Now that Spring is upon us and things are coming back to life in your pond with the warmer weather, many of us are battling with string algae. String algae is caused primarily by a combination of the buildup of organic nutrients in the water, and sunlight.
What happens is that during winter, when things slow down and many of us turn off our filters, decaying leaves and other organic matter (including fish waste) begin to break down in the pond.
The result is an excess of organic nutrients in the water, which is essentially food for algae growth. Add sunlight and some warmer weather to these conditions, and you have an ideal environment for algae growth, both the green water and string algae varieties.
The green water, or 'pea soup' algae is easily eradicated with a properly sized UV sterilizer, which we highly recommend. String algae, on the other hand, is a bit more complicated and difficult to get rid of.
Because it is usually attached to the walls and rocks of the pond, it becomes more difficult to get rid of and unfortunately, there aren't and easy solutions. But we are going to outline a few remedies here that will help. First, we recommend a pond cleaning - if possible. For those of you who don't clean your pond at least once annually, there are many good reasons to do this.
By cleaning out your pond, and removing as much of the decaying organic material from the bottom, you are also removing much of the 'food' for the algae.
Another good thing to do is to cut back on feeding your fish, until you get your string algae under control. The fish food, both eaten and digested, and the uneaten food, will both also contribute to this algae growth - so don't worry about the fish, just stop feeding for awhile.
There are several products available which can and will 'help' with the string algae problem, like barley bales and/or barley pellets. The idea is that by adding these to the pond, they will also start to decay in the water, and the resulting natural 'humic acids' will actually oxidize the algae, and help keep it under control.
Farmers in the 13th century noticed that lakes with bales of barley straw in them, had much less muck and string algae in them. So, now we use them in fish ponds. Barley pellets are a newer version of the same idea, but will generally start working faster. Barley straw needs several weeks before it starts working, and only after it starts to 'rot' in the water.
Another way to help with string algae is to raise your salt level in the pond. Anything over .3% will help control the algae, but is best for KOI ponds, as the salt may also negatively affect water garden plants.
We also really like the Microbe Lift line of products. They also seem to help control string algae, by adding millions of beneficial microbes and beneficial bacteria that will feed off of this algae and also help to decompose any other organic waste in the pond.
An alternate method that many pond owner prefer is to add a chemical algaecide like PondCare's Algae Fix. This is safe for fish and plants, and does seem to temporarily knock out suspended and filamenous algae, but does need to be added periodically for long term control.
One new method that we've been hearing more and more about is adding a certain type of clay to the pond water. Calcium Montmorillonite Clay is gaining popularity among KOI pond owners and water gardeners as an effective, natural method of algae control. It is also noted as having many beneficial qualities for the fish in the pond.
Hope this helps!
Happy pondkeeping.
Publishing Guidelines: You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.
About The Author
Brett Fogle is the owner of MacArthur Water Gardens and several pond-related websites including macarthurwatergardens.com and pond-filters-online.com. He also publishes a free monthly newsletter called PondStuff! with a reader circulation of over 6,000 pond owners. To sign up for the free newsletter and receive a complimentary 'New Pond Owners Guide' for joining, just visit MacArthur Water Gardens>
It's been time consuming, and there have been a lot... Read More
Orchids are beautiful flowers. The interesting thing about orchids is... Read More
Planting roses isn't actually complicated, as long as you have... Read More
As the curtain of winter lifts, tulips are one of... Read More
Most people would think of fall as a season when... Read More
Potatoes are so easy to grow in the no dig,... Read More
Women take pride in home decoration and gardening and want... Read More
Gardening is a hobby that brings joy, entertainment, and a... Read More
Asparagus is a perennial plant with erect, edible stems and... Read More
Are you searching for that perfect bench to set off... Read More
You can hear the wailing from here. "Why aren't my... Read More
I have a love for funky, fun and unique garden... Read More
Having a gazebo in the backyard is an excellent way... Read More
Planting times for vegetables and other annual plants vary from... Read More
A water garden is the area of your landscape that... Read More
Do you have a knack for being with moths? Most... Read More
If you are a gardener you probably already do a... Read More
Gathering tomatoes or other fruits of the garden might not... Read More
Purchased corn, whether on the cob or in a can... Read More
Would you rather be sailing or are you strictly a... Read More
When you hear the term "Zen Garden" the picture conjured... Read More
It's August, the weather has cooled a bit here and... Read More
The Mentha species or mints as they are commonly called... Read More
"I have no plants in my house. They won't live... Read More
Before planting, the plants must be prepared. The following suggestions... Read More
Using landscaping ideas can be an effective way to attract... Read More
Kitsch is defined by several dictionaries as relating to poor... Read More
When the days start to get shorter, the darkness may... Read More
Everybody asks about Easter lilies! Can they go outside; can... Read More
Preparing for the Winter Months: Gardening in OctoberWhen you feel... Read More
Can't get away for a southern vacation this year? Don't... Read More
Well it is now September, and the mornings are great... Read More
Gardening is one of life's pleasures whether you grow flowers,... Read More
The garden should be near the house and away from... Read More
Although it is a member of the Thymelaeaceae, the family... Read More
Over watering ranks first in causes of houseplant demise because... Read More
The history of artificial or fake grass is to say... Read More
Women take pride in home decoration and gardening and want... Read More
A beautiful flower arrangement piece can become the focal point... Read More
Here are a few tips to keep your garden and... Read More
Okay, so you have agonized for weeks and finally went... Read More
Planting roses isn't actually complicated, as long as you have... Read More
So you want to grow roses? They are a beautiful... Read More
One of the best ways to create a warm and... Read More
Proper pruning of your backyard grapevines is essential to maintain... Read More
Part three in a seriesIn our last article, we helped... Read More
Everybody asks about Easter lilies! Can they go outside; can... Read More
You have spent hours of time and quite a lot... Read More
More and more people are enjoying their time spent outdoors... Read More
Anyone with a lawn, no matter how small will at... Read More
HUMMINGBIRD NECTAR RECIPEWe love hummingbirds and love to watch them... Read More
"The Ancient Art of Placement" called Feng Shui (pronounced phung... Read More
It's August, the weather has cooled a bit here and... Read More
The first thing you need to do when deciding to... Read More
An important addition to any British back garden, greenhouses are... Read More
Indoors or out, you'll find miniature roses very easy to... Read More
What is xeriscaping? You may have heard of xeriscaping as... Read More
Hi there,I am Jhon Saunders and recently took up gardening... Read More
A wild flower garden, just like any garden you wish... Read More
Damping off is the single term used to describe underground,... Read More
If you are like many people, backyard birding is a... Read More
It's early in May a beautiful fairly warm day so... Read More
Do you have trouble starting your lawnmower up in the... Read More
Today's successful water garden usually is designed as an ecosystem... Read More
Okay, so you have spent hours upon hours creating the... Read More
Annuals in your pernnial garden are something to think about!... Read More
Landscaping & Gardening |