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Hi all:
So, I have a serious problem with one of the two trout ponds on our property. The pond is 20 years old. It spring fed for the most part. It was dug down to ledge, and the main spring is in the deep end. (15 feet down) Until this year, there has never been any algae. Also, all of the Brook Trout are dying. The brood stock (15 to 20 inch 3 to 5 lbs) and the small trout. These fish had a successful hatch in May. (probably 1000) They were doing fine until the beginning of June. I fed them quality food every night. They also ate most of the baby fish. Then, they started dying. That's when I noticed all of the algae too. I took out a ball today about 3 feet around. The bottom is getting covered too.
I made one change to the pond last August, when we moved here. There's a culvert that goes under the driveway. (Water only runs through here during heavy rain, and snow melt for about 4 weeks in the spring). Then, there's a 20 foot long ditch to the pond. It was getting pretty mucky so, I put two large pickup loads of 5 inch limestone in it last August. (about 3500 pounds) I believe limestone is acidic. Although, I saw no change to the pond until next June. Other than a dusting of powder from crushing. I see no reason this stone could cause this huge ecological change. Am I wrong? The state puts this along the road, next to trout streams all the time.
I contacted a retired, commissioner of the fish and game department. He said is sounds like a the acidity level must have taken a huge rise. He said water tests can run about $1000 a piece.
There's only to houses about 100 yds through the woods. No farms or anything else for that matter, above the pond.
It has been Very wet the last two summers. I wondering if one of the houses has septic problems, The stone I put in, or something else is causing this problem.
Any advice is appreciated. Here's some pics. The one of the woods is where the runoff comes from in the spring and during heavy rain.
We did 3 tests today.
Culligan water test for hardness, nitrites and nitrates This was taken towards the inlet. That's where the algae is worst.
Soft water
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 0-5 Below EPA standards
Aquacheck PH taken toards the inlet.
Water PH 6.2-6.5
A Rapitest PH soil test taken from sludge/much washed in on the limestone.
Soil PH 6-6.5
Why has the ecosystem change so rapidly, and why are my fish dying?
The end of the pond where the runoff comes in was dug shallow. Stones were thrown in a 6 foot circle. Springs force fresh water up over the stones. The trout spawn here. The fresh water keeps bacteria from forming, and killing the eggs. It's very rare to get a successful hatch out of a pond. Right now, the entire shallow end is heavily covered with algae. There wasn't one piece of it a year ago.
Any suggestions?
So, I have a serious problem with one of the two trout ponds on our property. The pond is 20 years old. It spring fed for the most part. It was dug down to ledge, and the main spring is in the deep end. (15 feet down) Until this year, there has never been any algae. Also, all of the Brook Trout are dying. The brood stock (15 to 20 inch 3 to 5 lbs) and the small trout. These fish had a successful hatch in May. (probably 1000) They were doing fine until the beginning of June. I fed them quality food every night. They also ate most of the baby fish. Then, they started dying. That's when I noticed all of the algae too. I took out a ball today about 3 feet around. The bottom is getting covered too.
I made one change to the pond last August, when we moved here. There's a culvert that goes under the driveway. (Water only runs through here during heavy rain, and snow melt for about 4 weeks in the spring). Then, there's a 20 foot long ditch to the pond. It was getting pretty mucky so, I put two large pickup loads of 5 inch limestone in it last August. (about 3500 pounds) I believe limestone is acidic. Although, I saw no change to the pond until next June. Other than a dusting of powder from crushing. I see no reason this stone could cause this huge ecological change. Am I wrong? The state puts this along the road, next to trout streams all the time.
I contacted a retired, commissioner of the fish and game department. He said is sounds like a the acidity level must have taken a huge rise. He said water tests can run about $1000 a piece.
There's only to houses about 100 yds through the woods. No farms or anything else for that matter, above the pond.
It has been Very wet the last two summers. I wondering if one of the houses has septic problems, The stone I put in, or something else is causing this problem.
Any advice is appreciated.
Here's some pics. The one of the woods is where the runoff comes from in the spring and during heavy rain.
We did 3 tests today.
Culligan water test for hardness, nitrites and nitrates This was taken towards the inlet. That's where the algae is worst.
Soft water
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 0-5 Below EPA standards
Aquacheck PH taken toards the inlet.
Water PH 6.2-6.5
A Rapitest PH soil test taken from sludge/much washed in on the limestone.
Soil PH 6-6.5
Why has the ecosystem change so rapidly, and why are my fish dying?
The end of the pond where the runoff comes in was dug shallow. Stones were thrown in a 6 foot circle. Springs force fresh water up over the stones. The trout spawn here. The fresh water keeps bacteria from forming, and killing the eggs. It's very rare to get a successful hatch out of a pond. Right now, the entire shallow end is heavily covered with algae. There wasn't one piece of it a year ago.
Any suggestions?
