Keeping the pond setting healthy is important for the health of all living things in the water and the ecosystem as a whole. Overgrowth of algae is a regular problem that can throw off the pond’s balance. Many pond owners want to know how to get rid of algae in their ponds without hurting the fish, so let’s talk about that!
What are Pond Algae?
They are a type of bacteria called Chlorophyta. They are bacteria that look and act like plants, which means they use the sun to make energy. While they are green, that color comes from the large amount of chlorophyll they have. Flatweed and Greenwater are the two main kinds of green algae.
When fish are in greenwater, oxygen bubbles form on their skin from the sun, which hurts them, and blanketweed suffocates and kills them. Even though green algae aren’t as bad in ponds without fish, most people still think they look bad.
What to Know Before Beginning Pond Algae Removal
Before learning how to get rid of algae in a pond, it’s important to know what algae is and what it does:
Types of Algae in Ponds
Green algae, blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), and filamentous algae are some of the types of algae that can grow in ponds. Each type has its own traits and ways of growing. Figuring out what kinds of algae are in your pond is important because it lets you come up with focused and effective ways to get rid of them.
Causes of Algae Overgrowth
Too much sunlight, high levels of nutrients (like nitrogen and phosphorus), high levels of carbon dioxide, and bad water circulation are just a few of the things that can cause algae to grow too quickly. These things make it possible for algae to grow and spread.
Impact of Excessive Algae on Fish and Pond Ecosystem
Some algae growth is normal and good for the environment, but too much algae can be bad for fish and the ecosystem as a whole. It can lower the amount of oxygen in the air, block sunshine, and throw off the balance of nutrients, which can put fish, other aquatic animals, and even people at risk.
Also read: How to Get Rid of Algae Dust in Pool
Pond Algae: 18 Effective Methods to Get Rid of Them
Now, let’s look at some good ways to control and get rid of algae in your pond that won’t hurt the fish:
Manual Removal Techniques
1. Skimming and Netting
Skimming the top of the pond often and using nets to catch floating algae can help cut down on their numbers. For green algae and small spots of filamentous algae, this method works really well.
2. Using a Pond Vacuum
A pond cleaner can get rid of trash, sediment, and algae that are at the bottom of the pond. It is a gentle way that doesn’t bother the fish too much while getting rid of the algae.
3. Installing a Pond Filter System
A well-thought-out pond filter system can help get rid of algae and other harmful things in the water. The process of filtration literally traps algae particles, which makes the water clearer and better for fish.
4. Choosing The Right Filter Media
Choosing the right filter media, like biological and mechanical media, helps make the filtering process work better. These media have a lot of surface area for good bacteria to grow on, which helps break down organic matter, like algae.
5. Beneficial Pond Additives
By adding good bacteria to the pond, you can help break down organic garbage and cut down on extra nutrients that help algae grow. These bacteria keep things in order and make the water better.
6. Natural Enzymatic Treatments
The way enzyme medicines work is by speeding up the breakdown of organic matter, which includes algae. They don’t hurt fish and are an eco-friendly way to get rid of algae.
Fish-Friendly Pond Algae Removal Techniques
Implementing methods that are safe for fish can help with the above methods and help control algae in the long term:
1. Introduction Of Algae-Eating Fish
Koko, goldfish, and grass carp are some of the fish that like to eat algae. Putting these fish into the pond can help stop the growth of algae.
2. Incorporating Aquatic Plants
Adding different types of water plants to the pond makes it harder for algae to get nutrients because they have to compete with them. Water lilies and other submerged plants provide shade and help keep the environment in balance.
3. Implementing Natural Treatments
Natural remedies, like wheat straw, can help stop the growth of algae. Barley straw gives off chemicals that stop algae from growing without hurting fish or other water life.
4. Balancing Sunlight And Shade
Putting floating plants or shade sails in the right place around the pond can help cut down on the amount of direct sunshine that gets in. This helps control the growth of algae by making less light available, which is necessary for their growth.
Monitoring & Maintenance to Control Algae
To get rid of algae and keep the pond healthy, it’s important to do the following regular upkeep and monitoring:
1. Regular Water Testing
Check the water’s pH, oxygen levels, and nitrogen levels on a regular basis. This lets imbalances be found early and steps taken to stop algae growth before they happen.
2. Adjusting Nutrient Levels
If the amounts of nutrients are high, you might want to cut down on fertilization near the pond and try to keep extra nutrients from running off into the water from nearby areas. This helps keep the balance right and stops bacteria from growing too much.
3. Proper Fish Feeding Practices
Don’t feed the fish too much, because food that they don’t eat can raise the nutrition levels in the pond. Feed fish the right amount to keep them from building up too much trash and nutrients.
4. Consistent Maintenance Routines
Do regular maintenance chores like cleaning the filters, removing debris, and making sure the water flows properly. These actions help keep nutrients from building up and make the water healthy for fish.
How To Control Pond Algae Naturally
This piece talks about ways to get rid of string algae, but it is also very useful for controlling any kind of algae in a pond. A healthy pond needs algae, and this guide will show you how to keep your pond balanced naturally.
Too much algae can make your outdoor pond look bad, use up oxygen, and even hurt the fish and plants that live in it. The pond’s water quality may be bad if the water is cloudy, but green water doesn’t always mean it’s bad. Always check the parameters of the water to see how far it has cycled, and then pick the right answer.
What is String Algae And is it Dangerous?
There is a type of algae called string algae that hangs from plants, rocks in streams, or the surface of the water (where it is called blanket algae). Long strands get tangled up and make thick mats that can gain twice as much weight in just 24 hours!
You should not mix up this ugly green mess that sticks to rocks with the good algae that grows on the side of the pond and feels soft, smooth, and jelly-like. String algae may look bad, but it’s not really bad for your fish’s health. However, it can make your pond look bad and make the water cloudy.
Can I Use An Algaecide To Control Pond Algae?
Adding a copper-based algaecide to kill visible algae is the most popular way to get rid of algae. Algicides can be helpful sometimes, but you need to be careful when you use them. Toxic effects on fish, native plants, and wildlife can happen if you use algae too much or kill it off too fast. This is because algae use up oxygen.
A lot of algaecides hurt the “good” bugs that are supposed to keep the pond clean. If you get rid of these, algae will come back faster, which could force the owner of the pond to use chemicals over and over again. It is possible to control what you can see with algaecides, but this doesn’t solve the bigger problem.
Killing the algae can also lead to more and more waste biological matter after it dies. We will have the algae problem again and again because of this. If you use Nualgi Ponds instead of an algaecide, your fish will be happier, more colorful, and more active.
Can I Use a UV Light To Combat String Algae?
String algae can’t be killed by UV light. Since string algae is stuck to different parts of your pond, the UV light can’t get to it. With Nualgi Ponds, you don’t need a UV light, and we don’t suggest that you use one while you’re here.
Should I Use Barley Straw & How Much?
While barley straw is a great renewable material to use, it doesn’t really kill algae; instead, it makes conditions that stop new algae from growing. If you put it in your pond early in the season, it might cause a short algae bloom later on. Do not add too much barley straw to the pond, as it will remove oxygen from the water as it breaks down. This could kill the fish.
The right amount to use is 2 pounds per 1000 gallons of water. 50 grams (about 2 oz.) of straw should be added to every square meter of water surface area in still or small pond water. It could take six to eight weeks for the straw to start making the chemicals that kill algae after being put in water that is less than 50°F. It starts to work in as little as two weeks in water warmer than 70F.
Whatever the case, barley straw works for about six months after it is used. If the straw starts to smell, you should take it out and put a new one in. This means there was not enough water for the amount of straw.
Tips to Combat Pond Algae and Preserve Water Clarity
Here is a list of things you need to do to keep the pond clear of algae and the water that color in the future while still keeping the natural look.
1. Remove Leftover Decomposing Algae
To get rid of algae for good, you need to break down some of that extra organic matter. A lot of ponds have biological matter on the bottom that is 3 to 24 inches deep. As this organic matter breaks down, it gives off extra nutrients. This is especially true if the deeper parts of the pond don’t have enough air.
Dredging or even emptying the pond, cleaning out the bottom, and starting over is a more extreme way to get rid of the extra organic matter. This might work, but it costs a lot of money. Also, the problems can start up again after you clean out the pond if you don’t take steps to control the amount of organic matter that is there.
2. Add Extra Aeration
The best thing you can do to keep algae away in the long term is to give your pond air flow and oxygen. By adding air to the bottom of the pond, the amount of liquid oxygen rises, which makes more aerobic bacteria. They then start to eat the extra organic matter, which lowers the amount of minerals that are released.
3. Add Beneficial Bacteria
Beneficial bacteria break down extra nutrients, sticks, leaves, dead fish, and other organic waste. Not only do they work better with oxygen, but adding oxygen will also make a lot more of them and keep them busy at the bottom of your pond, where you need them the most.
4. Scoop And Remove Algae With A Rake/Eradicator
Another popular way to get rid of algae is to scrape it off by hand with a rake or weed killer. Not everyone can use these choices, and they may take a lot of time and work to work.
Conclusion
A mix of non-harmful algae removal methods and fish-friendly methods can help you get rid of algae in your pond without hurting the fish. It is possible to successfully control algae growth by using methods for manual removal, mechanical filtration, beneficial pond additives, and adding fish and plants that eat algae.
Keep an eye on the water quality, change the levels of nutrients, feed the fish the right way, and do regular upkeep.
FAQs
How Do I Get Rid Of Algae In My Pond Without Killing The Fish?
You can use the above-mentioned plant method, the simple barley straw method, or the human method.
Should I Remove Algae From My Pond?
Getting rid of green algae is important if you want your pond to look good, be good for the environment, and keep your fish happy.
How Do You Get Rid Of Green Algae?
You can do one of the above safe and natural things. The plant method is the best choice. To make it safer, put lilies and lotuses on top, oxygenating plants below the water, and greens all around the edges.
Does Vinegar Kill Algae In Ponds?
In an empty pond, vinegar does kill algae when used as a pond cleaner, but it shouldn’t be used if there are plants, fish, bacteria, or any other aquatic life present.