permaculture

[FranksFarm@aol.com]

G,Day Robin; everybody:)
In a message dated 8/13/02 7:11:34 PM, permed@nor.com.au writes:

<<  A healthy pond will support a nice stock of fish for home 
consumption with no extra input at the natural stocking rate of the water 
body - rule of thumb is 1 kg of fish for every 15m of linear edge (drives 
the food chain) and 15 square m of surface area (oxygen for fish to 
breath). >>

Hmmm...my concern is that the pond may not be healthy. The water is quite 
turbid, fills only with surface water, is fairly stagnant, and used by 
cattle. Seem to a good number of frogs, and a blue heron can normally be seen 
at certain times...normally when cattle etc. are elsewhere:)

The pond is a half acre + with 600'or so of linear edge. IF the pond were 
healthy how many fish would that support? At one time the pond's dam was 
breached, and it was draining out...creating a really impressive gully in a 
hurry...despite efforts to patch leak, which continued to expand. Had to 
build up banks a few feet, and then installed 2' overflow drain. Lots of 
earthwork! Saw only one tiny 3" fish flop out. Very little algae, or other 
surface weeds, etc. At times there are small brown films of scum in some 
areas when it is hot. For the most part the water is just a soupy brown 
color. Cattle don't seem to mind though...and have been relatively healthy. 
Although this year for the first time we had a severe outbreak of "pinkeye."

As always...look forward to your comments.   Frank



I know fish NEED sufficient oxygen...don't know if pond levels are 
appropriate. Hence my questions on aeration.