Algae control in ponds

[rvm]

A friend of mine has a pond (about 300g) that is getting overrun with algae. It's the green stringy type that clings to everything!
He's tried using a barley straw extract type liquid and that doesn't really help. Is there anything he can be doing to help control and clear away the algae??

Thanks

 

[Paul_MTS]

barley straw is really the "remindy" for green water. He could start by pulling it off by hand, we don't get that problem though so can't give you a proper answer!!

does he have fish, as they should nibble at it a bit.

 

[rvm]

Yup, hes got fish, and they do nibble a bit. But it's just covered everything!!! looks like a green blanket in the pond!!!! Oh well, I'll tell him to keep adding the barley straw stuff!!! Cheers mate!

 

[ryan]

Best thing to do is to remove as much as possible and then try to take the light away from the algae growth or use plants to compete with them for nutrients. Floating plants are very helpful as they take light away from the algae and out compete it for nutrients, barley straw can also be helpful.

 

[bribones]

pretty much had the same problem with mine as did paul i think

a UV filter is the way to go,it kills the algae off by rendering it infertile so it cant multiply,it floats to the top in clumps or gets drawn into the filter ,

my green water cleared up in a matter of days although i still get algae growing round the sides which the fish deal with

plants can also help as they feed on the neutriants which cause the algae to grow

 

[rvm]

The filter has a UV clarifier built in. Maybe not powerful enough, or possibly not even working?? Don't know how to tell as the unit is all sealed!!!

 

[Paul_MTS]

The bulb might be replacing there, about a tenner usually I think which is probable a cheap route to check out, not sure how to test it, mine is a separate unit and if i go out at night I can see the inlet/outlet tubes glowing green!!

I have a healthy ammount of algae on the sides of the firbre glass pond, nothing on concrete though. I have algae on every surface it will grow on like the cobbles in the concrete pond but the fish keep it at a low level. I have grass carp which have a nibble on algae and plants as part of there diet.

After installing my UV after having pea green water I could see improvement after a few days, i installed it a few days before I went on holiday so can't be sure when it was clear, was perfect when i got back after 2 weeks though.

 

[bribones]

on my filter if you look when its dark you can see the uv light as the water acts like a fibreoptic it has a healthy blue glow lol not sure about the sealed inline type ,it may be that your water is getting pumped through the uv a too fast a rate not allowing the uv light to do its job ,if the lights ok try reducing the flow

 

[ryan]

There are two basics forms of algae that will affect ponds. Green Water is free floating algae that is easily cleared up by UVs, however, this then clears the water allow sunlight to penetrate and aid Blanket/Hair Algae growth in the pond. UV light will have little or no affect on Blanket Weed. Some fish will graze on it to keep it down but to get rid of it you have to obtain a good eco system in your pond. Plants and forms of filtration can help to remove vital nutrients from the algae. You are best off removing as much as possible by hand and then trying to establish a good enviroment where it can not take control. Normally pond in alot of sunlight suffer from this badly.

 

[rvm]

It is definately not in the water, so I don't think its the UV then. The pond does get quite a lot of sunlight, so it is most probably that. I tested his water with my aquarium test kit the other day, and it was 0 ammonia and nitrite, but Nitrate was around the 50ppm mark. I know we have a high tap water nitrate content around here, so that is probably not helping the Algae. Oh well. I'l just let him know to keep up with what he's doing and physically remove as much as he can!!
Cheers guys!!

 

[FB3333]

there are alot of blanket weed killing products in our garden centre.

i have the same problem, with my pond being in direct sunlight for most of the day.

these products, claim to kill the weed without harming plants or fish in the pond.. i've still yet to try one., but if anyone knows of a definate winner, i'll be intrested.