Subject: Re: NEED INFO ON AQUA 5 AND TROUT HATCHERIES - People who know what they are doing!

From: Mark Booker <[email-masked]>
Date: 22 Apr 1996 01:51:00 GMT

Dear Larry Smeins:  

You might check with Trout Lodge, Inc. (good hatchery).  One of their phones 509-246-1649 at 
Soap Lake Washington.  One of their largest customers is the Yakima Indians who are doing what 
you are doing.  Trout Lodge could give you good references.  

Check it out!

Mark, from the land of the Mighty Columbia River!!

---

From: Larry Smeins <[email-masked]>
Date: 22 Apr 1996 14:55:23 GMT

Lawrence Taylor <[email-masked]> wrote:
>Do you have a macrophyte (large plants) or phytoplankton problem? Would 
>more grass carp help the former, or a biofilter like mussels the latter?
>
>Lawrence
>
>
We have two problems.  Grass carp were stocked to control large plants.  
We've been advised that the Grass carp population is near correct for the 
size of the ponds.  I do not consider the large plant population a 
significant problem, its only some of the fishers that complain.  The 
more significant problem is bottom growth that is green, has fine fibrous 
stucture and feels slimy to the touch.  The latter is what is being 
called algae and is being treated with Aqua 5 (this is what our fish 
stocker calls it).

Fishery management is far from my educational background and I apologize 
for sounding like a neophyte.  Any help I receive will be appreciated.  
Any good basic references that would help me?

Larry

---

From: [email-masked] (Bill Mebane)
Date: 27 Apr 1996 01:30:30 GMT

Larry,
I know the situation you are in. I managed a fee for fishing hatchery in MN for a few years...we sold appx. 600K worth of fish from two 1/10 acre ponds!! The marketing was key but asthetics played a big part..alge and weeds do not bode well.

On a different note, re your algae/weed problem. The carp are the best weed control...don't even need fancy grass carp; the domestic type do a very good job. High nitrates will make algae bloom like crazy...the cow shit is a problem you are stuck with unless you can convince you're neighbor to diaper the bovins.   Copper sulfate works as good as anything ..get it at your local pool supply & check local regs. re using it w/food fish.

If you want to stay chem. free I suggest damming up a portion of the stream (downstream from the cows) and starting a good crop of cattails or water cress...they will do the job but require lots of area....surface area of roots is what you want. These plants wil devour nitrates and phosphates and help you keep your ponds algae free.

Good luck!

-- 
Bill Mebane
Life Support Systems Operator
Marine Resource Center, Marine Biological Laboratory
[email-masked]