Posts Tagged ‘pH’

Managing Water Clarity

Wednesday, August 6th, 2008

Managing water clarity in ponds and lakes


When soil particles are held in solution in pond water it is called turbidity. This should be dealt with before ever fertilizing a pond. Dirty water can be a problem for almost every area of pond and lake management. It can neutralize some aquatic herbicides, neutralize the effects of fertilization for algae bloom, and irritate fish, resulting in poor weight gain. Muddy turbid water should not be confused with the lower level of clarity caused by proper algae bloom.

Flocking:

Flocking is the process of applying a mineral to the water that will collect the soil particles, and sink them to the bottom.
The most common mineral used is alum, but others such as gypsum may be more appropriate in many cases. As I said earlier, the source of the turbidity should be addressed adding or increasing vegetation, and vegetative barriers if needed.
The amount of alum or gypsum you will need will be determined by the severity of the problem, and the volume of water in the pond.

Once this and the pH are correct, you can begin to fertilize the pond.
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Fertility

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Managing pH in Ponds and Lakes

Wednesday, August 6th, 2008

Managing pH in ponds and lakes.


Checking pH is a simple matter of getting a cheap testing kit, and testing the water.

You can buy one at some of the major discount stores, or a pool supply place for a few bucks. It will be very handy for you.
pH should not be below 6.8, or the water will not support the algae bloom necessary to support the aquatic invertebrates (bugs) needed to help support the fish.
If the pH is not high enough, you will need to use an agent, usually agricultural lime, to get it higher.
How much you will need to use, is dependent on the pH, and the area to be covered. In general, from 1 to 4 tons of agricultural lime is applied per acre. Liming can be difficult work, but it is well worth the effort if needed. It will make every other aspect of your lake or pond management work better. There are some products becoming available which should make lime applications a little less labor intensive.

How often must I lime?

pH should be tested on a regular basis, but re-liming may not be needed each year. One treatment can last for 3 to 5 years. There ares some cases however, where annual re-liming would be desirable. In such cases smaller amounts of lime are needed per application, usually about 25% of the original application.

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Managing Water Clarity

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Posted in Aquatic Vegetation, Uncategorized, Water Clarity | 1 Comment »