Time to get the muck out

[Darren Wright]

I've been working on our ponds to try and get the algae and duck weed under control. I've found that copper sulfate works well for the algae and a granular Cutrine plus product for the duck week. However, the bottom of the pond is covered in Muck (leaves, sticks, dead stuff, poo, etc.). You can see a few spots here where the fish have cleared for eggs, but there's about 2" - 4" of muck covering the bottom of the pond.


I've ordered some of the bacteria/enzyme blocks that you drop in to work on it. They are suppose to cover up to 5 acres, combined all 3 of the ponds are only about an acre, so I'll be breaking one up to share between them. Hopefully we'll see some improvement in the next few weeks. The reviews seemed promising for it.

I also have about a mile of that black plastic pipe laying around or buried here and there that grandpa used to use for irrigation and such I need to get rolled up and stashed somewhere.

 

[Ted Calver]

Curious as to what's underneath the muck. Is it a sand bottom? Clay? Maybe rake the muck out of a small section to see what's there.

 

[Darren Wright]

Curious as to what's underneath the muck. Is it a sand bottom? Clay? Maybe rake the muck out of a small section to see what's there.

Rock and broken clam shells where the fish have cleared out spots for spawning.


Our soil is mostly clay, sand, and rock though.

 

[Darren Wright]

My wife has been asking about getting a small boat for the pond...hmmm.

TC Series | Weedoo Workboats

weedooboats.com

 

[Brent Dowell]

Clam shells, interesting. Are there any live clams in the pond?

 

[Don Baer]

Are there any live clams in the pond?

maybe you have fresh water pearls...lol

 

[Darren Wright]

Clam shells, interesting. Are there any live clams in the pond?

I'd guess that there are, but haven't gone digging for them. About every spot where fish have cleaned out a spot I've seen half or broken shells though.

Freshwater Mussels

Missouri has a spectacular array of freshwater mussels, with nearly 70 species of these secretive aquatic animals within its borders. Learning the names of their shell features and body parts is important if you want to be able to discuss and identify particular species within this group. Since...

mdc.mo.gov

 

[Vaughn McMillan]

My wife has been asking about getting a small boat for the pond...hmmm.

TC Series | Weedoo Workboats

weedooboats.com

The overdramatic music in that video is what sold me. Not sure if it's a pond weeder or the climax of a John Wick movie.

 

[Steve Southwood]

As picky as people are now days about the look of their property, a person could probably buy one the those boats and have a really nice side income.

 

[Brent Dowell]

Pretty much an aquatic skid steer, lol.

 

[Charles Lent]

A machine to mow your ponds? I think I would rather put copper sulphate crystals or similar in there and not need to mow.

Copper Sulphate Crystals (1" size) are in the condensate pans of my heat pumps. They last for years and keep the algae and slime from forming. Look at a house roof that has copper flashing. You won't see any algae below it. The rain water picks up enough to prevent growth further down the roof. Copper Gutters (If you can afford them) stay clear of algae and slime, (but not leaves).

Charley

 

[David Johnson]

Paddle boats are great. Inexpensive and good excercise. And the troiling speed is impressive.
David

 

[Ryan Mooney]

Paddle boats are great. Inexpensive and good excercise. And the troiling speed is impressive.

Now I'm imagining a giant tonka toy like paddle boat with a foot powered scoop on the front. Which would indeed be pretty cool..