How to control algae in your Water Garden?

CONTROLLING ALGAE

All ponds have some algae.  It is part of the ecosystem. However, you need to control the amount of algae to keep a perfect balance.  If there is a n overgrowth of algae, there are too many nutrients in the water. Chemicals over a period of time can be detrimental to the pond system because they stay in the bottom and store nutrients that can create a bigger algae bloom the next time.  These methods can also be very expensive.  So lets take a natural attitude towards algae control by creating a good balance.

A good balance includes:  A good circulating system, a good filtration system, aquatic plants and animals, and rocks and gravel. proper circulation of water with good filtration will ensure that pond debris will be sent to the filter system and that the water will be highly oxygenated.  The more plants present, the more that algae will be starved from its food source.  Fish eat algae.  Bacteria in the pond feed on excess nutrients in the water, which reduces the algae.

It takes 2 to 6 weeks for bacteria to colonize and actually begin to do their job.  Once the plants, fish and bacteria are established, the algae will decrease as well as the amount of maintenance on your pond.  If all of the above are in the right proportions, you will have a naturally balanced ecosystem without artificial products.

Most ponds go through an algae cycle every year but in the colder climates, the plants and bacteria go dormant due to a lack of oxygen in cold water.  Do not get discouraged if you see pea-green colored water or string algae during the winter months.  When the plants and bacteria re-establish themselves in the warmer temperatures, the ecosystem will become balanced again.  Other methods are also available.

To control algae, you may need to add additional Bacteria throughout the season (perhaps 1 every other week) to starve the algae of its food source.  Adding the algae buster will help rid the pond of string algae. Because string algae is dependent upon calcium to create its structure, preventing the algae from absorbing calcium forces the string algae to become brittle, crack, and fall off the rocks. Barley mats are an effective use for controlling algae.  These mats slowly break down the cell walls of algae as the decompose.

Additional ways to control algae:
1.   Do not overfeed your fish - only feed what they can eat within a few minutes.  When fighting algae, fish feeding should be reduced or eliminated until it is under control.
2.   Do not overstock your pond with fish - the more fish the excreted waste, which increase the food source for algae.
3.   Clean the biological filters regularly.
4.   Add a variety of plants such as hyacinths or water lettuce in the filters.  (Make sure to tie a fish line across the front of the filter to prevent the plants from spilling into the stream).
5.  Use bog plants such cattails and iris for help with filtration.  They grow early each spring to help balance the pond.
6.   Cover the pond surface with water lilies to help block sunlight to the depths of the pond.
7.   Choose oxygenators to soak up nutrients and sunlight through their leaves.
8.   Physically remove clumps of string algae.  You can cut it with scissors or a knife.  Do not pull it away from the rock as the leftover pieces will develop into full strands.
9.   The addition of Koi over 10" in length will graze directly on sting algae.
10.  Repair any leaks immediately.  The addition of tap water nutrients promotes algae growth.
11.  Never use lawn fertilizer or insecticides on trees around a pond.  Run-off water can carry them into the pond to feed algae growth and could threaten the aquatic life.
12.  remove any debris - as excess decaying debris will add to the nutrient levels and the algae in the pond.