My problem is string algae and sludge.
I have a 1200 gallon pond with 6 bass (about 6") and 8 pumpkin seed sunfish (about 4"). The pond is 2' deep. It has a small water fall. The water is run through a filter. I don't know what to call this filter but it is a 40 gallon drum that is full of a plasticy sponge type thing. I also have UV light that I run in the summer. There is also a small patch of lillies in the corner.
What I did during the summer was plant water hyacynth and it did cover most of the pond by about mid July. I also put several water oxygenators in but I forgot what they were called. I pulled the water hyacynth out about a month ago before the first freeze.
I water has always been very clear but I worry about the sludge building up at the bottom. Whenever I think about removing it manually I decide not to because I notice so many insects in there I figure I might be doing more harm than good. I have also removed all the oxegenators because they have been covered by string aglae. The lillies are also getting covered. I put some bacteria in the filter but it didn't seem to help.
Should I put more plants in there? I was well over 50% covered this summer but now there is no cover. I was also thinking about just dropping a bigger bail of barley straw right in the pond becuase the little pads I put in the waterfall didn't seem to do anything. Should I clean out the sludge at the bottom or let the bugs stay?
Thanks
Zac
I have a 1200 gallon pond with 6 bass (about 6") and 8 pumpkin seed sunfish (about 4"). The pond is 2' deep. It has a small water fall. The water is run through a filter. I don't know what to call this filter but it is a 40 gallon drum that is full of a plasticy sponge type thing. I also have UV light that I run in the summer. There is also a small patch of lillies in the corner.
What I did during the summer was plant water hyacynth and it did cover most of the pond by about mid July. I also put several water oxygenators in but I forgot what they were called. I pulled the water hyacynth out about a month ago before the first freeze.
I water has always been very clear but I worry about the sludge building up at the bottom. Whenever I think about removing it manually I decide not to because I notice so many insects in there I figure I might be doing more harm than good. I have also removed all the oxegenators because they have been covered by string aglae. The lillies are also getting covered. I put some bacteria in the filter but it didn't seem to help.
Should I put more plants in there? I was well over 50% covered this summer but now there is no cover. I was also thinking about just dropping a bigger bail of barley straw right in the pond becuase the little pads I put in the waterfall didn't seem to do anything. Should I clean out the sludge at the bottom or let the bugs stay?
Thanks
Zac
