What fish eat algae out of lake?

Question

I have lots of algae growing in our lake and i need the best ECO friendly way to rid or at least manage this.

Answer 1

Call your County Extension Agent for advise. I know of people using agricultural cornmeal & they swear by it.

Answer 2

There are two different kinds. The one kind is called grass carp or triploid white amur. The other kind are called koi carp. Grass carp are used to help get rid of the algae that grows on the bottom of the pond primarily. They will eat the algae on the top of the pond, but normally only after they eat the algae on the bottom. Koi carp will eat the algae on the top of the pond. Normally it takes about 5-10 grass carp per acre to keep a pond clean of algae. Don't put too many in or your other fish may not want to grow well in the pond due to a lack of too little algae to feed on.

The grass carp can be obtained from most fisheries. Normally they have to be monitored when they are put in your pond, meaning the fishery has to personally place them in your pond to make sure they won't escape your pond and get into the river and stream systems. Normally you also have to buy a minimum of 5 fish.

Grass carp will eat about their weight a day in algae. So they will eat more as they get bigger. They are not supposed to reproduce. After about 10 years, I recommend replacing them. After that long they will start eating less and are close to dying.

If your state doesn't allow grass carp (Indiana didn't allow them to be transported into the state for a year or two). Then I'd recommend using a little copper sulfate in the pond. I'd use just enough to make a very thin line around the edge of the pond. Too much can kill your fish.

Bales of barley hay can work for very small ponds, but for large ponds that doesn't make sense.

Answer 3

Water rich in nitrates ( are you on farm or agricultural land) allows algal blooms to flourish. Water from cattle pastures,pigs,horses, can cause this. You can introduce fish, they can help in some cases. If the lake has a feeder stream the exchange of water increases oxygen, and alters the conditions under which such problems occur. If you have a local conservation officer, they will advise the ROOT of the problem, which can help with the cure.

Answer 4

I have heard that Barley (the dried grass plant) will do this. Pond supply shops will know about this, they sell it in special balls. Also your local Soil & Water Concervation Service may provide fish. There are triploid carp that are not supposed to repoduce that people keep in ponds to eat algae.