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Posted: 5/1/2022 1:14:23 PM EDT
Dozens of fish have died off in my pond in the last 4 days
no chemicals with in miles Help please there has been no major changes to pond except for: HUGE Rain last weekend NEW Brand of feed small mouth bass, perch, cats dead bull frogs and turtles no deaders?? kept as natural as possible but with some care has aeration for oxygen pond is over 10 years old, had one bad algae bloom 5 or 6 years ago algae is brown and slimy fish are dead and dying no idea, wife's gonna call extension service monday, i hate having the man on my land but; this has to be stopped if possible..      |
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Posted: 5/1/2022 1:26:57 PM EDT
[#1]
Any chance the heavy rain brought something in? Is any part of the drainage area that fills the pond ag land? There are many residual ag chems today that can last in the soil for long periods of time, heavy rains can wash the chems or chem laden soils away (sometimes leading to a pond).
You may keep your place natural but the neighbors may not. Outside of that I would be looking heavily at the new fish food introducing a toxin or illness/fungal thing to your water. Have you called the manufacturer? I would expect many manufacturers to deny that such a thing could occur but a reputable one may acknowledge the possibility and request some tissue samples and water samples to try to help you figure it out. |
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Posted: 5/1/2022 1:33:42 PM EDT
[#2]
Looks stinky.
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Posted: 5/1/2022 1:57:38 PM EDT
[#3]
How deep is the pond? If past 18 19 feet your o2 may have flipped and created a dead zone.
read about it here. |
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Posted: 5/1/2022 1:59:35 PM EDT
[#4]
Time to dredge maybe?
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Posted: 5/1/2022 2:07:39 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryQuoted: How deep is the pond? If past 18 19 feet your o2 may have flipped and created a dead zone. read about it here. . Exactly what I’m thinking |
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Posted: 5/1/2022 4:58:41 PM EDT
[#6]
Is it fair to say it's the edium and larger sized fish that died? I know you said you aerate the pond, but at first glimpse sounds like low 02. Hot weather after heavy runoff can definitely trigger O2 depletion. Have an carp in your pond?
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Posted: 5/1/2022 5:46:37 PM EDT
[#7]
Looks to me like you had some algae weed die off that lead to O2 depletion. And it could be years of nutrient buildup and the pond turned just at the right time. We have settlement pond from the coal mine that every ten or so years has a fish kill. It’s nutrient rich shallow and ducks absolutely love it. It gets enough duck waste to cause a catastrophic loss and induce a fish kill.
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Posted: 5/1/2022 5:53:23 PM EDT
[#8]
that sucks, I'd knock off the new feed for sure.
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Posted: 5/1/2022 5:59:22 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted: How deep is the pond? If past 18 19 feet your o2 may have flipped and created a dead zone. read about it here. 15 to 18 ft at center |
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Posted: 5/1/2022 6:00:55 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Any chance the heavy rain brought something in? Is any part of the drainage area that fills the pond ag land? There are many residual ag chems today that can last in the soil for long periods of time, heavy rains can wash the chems or chem laden soils away (sometimes leading to a pond). You may keep your place natural but the neighbors may not. Outside of that I would be looking heavily at the new fish food introducing a toxin or illness/fungal thing to your water. Have you called the manufacturer? I would expect many manufacturers to deny that such a thing could occur but a reputable one may acknowledge the possibility and request some tissue samples and water samples to try to help you figure it out. heavy rain last week no run off from neighbors, no ag with in a mile or more food?? maybe, it's my thinking..but its been 3 weeks. |
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Posted: 5/1/2022 7:29:23 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Is it fair to say it's the edium and larger sized fish that died? I know you said you aerate the pond, but at first glimpse sounds like low 02. Hot weather after heavy runoff can definitely trigger O2 depletion. Have an carp in your pond? all under 7 inchs only spotted maybe 3 or 4 larger fish and none have floated yet. |
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Posted: 5/1/2022 7:32:30 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Looks to me like you had some algae weed die off that lead to O2 depletion. And it could be years of nutrient buildup and the pond turned just at the right time. We have settlement pond from the coal mine that every ten or so years has a fish kill. It’s nutrient rich shallow and ducks absolutely love it. It gets enough duck waste to cause a catastrophic loss and induce a fish kill. so an algea die off can cause dead fish? hmm. |
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Posted: 5/1/2022 11:03:36 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted: 15 to 18 ft at center Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: How deep is the pond? If past 18 19 feet your o2 may have flipped and created a dead zone. read about it here. 15 to 18 ft at center I assume you have a fountain aerator? |
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Posted: 5/1/2022 11:13:10 PM EDT
[#14]
Pond probably turned over. Oxygen poor water came up from bottom of pond with the heavy rain. Been there done that. It sucks.
Aerators would help in the future. Head to Pond Boss to learn more. |
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Posted: 5/2/2022 12:09:41 PM EDT
[#15]
Fish look to have large eyes and thin bellies. That usually means too many fish/too little nutrition.
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Posted: 5/2/2022 4:08:00 PM EDT
[#16]
 aerator |
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Posted: 5/2/2022 4:15:23 PM EDT
[#17]
nitirites? water test?
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Posted: 5/2/2022 4:42:10 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryThat appears to be a fountain which isn't adequate at preventing pond turnover according to the article linked above. |
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Posted: 5/2/2022 4:50:13 PM EDT
[#19]
You got a lot of bull rush in that pond? Could be dying and that causes blooms and algae that may be it…….any woods close by? Run off from woods?
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Posted: 5/3/2022 4:52:02 AM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted: That appears to be a fountain which isn't adequate at preventing pond turnover according to the article linked above. possibly not, the pump is 6' below the surface. i've been reluctant to run electric that far under water to center it if thats the case, its a summer project..but it's been going for 10 years and this is the first time i have had any kind of die off.. can count on 1 hand the number of dead fish i have pulled from the pond in those 10 years. |
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Posted: 5/3/2022 4:52:27 AM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted: You got a lot of bull rush in that pond? Could be dying and that causes blooms and algae that may be it…….any woods close by? Run off from woods? no bullrushes, no cattails. |
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Posted: 5/3/2022 4:54:04 AM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted: nitirites? water test? trying to get local agent to get us the test kit to send to the state lab.. no over flow from crops near me, horse and cattle and only run off is from my yard and it has fed the pond the same way for all its existance. |
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Posted: 5/3/2022 4:57:21 AM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Fish look to have large eyes and thin bellies. That usually means too many fish/too little nutrition. once they've come out of dormacy, around march 1 we start feeding every other day until we see a lot of activity then it's an every other day feed..until june 1 then daily..  as has been for the last 10 years |
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Posted: 5/3/2022 5:50:54 AM EDT
[#24]
I feed mine year round.
Water Temp? Usually lack of oxygen or heat. But since you had a big rain, may be something in the run off. |
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Posted: 5/3/2022 2:46:03 PM EDT
[#25]
If it were an O2 problem fish would be at the surface and probably be "gulping" to get air.
Have you done a sein survey? I know you said you hate involving the man but a fisheries biologist can probably give you a diagnosis very quickly. |
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Posted: 5/4/2022 3:52:17 AM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted: If it were an O2 problem fish would be at the surface and probably be "gulping" to get air. Have you done a sein survey? I know you said you hate involving the man but a fisheries biologist can probably give you a diagnosis very quickly. no comprende.. water test kit on the way from the state to send to the lab |
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Posted: 5/4/2022 8:14:00 AM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted: possibly not, the pump is 6' below the surface. i've been reluctant to run electric that far under water to center it if thats the case, its a summer project..but it's been going for 10 years and this is the first time i have had any kind of die off.. can count on 1 hand the number of dead fish i have pulled from the pond in those 10 years. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: That appears to be a fountain which isn't adequate at preventing pond turnover according to the article linked above. possibly not, the pump is 6' below the surface. i've been reluctant to run electric that far under water to center it if thats the case, its a summer project..but it's been going for 10 years and this is the first time i have had any kind of die off.. can count on 1 hand the number of dead fish i have pulled from the pond in those 10 years. You should look at bottom diffused aeration. As mentioned a fountain won't cut it to prevent a fish kill. You do not need to run electricity to the pond. Just the airline. The pump can be at a convenient and covered electrical source. Take a look here Stoney Creek Equipment |
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Posted: 5/4/2022 10:40:46 AM EDT
[#28]
Dying algae consumes O2, that's why we used to apply algaecides a section at a time.
Also ran Powerhouse brand aerators, didn't center them, usually placed in deeper area. Or as far as extension cord would go. |
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Posted: 5/4/2022 12:36:33 PM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted: no comprende.. water test kit on the way from the state to send to the lab |
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Posted: 5/4/2022 9:41:09 PM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted: You should look at bottom diffused aeration. As mentioned a fountain won't cut it to prevent a fish kill. You do not need to run electricity to the pond. Just the airline. The pump can be at a convenient and covered electrical source. Take a look here Stoney Creek Equipment This Air bubbles diffusing up through the lower levels of the water do much more to move and stir the water. A water pump only moves the gpm it is rated for and if it's only 6' down it's not pulling any water from deeper than that so you can still have a thermocline or stratification in the pond water. Air bubbles change the density of the water and therefore creates an entire column of low density water that rises to the surface (and oxygenates the water at the same time), turning over hundreds of gallons per minute. |
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Posted: 5/4/2022 10:10:42 PM EDT
[#31]
You haven't applied aquatic weed killer to the pond by any chance have you?
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Posted: 5/4/2022 10:32:32 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted: so an algea die off can cause dead fish? hmm. Yes because the bacteria eating the dead algae use all the oxygen. It's almost always an O2 depletion that crashes a pond. |
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Posted: 5/5/2022 5:04:14 PM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted: You haven't applied aquatic weed killer to the pond by any chance have you? no |
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Posted: 5/5/2022 5:06:27 PM EDT
[#34]
Quote HistoryQuoted: This Air bubbles diffusing up through the lower levels of the water do much more to move and stir the water. A water pump only moves the gpm it is rated for and if it's only 6' down it's not pulling any water from deeper than that so you can still have a thermocline or stratification in the pond water. Air bubbles change the density of the water and therefore creates an entire column of low density water that rises to the surface (and oxygenates the water at the same time), turning over hundreds of gallons per minute. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: You should look at bottom diffused aeration. As mentioned a fountain won't cut it to prevent a fish kill. You do not need to run electricity to the pond. Just the airline. The pump can be at a convenient and covered electrical source. Take a look here Stoney Creek Equipment This Air bubbles diffusing up through the lower levels of the water do much more to move and stir the water. A water pump only moves the gpm it is rated for and if it's only 6' down it's not pulling any water from deeper than that so you can still have a thermocline or stratification in the pond water. Air bubbles change the density of the water and therefore creates an entire column of low density water that rises to the surface (and oxygenates the water at the same time), turning over hundreds of gallons per minute. so, IF I ran a "hose" or PVC Piping from the pump 6' below the surface to the center of the pond 18' below, with a diffuser on it. this will work?..?? |
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Posted: 5/5/2022 5:08:06 PM EDT
[#35]
Chef Morris, be aware that while the test kit may tell you if there is a toxin present in the pond, it may not, because ponds change so swiftly, by the time you take the sample, whatever killed the fish may not be evident at that point.
It MAY tell you what you need to know, but often, it does not. |
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Posted: 5/5/2022 5:14:19 PM EDT
[#36]
Quote HistoryQuoted: no That rules that out. |
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Posted: 5/5/2022 5:15:20 PM EDT
[#37]
You need a DO meter. 95 percent of fish kills are caused by lack of oxygen or something that reacts and absorbs the oxygen.
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Posted: 5/5/2022 5:15:38 PM EDT
[#38]
Quote HistoryQuoted: so, IF I ran a "hose" or PVC Piping from the pump 6' below the surface to the center of the pond 18' below, with a diffuser on it. this will work?..?? It is better than a fountain, yes. Multiple bubblers around the pond are better still (That pond site linked above probably has a formula to tell you how many you technically need, and what options are available for your situation.) but the bottom to top aeration is the best kind. |
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Posted: 5/5/2022 5:19:49 PM EDT
[#39]
Quote HistoryQuoted: . Exactly what I’m thinking It's the right time of year, too. 
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Posted: 5/5/2022 5:22:17 PM EDT
[#40]
You can make a diffuser network with PVC pipe and diffusers for a package plant.
Google USA Blue Book. |
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Posted: 5/23/2022 2:46:40 PM EDT
[#41]
I don't know about ponds, but know a little bit about aquariums, so scale might make a difference but basic concepts should be similar.
One thing I see is your water pump looks like it's falling on the dock. Aeration occurs when you aggitate the water's surface allowing gas exchange to occur. |
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Posted: 5/23/2022 2:54:22 PM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryQuoted: so an algea die off can cause dead fish? hmm. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Looks to me like you had some algae weed die off that lead to O2 depletion. And it could be years of nutrient buildup and the pond turned just at the right time. We have settlement pond from the coal mine that every ten or so years has a fish kill. It’s nutrient rich shallow and ducks absolutely love it. It gets enough duck waste to cause a catastrophic loss and induce a fish kill. so an algea die off can cause dead fish? hmm. Algae blooms and die offs would be really big sudden changes in the cycling of the pond. |
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Posted: 5/26/2022 4:36:32 AM EDT
[#43]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I don't know about ponds, but know a little bit about aquariums, so scale might make a difference but basic concepts should be similar. One thing I see is your water pump looks like it's falling on the dock. Aeration occurs when you aggitate the water's surface allowing gas exchange to occur. about 10% is hitting the dock. there are multiple heads in 3 directions |
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Posted: 5/26/2022 5:24:16 AM EDT
[#44]
Results yet?
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