Grass Carp

[petmar]

I have some grass growing in my pond anyone know if grass carp eat it, if not what is the best way to get rid of it

many thanks

[Toureman]

My daughter has a 2 acre lake in her garden she has just bought 2 hundred grass carp to eat the small floating weeds which have covered her lake. This was recommended by a fish expert.

Don't know if they eat grass though.

[Dr. Bigalow]

Hey Petmar

Grass carp eh?
Well the root of your problem lies in the water quality. Do not just get something to eat the grass, fix the problem at the source. Run some tests on your pond water. The tests that would be best are alkalinity, pH, ammonia, nitrate and also phosphate.
Ponds and aquariums are a complicated chemistry to master. Most stores just want to keep selling you stuff but not even know what is causing the problem in the first place!
If you would like to have an algae free pond I would like to help you acheive it! Take the tests that I have mentioned and let me know the results.
I also need the pond size in gallons and also all the components you are using for filtration.
Talk to you soon.

[Thunderbird+]

Hi petmar,
I was considering introducing some Grass carp into my garden pond, with the idea of of controlling blanket weed, that I was getting a lot of at the time.
I sought advice at my local aquatic centre and the guy there seemed doubtfull and said they may eat duck weed in the pond but thats about all.
I think grass may be too tough for them to chomp through and is probably an easier option to remove it by hand if its growing into the water from the pond edge.
I am aware they are used comercially as a weed control and as far as I can see, the grass carp are all sterile to stop them breeding and becoming an invasive alien species, so they may need to be replaced after a few years, as they die off naturally.
Like you, I'd be interested to hear from anyone who's had success with them in a garden pond and moreover are they selective in what they eat and will lily pads and oxygenating plants be eaten too ?