Zebra Mussels (the word for the day)

jeweler jim

Broke down and bought a fifty foot snake to see where my trouble is. Glad that I did because I no longer have to dig. The plug is right at the end of the line at the seawall about four feet below the surface of the river. When I pulled the tires in off the pier for the winter, they were coated with zebra mussels. So I figure that's the problem. Now if the river will only drop a foot or more before it freezes I'll be able to open up the end of the pipe. It's a little to deep and cold to be filling up my chest waders and McHenry flood gates are wide open to lower the level of the Chain of lakes for the winter. If I get lucky I'll get it before the freeze up.<br />
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At least I'm through with the digging on the project. My hips and knees didn't want to do any more of that. Anybody know if there's a strong enough acid that I could dump in the line to dissolve the mussels if I'm unable to get at the end of the line under the water?

Lawman Wolf

You could try displacing them with some C4.

jeweler jim

I got over 120 rairoad ties in the seawall and would hate to have to replace it. Took most of one summer to do it last time and that was when all my body parts still worked properly.

Ugly

Jim, there are a lot of articles on these mussel on the internet; here's a couple of things that I found but neither one seems viable.<br />
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Workers injected potash (potassium chloride) into the water to kill the mussels. It's taken almost four years to get to this point because the process is complicated and required extensive surveys of the area, as well as special permits for the chemicals.<br />
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Chlorine has worked effectively to kill zebra mussels, but it also harms everything else, so alternatives more benign to the ecosystem are being explored.<br />
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Sounds like what you're attempting isn't too much fun; you got rid of those kids just when they could be doing some good around the homestead.<br />
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Just kidding about the kids. <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pokey.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':pokey:' />

jeweler jim

Use to have a bag of calcium chloride in the garage, but used it up. I have to do more than kill them. I have to remove them from the pipe. Threw about a dozen of them into a glass and added some strong de-liming solution. In about twelve to fourteen hours it didn't disintegrate them, but it did turn them mushy. I'm gonna dump a few gallons in the line and let it work for a couple of days and then see if the sump pump will blow them out.<br />
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Failing that I have to wait until the water level drops twelve to eighteen inches to be able to get at the pipe from the river side to ream it out there.

Lawman Wolf

I thought you were the one used to clogged barrels. <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pokey.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':pokey:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pokey.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':pokey:' /> 8P <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/diablo.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':diablo:' />

Leadfoot Lizzie

Glad you found the problem dad....Good Luck with all that...It rained here last night so if it rained by you it didn't help you much with lowering the water level....have fun!!! <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cowboy1.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':cowboy1:' />

dd

The Zebra mussels are Mother Nature's revenge for the wanton slaughter of her cute little racoons.<br />
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<img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/brap.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':brap:' />

Ugly

And don't forget the skunks either! <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pokey.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':pokey:' />

dd

Ugly wrote on Oct 26 2006, 11&#58;21 AM:

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And don't forget the skunks either! <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pokey.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':pokey:' /><br />

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I believe the skunks were Revenge #1. The zebra mussels are Revenge #2. Who knows what's next - stay tuned! <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pokey.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':pokey:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pokey.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':pokey:' />

jeweler jim

Careful DD or you might find yourself excommunicated next Sunday.

dd

jeweler jim wrote on Oct 26 2006, 03&#58;17 PM:

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Careful DD or you might find yourself excommunicated next Sunday. <br />

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Hmm... I don't have an "ex" to communicate with. So I guess you'll have to try something else.<br />
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<img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/brap.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':brap:' />