Green water pond algae control | UV sterilizer best for clean pond

Pond Algae Control And Keeping An Algae Free Fish Pond

Algae bloom is made up of microscopic planktonic suspended algae (also known as phytoplankton - approx 4 microns in diameter). Suspended algae are plant life and just like plants they flourish during the summer months when conditions are ideal: more sunlight, warmer water temperatures and higher levels of nutrients. Pigments (chlorophyll, fucoxanthin and carotenoids) in the algae (green water) absorb light energy and use it to convert carbon dioxide and nutrients into new cell biomass through photosynthesis. The primary nutrients of concern are nitrogen and phosphorus. Nitrogen is a by-product of decomposed fish waste, uneaten fish food and accumulated sludge in the bottom of the pond. The "pea soup" like floating algae bloom will eventually take over your entire pond resulting in potential fish fatalities, due to the decreased oxygen levels in the water.

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UV Sterilizers Mimic The Nitrogen Cycle In Ponds

At night, both algae and fish consume oxygen from and exhale carbon dioxide into the system. Algae compete with the fish for available oxygen in the water. A potentially serious impact of an algae bloom is the risk of an algae crash triggered by temperature or barometric pressure.

When an algae bloom collapses, dead algae cells settle to the bottom of the pond, adding to the decomposing sediments oxygen demand. If the crash is severe, the oxygen supply can be quickly depleted endangering the fish unless backup aeration is available. Additionally, as the dead algae cells rupture, they release organic nitrogen and phosphorous back into the water, adding to the systems nutrient load. The biological cycle starts again with bacteria converting the organic nutrients to inorganic elements, which are then available to be recycled - and the algae bloom continues.

I Have heard that algae is good for my pond - Is that true?

Algae does indeed have it's benefits: It is a valuable source of nutrients for your koi and goldfish, particularly their recently hatched fry. Unfortunately, green water, caused by floating algae bloom also prevents you from being able to see your pond fish; this may have dire consequences if there are sick or injured fish in your pond as you fail to notice them and their symptoms for some time.

Algae influences several factors in your pond system, including the levels of oxygen, pH, carbon dioxide and nutrient levels. Algae are microscopic plant life who like their larger cousins (plants) photosynthesize. During daylight hours when photosynthesis occurs floating algae produces oxygen, uses up carbon dioxide and removes nutrients. However at night time the opposite happens and the algae bloom begins to respire. In ponds with large fish loads the concentration of carbon dioxide rises quickly and the water pH level rises. Fish not used to such sharp shifts may initially show signs of stress.

During night time hours both green water and your koi and goldfish fight for the pond's oxygen supply. Heavy algae blooms often result in fish fatalities, due to suffocation.

How To control Pond Algae in your fish pond

There are various methods of controlling the build up of algae bloom, some more permanent than others. Such methods include the use of aquatic pond plants, using shade, using pond algaecides and in my opinion the best method, the use of a UV sterilizer, also known as a UV clarifier or simply as a UVC.

The Merits Of Each Green Water Control Method

Aquatic pond plants when added to the pond system compete with the algae for nutrients and Carbon dioxide. The addition of pond plants whilst not the most effective method, will certainly help as well as adding aesthetic beauty.
Shade, depending upon the location of the pond can be a problem.
A quick fix but not a learn term solution is the use of chemical treatments such as pond algaecides. They are however expensive and potentially lethal to your plants, koi, gold fish and other aquatic pond life, including frogs, toads, tadpoles and visiting birds, if administered in the wrong dosage.
The best method of controlling green water on a permanent basis is to use UV sterilization. This process has several advantages: It is easy to install a UV, secondly the UV treats the water at a distance from the pond system itself (less stress to the inhabitants) and thirdly it is a physical treatment and doesn't interfere with the water chemistry.

The combination of bio-mechanical filtration from a biofilter (removal of toxic ammonia and nitrites from fish waste, decaying vegetation and dead pond inhabitants) and the ultraviolet sterilization from a UV sterilizer is extremely effective in maintaining a crystal clear clean pond environment.