Duck Weed

[Uncleman]

Hello- I'm new here and would like to ask how people control duck weed. My water garden is spring fed and duck weed has been a continuous problem for several years now. I don't want to use any chemicals so I'm now thinking that Koi & Goldfish might help in keeping the weed to a manageable level. Does this make any sense? If so about how many fish will be needed? Total water volume is around 900 gallons.

Thank you.

 

[brokensword]

Uncle;

I'm not sure how many fish (a few is my guess) but I have to actually GROW duckweed in a separate aquarium so I have something to feed my fish as a treat! So, I doubt you'd have much if any duckweed at all once you put in the fish...


Michael

 

[HARO]

Goldfish or koi LOVE duckweed, and would probably eradicate it from your watergarden, but first I have one question. You say the water comes from a spring... have you ever checked the temperature of the water? We have a neighbour who tried to keep goldfish in a spring-fed though, but the water was a chilly 35 F, and the fish essentially starved, since they couldn't digest their food.
John

 

[Uncleman]

Thanks for the responses. Good question regarding the temperature - I've never taken it, but will when I get home and will post it.

I'm hoping that this will work as I am CONSTANTLY digging out duck weed !

 

[adavisus]

Knock the bulk of duckweed back with a net and a couple or three goldfish or shubunkin can mop up the leftovers. One day, you may have too many fish to fret about

:::doh!:::

Keeping the fish hungry will keep them nipping at it, duckweed is a well balanced salad nibbly for them

 

[Faebinder]

Mail me some duckweed please!!!!!

 

[Uncleman]

Well the temperature is a steady 53F throughout the garden and I expect it stays at about this temp. year round. It does skim over with ice in the winter (I'm in eastern Mass.) but it flows year round and there always seem to be a couple of little brook trout (they come up from the main branch that is about 50 yards below this feeder stream). This is a picture that I just took after spending the other day with a trash pump, emptying the pond and scraping as much duck weed as I could. If I leave it alone it will become completely choked with duck weed in about 8 weeks - hence my hope for the fish.

Thanks again !

 

[Faebinder]

I'm surprised it really does. After all you are in Mass. Duckweed does not survive in my pond for too long. I still got some around the edges but the fish just secretly annihilates it when I'm not looking.

 

[MitchM]

Just make sure that if you introduce any fish that there is no possibility they will enter the natural waterways.

 

[Uncleman]

I'm not sure of the variety of this but it can set roots in two feet of water and have its leaves floating on the surface. Grows and spreads like a demon and never seems to flower. Tried Roundup on it once (I Know ! ) and it grew faster. ????

 

[adavisus]

That is what roundup does, persuade the plant to grow itself to death

 

[HARO]

That's not duckweed! Duckweed has several floating leaves, with a small root hanging down. And it's ONLY found on TOP of the water.
John
And NO, do NOT put goldfish in any water where they could escape into a natural body of water!!
John

 

[Uncleman]

That's surprising - had at least 2 different people at water garden stores call it duck weed. Anyone know if it is something else? And how to get rid of it ??

 

[barryian]

That's surprising - had at least 2 different people at water garden stores call it duck weed. Anyone know if it is something else? And how to get rid of it ??

Check this link out! You'll probably be able to identify it from this ... Looking at the big picture, it looks like duckweed bit what ever is on the rock, isn't duck week.
http://aquaplant.tamu.edu/plant-identification/visual-index/

 

[HARO]

I've been going through all my plant books, trying to find your plant. So far I have two possibilities, Lysimachia nummularia (a loosestrife), or Cardamine lyrata. The former is found in the eastern US, while the latter is not a native. Both prefer cooler water, which you probably have. My guess is Cardamine. If anyone has any ideas, feel free to jump in!
John
P.s. Just realized the loosestrife is the submerged form of Creeping Jenny. It COULD get very stringy if the water is cold enough. I