Pond Algae Control : Tackling Pond Algae Pests

After investing so much money on the pond, necessary equipment, plants and scapes.........an algae bloom comes along and ruins it for you. Now the water is a murky green and you can't even see your expensive Ki Bekko anymore. What do you do?

This calls for some form of pond algae control. There's quite a few things you can do but first, lets identify the enemy.

Nuisance pond algae can be broken into 3 main groups :-

• Microscopic Algae (Phytoplankton)
• Filamentous Algae (Blanket Weed, Horsehair Algae)
• Attached-Erect Algae
  

So what exactly causes these pond algae to grow so fast that they're almost taking over your ponds? One word. Nutrients. It is the same for freshwater and saltwater aquariums as well. Nutrients. And the two biggest culprits we're going to be looking at are Nitrates and Phosphates.

If you've ever done any bit of gardening in your lifetime, you'll notice that all fertilizers have an N-P-K rating on the packet. They stand for :-

N - Nitrogen

P - Phosphorus

K - Potassium

We're concerned with two elements here. N and P, because Nitrates and Phosphates are both forms of nitrogen and phosphorus respectively. If both these nutrients are elevated then they become natural fertilizers for the pond algae you're trying to get rid off.

In smaller ponds this problem can be solved with a few water changes and the use of phosphate removers. Not so when dealing with ponds that hold thousands of gallons of water. Its just not possible to do a water change that large in a pond that big. Other methods will have to be used.

The first thing you should do is clean your pond and equipment. Siphon out all the sludge at the bottom and manually rake up as much nuisance algae as you can. Clean your pumps and clean out your filter media (not your main bacteria bed).

Lower your feeding frequency and the amount fed. Ensure that you move any rotting leaves or debris from the pond, they will slowly rot and release nutrients into the water.

Introduce some aquatic plants as a natural pond algae control method. Plants like water lilies are great additions because they shade the water from sunlight, depriving anything below it from much needed light. Aim for a 50-70 percent cover ratio across the entire pond.

UV sterilizers are particularly effective against microscopic algae. It destroys the DNA of phytoplankton and while they are very effective, they are also pricey.

Barley is another effective method at battling nuisance algae. They were used for centuries in Europe and are now a mainstay in the pond hobby.

How does barley work against algae? As the barley decomposes in your water it releases chemicals that tend to be harmful towards most nuisance algae. It is also completely safe towards fishes.

They come in three forms. Dried barley straws, barley extract and barley pellets.

There is never a 100% guarantee that barley will work against all algae but it is cheap enough to present itself as a viable option.

The last option, algaecides. And i have only one thing to say about them. Never use algaecides. Algaecides are mainly Copper Sulfate, it is not environmentally friendly and is quite toxic to all life forms. It will destroy not just the pest pond algae but the natural habitat that you are trying to achieve in your pond as well. Almost all crustaceans microscopic or other wise will be killed as well as a wide swathe of beneficial bacteria that a closed pond system requires.

One city has gone so far as to ban copper sulfate use completely. That city is Naples, Florida. Even the European Union is prohibiting its use because they feel it is "not compatible with sustainable ecosystems".

Algaecide only really works in the short run because it doesn't address the source of the problem. The source of the problem is nutrients. Which brings us back to lowering nitrates and phosphates.

Read more : - Algae Control, Hair Algae, Red Algae,