1. Basic Pond Production Cycle: Grow a crop of fish By Matt Ferrell and Ken Semmens

2. HarvestSterilizeFillStockFeedDrain

3. Starting a pond- Start Fresh Empty it – New stock will not be food for old stock It only takes one large fish left in pond to destroy large numbers of fingerlings It only takes two bluegill or green sunfish to contaminate a pond – Prevents disease – Allows for oxidation of old crude on the bottom – Easier maintenance work – Allows you to know what is in it – And what comes out If you can not empty it, killing fish in the pond is another way to begin. (this is why cages are a good option for ponds without a drain) Is the pond subject to contamination with unwanted fish?

7. Starting a pond- Sterilizing Hydrated line(calcium hydroxide) Increases hardness and temporarily total alkalinity Can raise pH very quickly; >12 – Kills most disease agents and pests – Elevated pH last about 1 week Add enough to cover pond bottom with thin layer and then add water, hit all puddles directly Caution- avoid breathing, eye and skin contact Can use Chlorine granules but this does not add alkalinity

8. Selecting a crop What fish makes sense for your market and pond? Producing food fish Producing fingerlings

9. Stocking Number and size is based on growing season – Fingerling ponds can be stocked with small fish, but higher numbers – Food fish will most likely be stocked with larger fish at a lower density Temper fish to temp and pH – No more than 1 degree per 15 minutes – No more than 1 pH per hour

10. Tending the Fish- Feeding Feeding to under satiation will yield the best FCR Its best to feed sometime in the morning Feeding across the day will minimize oxygen demand spikes Buy a feed that matches your species Floating feeds are easier for feed management

11. Tending the Fish- Water Quality Oxygen is arguably the most important WQ parameter Maintaining greater than 3mg/l is a general rule

12. Tending the Fish- Water Quality ProblemSolution High Ammonia- When pH, Temp, and feed rates are high Stop feeding, increase alkalinity Nitrite Poisoning- NO2>1ppmAdd salt (NaCl), 10:1 Cl:NO2 pH swings-Add alkalinity

13. Poaching, weeds, predators

14. Tending the Fish- Observe behavior You will know your fish When something looks different, that is the time to figure it out. – Feed response – Regular behavior – Indications of disease or lack of oxygen

15. Tending the Fish- Record Keeping Record mortalities Record yields – Numbers and weight Record inputs – Feed – Stocking rate and size Record everything, it’s the only way you will be able to compare year to year, and business to business

16. Harvest Partial harvest – Dip net – Hook and line Total Harvest – If live harvest remember water quality, and temp Might have to pick strategic time of day – Drain pond, seine, and net out – Drain pond into net