On a farm tank that I fish a few times a year there appears to be an algae bloom. I normally catch lots of bass out of this lake but today only caught one. Does a fish kill coincide with an green algae bloom? The lake is usually pretty clear but now looks like thick pea soup..

nothing?

hook-line&sinker,

Probably not a fish kill yet...but may be headed toward one later on when temps get higher. The bloom can get so heavy that a DO crash results, the algae dies and then the fish die. Usually you will see the green bloom turn brown and that's when the fish start floating.

what meadowlark said...what you appear to have is a planktonic algae bloom. When algae get too plentiful it can start sucking the oxygen from the water along with disrupting the pH. My company sells and distributes pond supplies (among other environmental products)and algae control is by far away the biggest complaint we get. GreenCLean and GreenClean Pro are excellent fish safe algaecides. You may also want to look into getting some aeration into your pond and even using beneficial bacteria.

PM is you need some help

Thanks guys, It ain't my pond but I think the rancher fertilized the hay pasture last summer and maybe the run-off caused this bloom. Will it work it's way out or is the pond doomed?

Not sure if it is the same but we were told to toss a dozen xmas trees around the perimeter in intervals. Stock lots of blue gill and lots of pond minnows. That and 100 kitties and our pond has stayed mostly clear.

It could work its way out with a big rain that kind of flushes the algae, but he could run into an issue to where it just keeps re-generating and the fact is, its only going to get worse as we get closer and on into summer. He would probably be beter served trying to get rid of it now instead of waiting. If he waits too long and the algae does not go away then he could be in for big problems

That makes sense...

From looks of picture it is blue-green alage, which is associated with run off from pasture. If pond has good wind action it will push the alage to the bank. Biggest problem comes from mats that form that block sunlight, this can cause low dissolved oxygen and fish kill. Treatment would depend upon oxygen concentration in underlying water, and organic matter in water column and on pond bottom. If there is organic build up and you treat with alagecide then chances are you will cause oxygen demand and loose whole pond. Ponds are usually very dynamic and can take a nutrient load and alage bloom now and then but they can not take continious hits.

Some really good comments...I'd be willing to bet the farm that fertilizer run off is the cause. Hope and pray for some big flusing rains, like Casey says.

If he is going to treat w/chemicals he needs to do it soon...the longer he waits the more at risk he is for a DO crash when the water temps get up to 80 degrees.

If it were Filamentous algae, I'd recommend you get Tilapia in there ASAP. They will control it. They will also control duckweed, which is very similar to what you have.

If it were me, I'd sure give Tilapia a try...few things more heartbreaking than coming out to the pond and seeing floating fish everywhere.

Call Ken Hale at Boatcycle at 1-800-333-9154 and with a picture he can probably tell you more certain than I can, whether Tilapia will get that stuff or not. Good luck!