Algae control in tanks

[peterranch]

Any good ideas about algae control in our south Texas tanks? Does introducing carp eventually overtake our bass and catfish? The extra rain and hot weather have us out of control.

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

Only thing I've ever heard of around here that actuall works is somethin called Karmex (lol not the lip kind) I get kidded every time we talk about that...because the first time I heard of it....I said, "Man that's lots of carmex for a tank"

[Cowpuncher]

Just go down to a chemical supply house and get a bag of copper sulfate (blue vitrol) It is a common chemical and a cupful or so will flat wipe the algae -and any other plants in the tank out.

If your tanks are galvanized, the tank will get a grayish look but it doesn't hurt anything. Cattle need copper and like the water with copper sulfatge in it.

We did this and the cows really cut back on their mineral consumption.

Seems like I paid about $25 for a 50# bag and it took care of about 20 tanks all year.

The finer stuff - about like table salt is what we used but we bought crystals a couple of time and they worked about as well.

[Liveoak]

Cowpuncher, I don't think he was referring to a galvanized water trough. (might be wrong about that). Most of the "tanks" down here are really small ponds from 1/3 acre to maybe 3 acres or so. The copper sulphate will work but he mght need a whole lot of it. Another option is to dig out the shallows. A 1' drop to 3' horizontal is a good slope to prevent growth. A 1' drop to 2' horizontal is even better. Deeper water helps to prevent algae. On a galvanized tank, I've heard of people painting the interior black and it's seems to help retard algae growth. The there's the option of adding the green or blue dye to the water which prevents a lot of the sunlight from hitting the bottom thus preventing algae growth.

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

Yeap bein from South East Texas...I just assumed when he said "tank" he meant what we all have here....what other folks call ponds lol

[TXTibbs]

where I'm originally from they are called "dams".....took me a while to figure out what the hell people down here kept calling a "dirt tank" till they showed me one and I said well hell that is just an ole dam, cuz to me a tank was made of rubber or metal or could even be an old bathtub plumbed up right. haha....different terminology.

Those grass carp would do the trick, but you need a permit for them and as far as them taking over I'd think they would have a hard time since they are SUPPOSE to be sterile.

[andybob]

When I was in NC I bought some sterilised male grass carp to clear the weed from my pond, couldn't retrieve a bass lure it was so thick in summer!

[Liveoak]

Not a bad idea but I wonder what happens once the algae burns off?