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Posted by CD Aquatics on Feb 08 2018
Firstly, it should be noted that there are different types of pond algae. This includes: string algae, “pea soup” fine algae, floating green scums, and black weed or silkweed. This guide will explain the basic ways to rid your pond of algae (this is for basic “water garden” ponds, not koi ponds or the like).
There are various things that can cause pond algae in your pond, leading to dangerous deoxygenation of the water, thus causing an imbalance in the pond or even death. These include the following:
· Pond debris (leftover food, fallen leaves, dead plants etc)
· Using tap water in the pond
· A gathering of sludge at the bottom of the pond
· And fertilisers leaching into the pond from the garden
These things can be preventable, or they can be fixed, either way – CD Aquatics is here to show you how to control pond algae.
If your pond doesn’t already have a filter and pump, then you will need to get your hands on them in order to ensure the water quality in your pond is consistently healthy. Pond pumps keep the flow of the water going, thus promoting good health and movement that reduces the potential of algae build-up. Pond filters will provide filtration in the pond which will purify the water and work in connection with the pond pump. These together make a good team to ensure healthy water quality and to keep algae at bay.
A pond skimmer is another key item for keeping algae away. The pond skimmer will collect the debris (like leaves) so that they don’t clog up the filter. This means that your pond has another handy feature that will help keep it clean – meaning there is less cause for bacteria leading to the promotion and feeding of algae.
You can get a skimmer net or algae net in order to fish out the algae that does end up growing in your pond. This is easy to do and means that if algae does grow beyond your control, you can still get rid of it. Ot course, you can use the pond nets to rid your pond of debris, too.
An effective alternative to a pond net is a pond vacuum, which provides a quick and easy way to suck up the dirty, algae-infested water. This can also be used to remove other debris that can lead to the grow of algae; things like leaves, uneaten food and dead plant or fish life. These should be removed one way or another. Try not to overfeed your fish, too, for a build-up of uneaten food can be damaging to your pond’s ecology.
Products that have bacteria or enzymes in them are great for the general quality of water in your pond. This means that there is less chance of algae build-up. These products will help to reduce sludge, thus reducing the potential of algae growth.
The use of underwater plants like Anacharis can help to reduce algae effortlessly on your part, too. These plants will take in nutrients for their own growth that would otherwise have been consumed by the algae. Therefore, the algae will starve.
In addition to underwater plants, you can use plants that float atop of the water (like water lilies) to take in the oxygen and sunlight that algae would have used to thrive. Sunlight is very important to algae control, so if another plant is used to soak it up, you will be in a better position to combat algae. Plus, they look pretty in your pond!
There you have it, your guide to controlling pond algae. Pond algae doesn’t have to be something that you just accept in your pond. Instead, with good pond maintenance, products and pond equipment, you can ensure that algae is controlled or kept at bay. Good luck!
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