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Started By
Message
Pond weed/scum/algae? control?
Posted on 5/4/22 at 9:03 am
Posted on 5/4/22 at 9:03 am
What is this? Can it be killed? If so, what product(s) and are any safe for fish?
I only want to make an opening and have zero dreams of controlling this whole area. We have gone from 100% coverage of hyacinth to beautiful to this in one year.
I only want to make an opening and have zero dreams of controlling this whole area. We have gone from 100% coverage of hyacinth to beautiful to this in one year.
2
Posted on 5/4/22 at 9:08 am to AlxTgr
Would a grass carp be helpful in this situation?
Posted on 5/4/22 at 9:12 am to safemode
I would love to accidentally snag one at Spring Bayou or CLECO. May have to delete this post 
Posted on 5/4/22 at 9:18 am to AlxTgr
Know what would be cool? If it rained, EVER! So i could have some water in my pond.
Posted on 5/4/22 at 9:29 am to AlxTgr
It’s likely Spirogyra - cool water algae. Grows near the pond bottom and as water warms, gas vacuoles become trapped in the algal mass and it floats to the surface. If Spirogyra it will be very slimy to the touch. It’s not uncommon in ponds this time of year.
There is a similar looking algae called Pithophora, but it will course to the touch - almost like steel wool.
If it is Spirogyra, exposure to bright sunlight at the surface and warm water will kill it naturally. It will starting yellowing, turn brown, and sink to the bottom. It’s does take a little while for this to happen, so you’ll need to live with the poor aesthetics for a while longer
The primarily concern when it begins to die and decompose is possible oxygen depletion in the pond - that largely depends on the amount of algal biomass relative to water volume.
If Spirogyra, usually don’t recommend chemical treatment treatment with a herbicide like copper - usually best to let die on it’s own.
Aquaplant by Texas A&M is a good website for aquatic plant ID and management options. LINK
There is a similar looking algae called Pithophora, but it will course to the touch - almost like steel wool.
If it is Spirogyra, exposure to bright sunlight at the surface and warm water will kill it naturally. It will starting yellowing, turn brown, and sink to the bottom. It’s does take a little while for this to happen, so you’ll need to live with the poor aesthetics for a while longer
The primarily concern when it begins to die and decompose is possible oxygen depletion in the pond - that largely depends on the amount of algal biomass relative to water volume.
If Spirogyra, usually don’t recommend chemical treatment treatment with a herbicide like copper - usually best to let die on it’s own.
Aquaplant by Texas A&M is a good website for aquatic plant ID and management options. LINK
This post was edited on 5/4/22 at 9:31 am
Posted on 5/4/22 at 9:39 am to CrawDude
quote:I think it's this.
There is a similar looking algae called Pithophora, but it will course to the touch - almost like steel wool.
Posted on 5/4/22 at 9:43 am to CrawDude
Can I get Diquat and Cutrine Plus at brick and mortars or are these order only?
Posted on 5/4/22 at 9:55 am to AlxTgr
quote:
I think it's this.
You anywhere near BR so it can be ID’d? Or you in Central LA near Alex? Pithophora is difficult to control. You need a positive ID before start adding chemicals, just like the lawn weeds.
I am an advocate of sterile grass carp for biological weed control.
Posted on 5/4/22 at 9:59 am to AlxTgr
quote:
Can I get Diquat and Cutrine Plus at brick and mortars or are these order only?
Tractor Supply usually carries them, some Feed & Seeds. But seriously a positive ID is needed before buying aquatic herbicides and treating.
This post was edited on 5/6/22 at 11:15 am
Posted on 5/4/22 at 10:06 am to CrawDude
In Alexandria. I'll pull some out later and take close ups.
Posted on 5/4/22 at 11:16 am to CrawDude
quote:Most informative poster on the rant.
CrawDude
We have it in our pond behind the house too, but it is decreasing daily. Alx has much more shade over his bayou.
Posted on 5/4/22 at 1:09 pm to AlxTgr
quote:
In Alexandria. I'll pull some out later and take close ups.
Post the close ups when you can. If I didn’t ID from the photo, I know a couple people that might.
Alternatives,
You are Alex, you can likely bring a sample to LDWF Booker T Fowler Fish Hatchery in Woodworth and see if one of the fisheries biologists there can ID it for you. They have a number of ponds on the facility so they likely have dealt with it also. However, you should call first and speak with someone to see if they have someone on staff that could do this for you. I don’t have the number handy but you get it on the web.
A second option, I know the Chancellor at LSU A, Dr. Paul Coreil, Paul was a former fisheries extension agent with theLSU AgCenter, and good guy, and if he’s in office on campus he might be able to ID it for you or he might have a biology/botany professor on staff that could do so for you. I can reach out to him him on your behalf if needed, but I’d try Brooker T Fowler first.
Posted on 5/4/22 at 4:31 pm to CrawDude
quote:
Can I get Diquat and Cutrine Plus at brick and mortars or are these order only?
I order plenty of both every year, either Amazon or Do Your own seems to have the best price currently looking at about $55/gal for cutrine and $95/gallon for diquat, both are about 1 gallon per acre
Posted on 5/4/22 at 5:11 pm to CrawDude
quote:
CrawDude
Our neighborhood in BR has a 5 acre pond and we know it’s too shallow. The algae is out of control at this time. Do you know any dredging companies out there? We had one person come quote and it was quite expensive for only a portion of the area
Posted on 5/4/22 at 5:41 pm to MikeD
quote:
Our neighborhood in BR has a 5 acre pond and we know it’s too shallow. The algae is out of control at this time. Do you know any dredging companies out there? We had one person come quote and it was quite expensive for only a portion of the area
No I don’t personally.
You might contact Mark McElroy with Aquatic Solutions LLC - Mark, a retired fisheries biologist with LDWF, has been doing aquatic weed management consulting for ponds in the BR area for many years and he might know people and have suggestions. LINK (note that website linked is not his, at least I don’t think, but the phone number is correct).
It’s going to expensive though. Subdivision ponds/lakes are just water detention systems and designed as such to trap sediments from precipitation overland flow, with the goal to mitigate water quality issues in downstream receiving waterways (Clean Water Act and all that stuff). They pretty much all fill up with sediment and become more shallow, with the associated aesthetic issues, over time.
Posted on 5/4/22 at 9:06 pm to CrawDude
Dig it deeper and get one of them squirty things to run all the time.
Posted on 5/5/22 at 6:03 pm to CrawDude
Thanks! We did talk with Mark. He said it needed to be deeper. Neighborhood hasn’t done anything to maintain the depth in 20 years and the bill just came due.
Posted on 5/5/22 at 9:06 pm to MikeD
Muck out
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