I believe that draining the pond or doing a large or repeated "major" water change is going to do nothing more than prolong the time that the pond will take to reach its equilibrium. There are things going on here that
require time and if you interfere too much or too often with it, these processes may need to restart from scratch.
If you were to do anything "rash" because you cannot wait for it to clear up sooner, I would suggest that you investigate the biological and chemical properties of the water which are generating the green water algae.
This way, you have scientific evidence and proof as to what is truly causing it and you may then address these underlying causes in the most expedient and proper manners.
The UVC is doing nothing more, in my opinion, then treating a symptom. However, UVC it is probably the least expensive and least disruptive and most effective method to clear the water by killing off the Volvox and
buying time for you until the pond chemistry and lifeforms reach their balance.
As in human biological sickness and infections, taking antibiotics to kill off the invaders of the host is NOT truly correcting the condition, it is only alleviating the threat of the invasion long enough so that the natural
immune system can get up to speed in combatting the invaders itself. If you prescribe too much antibiotic, then the immune system doesn't develop properly or to its full potential or at all. Personally, I do not take
ANY antibiotics and I do not treat ANY of the symptoms when I get a biological infection unless it goes so far that there is an obvious threat to the body that it cannot recover from or is causing undue stress on parts
of the body. I want my immune system to be at its full potential, but through a natural process so that I know that it is working.
The above comments may initially seem so off base and unrelated to pond chemistry, but just stop and think about it for a few moments.
Everything in nature exists and thrives or dies based upon a very delicate balance of this or that.
From the lowliess bacteria to the human body to a pond, a river or the ocean, the health of an entire ecosystem or a bio-entity is based upon the balance of so many little things!
Unless you know completely what every "little thing" is supposed to be, then how well do you think you can treat or repair or manage that system?
What I am stating here isn't advice of what to do or what not to do. It is meant to be a way of viewing the situation from a specific reference point or angle.
There are so many variables here that if you attack one that depends upon another, you might affect a whole slew of others!
In attempting to elliminate the green water algae from a new pond, you might, in fact, be interrupting the natural cycle of the creation of the pond and stalling it.
Maybe it is SUPPOSED to happen as part of the life cycle of the pond? You wouldn't want pterodons and T-Rex's around your pond, but at one point in the life
of this planet, they were obviously necessary for the process of life here. Doggone, I wish THEY would go away! Those doggone T-Rex's keep eating my bridge
club members! And those Cro-magnon guys don't know how to play the game! .........
OK, that's just silly for the fun of it.
Catfishnut
