BATTLING GREEN WATER, or ALGAE BLOOM   (THE PEA SOUP LOOK)

 

DON'T

  -  Use chemical treatments, as the killed algae cells only provide more food for the next algae bloom - you want to starve this type of algae, not feed it

  -  Over feed fish, as they produce waste according to how much they are fed, also excess food feeds algae as it decomposes

  -  Over stock your pond with fish - one rule of thumb is 1" of fish per 5 gals of water.

  -  Worry about fuzzy green algae growing on the sides of your pond - this is good algae and helps balance your pond, but the long stringy filamentous type can be removed by hand

  -  Over fertilize your pond plants, and make sure fertilizer is pushed deep into pot with hole filled in after you insert the tab or cone

DO

  -  Use lots of plants of any type - marginals (reeds, cattails, arrowhead)

                                                      - floaters ( water hyacinth, water lettuce)

                                                      - shade plants ( lilies, floaters)

  -  Artificial shade along with shade plants to deny sunlight to algae

  -  Clean up debris from bottom of pond (debris = algae food)

  -  Use a bacteria supplement such as "Bacta Pur Klear" and "Bacta Pur SludgeBuster" to speed up the break-down of fish waste and debris (leaves and dead plant material)

  -  Use a biological/mechanical filter to remove small bits of debris and to grow good colonies of bacteria to eat up phosphates and nitrites that algae bloom thrives on

  -  Some people use a UV sterilizer ( very expensive and bulb needs to be changed every year)

  -  Veggie filters also help by competing with algae for nutrients ( a small pond or container approx 1/10 the surface area of your pond and 12" deep that is full of plants with the pond water being turned over every 3-4 hours in it)

  -  Have lots of patience

 

  The above points are a collection of tried and proven techniques to deal with the green water problem. Depending on the particular circumstances of your pond, some of these ideas will help you. As the sun gets more intense each year, shade plants are becoming more important in this battle. Try to achieve a 50% - 75% surface area coverage of your pond with lily pads or floating plants. The more hours of direct sunlight your pond gets, the more important this is

 

Happy Ponding  - ACP Filters, Tilbury