Stocking my little pond

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Ever since we visited Jim and Kathy at their place for a TBN get together, Steph has wanted to have some fish to feed in our pond with the hope that one day we can re-create the same experience we had there.

50 pounds of floating catfish food costs $12. Two bags will fit in a 40 gallon garbage can. )</font>

Hey Eddie. Anytime you and Steph want to "recreate the same experience," just take a drive over to Sunset. ...and be sure to bring your fish food of course. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

We started feeding two weekends ago. Our lake is sadly down very low, but still lots of fish come for the picnic. It's amazing how skittish they are. If there's a boat anywhere near in the water or a disturbance of the water along the shoreline, the catfish mostly stay away. I think the floating dock we had tied to the shore was the reason they didn't come in droves when you were there last year. If they have time to get used to something, they are okay, but if there is something new in their environment, they are very suspicious. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[fishman]

Eddie, that sure looks good to me and the price you got was a good one. Pond + Fish = Fun! (imho)

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[deerefan]

Hey Eddie, nice to see your pond coming along. One day, those little fish will grow into this! Good eating! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Jagmandave]

I've got catfish about that size in my little 75' X100' pond, the water must have finally warmed up enough to get them up off the bottom, as I saw a bunch of them swarming around this weekend........

 

[meadowlarkponds]

Eddie,

I see you've taken the plunge and stocked the small pond. Sounds like you did good!

 

[sonofczechgun]

Really nice. I stock my pond last fall with cats from:

http://www.fishwagon.com/

And when I started to feed them, i realised there are at least 3 or 4 old timers cats living in the pond. They could be 4-5 pounds and they hoover the floating food

Anyway, I remember reading it takes two pounds of sea fish to make a pound of floating fish food and I dont like the idea very much - exploatation of the ocean IMHO (I am far from a tree hugher - JFYI)

Would it be possible to feed them something like sheep food or any other wheat/corn based food? Food grown in the field I mean?

 

[DannyD]

Well got to clean out the pond some today along with work on the pen. I drained it, got it mostly empty, then started cleaning behind and around the rocks on the shore, edge etc. Filled it back half way full with the water. Got a 5 gallon bucket of muck off the bottom, and probably that much there again.

 

[DannyD]

Another shot of the work. Clean this time. I had to move all the rocks not on level ground, clean behind them, then replace them as I could. Holly will have to tell me if it is OK on how I have them arranged

 

[DannyD]

Got all of these on the inner shelf moved, completely around the pond. About 4 hours in the water.

 

[DannyD]

Now I get to drain it again, and clean the bottom half............not fun. Did find out we have lots of frogs

 

[EddieWalker]

Your pond looks great Danny. I didn't realize how many rocks you actually had in there!!!

One of the things I always read about puttitng new water in a pond is that it's full of nutrients for algae to feed on.

Do you do anything to steralize the water or kill algae before it starts to grow? My water is so murky, its to dark for algae and under water plants.

Eddie

 

[DannyD]

Eddie,

Glad I looked back here. I have come into the problem of algae, my water has turned a deep tint of green. Cleaned filter to take out the floating stuff and it was a mess. I still have the algae problem. Does anyone know what I can do, chemicals being a last resort, to get rid of this problem? I have heard the barley hay bales (they sell little bales in pet stroes) floating on the water will do it, but have not had experience with it.

Eddie, yeah there are a lot of rocks in there, and more coming. We are putting a walkway/dry river bed around the perimeter to make maintaining grass less of a problem. The walk will eventually lead up to the patio of the house.

 

[DannyD]

Eddie,

Glad I looked back here. I have come into the problem of algae, my water has turned a deep tint of green. Cleaned filter to take out the floating stuff and it was a mess. I still have the algae problem. Does anyone know what I can do, chemicals being a last resort, to get rid of this problem? I have heard the barley hay bales (they sell little bales in pet stroes) floating on the water will do it, but have not had experience with it.

Eddie, yeah there are a lot of rocks in there, and more coming. We are putting a walkway/dry river bed around the perimeter to make maintaining grass less of a problem. The walk will eventually lead up to the patio of the house.

 

[PineRidge]

Eddie do yourself a favor. Once the water level comes up and the sediment starts to settle out of the water talk to someone in pond management and find out how many Grass Carp they recommend for your particular size pond. They will keep most of the weeds at bay for you. The only type weed that I have yet to buy chemical to eradicate is Watermeal, as they don't seem to touch it.

 

[PineRidge]

Eddie do yourself a favor. Once the water level comes up and the sediment starts to settle out of the water talk to someone in pond management and find out how many Grass Carp they recommend for your particular size pond. They will keep most of the weeds at bay for you. The only type weed that I have yet to buy chemical to eradicate is Watermeal, as they don't seem to touch it.

 

[sonofczechgun]

Actually I have in my pond Water Shield and it is either chemical or mechanical way. Not even carp will touch it
/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Water Shield

 

[sonofczechgun]

Actually I have in my pond Water Shield and it is either chemical or mechanical way. Not even carp will touch it
/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Water Shield

 

[PineRidge]

Water Shield is mentioned in this material as one of the weeds that crass carp will eat. See if it's of any value to you. plant management

 

[PineRidge]

Water Shield is mentioned in this material as one of the weeds that crass carp will eat. See if it's of any value to you. plant management

 

[anthonyk]

How does the gypsum in sheetrock scrap help clear up a pond??
That's a first for me, but would sure like to try it.

Anthony