Devastation Hit The Slab Lab

The Slab Lab recently experienced a "perfect storm" of events which led to a fish kill of thousands of trophy fish. Extreme heat, cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), heavy fish load, and a flash flood rain event all played a role in this unfortunate loss.

That isn't where this story ends. An all-star team of professionals from around the US are working together to rebuild this beautiful fishing oasis.

A BIG part of the reason Sarah is telling her story so publicly is to help other pond owners. Don't wait for disaster to strike! If your pond lacks aeration, struggles with summer stratification, or has years of muck accumulation, you're sitting on a time bomb. The products and protocols being used for recovery work even better as prevention.

Start with a simple dissolved oxygen test at dawn. If it's below 5 mg/L, you need aeration yesterday. If you can smell that swampy "pond smell," you need bacteria. If you've never tested your water professionally, you're overdue.

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The Reset Day 1 video from the Slab-Lab recovery shows what most pond owners face when dealing with excess Phosphorus : neon green water, zero visibility, and the smell of decay. But here's what you can't see in that murky water—phosphorus levels that have gone through the roof.

When fish die and decompose, they release all the phosphorus stored in their bodies. Add that to the phosphorus already cycling out of disturbed sediments, and you've got a recipe for algae blooms that can persist for years or even decades. Many pond owners think adding oxygen and beneficial bacteria will fix everything. While these help, they don't address the phosphorus problem.

Breaking the Phosphorus Cycle with MetaFloc

That's why the Natural Waterscapes team made the decision to use MetaFloc at the Slab-Lab. Reset Day 2 video shows the application of over 1,000 gallons of MetaFloc. This isn't your typical clarifier that just makes water look better temporarily. MetaFloc actually breaks the phosphorus cycle by:

• Binding phosphorus long-term—pulling it out of the water column and locking it away where algae can't use it
• Interrupting sediment cycling—reducing the release of stored phosphorus from the pond bottom
• Clearing water naturally—without harming beneficial bacteria that are crucial for recovery
• Working fast—showing measurable results in 12-24 hours instead of weeks

The Reset Day 3 video proves the dramatic transformation. Water that looked like chocolate milk on Day 2 became crystal clear by Day 3. More importantly, water tests showed phosphorus levels dropped from dangerous to manageable in less than 24 hours.

Prevention: Don't Wait for Crisis

While MetaFloc saved the Slab-Lab from years of recurring algae blooms, the real lesson is prevention. Regular phosphorus management stops the buildup before it reaches critical levels. Here's what smart pond owners do:

1. Test phosphorus levels regularly—not just in the water, but understand your sediment load
2. Treat proactively—use phosphorus-binding products before you see algae, not after
3. Reduce inputs—manage fertilizer runoff, fish feeding, and organic matter accumulation
4. Consider seasonal treatments—especially before spring turnover when sediments release stored nutrients

The Slab-Lab recovery videos show what happens when we ignore the phosphorus building up beneath the surface. Your pond might look fine today, but if you've been managing it for years without addressing phosphorus accumulation, you're sitting on the same time bomb.

Don't wait for a crisis. The phosphorus problem no one talks about is real, it's in your pond right now, and it's completely manageable with the right approach.

If you have recently experienced a fish kill here is what you need to do:

1. Add Oxygen!  Even if low dissolved oxygen wasn't the root cause of the fish kill Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) skyrockets after a kill. Operating a surface aerator ASAP will help to restore and maintain healthy oxygen levels.  
2. Get your water tested! A water test can provide answers to what went wrong, but more importantly, how to move forward. If a major fish kill occurs in your pond, get your water tested prior to swimming or letting your pets and livestock in the water.
3. Remove the dead fish. Dead fish add a significant amount of ammonia and waste into a pond. When it is possible, remove the fish to avoid additional water quality issues.
4. Begin applying beneficial bacteria immediately. Regardless of water quality conditions before the fish kill, this event will cause an increase in ammonia. Some fish may float to the surface during a fish kill event, but others will not. Protect the remaining fish in the pond by breaking down the new waste build up. Ammonia and increased suspended organic debris puts added stress on fish and makes it difficult for fish to breathe. If you want to restock your pond, it's also a good idea to introduce bacteria prior to adding fish. Rapidbac is a fast acting beneficial bacteria that targets ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite in water. Muck Remover is a beneficial bacteria treatment that consumes organic waste and muck that accumulates at the pond bottom.

How To Grow Trophy Fish

Some of the principals followed by the Slab Lab can be implemented in your pond to grow big beautiful fish. Here are a few of their secrets:

1. Maintain Healthy Water. Cleaner water = higher growth yield. Fish that have clean water will grow more. Fish in poor water quality will be stressed and are more susceptible to disease. Fish in unhealthy conditions will not take feed like they will in clean water which slows down growth.
2. Use High Quality Feed. A fish that is provided a premium diet with quality sourced ingredients will gain more mass than a fish that is given a cheaper low grade food. Proper nutrition will improve their immune system. Premium feed also results in lower waste going back into the water.
3. Provide Proper Habitat. Fish habitat is necessary for maintaining a thriving ecosystem. There are many different types of artifical and natural habitat that provide shelter, protection, food, and places for spawning.  
4. Select Harvesting Fish. If an overabundance of fish are in a pond or lake, this can lead to stunted growth. Not only does overcrowding limit the available forage for fish, it can also lead to unhealthy, undersized, and stunted fish that are unlikely to ever grow to trophy size. Speak with a fish manager to dial in to what harvest numbers should be in your pond based on your goals.