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Old 20-05-2003, 04:44 PM
Gail Futoran
 
Posts: n/a
Default floating pond cover?

"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