Electronic blanket weed control anyone?

[Robbinl]

Hi,

First post and should have been on sooner with the problems I've had!
I dug and lined a 10,000 gallon wildlife pond thats now entering it's third year.
It's been a steep learning curve as water chemistry has been an issue throughout (always alkaline) stumping plant and wildlife growth.
I'm getting a handle on that now but one problem that's certaily got the better of me is blanket weed; I've tried barley straw - didn't really work; I tried chemical treatments - nearly had to remortgage the house plus it didn't really work; dragging it out by hand - kills all the plants; has anybody any experience of the copper anode (or similar) electronic blanket weed controllers?

Many thanks

[tom00_uk]

you will find copper affects the inverts.

never heard any thing good about electro control methods,

once you get the other plants growing, the free nutrients that are supporting the blanket weed will be reduced and with it its growth.

[Tringa]

Welcome to WAB.

I'm guessing you haven't been able to find out what is making the water too alkaline.

Agree with the idea that once other plants grow the nutrient problem will lessen.

Water mint grows like crazy in our pond and is easily "pruned" when you need to, but I think better still is water cress. Just throw a few handfuls in from a supermarket pack.

Dave

[Dogghound]

Its worth trying to establish why its growing first then try to stop this. Are excessive nutrients entering the pond? fish? leaves, water birds etc? Are chemicals used close to the pond? what depth shape is the pond? can you think of anything else which enters the pond? lawn feed etc.

Is the water clear? how many plants do you have?

As Tringa says do you know what is the source of the Alkaline?

[nightshade]

Are you in an alkali area of Britain regarding the feed water. A large volume of water like that would need several bales of barley straw
We use, in our small pond Ishi Koi Blanket weed control and have plenty of inverts Frogs and Toads.

[Robbinl]

I think I understand why the water was alkaline and small regular water changes have got it under control.
The water was very clear in the first year but dark last year.
Plant growth hasn't been great due to the PH and the constant battering from me removing blanket weed.
The pond is 1.3m deep at it's max but over half of the surface area is 0.3m deep approx.
I have fish in the pond; rudd, orfe, & mirror carp, totalling 20 approx.
There are trees that do shed leaves in the vacinity of the pond, but with the pond being reasonably young, I hadn't considered dead vegitation as being a possible source of my problems.
Sounds like the copper anode is out, and maybe water cress in?
Many thanks for your replies, any more bright idea's will be greatfully received.

Best regards

Lee

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Robbinl

I think I understand why the water was alkaline and small regular water changes have got it under control.

What is the cause?

Originally Posted by Robbinl

The water was very clear in the first year but dark last year.
Plant growth hasn't been great due to the PH and the constant battering from me removing blanket weed.

Planting native species which thrive in alkaline rich habitats may improve plant survival in your pond and ultimately improve the water quality.

Originally Posted by Robbinl

The pond is 1.3m deep at it's max but over half of the surface area is 0.3m deep approx.
I have fish in the pond; rudd, orfe, & mirror carp, totalling 20 approx.
There are trees that do shed leaves in the vacinity of the pond, but with the pond being reasonably young, I hadn't considered dead vegitation as being a possible source of my problems.

Both are considerable factors for reducing water quality. 20 Fish is quite a high density for a pond. Wildlife and fish dont mix very well. Its unnatural to get high densities of fish in small water bodies. The blanket weed is likely to be a result of increased nutrient input from the fish. Fish also upset the plankton balance where they feed on zooplankton it encourages phytoplankton and algae growth. Leaves decaying within the pond are not usually an issue in a new pond or in small numbers but added to fish pressure then problems occur. Fish will also feed on plants and uproot them.

In general its fish or wildlife, if its fish then get a good pump and filter with a UV light and try that way, maybe reducing the numbers. If its wildlife take the fish out and water quality should improve.

[yorkieuk]

Stick a grass carp in that would most likely eat the weed.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by yorkieuk

Stick a grass carp in that would most likely eat the weed.

The issue with grass carp is they eat the algae and the plants, and the aquatic invertebrates as well as continue to add nutrients into the system, resulting in as much negative influence as positive, so they are not the most productive way of solving the problem.

[yorkieuk]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

The issue with grass carp is they eat the algae and the plants, and the aquatic invertebrates as well as continue to add nutrients into the system, resulting in as much negative influence as positive, so they are not the most productive way of solving the problem.

true true, at least the blanket weed would be gone.