Farm pond followup

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https://carolinafirearmsforum.com/index.php?threads/stocked-my-farm-pond.7492/


Followup to my first thread.

Water clarity and quality is now what I would consider excellent for a NC farm pond. The 1000lbs ($60 worth) of ag lime has increased PH by a full number and continues to climb. (Higher the better)

Nitrates are higher than I would like but not dangerous.

The cats, carp and bluegill are very active and readily feed whatever I give them.

The bluegill are spawning (good sign.)

The 4" bass are now 6-7" juveniles and raise hell with the forage fish. Very entertaining.

The fathead minnows are gone, they were slow and easily caught. The new forage is an abundance of 2-3" bluegill. (Overabundance actually.)

The cats are well on thier way to becoming carnivores, so that may self rectify.

There is one 5lb and several 1.5lb bass that keep things healthy. It's very enjoyable to simply watch the goings on.
Constant action. The juvenile bass and the cats are very active feeders. I credit water quality.

Things are going amazingly well.
Thanks all for your advice.

I've learned a ton and am extremely happy with the results.
 
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That is a stark difference in water clarity and color. You have done well.
 
Where did you purchase your fish from?
 
That water looks great!

What is the pH?
 
Thanks, I need to check our pond.
 
Caught a blue heron eating my fish yesterday morning. He had a big one in his beak, red handed.

Little known fact, the blue Herron regurgitates into the water as bait to draw fish to the surface.
They rarely to never get rehabbed if found injured due to thier propensity to spear humans in the eyeball.

Federally protected species...

According to the interweb, they will eat a lb of fish per day. They also eat lizards, frogs, ducks, crayfish and rodents!

I added another 600 lbs of dolomite pulverized limestone yesterday.
That's 1600lbs total. It should be good for 2 years minimum.
 
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Fish truck will be:

Ace hardware in Yanceyville Tuesday 10/24...4:15-5:00 p.m.

Mebane Wednesday 10/25...12:45-1:30 p.m.

Cats, bass, fathead, grass carp etc.

Fishwagon.com

I have bought from them and I am very happy with the product.

Bring a laundry basket to put the bags in.
The bagged fish are good for an hour or so. They will do more bags/less fish if you need to transport further.
 
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Time frame & water quality numbers to document changes to date:

5.20.17: Added 1000lbs of pulverized limestone, broadcast evenly over pond bottom.

Numbers on 7.8.17 3pm:
GH: 30
KH: 40
PH: 6.5
NO2: .5
NO3: 20

9.2.17:
Added 500 lbs pulverized limestone.

Numbers on 10.17.17 3pm:
GH: 60
KH: 40
PH: 7
NO2: .5
NO3: 20

Ph has risen half a number and GH (General hardness) is up to 60 from 30.
60-180 is the acceptable level, so things are looking good. Still on the low side but better!
KH indicates the waters ability to maintain a stable PH under adverse conditions such as heavy acidic rain.
I would like to see it around 100.
Acceptable numbers for KH are 50-100.

Stable PH is possibly the most important parameter. Ph swings stress all aquatic life.

Chart of ideal water parameters:
http://www.watergarden.org/Fish-Pond-Water-Testing

All the fish are very active. Bass are giving the bream hell, cats eat anything I toss in.

Next up is artificial airation and the addition of benifical bacteria that will break down years of organic buildup.
The airation system will de-stratify the water and "stir the stew".
 
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By artificial air air action do you mean something like a blower to an airline or something like a fountain?

I th8nk that nitrates only really come down with plant growth. You’ve got food and sun, I wonder if you get the ph up some more and then start injecting co2 to get the planets to grow more vigorously, then harvest them. At least that works in planted aquaria.
 
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Test run of the air pump system on the genny. Two weighted diffusers placed in the deepest part of the pond.
That is 50' of air hose, for reference.
The diffusers make a nice ripple, should be enough to keep it from freezing over this winter.
The noise is my generator.
The pump itself is very quiet.

If your shopping for any type of water pump, check out www.Nashvillepond.com.
They took great care of me. Solid folks.
Give em' a like on facistbook if you use it.

https://m.facebook.com/NashvillePond/


Will have AC power soon.
20171024_174410.jpg
 
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Just so you know........this is what i consider "The good life". If i ever hit the lottery........ A house in BFN, rifle range, large detached garage and a fishing pond. With online shopping being what it is, wouldnt nees to leave the house very often....

Once again, i love it! Congrats
 
20171202_132024.jpg

Caswell co is currently in moderate to severe drought. My pond is almost exactly four inches low. I'm happy with that.
I still have no proof that the pond is "spring fed" but it's resistance to drought conditions is a good indicator.

Anyone have any scientific ideas to prove or disprove spring fed claims?
Fwiw, the folks who dug the pond were poor black tobacco farmers who would not have dug a pond that would go dry when they needed it.

For reference, most ponds in the area are 12-16"" or more low right now.
 
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I was able to catch a real duck flirting with the plastic duck this AM.
No positive ID on species yet.
Small bodied like a buffle head or woodie.

I plan to erect at least one wood duck box once I finish felling trees.
I don't want to lay a tree on the duck box.
 
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Nice pond! The duck's head movement looks like a coot.

Now when your cats get too big, take a couple deeks and tie about 3' of heavy tarred mason line to a circle hook. Throw the deeks out and watch them be pulled all around. We did this for a while in my buddy's pond to keep them in check. We'd have a couple of big fish fry's each year. The bigger cats would pull the decoys under like the barrels in Jaws and then resurface. Made it fun chasing them around in a canoe.
 
Slacker said:
View attachment 31236

Caswell co is currently in moderate to severe drought. My pond is almost exactly four inches low. I'm happy with that.
I still have no proof that the pond is "spring fed" but it's resistance to drought conditions is a good indicator.

Anyone have any scientific ideas to prove or disprove spring fed claims?
Fwiw, the folks who dug the pond were poor black tobacco farmers who would not have dug a pond that would go dry when they needed it.

For reference, most ponds in the area are 12-16"" or more low right now.
Click to expand...

Can you take multiple temp samples and see if maybe one area is cooler. I am just thinking out loud, but would think the spring fed area would be cooler in the summer months. Either way your results and work look great.
 


I caught the duck on camera bugging out.
Not sure how to catch a still shot, but there is a decent view of it in passing.
Anyone ID it?
 
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2459_-400x400.jpg
http://www.nativeoutdoors.com/aquapro-low-profile-fish-feeder.html

Bought one of these yesterday, (used) off craigslist. Solar powered.
I'm hoping it will run reliably while I'm absent. I envision it getting constantly molested by marauding coons...

Gotta figure out a sturdy mounting location while keeping the solar panel in the sun.

With my luck latley, the only bear in Caswell county will trash it and toss the whole thing in the pond.
 
Slacker said:
View attachment 42781
http://www.nativeoutdoors.com/aquapro-low-profile-fish-feeder.html

Bought one of these yesterday, (used) off craigslist. Solar powered.
I'm hoping it will run reliably while I'm absent. I envision it getting constantly molested by marauding coons...

Gotta figure out a sturdy mounting location while keeping the solar panel in the sun.

With my luck latley, the only bear in Caswell county will trash it and toss the whole thing in the pond.
Click to expand...

Bolt it to a raft and anchor it offshore.
 
Racoon buffet is served.
It throws small pellets about 15' out.
Solar, 12v battery. It has an auger and a thrower. Holds 75lb bag of chow, but I probably won't fill it that full due to mold/insect issues.

I may need to put up a no swimming sign since my catfish may get large enough to eat small children.
20180224_133857.jpg
20180224_133919.jpg
 
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Adorn it with spikes?
 
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