Good Algae vs Bad Algae
There is no avoiding algae in your pond. These single-celled plants are very hardy and, once many of them form a colony, they turn the pond’s surface into an ugly green mess. Contrary to popular belief, some types of pond algae is very beneficial to your pond. The problem: Keeping good algae and getting rid of the bad alge? The answer is extremely complicated.
Healthy Competition
Algae, like all plants, needs nutrients and light to survive. Algae Blooms are more frequent when there is an excess of light and nutrients. Plants you want in your pond can provide beauty as well as outcompete your agae for these resources in your pond. One of the most effective, and most beautiful, ways to combat algae is to add floating plants to the surface of the pond. Plants such as Duckweed and Water Hyacinth are excellent ways to deprive pond algae in the pond of the light it needs to flourish. At the same time, these plants provide the fish with shelter and roots in which they like to breed.
Plants will help take away excess nutrients in your pond water. This will help put a strangle hold on algae. Plants must be implemented into any pond plan.
Circulation - Enemy of Pond Algae
Pond Algae loves stagnant water. To that end, one should keep their water constantly circulating to ensure that many types of undesirable algae have no place to grow. A pond pump for a garden pond should circulate about 50 percent of the water per hour. For a koi pond, the entire volume of the water should be circulated every hour. Circulation must be maintain due to the fact that the water algae can over take yoru environement making things extermely unhealthy for fish.
Pond Algae Filtration
There are several different types of filters on the market. These can all be involved with fighting the alge in your pond in many ways. The two types most associated with fighting pond algae are UV filters and biological filters.
UV Filters that help battle Algae in your pond?
Ultraviolet light is a powerful biocide. In fact, ultraviolet light is among the ways in which hospital instruments are sterilized. In terms of keep your pond algae free, Ultraviolet radiation is very good.
Ultraviolet light provides pond algae control by actually destroying the DNA in the algae’s cells. A small amount of water is dragged through the filter at a time and is exposed to intense ultraviolet light. This destroys the DNA in the same fashion as ultraviolet light from the sun destroys the DNA in human skin tissue. Don’t worry about getting cancer from the filter, however, the UV from the sun is orders of magnitude more powerful than that emitted by the filter.
these filters sometimes take time to do their job, but after time, they give great results. They are definitely on of the primary best ways to take algae out of a person’s pond. The great thing is that the good algae that grows along the liner is not destroyed!
Pond algae and biological filters
Biological filters use single-celled organisms to consume and outcompete the algae in a pond. These are another very effective way to keep this nuisance plant at bay. Sometimes these filters take a while to make a difference but they are definitely worth it. Once the filter has balanced the water against the growth of pond algae, the results are spectacular.
Remember that these filters must run at all times to ensure a clean pond. If you are patient, the difference you will notice wil be worth it. These filters need to be cleaned from time to time and need to have their supply of beneficial bacteria replenished. It is important to pay attention to the manufacturer’s instructions for the device you are worried about.
Manual labour to destory algae in your pond?
There are a few types of algae that can be grabbed out of your pond manually. Sometimes things like waterfalls and fountains get a build up of long patches of green algae. One can simply pull and scrub this away with the hands. This type of pond algae is not to be thought of in the same way as the thin, fuzzy algae that is found all over the rocks and gravel in your pond. The latter type is of great benefit to the pond’s ecosystem.
A small net will allow algae that build up on the surface to be removed. This should be done as soon as it is noticed. These mats are just free-floating colonies of algae and are easily enough skimmed off the surface.
Mechanical water skimmers can make these chores a little better. These gizmos are a style of filter that brings H2O from the surface and takes out debris and other bad things such as pond algae mats. All watergardens should have one of these installed.
Algae blooms can take hold generally when the pond is first installed. This is due to the fact the a small ecosystem in your pond has not quite found balance; this give algae several ecological places in which it can establish itself. As the plants become more developed, the filters fill the water with pond algae-fighting bacteria and the UV filter is given time to work, the fish pond will become clearer and clearer.
There is a caveat where algae in ponds is concerned: Clear water does not necessarily mean healthy water. One may look at their crystal-clear pond and feel that all is right with the world without realizing that the water is filled with nutrient-draining pond algae and harmful bacteria. The biological filter should be left on at all times; also make sure the correct UV filter is purchased for the job. Ideally, look for a UV filter that is advertised as a “sterilizer” rather than a “clarifier”.
Control of the algae in your pond can be a significant effort. Pond is like a fine wine, the more established and older it gets, the better it tastes. Concrete ponds will make starups difficult. The Ph in these ponds tends to be high which encourages the growth of pond algae. If one happens to be the owner of such a garden pond, be doubly-aware of the hazards presented by this plant and be prepared to fight something of a battle.
