Introduction to Pond Algae and How to Control it.
Like most of us the more food, the more oxygen and the more sunlight the better and bigger the algae grow.
Not all algae are green and not all algae are minute in size and nor do they all remain suspended in water giving that pea-soup appearance.
Green water (sometimes brown) spoils every fish pond. Even changing the pond water does not work since the conditions in the pond containing fish normally revert to those favouring algae formation. Biofilters do not prevent the formation of algae and are little help in creating clear water conditions unless combined with an Ultra Violet clarifier. Biofilters are necessary for cleaning the pond water which is naturally contaminated by normal fish metabolic processes.
The reason why algae is not removed in many filters is due to its small size - if the medium in your filter has gaps/pores greater than 4 microns in size then the algae will just get recirculated.
Most filters suffer from this design problem.
Algae growth is most common in ponds where conditions are most suited to their requirements - lots of fish being fed lots of food, warm water and strong sunlight.
The waste products from fish eventually create nitrates in the water and most pond food contains phosphates and lots of nitrogen. These compounds are the food source for the algae. If the food source can be removed (mainly nitrates) then growth of algae can be suppressed.
The leading additive to remove algae in a pond is Viresco Aqua or Viresco Koi.
Alternatively an Ultra Violet Light clarifier can be installed in the water circulating system that will kill algae. This is the most effective way of keeping control of green water and it works 100% if sized correctly.
Algae that grow to about 1 cm in length and are seen on pump surfaces, rocks, pump filter sponges and the sides of ponds are normal.
Do not try to remove them by sweeping the pond walls for example because they will keep coming back and if left alone reach an equilibrium point. Fish in the pond graze on these algae sources which also trap microscopic lifeforms.
Another type of algae is called blanketweed. Such algae grows into long strings (hence alternative name of string algae) and becomes an eyesore in ponds. It is difficult to eradicate once established. Viresco Aqua or Viresco Koi does a great job of controlling the growth of blanketweed.
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