26. Algae Control: Pond Maintenance
Although algae is an essential part of the food web in aquatic systems, it can become so abundant that it interferes with the survival of other aquatic plant and animal species. In a natural pond, the numbers of algal colonies will eventually become balanced with other members of the pond. Measures must frequently be taken to practice algae control and manage its growth in your garden pond.
To prevent green water:
• avoid ground water in pond
• minimize food to fish
• include plenty of plants
• no liquid fertilizer
Problems can be helped by using:
• biofilter
• mechanical filter
• UV sterilizer
• Water Garden Cleaner_ASF , 32oz
• Water Garden Cleaner_ASF , 1 gallon
•Fritz Pond Algae Clean Out
• aeration
Problem:
1) Pond water is opaque green over several months.
Causes
• Pond is organically too heavily burdened. Autumn or spring cleaning may be necessary
• Run-off water from the roof surface drains into pond causing pollution
• Matrix or garden mold drains into the pond
• Soil washes into the pond from rainfall
• Garden fertilizer washes into pond
Control Measures
• Immediate measures must be taken. Do a partial water change and use:
• Add AquaLife Complete
• Condition pond with:
AquaLife Water Garden Cleaner_ASF , 32oz
AquaLife Water Garden Cleaner_ASF , 1 gallon
AquaLife Barley Extract 16oz
AquaLife Barley Extract 32oz
• Clean pond and do water change
• Ground around pond has to be lowered in order to prevent back washing
• Fertilizing has to be stopped immediately! Do a water change. Add pond conditioner.
• See The Bog Garden for additional information
Problem:
2) Pond water is opaque green over several months
Causes
• Fish are fed before water temperature is adequate to begin feeding
• Fish are fed too frequently
• Submerged and other aquatic plants in the pond may be dead and decayed
Control Measures
• Avoid feeding before water temperature is 45°F
• All food must be eaten within a few minutes
• Check plants often. Submerged plants are nutrition competitors for algae and produce oxygen. Many healthy submerged plants should be added. Remove dead material.
Problem:
3) Water is clear, but too many thread and hair-like algae are present
Causes
• Submerged and other aquatic plants in the pond may be dead and decayed
Control Measures
• Fresh submerged plants should be added. Algae can be removed from the water by hand. Long term, remove dead material. Jungle Algae Away should be added to inhibit algae growth and create algae control.
• Add Fritz Pond Algae Clean Out
• Add Barley Products
• Add AquaLife Rock & Waterfall Cleaner
Problem:
4) Foul smelling pond water
Causes
• The water has “turned over”. Too much sunshine and too many nutrients allow the algae to grow rapidly. Plants become choked. If the nutrients are consumed the algae die and rot.
Control Measures
• 2/3 of the water must be changed. New water must be conditioned with • Add AquaLife Complete and AquaLife Water Garden Cleaner ASF. More submerged plants should be added. Add carbon to the filtration system.
• AquaLife Sludge Pond Cleaner Pro
• AquaLife DeChlorit
