Help! Pond Scum is running rampant...

We have recently purchased some small (less than 5)acreage. It has 2 ponds (about 50x50 feet) that are currently being overtaken by algae. This stuff is green and floats on top of the water (filamentous algae?) More than half of the ponds are covered and it's spreading rapidly.

What can I use to get rid of it? My neighbors' pond is clear and beautiful - so there must be something to control it. I've done a search and have been reading about floating barley straw in the water - but it needs oxygen (like a fountain or waterfall - which I don't have).

Does anyone have any suggestions (hopefully soon - before the green Blob begins to crawl out of the pond....)

Moogie is this It?



http://www.mobot.org/jwcross/duckweed/

Since this is not in water gardens, I thought it was a rant about riff raff people everywhere! Good laugh on me.

Oh Aimee, you are so funny!!

Arptiger - yes, that's it! At first, I thought it was just pollen from the surrounding pine trees, but now it has those round little seed-looking-thingies everywhere! http://www.mobot.org/jwcross/duckweed/Lemna_graphics_New/HM-hand2.jpg

Any suggestions from anybody on how to get rid of it?? Please??

Pond Scum Running Rampant? Several people come to mind...Aimee - you're a hoot!

Blushing, I must confess that was a serious response. My DD uses that phrase to describe "friends in low places", and I honestly thought it was going to be some similar comment. And I was all ready to join in the bashing!

Moogie check this out about your duck weed

http://www.mobot.org/jwcross/duckweed/

Sorry Moogie Wrong Link again I will learn how to work this thing one day. any way read this link and you will see how good this weed realy is and how hard it is to get rid of unless you want to put a large pump in there and keep the water moving rather fast then it will take quite a while I put a piece of chicken wire on a rope throw it out and drag it back in. let it dry and put it on my flower beds Good stuff

wish I had some!! not too much, just some:)

TiG, I have Duck weed, I can send some home with you at the round up.

Will ducks eat it? (IhopeIhopeIhope!!!) Why else would they call it duckweed?

If not, does anybody know where I can get triploid (sterile) grass carp? (county extension service?)

If ducks won't eat it, and the grass carp require a permit, perhaps I should just bag it and bring it to the Texas roundup. That would require dragging the mess out of the pond, tho, wouldn't it? Hmmmmmm.....

About those ducks....

Moogie I don't know about the ducks. You may as well get to like because now you have it for keeps Have tried the fish and that don't work either

In our experience the adult red eared slider turtles will eat it faster than it can grow. You just need for some adult turtles to move in! Turtle Homes usually has more sliders than they can find homes for. Here is their website:

http://www.turtlehomes.org

Arptiger- thanks so much for the link - it was a wealth of information. I bought the Reward today (gasp! $137/gallon!!), but it should treat both ponds (1/6 acre surface area) several times. I treated half of one pond today and will wait 2 weeks to treat the other half. We'll see how it goes.

I tried skimming some of the duckweed off, but the sides of the pond are so steep that it was backbreaking to lift it out. Sigh - there goes my lovely compost.

Amari - thank you for the link to the turtle page. We already have a few turtles - don't know what kind - who live in the pond (I'll have to check their ears! LOL) I'm glad to hear the RES turtles eat duckweed - I'll treat those little guys like royalty, and maybe get a few more to keep them company.

I'm also going to check with the county extension service to see if they have any suggestions - if so, I'll be sure to post it for anyone else who may need this info.

Again - thank you for all your help and suggestions - if I ever get the ponds cleared up, I'll post a picture.

FYI, Duck Weed is a sign of a healthy pond. Amari I agree, the sliders love it. My goldfish eat it too.