To use copper sulfate, it should be first dissolved in water. I could add one and then administer the copper sulfate here but am unsure of the most appropriate way to do so. Can you please clarify? Do not treat a dugout more than three times in one year. 139 Agricultural Hall Furthermore, if not mixed and diluted in water prior to application, copper sulfate will simply sink to the bottom of the water and bind to mud and substrate, where it will simply sit and either not help at all or suddenly release when conditions are right and cause damage since it won’t be controlled. When dry, copper sulfate is stable indefinitely. Many local farm stores and online supply sources keep copper sulfate crystals (aka L-466, Aquatic Herbicides: Essential Information for New Applicators, Aquatic Herbicides: Essential Information for New Applicators, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. I can add it directly to the tank but believe it would get diluted and therefore be less effective. However, we use discretion with this control method because high concentrations are toxic to fish and food organisms. 360 Aquatic Weed Manage- used to determine when it is safe exception of copper sulfate) have ment - Control Methods and No. It is ineffective in the long term unless Dissolve the required amount of copper sulfate in a plastic container and pour the solution into the pool. A most helpful article…..pleas also discuss niad. If your water is below 60°, you’ll need to apply a greater dose of the chemical for it to work, as algae will be less responsive to the product below this temperature. A treatment of too much copper sulphate can be toxic to blue-green algae. This would be the equivalent of a quarter liquid ounce of the product per 275 gallons of water. Granular/Crystal Copper Sulfate Application: Copper Sulfate Fish Toxicity – What Are Alternatives? Spray ½ of your pond. Crystal, or granular, copper sulfate should typically be dosed at five pounds per acre. What is Copper Sulfate (Copper Sulphate) Used For? The above procedure can also be Herbicide treatments (with the tions No. of copper varies with Total Alkalinity (the concentration of calcium carbonate equivalents). Yes, copper sulfate is very highly toxic to invertebrates such as crab, shrimp and oysters. UT Extension Becky Muller, Ron Blair and Jeff Via Copper Sulfate/Ponds Treatments can be combined with spray or bubble aeration to alleviate low oxygen problems. Greenway Biotech, Inc. Copper Sulfate could be used to open up your pipes, toilet, and clean up your ponds/pools and make them look beautiful again without hurting the eco-system. Application rates at present are calculated based on a one-size-fits-all equation: Research is underway to develop rates for individual fish species. The solution can be mixed into the pond or lake using an agitator, or sprayed over the water with a broadcast spreader. ft.) of water. EPA labeled copper sulfate is registered to kill algae and roots in pipes. It's a great way to treat that and some of my customers used it to treat their pools. Never treat the entire lake or pond at once, as doing so will deplete oxygen levels while vegetation and algae decomposes after dying. Another straightforward method is to utilize air pumps. Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Contact | About, Guide to Copper Sulfate for Ponds & Lakes (Application, Dosing & Toxicity). It also readily soaks up excess nutrients like phosphorous and helps prevent algae and bacterial blooms, while the roots stabilize the sediment and prevent erosion or cloudy water. AddThis Sharing Buttons. If you’d like to read more info on sago in general, here’s a pretty concise yet detailed guide from the USDA: https://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_stpe15.pdf For more insights on controlling it, here’s a useful guide from Texas A&M University: https://aquaplant.tamu.edu/management-options/sago-pondweed/. Mixing the crystals with water prior to application simply aids in dispersing the product, and not dilution. human consumption with zero withdrawal time. Ponds and lakes face significant challenges in sustaining a healthy ecosystem. while channel catfish and largemouth bass are at much less risk, being able to tolerate Copper sulfate contains copper as well as sulfur, and is available in crystal (or granular), liquid, and powder form. 15 lbs around the perimeter might be a little much for a single treatment. Water that has been contaminated with copper sulfate can be harmful to crops, animals, and people. Glad to hear you found the article helpful! Neve… Copper sulfate powder, or dust, is very small and therefore easily distributed. The dosage and application technique of copper sulfate depends upon the size of the water body, water alkalinity, the form of copper sulfate, as well as your specific goals and the organisms present in the water. potential for damage to wildlife as it is a toxic substance, What Size Pond Pump Do I Need? Determine how much copper sulfate you need. practice over multiple years. Fish treated with copper sulfate at approved rates are safe for As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. ft.) $39.95 Copper Sulfate 15 pounds (treats 60,000 sq. While today these uses are not recommended or entirely backed up by science, copper sulfate is known to be quite effective in water treatment, ranging from controlling snails, aquatic weeds, algae, and bacteria. Applying on a relatively still, calm day is safest and most efficient. Marley Beem, Copper Sulfate – An Often Overused Chemical in Pond Management. Surviving It’s highly water soluble, and should be used only in ponds and lakes that have liners that will prevent the chemical from leaching into the soil and thereby into other natural systems as well as drinking water. can grow back quickly following herbicide applications. Again, no more than one half of the lake or pond should be treated at a time. Besides many important organisms, it kills beneficial bacteria. Liquid copper sulfate is best applied by using a broadcast sprayer. Copper is seldom effective against weeds other than algae. Sewer pipes require 2 to 6 pounds of copper sulfate crystals twice a year, once in the spring and the next treatment in the fall. A much better approach is to treat the nutrient levels through the use of Beneficial bacteria such as Bacta Pur, Pond Clear and MuckAway plus aeration and pond dye. of copper sulfate does not consider water alkalinity and the presence of fish in the pond or lake to be treated. However, too much algae or the wrong type of algae (like filamentous algae and cyanobacteria) can wreak havoc, leading to decreased oxygen supply, green, scummy water, and possibly fish kills. Does Copper Sulfate Kill Fish?. Copper Sulfate Application & Dosing For Ponds & Lakes. (Hibernation Explained). (8,000 cu. Within about 48 hours after application, the algae should be brown and dead or dying. In fish ponds, do not mix in more than .4 ppm of copper sulfate, or your fish may become ill or possibly die. In 1956, copper sulfate was registered for use as a pesticide in the United States. For this reason, while copper has historically been used to treat various ailments, copper sulfate should not make contact with your skin or be ingested. Rainbow trout, Once exposed to moisture, however, it of course begins to break down, and this is heavily influence by water temperature. Dangers of using copper sulfate. Copper sulfate results in copper build up in pond sediments and creates a sterile bottom in the pond. If you have a one acre pond, you would split that 5 pound dose in half and use 2.5 pounds in two different applications. Fish kills due to direct toxicity of copper sulfate happen occasionally. “bluestone”) on hand. Decay of plant material uses scarce dissolved oxygen, leading to fish suffocation. Sorry about the confusion! It is recommended to treat your dugouts in the spring, summer, and fall or two times of the year. In some areas, copper sulfate may be used to line drain or sewage pipes to prevent roots from growing in them and causing clogs. Dealing with an aquatic plant problem almost always requires more than one management But it is more often used to clear sewer lines of invasive tree roots, which can burst pipes and lead to costly repairs if left untreated. The powder will need to first be mixed with water, and application options are the same as with crystal copper sulfate. Pondinformer.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.ca, and amazon.co.uk. With the latter method, wind direction and speed is key – you would not want to spray the chemical on a day with high wind speeds, or wind that is blowing away from the pond or lake. These trials indicate copper sulfate can be used as an effective treatment against ram’s horn snails in commercial channel catfish production ponds. Fish populations in waters with total alkalinity values below 50 ppm (= mg/l, milligrams/liter) are sensitive to copper and may die if copper sulfate is used to treat algae. Spot treatments of one-quarter of the pond over three to four-day intervals may lower algae densities without consuming all the dissolved oxygen. A general overview of the yellow grub fish parasite and how to eliminate the pest from ponds. Copper sulfate is much heavier than water, and if you just throw the crystals or powder into the pond, it will sink to the bottom where pond muds will chemically bind with it, locking it up. 361 to restock fish after a rotenone been excluded from this publica-Aquatic Weed Management - Herbi-chlorine, or hydrated lime treat- tion. Copper Sulfate - 5 pounds (treats 20,000 sq. While copper sulfate is exceptionally effective in treating algae and aquatic weeds, there is potential for damage to wildlife as it is a toxic substance. Say, for example, that you have a one acre pond. Email this product to a friend. Copper sulfate is an eff… Approximately one pound of straw for every 2,000 gallons of water will work just fine, making sure that you break apart and fluff up the straw so that water can still flow through it and not lead to water stagnation. If copper sulfate or other herbicides are the only management tool used on algae, Be certain of the identity Should I Buy (or Retain) Stockers to Graze Wheat Pasture? I’ll look into creating an article on naiad in future. Appreciate the suggestion! Liquid copper sulfate is more concentrated, and typically used when there are large quantities of algae. Copper sulfate is known to build up once used, and can cause runoff water to become potentially hazardous to those who encounter it. Depending on where you’re located, you may be able to purchase some triploid grass carp, which will readily eat the weeds (but usually won’t do much in the first year as they adjust to the new habitat) – but you’ll have to make certain that these are legal to have in your area, and be sure to get only the triploid variety as these are sterile and cannot breed out of control. General advice on use of aquatic herbicides can be found in Extension publication This may be preferable, as this way not all of the sago will be killed off so it can still help filter out pollutants, keep the water clear of turbidity, and provide habitat for those minnows and any other fish that may be there. It works by binding to the proteins in organisms, breaking down the cellular walls, and ultimately killing them. Some familiar filamentous algae species are blanketweed or watersilk (spirogyra), horsehair algae (pithophora), and cotton algae (cladophora). A larger water body, such as a pond, can handle slightly higher dosing, but again this depends on a variety of factors (such as the type of algae you’re trying to control) and you should pay close attention to the label, or contact a professional. Historically, the antimicrobial properties of copper has been known for centuries – ancient Aztecs utilized copper compounds to treat skin infections and ulcers, and ancient Romans copper-containing ointments to treat wounds. Copper sulfate was applied to five lakes at cumulative rates upo to 1647 kg/ha (1470 1b/acre), totaling 1.5 million kilograms. material at one time. Purchased in the form of small white or dyed blue crystals, this commonly found product can be used to clear potentially harmful algae out of ponds, lakes, and pools. In most trials, pond As the least costly aquatic herbicide, copper sulfate pentahydrate (Figure 1) is widely We have a 1000 gallon tank. Light penetration into the water column increases. Lake and Pond management Don't Use Copper Sulfate!! You will need to mix about 1 gallon of the liquid with 10 gallons of water, and this is good per one surface acre of water. Learn how your comment data is processed. Agitate until granular is completely dissolved. Data collected since treatment of the Fairmont Lakes began in 1921 provide alarming insights into lake responses to sustained chemical treatment with copper sulfate. Copper sulfate, otherwise known as bluestone, is sometimes used in swimming pools as an algaecide. ), but they do still have a great deal of value to fish and waterfowl via providing shelter and food. Decay of plant material uses scarce dissolved oxygen, leading The United State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a copper sulfate limit of 1 ppm in any drinking water, which is not a toxic amount to any individual. of Copper Sulfate Crystal per 60,000 gals. After weighing the amount of copper sulfate needed to treat the volume of your water, mix it in water, making sure that it all dissolves. Stillwater, OK 74078 (map)(405) 744-5398 | Contact Us, By Copper sulfate can be picked up from specialist retailers within the agriculture industry, or can be easily purchased online for extra convenience. The application varies depending on how much water you treating. Some fish species (like plecos and Siamese algae eaters) are also known to consume algae and have been successfully used to treat slight to moderate algae issues while preventing future overgrowths. You can also utilize barely straw, which exudes a chemical as it breaks down that deters algal growth. For this reason, copper sulfate is an unnecessary danger. It sounds like the sago has become overgrown in your lake, so you can try manually raking them out, as that’s the most budget-friendly option and won’t harm the minnows or other plants like an herbicide would. Our tank doesn't appear to have a cleanout between the tank and the field. but are a more expensive alternative. You would mix 5 pounds of granular copper sulfate with 3 gallons of hot water, then spray it over half of your pond, wait a few days, and spray the other half. algal cells find this ideal for their reproduction and a new algal bloom quickly returns. Hello, I have an 1/2 acre pond with an average depth around 6 feet. When algal cells die, they break open releasing phosphorous It’s water soluble so it breaks down quickly and easily when placed in water. In terms of chemical options, I’d use these as a last resort to minimize damage to the ecosystem. I sell it in a liquid for in bulk shipments. Copper sulfate is used as an algicide in farm ponds and can be used in watering tanks. to identify the problem plant and determine a prudent application rate. If looking for EPA labeled copper sulfate simply add EPA to your search on Amazon. Copper sulfate crystals can be fine or coarse. However, improper application of copper sulfate can create more problems than it solves. The toxicity Copper sulfate is, ironically, very toxic to fish, moderately toxic to birds, very toxic to invertebrates like snails, crustaceans, and insect larvae, as well as mammals if too much of the water is consumed or direct contact with the chemical is made.