To Duckweed or not to Duckweed

[Bill Stock]

Pond is a little bare this year due to the cooler weather. The Water
Hyacinth are surviving, but not flourishing. So I wanted to introduce some
other quick growing cover to help with the Algae and provide shade, as well
as a nosh for the GF.

I've read good and bad about Duckweed. I've got a 500 gal pond with 9 GF,
will Duckweed take over or will the GF ravage it? Should I grow it in a tub
and add as required? Do I need to coral it in one area to prevent
competition with the Lillies and WH?

Advice appreciated. I'm in southern Ontario BTW.

[Pinkpggy]

I don't know if goldfish eat the duckweed or not, but I know koi eat it. With
koi you can't keep it around long enough for it to take over.
Jan
"Our Pond" Page
http://hometown.aol.com/pinkpggy/index.html

[Heather]

Hey Bill,

What part of SO are you in? I'm close to Woodstock, between London and
Kitchener. My WH is deep green, spreading well and happy. My Azola and
Duckweed are close to choking the frog pond. (No GF). I'm about ready to
start adding to the compost. Temp of the water is 65 to 70 and I only have
sun on the ponds for 4 - 6 hours a day.

If you live close I'll give you some of my floaters. Email me.


Heather
SW Ontario (Zone 5)
Pond Pictures at: http://community.webshots.com/user/heathersmyth




"Bill Stock" > wrote in message
...
> Pond is a little bare this year due to the cooler weather. The Water
> Hyacinth are surviving, but not flourishing. So I wanted to introduce some
> other quick growing cover to help with the Algae and provide shade, as
well
> as a nosh for the GF.
>
> I've read good and bad about Duckweed. I've got a 500 gal pond with 9 GF,
> will Duckweed take over or will the GF ravage it? Should I grow it in a
tub
> and add as required? Do I need to coral it in one area to prevent
> competition with the Lillies and WH?
>
> Advice appreciated. I'm in southern Ontario BTW.
>
>
>

[Gale Pearce]

The only way I can keep duckweed is in my lotus pot on my deck with only
hatchling GF in it - any I put in the pond is gone in a couple of hours -
both GF and Koi love it. When I get some , I put it in the lotus pot and
scoop a handful or 2 out as a treat for my fish as it multiplies
Gale :~)
"Bill Stock" > wrote in message
...
> Pond is a little bare this year due to the cooler weather. The Water
> Hyacinth are surviving, but not flourishing. So I wanted to introduce some
> other quick growing cover to help with the Algae and provide shade, as
well
> as a nosh for the GF.
>
> I've read good and bad about Duckweed. I've got a 500 gal pond with 9 GF,
> will Duckweed take over or will the GF ravage it? Should I grow it in a
tub
> and add as required? Do I need to coral it in one area to prevent
> competition with the Lillies and WH?
>
> Advice appreciated. I'm in southern Ontario BTW.
>
>
>

[Robyn Rhudy]

On Thu, 15 Jul 2004, Bill Stock wrote:

> Pond is a little bare this year due to the cooler weather. The Water
> Hyacinth are surviving, but not flourishing. So I wanted to introduce some
> other quick growing cover to help with the Algae and provide shade, as well
> as a nosh for the GF.
>
> I've read good and bad about Duckweed. I've got a 500 gal pond with 9 GF,
> will Duckweed take over or will the GF ravage it? Should I grow it in a tub
> and add as required? Do I need to coral it in one area to prevent
> competition with the Lillies and WH?

My goldfish do eat any duckweed I put in my 1800 gallon pond. I let it
grow in a tub pond and put some in when it grows enough. They scarf it
up. You can't really coral duckweed; it's small and will end up all over
anyway. You can retain the water hyacinth though in a hoop, ring, or
floating plant thingy.

>
> Advice appreciated. I'm in southern Ontario BTW.
>
>
>
>

----------------------------------------------------------------
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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-----------------------------------------------------------------

[Bill Stock]

"Robyn Rhudy" > wrote in message
.umbc.edu...
> On Thu, 15 Jul 2004, Bill Stock wrote:
>
> > Pond is a little bare this year due to the cooler weather. The Water
> > Hyacinth are surviving, but not flourishing. So I wanted to introduce
some
> > other quick growing cover to help with the Algae and provide shade, as
well
> > as a nosh for the GF.
> >
> > I've read good and bad about Duckweed. I've got a 500 gal pond with 9
GF,
> > will Duckweed take over or will the GF ravage it? Should I grow it in a
tub
> > and add as required? Do I need to coral it in one area to prevent
> > competition with the Lillies and WH?
>
> My goldfish do eat any duckweed I put in my 1800 gallon pond. I let it
> grow in a tub pond and put some in when it grows enough. They scarf it
> up. You can't really coral duckweed; it's small and will end up all over
> anyway. You can retain the water hyacinth though in a hoop, ring, or
> floating plant thingy.
>

Thanks.

Sounds like I need to grow it in a tub. I did not realize GF think of
Duckweed as Potato Chips.


>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> Important Notice! Robyn's web site has moved from
> http://userpages.umbc.edu/~rrhudy1/ to http://www.fishpondinfo.com. This
> e-mail as well as the old site (which refers to the new site) will be
> deleted on 9/24/04 by UMBC (I have no say in it). After that date,
> please use the e-mail of instead of this e-mail.
> Please spread the word that my site has moved. Thanks.
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> Chemist, preservationist, animal lover, aquarist, and ponder. -
> Extensive web pages on animals, fish, and ponds. -
> http://www.fishpondinfo.com
> Free pond newsletter - sign up at my web site -
> Finally! Buy Robyn's Pond Book at www.1stbooks.com -
> -----------------------------------------------------------------

[Iguana]

Bill Stock wrote:
>
> Sounds like I need to grow it in a tub. I did not realize GF think of
> Duckweed as Potato Chips.
>
>
Oh, the GF eat that stuff like an addiction! All of my duckweed is gone, I
tried replenishing it, but the GF are faster then I am.

Maybe you got a bad batch of WH. Mine(I live in Brampton) are doing
beautifully, multiplying faster than I can handle, though no flowers yet,
which is probably a little too early in our neck of the woods considering
the weather we've had.

[rob]

I have duck weed in the pond and settling pool. It is growing well with the
cool weather and provides a great dietary supplement for the Koi and painted
turtles. Koi are like goats .... nothing can possibly grow too much :)
They keep eating the roots off the WH.

Rob from Ottawa


"Bill Stock" > wrote in message
...
> Pond is a little bare this year due to the cooler weather. The Water
> Hyacinth are surviving, but not flourishing. So I wanted to introduce some
> other quick growing cover to help with the Algae and provide shade, as
well
> as a nosh for the GF.
>
> I've read good and bad about Duckweed. I've got a 500 gal pond with 9 GF,
> will Duckweed take over or will the GF ravage it? Should I grow it in a
tub
> and add as required? Do I need to coral it in one area to prevent
> competition with the Lillies and WH?
>
> Advice appreciated. I'm in southern Ontario BTW.
>
>
>

[Bill Stock]

"rob" > wrote in message
rs.com...
> I have duck weed in the pond and settling pool. It is growing well with
the
> cool weather and provides a great dietary supplement for the Koi and
painted
> turtles. Koi are like goats .... nothing can possibly grow too much :)
> They keep eating the roots off the WH.
>
> Rob from Ottawa

I actually found some at the local nursery, which is about 300 yards from my
house. The LFS did not carry it, looked at me strange for asking for it. :)

Yeah, my GF demolished the WH when it was in the aquarium, but leave it
alone in the pond. I suspect there are tastier things in the pond.


>
>
> "Bill Stock" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Pond is a little bare this year due to the cooler weather. The Water
> > Hyacinth are surviving, but not flourishing. So I wanted to introduce
some
> > other quick growing cover to help with the Algae and provide shade, as
> well
> > as a nosh for the GF.
> >
> > I've read good and bad about Duckweed. I've got a 500 gal pond with 9
GF,
> > will Duckweed take over or will the GF ravage it? Should I grow it in a
> tub
> > and add as required? Do I need to coral it in one area to prevent
> > competition with the Lillies and WH?
> >
> > Advice appreciated. I'm in southern Ontario BTW.
> >
> >
> >
>
>

[Karen Mullen]

In article >, "Bill Stock" >
writes:

> I've got a 500 gal pond with 9 GF,
>will Duckweed take over or will the GF ravage it?

I can't keep duckweed in my pond the fish, mostly gf, eat every last bit of it.
they also devour all the leaves off my clover plant too, so I had to move it
to the filter :(

Karen
Zone 5
Ashland, OH
http://hometown.aol.com/kmam1/MyPond/MyPond.html
My Art Studio at
http://members.aol.com/kmmstudios/K.M.Studios/K.M.Studios.html
for email remove the extra extention

[Just Me \Koi\]

I beg to differ! My ponds are over ran by duckweed! Impossible to see the
pond and the fish. Yes I have some big Koi, and some little ones. But the
duckweed won that war!

--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

"rob" > wrote in message
rs.com...
> I have duck weed in the pond and settling pool. It is growing well with
the
> cool weather and provides a great dietary supplement for the Koi and
painted
> turtles. Koi are like goats .... nothing can possibly grow too much :)
> They keep eating the roots off the WH.
>
> Rob from Ottawa
>
>
> "Bill Stock" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Pond is a little bare this year due to the cooler weather. The Water
> > Hyacinth are surviving, but not flourishing. So I wanted to introduce
some
> > other quick growing cover to help with the Algae and provide shade, as
> well
> > as a nosh for the GF.
> >
> > I've read good and bad about Duckweed. I've got a 500 gal pond with 9
GF,
> > will Duckweed take over or will the GF ravage it? Should I grow it in a
> tub
> > and add as required? Do I need to coral it in one area to prevent
> > competition with the Lillies and WH?
> >
> > Advice appreciated. I'm in southern Ontario BTW.
> >
> >
> >
>
>

[Just Me \Koi\]

Anyone in Southern California in need of duck weed can have ALL they want
for free! Same for pennyworth, parrot's feather, oxygenating grasses, and
of course many other plants too many to name.

--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

"Karen Mullen" > wrote in message
...
> In article >, "Bill Stock" >
> writes:
>
> > I've got a 500 gal pond with 9 GF,
> >will Duckweed take over or will the GF ravage it?
>
> I can't keep duckweed in my pond the fish, mostly gf, eat every last bit
of it.
> they also devour all the leaves off my clover plant too, so I had to move
it
> to the filter :(
>
> Karen
> Zone 5
> Ashland, OH
> http://hometown.aol.com/kmam1/MyPond/MyPond.html
> My Art Studio at
> http://members.aol.com/kmmstudios/K.M.Studios/K.M.Studios.html
> for email remove the extra extention
>
>
>
>
>

[~ jan JJsPond.us]

JMK, are you sure you have duckweed and not azolla? Duck weed is bright
shiny green, Azolla is dark dull green looks soft, like a fern, and turns
red in fall. I know koi or goldfish don't care for azolla.... or perhaps
your's are just well fed? ~ jan

>On Sat, 17 Jul 2004 06:32:57 GMT, "Just Me \"Koi\"" > wrote:

>Anyone in Southern California in need of duck weed can have ALL they want
>for free! Same for pennyworth, parrot's feather, oxygenating grasses, and
>of course many other plants too many to name.

(Do you know where your water quality is?)

[Karen Mullen]

In article >, "Just Me \"Koi\""
> writes:

>Anyone in Southern California in need of duck weed can have ALL they want
>for free! Same for pennyworth, parrot's feather, oxygenating grasses, and
>of course many other plants too many to name.
>

When I lived in Houston, TX I had the same problem, the plants didn't die over
winter, just died back a bit. Here in Ohio it's another story, WH, WL, PF,
anacharis, duckweed all need to be replace each year.

Karen
Zone 5
Ashland, OH
http://hometown.aol.com/kmam1/MyPond/MyPond.html
My Art Studio at
http://members.aol.com/kmmstudios/K.M.Studios/K.M.Studios.html
for email remove the extra extention

[Just Me \Koi\]

I know the difference. I have both. I have Azollo in a different
container. You can have Azollo too if you want it. I probably will never
put azollo in my pond again as the roots just shed and get into everything.

I think the well feed theory may be the reason my duckweed are not
endangered.

--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

"~ jan JJsPond.us" > wrote in message
...
> JMK, are you sure you have duckweed and not azolla? Duck weed is bright
> shiny green, Azolla is dark dull green looks soft, like a fern, and turns
> red in fall. I know koi or goldfish don't care for azolla.... or perhaps
> your's are just well fed? ~ jan
>
> >On Sat, 17 Jul 2004 06:32:57 GMT, "Just Me \"Koi\""
> wrote:
>
> >Anyone in Southern California in need of duck weed can have ALL they want
> >for free! Same for pennyworth, parrot's feather, oxygenating grasses,
and
> >of course many other plants too many to name.
>
> (Do you know where your water quality is?)

[rob]

My pond has a 2 ft shelf around 50% of the edge. There are places the koi
can't or don't often get to. The depth of the ledge ranges from 5" to 18".
The water flow takes the excess duck weed into deeper area where it gets
eaten.


"Just Me "Koi"" > wrote in message
...
> I beg to differ! My ponds are over ran by duckweed! Impossible to see
the
> pond and the fish. Yes I have some big Koi, and some little ones. But
the
> duckweed won that war!
>
> --
> _______________________________________
> "The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
> like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
> The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."
>
> http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino
>
> "rob" > wrote in message
> rs.com...
> > I have duck weed in the pond and settling pool. It is growing well with
> the
> > cool weather and provides a great dietary supplement for the Koi and
> painted
> > turtles. Koi are like goats .... nothing can possibly grow too much :)
> > They keep eating the roots off the WH.
> >
> > Rob from Ottawa
> >
> >
> > "Bill Stock" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Pond is a little bare this year due to the cooler weather. The Water
> > > Hyacinth are surviving, but not flourishing. So I wanted to introduce
> some
> > > other quick growing cover to help with the Algae and provide shade, as
> > well
> > > as a nosh for the GF.
> > >
> > > I've read good and bad about Duckweed. I've got a 500 gal pond with 9
> GF,
> > > will Duckweed take over or will the GF ravage it? Should I grow it in
a
> > tub
> > > and add as required? Do I need to coral it in one area to prevent
> > > competition with the Lillies and WH?
> > >
> > > Advice appreciated. I'm in southern Ontario BTW.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[~ jan JJsPond.us]

> You can have Azollo too if you want it.

LOL! No thanks, been there done that, makes one's surface looks messy and
if one has a skimmer.... well you know where the azollo and anything that
floats is. ;o)

Conclusion, if you want the critters to eat the duckweed, cut back on the
chow. :o) ~ jan


(Do you know where your water quality is?)

[Bill Stock]

"Bill Stock" > wrote in message
...
> Pond is a little bare this year due to the cooler weather. The Water
> Hyacinth are surviving, but not flourishing. So I wanted to introduce some
> other quick growing cover to help with the Algae and provide shade, as
well
> as a nosh for the GF.
>
> I've read good and bad about Duckweed. I've got a 500 gal pond with 9 GF,
> will Duckweed take over or will the GF ravage it? Should I grow it in a
tub
> and add as required? Do I need to coral it in one area to prevent
> competition with the Lillies and WH?
>
> Advice appreciated. I'm in southern Ontario BTW.

OK, I added the Duckweed this morning and by this afternoon it was half
gone. Although I only had about one cup left, after the Coons got done
playing in the Duckweed tub.

[Just Me \Koi\]

They will get that chance the next 2 weeks. We are on vacation back east,
so I asked my neighbors to check my water level and call me if to gets low
or if the pumps stop working. My Brother lives around the corner, being a
porg I can count on him to mind the ponds if anything goes wrong!

Back to the topic, I don't want anyone feeding the Koi while I'm gone. So
they get to eat duckweed for 2 weeks.

--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

"~ jan JJsPond.us" > wrote in message
...
> > You can have Azollo too if you want it.
>
> LOL! No thanks, been there done that, makes one's surface looks messy and
> if one has a skimmer.... well you know where the azollo and anything that
> floats is. ;o)
>
> Conclusion, if you want the critters to eat the duckweed, cut back on the
> chow. :o) ~ jan
>
>
> (Do you know where your water quality is?)

[~ jan JJsPond.us]

So rampant duckweed would be a good thing in your case.

But speaking of going out of town. DH said, now what would have happened if
we were gone or OOT and the power went out and K30's didn't in her
neighborhood? So now the computers are rigged up to call his cell phone and
notify him if the power goes out. Oooooh my! ;o) ~ jan

>On Sun, 18 Jul 2004 06:04:26 GMT, "Just Me \"Koi\"" > wrote:

>They will get that chance the next 2 weeks. We are on vacation back east,
>so I asked my neighbors to check my water level and call me if to gets low
>or if the pumps stop working. My Brother lives around the corner, being a
>porg I can count on him to mind the ponds if anything goes wrong!
>
>Back to the topic, I don't want anyone feeding the Koi while I'm gone. So
>they get to eat duckweed for 2 weeks.

(Do you know where your water quality is?)