Pond Algae : How To Remove Nuisance Pond Algae
Nuisance pond algae is something every pond owner has to deal with on a constant basis. Pond setups are expensive, so are the required equipment that is vital to a healthy pond. After investing so much time and money into the pond, you get an algae bloom.
Now you can barely see your fish. And it seems like this problem will stick around for a while.
Nuisance algae can be classified into three groups. They are attached-erect algae, phytoplankton and filamentous algae.
And there is only one reason these algae are taking over pond at the moment. Nutrients. The two main nutrients we will be looking at are nitrates and phosphates.
Walk into any gardening section and take a look at the fertilizer you see there. All of them will have something called an N P K rating stamped on them. N stands for nitrogen, P for phosphorus and K for potassium. These three elements are fundamental to all fertilizers.
Nitrates and phosphates are the two nutrients that we are concerned with. These two nutrients are both used by nuisance algae and aquatic plants.
Success against nuisance algae only comes if we can keep nitrate and phosphate levels low.
A few water changes are all it takes to reduce nitrates in smaller ponds.
Water changes are not viable when dealing with very large ponds however. Cleaning the pond should be the first thing you should do. Siphon up any fish waste, detritus and sludge from the bottom. Clean up all your pumps as well as dirty filter pads.
Reduce feeding as well as the amount fed to your fish. Rotting leaves and debris should also be removed as they are a great source of nutrients.
Aquatic plants compete with algae for nutrients so introduce some to your pond. You can also use shade to your advantage, floating plants like water lilies prevent sunlight from reaching plant life in the water column or at the bottom. The general rule of thumb is with regard to shade is 50 to 70 percent via use of floating plants.
With regards to microscopic algae, UV sterilizers have proved an effective tool towards keeping their numbers low. Depending on the size of the pond, UV Sterilizers are a pricey option though.
Barley has been used with some success against nuisance algae. First used in Europe for centuries, its has become a common item in the pond hobby.
After submerging the barley into the pond, it will eventually release natural chemicals that are harmful towards most nuisance algae. It is completely safe for your fishes.
Usually sold in three forms, you can buy barley extract, barley straws or barley pellets. Not a most effective method at algae removal, they are cheap and there worth a try.
While algaecide usage is common in the hobby, i feel they should never be used. They are a poison (copper sulfate) and will definitely harm your ponds ecological system. The European Union has publicly stated that it does not work well with sustainable ecosystems.
They are a short-term fix. They do not address the cause of nuisance algae in your pond. The root cause of nuisance algae is elevated nutrients. Which takes us back to nutrient control, the beginning.
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