Little shells in my pond Cancel The title field is required!

1. Homme David R

   
   7/1/2011 12:07 PM

   Good day. I've seen posts here before re: problems with aquatic species in a pond getting into an irrigation system. I've now discovered something in my water that is clogging heads and I know nothing about this.
   
   Little curled up shell like creatures. Look like little snails. They measure 1/8" across and are a perfect fit to jam into the screen at the base of the internals. It's enough to block the flow and cause problems. I'm also seeing rusty scale from the inside of the pipe.
   
   I'm looking for identification of this little creature if anyone knows that and also some costs/suggestions for screens that can go right on the discharge pipe leaving the pump station. I've seen them before.
   
   Any ideas / comments would be welcome, thanks very much.
   
   Dave Homme
   The Falls Resort

   
   
   
   
2. Steven Huffstutler

   

   11 posts
   
   7/1/2011 1:07 PM

   I treat my wetwell twice a month during the summer with Copper sulfate. I know people who put bleach in their wetwells every day and other guys who have expensive injection systems. I have those shells and bryozoans in my wetwell and intake tube, the copper seems to be working, haven't had any clogged heads.
   
   Steve

   
   
   
   
3. Dennis Cook

   

   1 posts
   
   7/1/2011 2:07 PM

   probably zebra mussels

   
   
   
   
4. Steven Huffstutler

   

   11 posts
   
   7/1/2011 6:07 PM

   turfy49431 said: probably zebra mussels

   
   
   
   Nope...not here. Zebra mussels don't look like snails, they look like...well....mussels.
   
   Steve

   
   
   
   
5. Clay Putnam

   

   33 posts
   
   7/1/2011 7:07 PM

   We installed TeKleen filters on our pumps to control Zebra Mussels. I'm sure they can do the same for your situation. The upside is they do a great job of filtering out the mussels. We have cut our labor by 90% with cleaning/flushing heads. The downside is they are very costly to replace parts and their representation is shabby at best, IMO.