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Unhealthy
Ponds
How to
Achieve a
Healthy Pond
Effects of
Herbicides
Causes of
Fish Kills
Types of
Algae
Aquatic
Vegetation
Unwanted
Aquatic
Vegetation
Types of
Aeration
Fish
Structure
Bioaug.
Types of Algae
Algae is defined as plants without true roots or stems. Listed below are three types that exist accompanied with a brief description of each.
Filamentous - Most common nuisance algae. It can present itself as a slimy yellow green algae or as coarse hairlike filaments. These filaments grow attached to the bottom and when they produce 02, it becomes trapped which causes the algae to break off and float to the surface.
Planktonic - This type is microscopic which are usually suspended in the upper water layer where sufficient light and nutrients are available. Their colors can range from brown to green and some forms of planktonic algae can contribute to taste and odor problems in the water. Usually uncommon in most ponds, planktonic algae will be present in "nutrient rich" water resources and may become inundated with plankton blooms.
Macroscopic - Chara and Nitella Are rooted forms of algae. They often cover large areas ranging from several inches to a couple feet thick. When crushed, Chara feels gritty and presents a musty odor.
Types of Aquatic Vegetation
There are three types of aquatic plants that can exist in your water resource. In order to better understand these types, we have provided a brief description of each along with some examples.
Submerged - Usually rooted in the pond bottom with the plants' stems and leaves below the water surface. Examples are: e. milfoil, coontail, chara.
E. milfoil
coontail
chara
Emergent - Plants growing in or near the water with a large portion of the plant exposed above the water surface. Examples are: Cattails and Iris'.
cattail
iris
Floating - Plants which are free floating such as duckweed or watermeal. These also can be plants that are rooted to the bottom but have leaves that float. An example is the Water lily.
lilies
Removing Unwanted
Aquatic Vegetation
Many pond owners often ask the question, "Do I need vegetation in my pond?" The answer is yes. Aquatic vegetation provides food and cover for fish, aids in improving water quality by filtering out excess nutrients, assists in the reduction of sediments entering the resource and provides some dissolved oxygen to the aquatic ecosystem.
Although, aquatic vegetation is an essential part of the resource, it can become over-abundant and even detrimental. This brings up the next question. "How do I control the unwanted vegetation and what do I use?" Below are steps that should be followed for proper control/eradication of nuisance vegetation.
• Call M.B.A. for proper identification of the aquatic weed(s).
• Decide how to eradicate it (chemically or mechanically).
• If chemically, M.B.A. will choose the most applicable herbicide for eradication.
• M.B.A. will determine the correct dosage rate for your water resource.
• Allow M.B.A. to apply the herbicide. Strict guidelines, per the Department of Agriculture, need to be followed when applying herbicides.
• Wait approximately two weeks and physically remove dead vegetation, using a Beachcomber Rake.
• If mechanically, use a Beachcomber Rake. (There is a good possibility the weed may return.)
Please note: There are pond and lake companies that suggest not to use herbicides to control aquatic vegetation and to rake to remove the living plants. This is like saying to a farmer not to apply herbicides to his field and hoe the weeds to remove, them. Will they not come back? You MUST kill the root system!!!
Maumee Bay Aquatics believes in maintaining your water resource as naturally as possible, although there will be instances where chemical applications will be necessary. We are not saying to omit aeration, raking, bioaugmentation and planting aquatic plants, but once the unwanted vegetation is eradicated, again maintain your resource naturally.
