Pond Question

1,813 Views | 22 Replies | Last: 6 days ago by HTownAg98
agcrock2005
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9:17p, 5/17/26
AG
We are buying some land that has a small TANK on it. Previous owners were city folks that really wanted a tank with a lot of water. They drained the old tank, put concrete pad circle on the bottom, dug a well to supply water to the tank, filled it up then put blue dye it in and dumped bass and blue gills in it. Quick research by the wife shows fish won't reproduce well because they need structures in the water to lay their eggs, ratherr than laying them on concrete.

What do I need to do to for fish, plantation in the water so they have relief from the sun, tank maintenance, etc.? They spent 4 years throwing money at it but did stupid **** and never got what they wanted. They recommended Copper Sulfate to put in water to kill the moss, but I don't think they know what they're talking about. Figured you guys would be better to ask than google. Thanks!

FWIW, I went out yesterday to meet them and they realized they had turned the pump off to the pond so it was low. Throwing that in just in case it helps with any of you recommendations. Looks like the pond can hold quite a bit more water. They said at current level it's about 12 feet deep.

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CS78
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9:41p, 5/17/26
DP
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CS78
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9:45p, 5/17/26
First question I'd have is, does it leak to the point that the pump is a requirement? Looks like same pretty questionable soil in the pic. Also looks like it might not catch much runoff.

Then the question is, how is the pump powered and what does it cost to run?

Probably the fastest and easiest thing you could do for the fish is throw some whole large cedars in, angled from the bank out.
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agcrock2005
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In reply to CS78 • 10:02p, 5/17/26
AG
Thanks for response. We haven't moved out there yet so I don't know about the leakage. I told my wife that I thought we could mow down a few cedars and throw them in short term. The pump is solar powered, so free since they paid for it.
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TAMUallen
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10:26p, 5/17/26
AG
I don't think that's 12 ft deep and is going to be a hell of a problem if there's water being pumped in as is
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TAMUallen
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10:27p, 5/17/26
AG
Go to pondboss.com and start reading.

You have a very large project if you want to make it better or even decent

Oh BTW, theyve put in dye recently and maybe already killed off a lot with dye and copper sulfate
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Ikanizer
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6:21a, 5/18/26
AG
Does this pond get any runoff? A solar powered well is good for keeping up with evaporation but that pond looks awfully low based on the amount of rain we've had lately. Get a bucket and measure the gpm output from the well and figure out how many days it will take to add an inch of water to the pond. Check the depth by getting those boys to try walking across it. Make sure it doesn't dry up in a long hot summer before you get too far into stocking fish.
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Deerdude
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6:22a, 5/18/26
I had about a 2 acre frac reservoir put in and decided to use old tires for structure. In different stacks I connected each tire in a stack, drilled holes in some to allow air to escape, and did not drill some so that while anchored to the piles they kind of floated at whatever depth they were tied.
Any number of places will happily give you all the free tires that you want and they don't turn water dark .
Worked for me but tank is lined and has a large pump in well to fill it. Only bad thing I've seen is that the water is from an Edward's aquifer well that's geothermal and comes out at about 100 degrees. Gets a little warm when they fracking and using the water while filling at same time.
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87Flyfisher
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6:23a, 5/18/26
AG
+1 on Pond Boss

Copper Sulfate is toxic to the algae and invertebrates that are necessary to have a food chain that is self supporting. You need to test the water for Copper levels and most likely add Ag Lime to bind up the Copper. Even if you drain the pond, Copper will have settled to the bottom and still be there when it is refilled.
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agcrock2005
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In reply to TAMUallen • 8:52a, 5/18/26
AG
TAMUallen said:
I don't think that's 12 ft deep and is going to be a hell of a problem if there's water being pumped in as is

How do you know it's going to be such a problem and how deep it is by one picture? Some information I left out was they put the fish in a couple years ago. When we were out a couple days ago they grabbed some bread and fish feed and threw it out there and there were a ton of fish that were eating on the food. I've seen some pictures where it was very low and can't confirm 12 feet, but I know it's definitely over my head based on where the boat (not pictured) is compared to the water level.
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Does this pond get any runoff? A solar powered well is good for keeping up with evaporation but that pond looks awfully low based on the amount of rain we've had lately. Get a bucket and measure the gpm output from the well and figure out how many days it will take to add an inch of water to the pond. Check the depth by getting those boys to try walking across it. Make sure it doesn't dry up in a long hot summer before you get too far into stocking fish.

Based off my limited time out there so far, I believe the biggest issue with water level is they didn't grade it to where runoff goes into pond. I agree it should be much more full after the rains. It's between Granbury and Lipan so it should get hit a few times this week with good rain, so I'll know much more by when I head out there Friday or Saturday. I'll get another picture then and report back. I'll also measure the gpm. Thanks for the info.
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HTownAg98
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9:23a, 5/18/26
Just from the looks of it, that pond looks too small for bass.
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TMfrisco
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2:45p, 5/18/26
AG
Stock with tilapia every year. Double win - they control the algae and the bass have food.

Yes to the structure - you'll need some.
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agcrock2005
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3:29p, 5/18/26
AG
For reference this picture was from last year. Fish were introduced either two or three years ago. I'm just trying to figure out how to keep them alive and give them a better chance to have babies so my boys can fish. I'll check out that pond website to learn more as well.
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Martin Cash
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3:42p, 5/18/26
AG
That's a tank.
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MouthBQ98
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3:52p, 5/18/26
AG
Once green Sunfish get in there, you won't have to worry about sustaining a population. They find a way.
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agcrock2005
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In reply to Martin Cash • 3:56p, 5/18/26
AG
Martin Cash said:
That's a tank.

OK, didn't know there was a difference. Do I need to go to tankboss.com now? Edited the OP to proper name.
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Bassfishin17
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5:50p, 5/18/26
AG
If you have any rocks laying around the place that need a home throw em in for structure/cover. Also, can look up pvc brush piles on YouTube. May be a fun project for the kids and supposedly don't get hung up as bad when fishing compared to normal brush pile.
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Burn-It
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6:31p, 5/18/26
AG
I use this, among other treatments, in small doses. It works well to maintain / keep unwanted algae away. BTW, Lochow uses the same stuff.

AKA 13-0
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unclefish
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9:59a, 5/19/26
AG
In a pond that small I wouldn't worry about managing for bass. Concentrate on the bluegill. Put a fish feeder out there and grow giant gills!

Any algaecide that is copper related can take a long time to flush out....sometimes its permanently in the muck forever if you don't have alot of run off. A few tilapia are your friend.
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BuddysBud
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10:50a, 5/19/26
AG
Some catfish would help keep an established and strong bluegill population. You might stock 50 blue catfish or channel catfish. As they grow, you can harvest them but they likely will not reproduce. You therefore will need to replace the catfish that you keep. You can get a few replacements each spring when you get the tilapia.
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SGrem
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11:08a, 5/19/26
Fish are cheap. Dont worry about sustaining a breeding population or making a ton of investment so they will spawn. Spawn will likely not be much successful there. Catch and enjoy.... light stocking to maintain. The bluegill will be rock stars. Bass or catfish will get big caught over and over.
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BlueSmoke
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1:56p, 5/19/26
If you want some quick shelter for the them, I purchased a half-dozen buckets from HD. Drilled holes in them and attached 4-5ft sections of flexible, red/blue tubing. Then I filled each bucket with rocks and sunk them in various spots. Maybe it helped, who knows.
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HTownAg98
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2:05p, 5/19/26
Christmas trees make great cover for baitfish. Drive around your neighborhood the weekend after Christmas, and you can get all you want for free. Some baling wire or zip ties and a couple of bricks will sink them.
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