Texas Lake Solutions

Pond Scum Information

Pond scum, it goes by a lot of different names, but most of the time, it is really a type of algae known as filamentous algae.

Algae, are very primitive plants, there are several types, including the planktonic algae that is often suspended in the water profile of a pond or lake, and gives it that green tint that we are all familiar with. It is a single cell, that feeds aquatic invertebrates, which, in turn, feed larger creatures and so on up the food chain.

There are more advanced forms of algae as well, such as “Nittela”, and “Chara”, which resemble vascular rooted plants.

Filamentous algae, or pond scum starts growing at the bottom of a body of water, and gradually moves to the top by virtue of the buoyancy it provides through the creation of oxygen by the process of photosynthesis.

Pond scum, algae

If you want to raise a lot of catfish in a small pond, provided that it is relatively clean and all other criteria are met, you can do so simply by regular feedings. You don’t have to have good algae bloom to do this. At least that’s the line I hear often from the experts. It is true, you can. I say you can, but you shouldn’t!

You can get a lot better result from periodic fertilization, and the addition of a few fathead minnows. Why fertilize in this situation? Well, it is really pretty simple. If you fertilize, you can get the algae bloom to feed the microscopic and somewhat larger creatures which will become food for the minnows, which will become food for the catfish. This will keep the life cycle going, and provide a little supplement to your “supplemental” feedings.

It also provides cooling and oxygen in the water, which will serve to increase the health and size of your fish. The cooling and oxygen production is reason enough! There are other benefits as well. It will keep your fish from acting like lazy teenagers lying around all day. It will improve taste and texture, and it is just better!

Besides, the cost is minimal, the labor is light, and the outcome is a better pond, with better fish!