved this thread, but deep down I knew like many things in England an Aussie was going to cause trouble. I am really sorry for the damage to your pond after all your efforts. I think it's fair to say that there aren't to many instances around the world where an introduced species has been entirely beneficial for the local eco-system.
Might I suggest that whilst therapeutic, be careful with the mechanical removal. I understand it's a bit like some cacti, with small broken remnants able to re shoot and spread. I read that on a guide but cannot find the link, sorry poor form (It's 4 am here, not at my peak searching form). I think it was a UK Centre for aquatic plant management, will look in the daylight.
Once again like everyone I wish you good luck with the process and hope you can achieve a result for all of your efforts.
B.R.

Thanks, I may have read that paper. The little pieces that break off do try to grow again, but now the water is more open, the wind tends to drive these over to the bank, then I fish them out with a muck fork. So far I think am winning ...

 

[Xfaxman]

--------------------------------------------------
Might I suggest that whilst therapeutic, be careful with the mechanical removal. I understand it's a bit like some cacti, with small broken remnants able to re shoot and spread.-----------------------------
B.R.

Yep, true for Prickly Pear cactus that we have here. If you hit it with a mower, each piece can put out roots and grow.

It is green in the summer, these were taken in February.

 

[SPIKER]

Yep, true for Prickly Pear cactus that we have here. If you hit it with a mower, each piece can put out roots and grow.

It is green in the summer, these were taken in February.

Those are ones people eat if not mistaken, so maybe start mowing & selling to local or organic food places

M

 

[Xfaxman]

Those are ones people eat if not mistaken, so maybe start mowing & selling to local or organic food places

M

Yep, that is the one. But we have too many now!

The Many Uses of the Prickly Pear - Real Food - MOTHER EARTH NEWS

 

[KubotainNH]

Now that looks like an alien to me.

 

[clemsonfor]

Autumn 2014 - How to evect an alien
I read lots of official recommendations on how to bring death to Crassula.
All of them say it is only a temporary measure - it will come back.



Chemical Attack View attachment 429388
The good news is that there is a very effective chemical control.
The bad news is that the chemical was thought to be too good at killing humans too, so they banned it from sale a few years ago.
As clemsonfor said, a form of aquatic glyphosate can be used.
Using pesticides on water is strictly regulated and if I were to go through the official channels I would have a lot of red tape, plus that would be another magnet for bureaucrats coming round checking on me. I would also have to go and sit an expensive exam before I was deemed competent to do it myself. Alternatively, I could bring someone in, but with glyphosate it is highly likely that it only kills the part above the surface, they would have to keep coming back to get the shoots that then grow up from the stuff lurking beneath the surface.




Excluding All Light View attachment 429389
On small ponds Crassula has been killed off by covering in black plastic sheet for 6 months.
Doesn't seem a feasible solution on a pond this size, although there is a variant on this which I will come back to later.



Explosives View attachment 429390
Not an officially recognised method. It was suggested by a friend who enjoys such spectacles and it could even work. Set a charge, or charges, underneath the alien and blow the whole mass outwards onto the bankside. It would be interesting to give this a go. Pity there is a public road running alongside one bank ...




Drain and dig it out
As much as I enjoyed the siphon, I don't plan on emptying this pond again, or this thread could turn into a groundhog day.




Lift out on Pallets View attachment 429391
Nope, I promised I wouldn't go there.



Simply Pull It Out View attachment 429392
The Institute of Hydrology warns not to attempt to remove Crassula "by mechanical extraction", otherwise it will grow again from the broken shoots. As much as I repect that the boffins in this revered institution know the biology of this plant, they underestimate the sheer satisfaction it would give me to physically evict the alien and pile it high on the bankside. They haven't come up with any good viable alternative, so despite the warning, dragging it out is what I will try and I will then do my best to find ways to stop it coming back. More on this tomorrow

Aquatic glyphostate will kill the beneath the water portions of the plant.

And man what trouble to spray herbicide . Over here you can buy thechemicals on line and ship them to you an leagally apply as long as your floowing the label. That said i also hold official government training on the subject of herbicide