Simple 'Skeeter Control?

Hi all,

I filled up the half barrel with water, placed a water lilly inside,
some oxygenator plants, and the Obedient Plant is standing by until I
get the right bricks.

In order to not encourage disease carrying mosquitos, I've read and
heard of a number of ways to do this. Fish, pumps, (fountains?),
wired cloth, flooding the container when baby mosquitos are in there
(as long as they're not microscopic!), and mosquito dunks. Though I
am a little more interested in eliminating the risk nearly entirely by
not having the water stagnant. And neighbors et all can actually hear
and see the evidence, without worry.

Some questions:

1) How much of a mosquito dunk would be needed for the half whiskey
barrel? Have there been reports of mosquitos building up a resistance?
How can I be sure all are gone? My idea is to flood first, and then
add the dunk.
2) Would placing a suitable wire/cloth mesh to keep mosquitos out
bother the water lily very much?
3) Could I add a fish or two right now and they be healthy, or do I
still need to wait a couple of days to a few weeks to give the water
garden a probationary period? I already added dechorinator. No rocks
at the bottom, though. Any other aquatic scenery I could add to make
them happier? The container gets afternoon sun, by the way, is
positioned on a lone patio stone, and I'm in the South. Any idea of
pH and temperature levels before adding fish would help.
4) I'm not quite as interested in filtration as I am as in keeping the
water not stagnant, or at least making the water as unfriendly to
mosquitoes as possible while at the same time preserving the plants
that are in there. I would hope a filter/pump combo won't catch the
floating plants that are in there! Perhaps a fountain would also do?
5) Is this time of the year really the time to worry about mosquitos?
6) Any alternate, more cost effective ways to control mosquitos
without a pump?

Daniel Phillips

[+]bandito[-]spam = [-]toppler.[+]zworg.com
Be warned, may mistakingly bounce back as spam.

Daniel wrote Some questions:

Hi Daniel! :-)

1) How much of a mosquito dunk would be needed for the half whiskey
barrel?

I use Mosquito Bits, same product as Mosquito Dunks and I use them about every
two weeks in my fishless frog bog and three container ponds. Half a dunk though
would be fine for a barrel.

Have there been reports of mosquitos building up a resistance?

I have not heard this.

How can I be sure all are gone? My idea is to flood first, and then
add the dunk.

You can see them as they must hang out on the surface to breathe. Flooding does
not work, I tried that once ;-) ran the hose for a full hour and the darn
things somehow managed to hang in there.

2) Would placing a suitable wire/cloth mesh to keep mosquitos out
bother the water lily very much?

I don't think it would keep mosquitoes out.

3) Could I add a fish or two right now and they be healthy, or do I
still need to wait a couple of days to a few weeks to give the water
garden a probationary period? I already added dechorinator.

I would still wait a bit. Two weeks to be extra safe but many people have added
fish the same day, no problems.

No rocks
at the bottom, though.

Don't add rocks, they trap gunk.

Any other aquatic scenery I could add to make
them happier?

The fish would appreciate someplace to hide, especially at first before the
lily sends up pads. You can get an aquarium toy or lay a small clay pot on its
side.

The container gets afternoon sun, by the way, is
positioned on a lone patio stone, and I'm in the South. Any idea of
pH and temperature levels before adding fish would help.

Not my area of expertise. Hey, someone! ;-)

4) I'm not quite as interested in filtration

But your fish are, especially if you have more than one. Plants will filter the
water. A test kit for ammonia will help until you get the right balance of
plants to fish going.

as I am as in keeping the
water not stagnant, or at least making the water as unfriendly to
mosquitoes as possible while at the same time preserving the plants
that are in there. I would hope a filter/pump combo won't catch the
floating plants that are in there! Perhaps a fountain would also do?

Water movement is important to keeping the oxygen levels for fish. Especially
if your water gets too hot in the afternoon. Also plants stop producing O2 when
the sun goes away. Water movement helps the fish survive the night.
If you have a lily you do not want violent water movement but a spitter will do
fine. Depending on the size of your container pond a bell fountain will work
too.

5) Is this time of the year really the time to worry about mosquitos?

Yes. But more so as spring wears on and summer gets here. Mosquitoes winter
over as eggs and they are hatching.

6) Any alternate, more cost effective ways to control mosquitos
without a pump?

The dunks or bits. I use them as I have four bodies of water without fish or
pumps.
I like the bits especially for my bog as it is full of plants and nooks and
crannies. I can broadcast the bits to get to every part of the bog.



kathy :-)
A HREF="http://www.onceuponapond.com/"Once upon a pond/A

Thanks for your answers!

The water lily seems to be working its way to the surface more already
(buoancy, or does it really grow that fast?). I positioned an
upturned pot in the barrel to give the blooming Obedient Plant some
leverage. Unfortunately, two of the three bunches of oxygenating
plants I placed in there came apart, and I'm not sure exactly where
the other bunch is--perhaps in there, under the pot, or maybe even
taken by a bird which has frequently happened in the past with my
potted seedlings. I plan to gather them up and give them their own,
weighted pot.

After visiting my local pond supply store again, I came up with some
more questions.

1) I was told by a representative that mosquito dunks and fish won't
co-exist happily with each other, as the fish may eat the dunks and
die from it. Even if the label says its safe for fish, although I
have little reason to doubt the store representative. I got dunks
anyway, though, and put them in because I have to wait before adding
fish anyway. What do you think? Will they also kill useful insects
like spiders and dragonflies?

2) What can I place around the container to fight the mosquitoes? I've
read marigold can work (in my case potted, of course, if possible). I
placed the container near a fence, so couldn't I get a bunch of those
bug zappers/sticky tubes and line them around? And how might I be able
to encourage spiders (one spider apparently was already constructing a
web on the Obedient Plant)? I think if I can get a fine line of spider
web wherever possible, the mosquitoes won't have a chance. Anything I
can do to work with nature, compensating myself for what the container
garden lacks as opposed to its real life counterpart, I think will be
benefecial. I believe the marigold can even provide some shade, as
right now I think the water garden has an O/D of afternoon sun.

3) I have a bird feeder many feet away. Is this and the container
water garden an explosive combo as far as West Nile goes? I'm not sure
if it would make much of a difference, because of the trees/shrubs I
have as well as the line of trees and shrubs across the street
frequently have a choir of birds anyway.

4) I read how-stuff-works.com articles about mosquitos. I'm going out
each day to watch the container. On the second day of having the
plants outside in water (this was Wednesday when everything was
seperate and the half whiskey barrel wasn't filled), I saw two black,
thin bugs mating in the water. Mosquitos? This evening I saw tiny
black gnat-like things congregating some feet away from the barrel,
but I think I've also seen them before near my driveway where there
was no water that I saw.

How will I know if the dunk isn't working? Can someone please tell me
what I should watch for and timetables, monitoring the water garden so
to speak? This is day two of having the barrel filled up with
water--the other two containers have had its contents scattered around
the lawn.

5) As a last resort, instead of giving up my plants I could simply
move them inside as there is a sun room, or just give them their
required sun time outside before bringing them back inside to keep the
mosquitoes at bay. If I go this route, do you think it'll work and
what schedule should I set for the plants? The lily I have is more
like a miniature lily.

6) I could of course also just drain the container weekly and refill.
Might take its toll on the water bill, but that'll be less expensive
than say, a hospital bill, lawsuit, or fine. Will this take a toll on
the plants as well? What if I want to recycle water, but filter out
harmful mosquitos?

I'm glad I feel really good and excited about doing this, despite my
mosquito concerns, because I always wanted a water garden, not to
mention the fact that I'm doing this for a college project. I just
felt like being out there all day tending to it, but of course the
money investment vs. time is very equal in this case. Building my own
pond one day in the future, I think, will give me a lot of
satisfaction as I'm sure it has you all when building your pond.

I may have to invest in a field guide of bugs. I've read that some
bugs do look like mosquitos, but aren't.

Thank you!

Daniel Phillips

[+]bandito[-]spam = [-]toppler.[+]zworg.com
Be warned, may mistakingly bounce back as spam.

Hi again, Daniel,

1) I was told by a representative that mosquito dunks and fish won't
co-exist happily with each other, as the fish may eat the dunks and
die from it. Even if the label says its safe for fish, although I
have little reason to doubt the store representative. I got dunks
anyway, though, and put them in because I have to wait before adding
fish anyway. What do you think? Will they also kill useful insects
like spiders and dragonflies?

First, don't always trust someone who works at the store... many of us have
horror stories to tell about bad advice that has been given at various retail
establishments.
The dunks will not hurt fish, or spiders or dragonflies. They take out one
other aquatic larva, can't remember which it is but believe me you won't miss
it ;-)

2) What can I place around the container to fight the mosquitoes? I've
read marigold can work (in my case potted, of course, if possible). I
placed the container near a fence, so couldn't I get a bunch of those
bug zappers/sticky tubes and line them around?

Your pond will attract dragonflies and damselflies and they can eat literally
millions of mosquitoes over a summer.

And how might I be able
to encourage spiders (one spider apparently was already constructing a
web on the Obedient Plant)? I think if I can get a fine line of spider
web wherever possible, the mosquitoes won't have a chance.

The spiders will come on their own. Watch for fishing spiders, they run on
water and snatch up bouncing gnats, very fun to watch!

Anything I
can do to work with nature, compensating myself for what the container
garden lacks as opposed to its real life counterpart, I think will be
benefecial. I believe the marigold can even provide some shade, as
right now I think the water garden has an O/D of afternoon sun.

3) I have a bird feeder many feet away. Is this and the container
water garden an explosive combo as far as West Nile goes? I'm not sure
if it would make much of a difference, because of the trees/shrubs I
have as well as the line of trees and shrubs across the street
frequently have a choir of birds anyway.

With dunks, fish, dragonflies and damselflies will not be a problem.

4) I read how-stuff-works.com articles about mosquitos. I'm going out
each day to watch the container. On the second day of having the
plants outside in water (this was Wednesday when everything was
seperate and the half whiskey barrel wasn't filled), I saw two black,
thin bugs mating in the water. Mosquitos?

No. Probably backswimmer bugs or boatman beetles. Not mosquitoes. They probably
flew in overnight as this is when these critters fly and watch for water by the
light reflecting on the water.

This evening I saw tiny
black gnat-like things congregating some feet away from the barrel,
but I think I've also seen them before near my driveway where there
was no water that I saw.

How will I know if the dunk isn't working? Can someone please tell me
what I should watch for and timetables, monitoring the water garden so
to speak? This is day two of having the barrel filled up with
water--the other two containers have had its contents scattered around
the lawn.

Mosquito larva hang out at the surface of the water to breath. When disturbed
they violently wriggle away and then will come back to the surface.

5) As a last resort, instead of giving up my plants I could simply
move them inside as there is a sun room, or just give them their
required sun time outside before bringing them back inside to keep the
mosquitoes at bay. If I go this route, do you think it'll work and
what schedule should I set for the plants? The lily I have is more
like a miniature lily.

I doubt you'll have to worry about mosquitoes. Growing plants indoor is a whole
'nother matter and not my area of expertise
;-)

6) I could of course also just drain the container weekly and refill.
Might take its toll on the water bill, but that'll be less expensive
than say, a hospital bill, lawsuit, or fine. Will this take a toll on
the plants as well? What if I want to recycle water, but filter out
harmful mosquitos?

No. Don't do that. Bad for fish. Use dunks, use fish, you'll be fine.

I've had ponds in my yards for years and actually can't remember the last time
I got bit by a mosquito!

I may have to invest in a field guide of bugs. I've read that some
bugs do look like mosquitos, but aren't.

There are some excellent books out there and very interesting! About 5,000
species of insects spend part or all of their life in water.




kathy :-)
A HREF="http://www.onceuponapond.com/"Once upon a pond/A

On 09 Apr 2004 02:42:14 GMT, EROSPAM (Ka30P) wrote:

Hi again, Daniel,

1) I was told by a representative that mosquito dunks and fish won't
co-exist happily with each other, as the fish may eat the dunks and
die from it. Even if the label says its safe for fish, although I
have little reason to doubt the store representative. I got dunks
anyway, though, and put them in because I have to wait before adding
fish anyway. What do you think? Will they also kill useful insects
like spiders and dragonflies?

First, don't always trust someone who works at the store... many of us have
horror stories to tell about bad advice that has been given at various retail
establishments.
The dunks will not hurt fish, or spiders or dragonflies. They take out one
other aquatic larva, can't remember which it is but believe me you won't miss
it ;-)

Thanks again! :-)

Black Fly larvae?
http://www.westnile.state.pa.us/

Daniel Phillips

[+]bandito[-]spam = [-]toppler.[+]zworg.com
Be warned, may mistakingly bounce back as spam.

Black Fly larvae?

Yup, that sounds like them!


kathy :-)
A HREF="http://www.onceuponapond.com/"Once upon a pond/A

Black Fly larvae?

Yup, that sounds like them!


kathy :-)
A HREF="http://www.onceuponapond.com/"Once upon a pond/A

On 09 Apr 2004 02:42:14 GMT, EROSPAM (Ka30P) wrote:

Hi again, Daniel,

1) I was told by a representative that mosquito dunks and fish won't
co-exist happily with each other, as the fish may eat the dunks and
die from it. Even if the label says its safe for fish, although I
have little reason to doubt the store representative. I got dunks
anyway, though, and put them in because I have to wait before adding
fish anyway. What do you think? Will they also kill useful insects
like spiders and dragonflies?

First, don't always trust someone who works at the store... many of us have
horror stories to tell about bad advice that has been given at various retail
establishments.
The dunks will not hurt fish, or spiders or dragonflies. They take out one
other aquatic larva, can't remember which it is but believe me you won't miss
it ;-)

Thanks again! :-)

Black Fly larvae?
http://www.westnile.state.pa.us/

Daniel Phillips

[+]bandito[-]spam = [-]toppler.[+]zworg.com
Be warned, may mistakingly bounce back as spam.

there must be a MACHINE out there can control the mosquitoes in teh pond... right
MEN?


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
http://puregold.aquaria.net/
www.drsolo.com
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
endorsements or recommendations I make.

Yup - I read about it on a webpage somewhere - called a Binford 2000 Skeeter
Eater - Ruff, Ruff, Ruff :~
Gale :~)
wrote in message
...
there must be a MACHINE out there can control the mosquitoes in teh
pond... right
MEN?


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
http://puregold.aquaria.net/
www.drsolo.com
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
endorsements or recommendations I make.