"ann in houston" wrote in message
om...
(ann in houston) wrote in message
. com...
Did y'all miss me??? I'm back too, this season, along
with several
other "old-timers" that I've seen post about returning
after an
absence. And, of course, I have a question. DH wants
to float a
screen-like cover on the pond surface to shade it and
keep the algae
down. I am uncomfortable about what that will do to the
O2 exchange,
even if the material is porous. This seems like it
would be
especially bad once our summer heat really kicks in.
Or, would the
lack of sunlight compensate and keep the water cool
enough to help the
water retain its oxygen? A cover of some kind does seem
to be in
order, but we are dithering (and bickering)over the
design.
TIA,
Ann
just answering my own post to keep it high on the list
long enough for
someone with an answer to see it.
We've erected frames made out of trellis
material or 2x4's and stapled or wired shade
cloth (Home Depot or Lowes garden area)
over/around (depending on where the pond is)
to shade from about noon on.
Some part of both ponds (small, 110 gallons
& about 200 gallons) remains in sun all day but
-plants grow great
-water is clear, thanks to submerged plants
and (most likely) minnow fry & snails eating
algae
-pond waters don't overheat/evaporate too
fast
The shade is high in both cases, about 6' at the
highest point, so there's absolutely no concern
about oxygen exchange (except maybe due to
overly healthy anacharis).
HTH
Gail
San Antonio TX