Hello all!
First I just wanted to introduce myself as Sid. I am very interesting in building a pond in the near future for myself, but I am currently working as an Intern at the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee, WI and part of my job is to help do research to restore and improve their existing pond. Part of the restoration is to keep the pond as natural as possible without adding any chemicals and be energy efficient as possible.
This pond has been built only a year ago I believe but lack important aspects such as aeration and filtration. But one of my main and first concern was how to control the algae naturally. I know that some of the steps required to control algae will be to have good dissolving oxygen and filtering but would like to know if there's any natural methods in controlling algae growth? Such as plants that compete with algae for nutrients or plants that prevent algae growth (heard barley straw was good?). Keep in mind that a solar pump of some kind will be added to increase dissolved oxygen (If anyone has a suggestion on a good affordable solar pump that would be greatly greatly appreciated!) and help fight against algae.
Also, after figuring out how to keep the pond as clean as possible we are planning and hoping to stock it with native fish species such as bluegills, sunfish, yellow perch, small/largemouth bass with the approval of our Department of Natural Resources. It would be nice to know how these fish do in pond environments also. Thanks.
Your inputs and responses will be greatly appreciated! Please let me know if you have any questions about the pond and I will try to answer it the best that I can. Thanks again guys!
Sid
First I just wanted to introduce myself as Sid. I am very interesting in building a pond in the near future for myself, but I am currently working as an Intern at the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee, WI and part of my job is to help do research to restore and improve their existing pond. Part of the restoration is to keep the pond as natural as possible without adding any chemicals and be energy efficient as possible.
This pond has been built only a year ago I believe but lack important aspects such as aeration and filtration. But one of my main and first concern was how to control the algae naturally. I know that some of the steps required to control algae will be to have good dissolving oxygen and filtering but would like to know if there's any natural methods in controlling algae growth? Such as plants that compete with algae for nutrients or plants that prevent algae growth (heard barley straw was good?). Keep in mind that a solar pump of some kind will be added to increase dissolved oxygen (If anyone has a suggestion on a good affordable solar pump that would be greatly greatly appreciated!) and help fight against algae.
Also, after figuring out how to keep the pond as clean as possible we are planning and hoping to stock it with native fish species such as bluegills, sunfish, yellow perch, small/largemouth bass with the approval of our Department of Natural Resources. It would be nice to know how these fish do in pond environments also. Thanks.
Your inputs and responses will be greatly appreciated! Please let me know if you have any questions about the pond and I will try to answer it the best that I can. Thanks again guys!
Sid