What is Coontail and Why is it a Problem?
Coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum) is a free-floating submerged plant without any roots. It is found all over the world growing in sluggish water. Sometimes it is loosely anchored in the mud. Unlike other aquatic plants, Coontail draws its nutrients from the water directly rather than from sediment. It can survive in cool waters and low light. During the winter months, it lives under the ice as an evergreen plant and resumes rapid growth in the spring.
Many people place coontail in their ponds to give protection and shade for fish especially for young bluegills, perch, largemouth bass, and northern pike. Coontail can also be importance to aquatic ecosystems as it supports insects that fish and ducklings eat.
However, once the amount of coontail becomes excessive, it can become a problem for the water body’s overall health and appearance. In addition, excessive amounts of coontail will interfere with boating, swimming and fish health.
How to Identify Coontail:
- Dark green forking leaves, up to 1 2 inches in length arranged in whorls on the stem
- Submerged plant without roots
- Plants may be bushy or very long and sparse
- Feathery leaves on the stem resemble a raccoon’s tail. The stems can be 1 to 2 feet in length.
- The leaf has small teeth on the midribs which make it rough to the touch
- It has very small flowers which are rarely seen
How to Control Coontail?
Installing a CLEAN-FLO inversion oxygenation system along with bioaugmentation will not only increase and stabilize oxygen levels throughout the water body but will reduce nutrients safely and naturally. Without reducing the source nutrients, coontail can be an on-going concern. Inversion oxygenation and bioaugmentation is an effective and long-term approach to control and naturally reduce coontail. More important, numerous other benefits of oxygenation include improved swimming and boating, improved water quality, reduced organic sediments (muck), improved fish health, and improved property values. Bring life back to your water body naturally with CLEAN-FLO.