To prevent the copper sulfate from precipitating out of solution, chelate it with citric acid before putting it into the pool. When a pond is covered in algae it is important to only treat a portion of the pond at a time. Duckweed is one of the most common pondweed problems.They grow quickly and takes a little time to cover up the whole pond. Copper sulphate is applied to the pond's surface and is most effective in controlling weeds during the mid-growth stage (filaments of approximately 1 cm long), when algae most resemble grass clippings. Copper sulfate or chlorine applications do not require livestock to be kept away from the tank, but best results are obtained if the active ingredient concentration is maintained for at least 5 minutes. I first starting using copper sulfate crystals for algae control. A good rule of thumb is to divide the total alkalinity (in parts per million) by 100 to get the concentration of copper sulfate to use in parts per million (1 ppm = 1 milligram/liter) (see Equation 1). While this sounds easy enough, this method is also the most damaging. Although, duckweed is a portion of good natural food for some fish species, if present in excessive amounts, it can hart the pond environment and its habitats. If you don't keep fish in your pond, you can apply copper sulfate safely as long as the total alkalinity is above 20 parts per million. A table can indicate how much to use per acre-foot, depending on the total alkalinity of your pond. I treated the algae with copper sulfate crystals. Copper crystals (granular) are exactly what they sound like — crystallized copper. The copper sulphate pentahydrate is all that is required to give you the copper you need to combat algae in the pool, and a level of 0.5ppm of copper is usually adeqauate. 2. EarthTec is the only algaecide of it's kind that we recommend and use, and it's replacing chemicals like copper sulphate, Cutrine, and White Cap for many pond owners looking for a safer, more eco-friendly way to control their algae problems in a larger pond. Copper Sulfate. One of the most common problems in pond management is over-estimation of pond size. Dissolve 1 pound of Hydrated Lime in 1 gallon of water. When using copper sulfate, it should be first dissolved in water. When it is applied to an infected water location it … Effects of Copper Sulfate on Plants. Although copper sulfate provided a successful short term solution for pond owners, the long term situation grew worse. Copper sulfate reacts quickly, leaving contact time to the day its applied. Copper settles to the bottom of the pond, where it remains in the muck as a heavy metal. Copper sulfate is an eff… If copper sulfate is added to ponds with a 50 parts per million alkalinity level or lower, its toxicity level increases and fish species that can generally tolerate this herbicide may die. Copper sulfate was used many years ago for algae control however there was adverse environmental effects of copper build-up in the bottom sediments when this product was used. Dissolve the required amount of copper sulfate in a plastic container and pour the solution into the pool. You should have access to a source to analyze trace copper should you need to add more. of chlorine bleach for each 50 gallons of water capacity to the tank each week will reduce the algae problems. It is necessary to prepare a solution of salt, copper sulfate and water. Dissolve 1 pound of copper sulfate in 1 gallon of water. I use it in 1-2 mg/liter (as copper sulfate) concentrations. Copper sulfate can be used as a fertilizer or fungicide. Change when dirty, every 200-300 cows. of Copper Sulfate Crystal per 60,000 gals. This will result in a concentration of 0.5 to 1.0 ppm of dissolved copper. It also will kill many weeds that infest a pond. Copper sulfate is useful for everyone, from farmers to homeowners and science teachers, the benefits of Copper Sulfate are vast and far-reaching. If the total alkalinity is less than 50 ppm, copper treatments are … Pond owners that have experienced a fish kill after using a copper sulfate algaecide most likely treated too large of an area. Depending on severity of growth follow up treatments may be necessary. It destroys algae and bacteria caused by growing algae in swimming pools in addition to preventing athlete’s foot, a fungal infection that grows in between the toes in warm climates (such as an indoor swimming pool). It is, essentially, a metallic poison that in small concentrations inhibits algae growth. Determine the volume of your pond in acre-feet. Copper sulfate is an inorganic compound that combines sulfur with copper. As an algaecide copper Sulfate is not as effective in hard water as chelated products and is also toxic to fish in soft water areas. Copper sulphate is the most widely used, and most economical algae control available. Like I said, copper sulfate is poisonous, so use it at your own risk. Copper sulfate is much heavier than water, and if just thrown into the pond it will sink to the bottom and chemically bind there where it will not have a chance to have an effect on the algae. Also, as algae consumes high amounts of the chlorine disinfectant, then if you pond is 1/2 acre approx 20 ft deep in the center. Let's find out. On the package are the following proportions. If too much of the pond is treated at one time the decaying algae will deplete the water of oxygen. Copper Sulphate. Uniform spraying of a water solution of copper sulfate will guarantee that the copper sulfate spreads evenly across the pond. water). EPA labeled copper sulfate is registered to kill algae and roots in pipes. Diluting the pond may help but the damage may have already been done when trying to kill too much algae. Crystal form is most effective on bottom mats while the fine crystal may be … The copper should not have to much of an effect on the fish unless the are trout, Koi or carp. Equation 1. Treat when algae is actively growing by spray application. We sell EPA labeled copper sulfate for use in drain fields, septic systems, lakes, ponds, and plumbing systems. It doesn’t treat the causes of algae in your pond. Average depth is probably 6-8 ft. Can someone tell me how much Copper sulfate I can use. Since then and over the last 30 years or so, a chelated (chemically locked in) copper compound was formulated called Cutrine-Plus (available in liquid or granular). However, improper application of copper sulfate can create more problems than it solves. Lake and Pond management Copper sulfate uses, not safe for swimming. PondMaster Copper Sulfate Crystals: a Ready-to-use formulation that controls algae used in ponds and lakes. *Spray entire ½ of pond, but give special attention to areas with heavy growth. A safe level of copper sulfate would be 2 parts per million 2. (8,000 cu. Just throw it into the water where algae is present, and the crystals will dissolve, killing the algae it comes in contact with. Found out, it does much more. I spread 7.5 lbs each on two different occurances. To do this, take the exact scales and measure the required amount, based on the volume of your pool. 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. It can kill bacteria, algae, roots, plants, snails, and fungi. 3. It goes as deep as 10' deep though. ft.) of water. Copper sulfate kills algae and many fish parasites on contact. The toxicity of copper sulfate depends on the copper content. How much copper sulfate to add to the pool? Dangers of using copper sulfate. Determine how much copper sulfate you need. Apply 1 to 2 lbs. Copper sulfate is also used in order to help with public health and safety. The problem happens when trying to treat too much of the algae at once. It takes a few days to work. Copper sulfate has been registered for use in pesticide products in the United States since 1956. Copper crystals only kill what they touch, so a large pond could require quite a bit of cop… The first occurance was about 2 months ago, then again 2 weeks later. Copper sulfate, also known as bluestone, is an inexpensive herbicide and algaecide with a variety of applications. Use the higher rate where visible algae are present. It can be found in the environment, foods, and water. Use a 5% solution for footbaths (10 lb copper sulfate/25 gal. When organisms such as algae become a problem in private or commercial fish ponds, copper sulfate treatment provides an inexpensive solution. 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. Copper is an essential mineral. Crystal Plex is a liquid copper sulfate solution designed to control a large variety of algae and some aquatic plants including Hydrilla. Effective against all forms of algae including: filamentous, planktonic, and branched algae. If looking for EPA labeled copper sulfate simply add … 3. Is 99% copper sulfate pentahydrate (25.1% copper as metallic), a compound used for years as an algaecide. Recommended that Copper Sulfate be added to premix before mixing into a final batch feed. It is an inexpensive treatment and easy to apply. Adding 2 to 3 oz. 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