Pond dreaming is over

[philbuilt]

Coopers do you think that they would come even though we walk down with the dogs? ducks that don't eat the fish I would welcome.

The scum is gone and the fish are rising like crazy .
Pond management is stressfully! I think I need to just let nature do its thing and no intervene.
Phil

 

[coopers]

Well in that case I don't think so. Wood ducks are VERY cautious birds, in the winter when they're vulnerable and molting it's hard to find them on water in the woods or with trees surrounding them. At any rate, momma wouldn't like having constant visitation like that. But you may get some visitors at some point but for short periods.

Blake
WA

 

[YOTI]

Hey Phil, Great project, I have enjoyed going through the thread. I was just at my buddies place yesterday and noticed he has mounted a ball on the top edge of his fel, that may work for you as well. Take care, Craig

 

[gary pate]

PhilBuilt;Have been reading post and wonder if you added lime if that wouldn't clear up your water. Don't know what effect it would have on the fish. Good luck and keep up the good work.

 

[Superduper]

Great job Phil,

All I can say is wow.

Anyhow, did I miss something regarding how you filled the pond, or did you just dig the hole and it naturally filled up? Will it stay this way or will it dry up in the summer? Did you investigate the level of the water table to know that digging the hole would yield a pond? Sorry about all the questions but I guess what I really want to know is "how did you know that digging the hole would result in more than just a hole in the ground?"

Super.

 

[philbuilt]

Coopers,
We did have a pair of mallards after a heavy rain fall this spring.
All the Fields were flooded so they came and visited I assume because we are a little higher and still had some weed at pond edge for them to eat.

Yoti,
Thank you
I hope to attach it to the BH off to one side . My land is wide open so it being off center would not be a problem. I hope to drop the legs and load with the BH lift the legs and go dump and repeat. No hooking and unhooking. More seat time.

gary pate,
Is lime the same as powdered gypsum? I'm told that is the only thing that will not change the chemistry of the water. The fish are doing great and I don't want to mess with that.

Superduper,
Thank you.
Water level, My son use to run his truck in the mud down there with his friends. The tire ruts stayed full of water so, I assumed the soil was good to hold run off from the Fields. My well is about 200' away from the pond site and the water level in it always stayed high. That is where I thought it would work. Last summer the water level only dropped about 6 to 10" or so. So far this year it's only fluctuated about 3 1/2" but the rain has been on and off.

I took a picture last night after the camp fire.


I will move more dirt to day
Phil

 

[mocassincreekranch]

philbuilt

Call Allied Custom Gypsum at 580-756-9565 and ask who is a dealer near you. They ship all over the U.S. I put 500lbs in my 1/2 pond and it cleared it up overnight. The product on the bag says Ground Calcium Sulfate # 2203, $6.50 per bag. You are on the right track with powdered gypsum, throw it out from the bank or putting in the prop wash of a trolling motor works best. I have done this for 3 neighbors and they are amazed at the results after a few days.

 

[Superduper]

Excuse my ignorance but what is the principle behind gypsum and clearing of the water? Won't dosing it in this manner make the water extremely hard and won't that affect the fish? I imagine that trout are soft water fish but then again, this is from speculation more than anything else. I am also curious whether the gypsum actually dissolves into solution or just turns the bottom of the pond white. I've never known sheetrock to dissolve. Turn to mush, yes.

 

[EddieWalker]

One reason for muddy looking water is an electrical charge in the water that causes the water to hold the very fine particles of silt in it. I forget if it's a postivie charge, or a negative one, but the result is the water will always look muddy for all time.

In Phils pond, I believe his water was clear at one time, so it's a good assumption that it will clear up again on its own. If it was always muddy looking, then gypsum is a very good choice to nutralize the electrical charge of the water and allow the suspended silt particles to settle to the bottom of the pond.

I did this with my small pond when I built my house. I tossed all the scrap sheetrock in there all around the shoreline. The water was very, very dark, muddy brown. In about three days it was noticable clearer. Around a week later, it was beautiful!!!!! Just amazing at the diference and how quickly it happened. Then a week after that, green alge started growing. It kept growing until it was growing on top of itself to create a sludge that was building up above water line. It was the most disgusting, horrible mess imaginable. It stayed that way until winter when it died off from the cold weather. The next spring the water came back in from the rains and it turned brown again. I've decided I like brown water and will never clear up my ponds again.

Eddie

 

[philbuilt]

mocassincreekranch ,
Thank you for the # but they say its not in service. I will go to my ag store and ask for the product you listed.

Super,
The gypsum will dissolve and change the polarity of the pond water but not the PH. The gypsum attracts the clay particles and causes them to clump up instead of being suspended.
I am clearing the pond for my own pleasure. It will also allow me to see where I am digging on the edges if I miss a spot I will see it the following evening. I can also see the fish better too.

Eddie,
You are right on about clearing the water. I wonder if your water temp was a factor in the algae growing in your pond. My pond is now clear down about 20", water temp 49 to 70 DEG.
So far there is no algae growth on the surface just pollen and it kinda makes it brown. But the wind blows and it goes away.
So far so good.
This pond stuff can really drive one crazy with worries.
Phil