famr pond clear water for swimming

[OldMcDonald]

Just for those still thinking it cannot happen to them, jumping is as likely to kill you as diving. OK if only your legs cramp and you can struggle out, but if the whole body cramps you sink. I have not counted the number of posters on the thread or how many have had the experiences of the few who have posted of their problems - but they are an infinitesmal percentage of the numbers who swim in farm ponds. So the ratio of those affected to those posting is quite high. I repeat, I am not suggesting people stop swimming, just be aware how easily fatalities can occur.

 

[Rustyiron]

Are all your fish blue gills now?

Larro

No blue gills! lot's of Koi & Cat's though.

 

[xtruckerbob]

I had a carpet like moss on my pond so I call LSU extension service. They said to get a "Copper Sulphate" compound which is available at Tractor Supply for $35 or so a gallons. This works good but make take 2 spraying. I put mine in my 30 gallon sprayer in the RTV and sprayed it heavy.

 

[oosik]

Copper sulfate is also used in your tropical aquarium to cure "ick". In the case of tropical aquaria its called malachite green. If you have desirable fish in your pond, use the proper concentration - CuSO4(Copper Sulfate) will also kill fish if used improperly.

 

[xtruckerbob]

My pond is 2 acres and 14 foot deep. I used double strenght because it was so bad. No problem with dead fish. Soon we will put down a pump and stop the field water from coming in hoping to stop the problem.

 

[MossRoad]

Just for those still thinking it cannot happen to them, jumping is as likely to kill you as diving. OK if only your legs cramp and you can struggle out, but if the whole body cramps you sink. I have not counted the number of posters on the thread or how many have had the experiences of the few who have posted of their problems - but they are an infinitesmal percentage of the numbers who swim in farm ponds. So the ratio of those affected to those posting is quite high. I repeat, I am not suggesting people stop swimming, just be aware how easily fatalities can occur.

Its the shock of hitting the cold water that can trigger heart problems, cause you to take a gasp, etc... but you won't cramp up instantly from cold water. You can cramp up after some time in cold water, but not instantly.

 

[sld]

My experience has been that a lot of shoreline vegetation produces the clearest water. I remember at one time I could see the bottom in 5-6 feet of water which is really clear for our area. We had healthy populations of water willow and even some cattails. The bass and blue gill thrived.

My Dad tried turn it into a swimming pool and added copper sulphate. It killed all the vegetation like it's supposed to and the water was forever murky after that. It was pretty much a catfish pond from then on.

We did have a large aerator also by drilling holes in a capped stand pipe. This was fed by a large submersible pump in a well.