Any ideas to keep a small pond free of algea without using a UV filter?
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Answers:
Barley straw.
Pond plants will help shade the water and nix alge growth, also consider adding gold fish.
questions 4 u
whats the pond 4 ?
where do you live ?
how deep is small ?
is h20 circulating ?
We don't want breeding areas 4 mosquitoes that can carry west Nile
Lots of Chemicals available or just blue dye to give the illusion of depth and darkens the water so alges won't grow
Check with your local district agriculture office.
Lots of fish specialize in eating algae but again check with DA as we have enough escaped critters now
lots;)
You can buy additives for the water that are non toxic to other wildlife, added fish, plants etc.
Nichikoi make one called 'Goodbye Green Water', where you just drop a sachet into the water, it dissolves and disperses. This treats algae gnerally. It has an extract of barley straw in it, amongst other additives. http://www.garden4less.co.uk/proddetail. As the sachet dissolves, you can cut them up, and put part of each into smaller ponds.
If you have Blanket Weed, a specific type of algae, barley straw extract, of just some submerged barley straw, is good. I've used an extract made by Interpet for this, which works really well. You can regognise this algae, by really thin strands of green in the water, usually attached to the sides and plants.
I've been using a new product this year, called 'Blanket Answer', which is a natural blend of minerals and enzymes and works really well. See www.cloverleaf.co.uk, who manufacture this.
All algae need nutrients - its food, and sunlight in order to grow. If there is any run-off from the garden, adding plant foods, then this will increase your algae. Stop any run-off and you limit its growth. Likewise, keep it free from debris, such as fallen leaves, which will decay and add nutrients to the water.
If you can shade the pond, somehow, then you'll also stop growth. Ideas for this include covering the surface with water lillies and other plants, and, potentially anything that will shade it, reducing sunlight intensity. I've got a floating hippo head, that is cute and helps - perhaps not to everyone's taste, but you'll get my drift.
Clear out blanket weed manually, wind it around a cane or something, or even use your hand. Beware of breaking bits of it off, as these will continue to grow.
Severe infestations often need repeated treatments to bring things under control. Starting in springtime helps, as the sun starts to get stronger.
Good luck! Rob
You are having an "algae bloom". You must create an ecosystem in your pond to control this. Don't panic, it's easy! Plants, fish, bacteria, shade.
1. Water-dwelling plants compete with algae for oxygen. Water-dwelling plants win. They also shade the pond; algae hates shade.
2. Fish eat algae. I use the cheap Wal-Mart goldfish. Mine are now almost a foot long.
3. From a pond store, beneficial bacteria (I use "Microbe-Lift") is poured directly into your pond or added to the filter. It establishes itself (you can't see it) and helps combat algae. Microbe-Lift is NOT an algacide. Algacides don't work very well.
4. Your pond should be in shade part of the day.
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