about ponds
-
Guest
Just curious, how big is your pond??? The copper sulfate says on the bottle that it is toxic to fish and to not allow it to run into ground water. Like if you have a well the copper sulfate can contaminate it. I would assume that it would harm birds or animals drinking from the pond. I am no biologist though. What is the application? To prevent algae blooms? Is the copper you used labeled for that application/use?
What does the bottle say??? As far as safety...
I would be interested on what the PMCA can find out. They have all kinds of scientist friends out there. I sure we will hear a response from one of them shortly.
What does the bottle say??? As far as safety...
I would be interested on what the PMCA can find out. They have all kinds of scientist friends out there. I sure we will hear a response from one of them shortly.
-
Guest
Hi All
I treat my pond with Aqua shade and copper sulfate too. And I swim quite a bit in the pond. I open my eyes under water, and so forth. It doesn't seem to hurt either me or the Martins. Their gourd rack is right on the pond.
If you read the label it seems to be ok.
Yes the copper sulfate is to prevent algae bloom and kill the roots of the aquatic plants. The aqua shade prevents the sunlight from helping the algae and other aquatic plants from growing.
The other thing I do is to aerate the pond. I put in a windmill 4 years ago and it does ok but this weekend I started adding another aerator (it is a 2 acre pond).
I treat my pond with Aqua shade and copper sulfate too. And I swim quite a bit in the pond. I open my eyes under water, and so forth. It doesn't seem to hurt either me or the Martins. Their gourd rack is right on the pond.
If you read the label it seems to be ok.
Yes the copper sulfate is to prevent algae bloom and kill the roots of the aquatic plants. The aqua shade prevents the sunlight from helping the algae and other aquatic plants from growing.
The other thing I do is to aerate the pond. I put in a windmill 4 years ago and it does ok but this weekend I started adding another aerator (it is a 2 acre pond).
Thanks for you answers. The copper sulfate I bought at Rual king to kill the alge in ponds it does say something about domesticated animals my pond is about 1/4 an acre I used one bottle which is 15 pounds by weight. I also have a sump pump with a pvc pipe like a sprinkler system.I think everything will be alright if we get a lot of rain this fall it will dilute quite a bit the pond is really low right now.
-
Guest
I should have added that the fish and frogs don't seem to mind too. Having said that if the pond is only 1/4 acre it is possible to overtreat.
-
Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
The Cornell Cooperative Extension has some good info online, as do other state agencies and universities. It would be a good idea to check with the county extension service where you live, since pond alkalinity varies and that affects how much copper sulfate to use. Time of year also comes into play, especially if the pond has fish that may be laying eggs.
http://pond.dnr.cornell.edu/Pond/otherresources.htm
Ohio State University's online info is also helpful:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/a-fact/0003.html
Their factsheet stated "There are no water-use restrictions associated with the use of copper sulfate. When applied at the proper rate, the water may be used immediately for swimming, drinking, fishing, irrigation and livestock. However, since copper sulfate has a metallic odor, pond owners may want to suspend drinking, swimming and livestock watering uses for 12 hours."
Another method of algae control to investigate is barley straw, see: http://ohioline.osu.edu/a-fact/0012.html
Too much algae can deplete oxygen, killing fish and causing other problems, but treating a pond incorrectly can also deplete oxygen, which can have deadly consequences for fish, birds, and aquatic critters in ponds. IN landlord Chris Slabaugh lost much of his colony one year to avian botulism, due to a lack of oxygen in his small pond. Martins drinking the water ingested the botulism toxin and died, which also resulted in their nestlings dying.
From the materials I skimmed online, pond management is just as complex, maybe more so, than colony management. So getting advice from local sources such as your county extension service, universities, or state agencies, is a good idea.
Louise
http://pond.dnr.cornell.edu/Pond/otherresources.htm
Ohio State University's online info is also helpful:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/a-fact/0003.html
Their factsheet stated "There are no water-use restrictions associated with the use of copper sulfate. When applied at the proper rate, the water may be used immediately for swimming, drinking, fishing, irrigation and livestock. However, since copper sulfate has a metallic odor, pond owners may want to suspend drinking, swimming and livestock watering uses for 12 hours."
Another method of algae control to investigate is barley straw, see: http://ohioline.osu.edu/a-fact/0012.html
Too much algae can deplete oxygen, killing fish and causing other problems, but treating a pond incorrectly can also deplete oxygen, which can have deadly consequences for fish, birds, and aquatic critters in ponds. IN landlord Chris Slabaugh lost much of his colony one year to avian botulism, due to a lack of oxygen in his small pond. Martins drinking the water ingested the botulism toxin and died, which also resulted in their nestlings dying.
From the materials I skimmed online, pond management is just as complex, maybe more so, than colony management. So getting advice from local sources such as your county extension service, universities, or state agencies, is a good idea.
Louise
-
Guest
Good points Louise. If you use the barley straw the best way to do it is to put it in a bag and then submerge the bag so it doesn't float away. The best place to get pond stuff like barley straw, aerators, fish, bullfrogs, and so forth around here is Ridgeview Fin Farm, Ridgeville Corners, Ohio. THey do have a web site.
http://www.finfarm.com
http://www.finfarm.com
I have a friend with a large pond who has good luck with grass carp. The number to stock depends on the size of the pond. Probably could be used in combo with the barley straw too, which I have also seen to be effective in a small pond. Both of these ponds are in upstate New York. They are both lowered in the fall to keep the edges clear.
-
Guest
The Grass Carp, aka White Amur, are illegal in many states. In Ohio only the ones that are totally unable to reproduce can be sold. I have 2 amur and 5 koi for that purpose. But once they get big (and they do get big!) you need to remove them and replace them.
I am not sure I am going to replace them, they are so big my wife is intimidated. We are talking 3 foot fish here!
I am not sure I am going to replace them, they are so big my wife is intimidated. We are talking 3 foot fish here!
-
Guest
Some people in this area use cornmeal to control pond algae. There's an organic garden "guru" who is fairly local who advises this. I've not tried it, so I can't verify its usefulness. If anyone is interested, his name is Howard Garrett, and he has a website with lots of organic information. I think the website is The Dirt Doctor.com