Pond Moss Question

[Mako]

Got this in an email and I am trying to help make things easy for the member. Any ideas?

Question, now that the ice is off our 2 acre pond I have noticed a huge amount of moss below the water that I never notice in the past springs. Should I worry about this at this time or just wait for wind, sun and warmer weather?

[Chad]

Aquaman has talked about this before. Hopefully he will see this thread and comment as well, but here is what I remember him saying in the past.

Turbid water in ponds will clear under the ice. The clearer water will allow more light penetration, and more light can result in the growth of a bottom mat of filamentous algae (as seen in your picture).

Unfortunately, waiting for wind and warmer weather (which will also bring rain and storms) isn't likely to help your situation, especially since you say there is a "huge amount." Spring conditions are likely to increase the turbidity of the water. Increased turbidity will decrease light penetration. Decreased light penetration could lead to die off and decomposition of the algae. With that you'll get a fun little oxygen sag, which could kill fish.

I don't know that there is a solution in the short run other than to hope that the impending decomposition doesn't happen or doesn't happen on a scale large enough to produce a fish kill. Perhaps there is a way to add oxygen to the pond during the decomposition???

In the long run, I think you will want to do two things. First improve the pond's runoff, if possible. I'm assuming this is a farm pond with agriculture in the runoff. A 100' buffer strip around the pond will help filter out nutrients (i.e. phosphorous and nitrogen) that can lead to the algae bloom. Second, establish some "other" aquatic plant life to tie up some of the available nutrients in an effort to control the size of future algae blooms. I'm not an expert here, but I believe a diversity of healthy and controlled plant life would be the goal. There is a great resource (aquaplant) in this thread.

Good luck! I'm sure others more knowledgeable that me (or is it I ) will chime in as well.

[Aquaman]

I don't know if I can top that response, Chad! Well done.

The only thing I can add is that I don't think you're likely to have a fish kill from decomposition of winter filamentous algae blooms. I'm unaware of any instances of that happening. Usually the water is still quite cold when the filamentous algae starts to go away, so you've got water that holds a lot more dissolved oxygen at the time, and the fish's metabolic needs aren't as high. For me, in the past, it's been mostly a nuisance.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by Aquaman

Usually the water is still quite cold when the filamentous algae starts to go away, so you've got water that holds a lot more dissolved oxygen at the time, and the fish's metabolic needs aren't as high. For me, in the past, it's been mostly a nuisance.

Now that's cool. I didn't even think about that.

[Willie Boy]

also wondering if the 'water' in question tends to get turbid due to wind/wave action, is it likely that an O2 sag likely won't occur? given that typical conditions such as this exist in waters with high aquatic plant presence...and typically only during hot, cloudy, wind-still conditions (July/August)?

[Chad]

What is that Willie? Not completely following...

[houghty26]

Great thread, I noticed that Steinhart Park main pond here in Neb City has LARGE amounts of moss/algae showing up in ice out areas. Threw me for a loop, good news no dead fish in those ice out areas.

[brademan76]

I seriously hate that disgusting algae!. Could you try to sein out a bunch of it to get it cleared out?

[Shorty]

Any ideas?

You can try manual removal of the FA, if it is still a problem later this spring you can use cutrine plus once the water temperature gets to 60 degrees to kill it.

[OldBaldGuy]

I believe it must have been Daryl who chided me a couple of years ago for writing about "moss" in the water. Can't remember all the details, but I think he said something about it not always growing on the north side of the pond...

[Chad]

Speaking of Daryl...

A couple of comments,

First of all, it ain't "moss". Moss grows on trees. Algae grows in the water.

Second of all, "Aquaman" is pretty much right on. Algae blooms this time of year? Yeah whatever, wouldn't even think twice about it.

Keep in mind that all Nebraska waters are relatively fertile. And believe me, that is especially true for farm ponds in agricultural watersheds. When the ice goes out, the water tends to be relatively clear, lots of nutrients, some warming water--Voila, algae bloom.

There are a host of different species of algae. There is some type of algae bloom occurring in our waters pretty much year-round. Some of those types of algae are planktonic (i.e. "floating", drifting in the water) and you may not notice anything more than a discoloration to the water. Other types are filamentous and may bloom into mats or "beds". One species or type of algae will bloom when conditions are favorable and then as it dies back the next species or type will bloom. There is a progression through the year, every year. The algae that bloom this early in the year will likely bloom and then go away as conditions begin to favor some other type of algae.

Algae blooms that cause fish kills usually occur during the warmest water of the year. At that time, especially in waters with high nutrient levels (phosphorous in particular), bluegreen algae tend to dominate and bloom. Bluegreen blooms can be so extensive as to turn the water into "pea-green soup". During the day, when sunlight is available those bluegreen algae will photosynthesize and produce oxygen. In fact oxygen levels during the day may even exceed saturation. But at night those same bluegreen algae respire and use oxygen which can create the oxygen sag which can kill fish. Of course all of that is exacerbated during the summer when water is warm and holds less oxygen. If there is a stretch of cloudy, calm weather during the peak of a summer bluegreen bloom, that also makes things worse.

Some rambling, hopefully that makes sense.

Daryl Bauer
Lakes and Reservoirs Program Manager
Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
daryl.bauer@ngpc.ne.gov

P.S. Feel free to share this message with others.

[Shorty]

First of all, it ain't "moss".

I like to refer to filamentous algae (FA) as "squidge".

As in: Dang there is a lot of "squidge" in the pond this year.

[Aquaman]

If you have flocculant in your squidge you should see a (pond) specialist.

[Shorty]

Urban Dictionary: SQUIDGE

[brademan76]

Wow, some of those definitions are pretty crazy, but hilarious for sure.

[Bad Boy]

I had a lot of FA on the pond when the ice went out. First, let me complement the input from everyone on this thread. I treated my pond with copper sulfate about three weeks ago. I have no (undetectable) FA today. Regarding this, I have two comments regarding treating with copper sulfate or if it sulphate. What ever. Cutrine has the same effect (9% chelated copper). It kills the base of your food chain. Photoplankton, Zooplankton, algea, etc. all gone! It's interesting that the folks in the south add ferterlizer to grow these elements of their ponds aquaculture.

I have some nice fish residing in my pond, but not with out additional input on my part. I feed the cats and BG with fish pellets. For the bass and crappie, a couple of time a year I add several thousand minnows. Every thing has something to eat. Also, I have a fair amount of cattails which provides habitat. Hey, alright I'm maintaining a big aquarium. But it's fun and you can hook into a big one most of the time.

Check out the price of copper sulfate. Two years ago it was about $40 for a 50 pound bag. It's now over $100. Cutrine and Rodeo seem to have held the line at about $40 per gallon.

Anyway, ramble.

Good luck.
Mike

[GenerousAngler]

Why use copper sulfate? Are you trying to acidify? We have a neighborhood pond that is well screaned from the North. Last year it had both algae and excessive pondweed growth. I recall reading a few years ago that bales of barley would help reduce algae growth.

[Bad Boy]

Copper sulfate and Cutrine (9% Chelated Copper) are good algicides. They treat micro alge, and filamentous alge. I apologize if I'm mutilating the spelling of these words. Duck weed and pond weed can be controlled by a product called Sonar. Very pricy, but a little goes a long way. If you use Sonar or for that matter any of these products, they kill the alge / pond weed and the decomposing matter can cause an oxygen deficiency. This can kill your fish.

PM me if you need more info. I've experienced the good and the bad.

Mike