Blanket weed / high PH

[richyd]

I took a sample of water to my local aquatic guy today for him to test with his API test kit.
He said everything was fine apart from my PH being 8.8. After a brief discussion we started talking about blanket weed and the affects of it in a pond. Recently my neighbour has had some trees cut down and now I get full sun on my pond, and the blanket weed is thriving.

My question is what is the most effective way of getting rid of this stuff. Last year I tried the barley straw method in a mesh bag, but this did not work at all. I'm looking for a quick effective fix. Please help
Many thanks

 

[richyd]

I've gone and ordered some of this.
http://www.swelluk.com/pond/algae-c...l-1654/nishikoi-goodbye-blanket-weed-948.html

Has anyone used this before?

 

[HARO]

If the barley straw in a mesh bag did not work at all; what makes you think the barley straw in the pail will work? :dunno:
John

 

[richyd]

If the barley straw in a mesh bag did not work at all; what makes you think the barley straw in the pail will work? :dunno:
John

I've read some excellent reviews about this on a few sites. It takes a while to work but gets rid of blanket weed completely . Only problem is, this can be an expensive habit. Some of the reviews stated that whilst being very effective, you have to keep using the stuff or the blanket weed will simply come back.
tbh i'm a newbie with ponds, i wish there was a more effective method. I spent almost 4 hours this evening fishing the stuff off my liner. Would say I probably cleared less than 5% of it. And it will only grown again tomorrow when the sun hits it. pointless 4 hours really :banghead3:

 

[Waterbug]

Last year I tried the barley straw method in a mesh bag, but this did not work at all.

So you....

I've gone and ordered some of this.
http://www.swelluk.com/pond/algae-c...l-1654/nishikoi-goodbye-blanket-weed-948.html

...bought more barley straw? Yeah, it should work this time. The world needs more optimists.

In the past couple of days I've been researching forum bots and experimenting with them. They've been around a long time and are widely used, including by the forum owners. They do indeed seem human and people do interact with them. At least, I assume the interaction is human. Could be other bots.

This thread would be typical bot behavior. Poster's location is generic UK rather than a city. Starting a thread is the easiest and oldest method. But placing a link to a product to buy in that first post is now obvious. Posting a response to it's own post and placing the link there is one step up.

The third post responding to John would be difficult, but maybe not that hard. Posts about barley have been around for a long time, all basically the same, lots of data to use to determine responses.

So richyd, I gotta ask...are you a bot?

My bot had flagged your first post for a response and wanted to post with a link to a product but I stopped it. I'm just experimenting so I'm not letting it to commit posts without my review. I got suspicious that maybe this was a tactic to detect bots.

I'm finding this all very fascinating. I think the web may be changing human behavior more in such a short period than at any another time in human history. It's like living Sci-Fi.

It begs the question of whether bots are good or evil. They certainly used to be evil. But they evolved to act so much like humans that humans can't seem to tell the difference. Is that bad? If a bot posts a question and I write an answer what's the harm? I enjoyed writing the answer. It's just as entertaining for me. Blue pill or red pill?

Yeah, barley is a complete scam. But I don't think that's really the point. Barley is a blue pill and what's wrong with that? If it makes someone happy even if only for the short term. And there's a good chance that the algae would die anyways in the 6-8 weeks these products claim to need to work, so the owner has every chance of "being right".

 

[capewind]

Barley is a blue pill and what's wrong with that? If it makes someone happy even if only for the short term. And there's a good chance that the algae would die anyways in the 6-8 weeks these products claim to need to work, so the owner has every chance of "being right".

I am no algae expert ... have been personally pissed off about algae for close to a month now ... at least 3 different varieties ...

1. gross slimy stuff on rocks of my small/low flow waterfall ...
2. Short hairy looking algae on the liner that flows back and forth with the current that looks like wind blowing grass ...
3. Fluffy hairy like algae on the stems of the lilies .. if I try to wipe it off, it just floats away (fine by me, the filter than grabs it) ...
4. A tiny (as in 3") strip of long string like algae hanging off the filter's weir ..

No barely, chemicals, salt, or anything else added to the pond (I do add dechlor when adding water for evaporation, and did add baking soda to kick the KH to 100 since it had been low) ... no UV running, simply because I havent gotten around to a new bulb yet.

I over feed my fish (they beg and know I am a sucker) ... dont have a lot of plants yet ... I do have a basket running with pillow stuffing, but it hasnt been cleaned in over a week, and the algae is just going back to the pond ... AND THE ALGAE IS GOING AWAY ... In the last few days, doing nothing, about 75% is gone. Just a tiny bit on the lily stems, and the low flow waterfall is green ... solution to the waterfall issue is to simply shut it off for a few hours, and it dries out and turns to powder... turn waterfall back on, and the water flow washes it off ... Another week or so, and it should be completely GONE. No way, no how, would I waste my money on barely or any chemical to get rid of algae. I dont have the answers, but my OPINION is if algae is taking over, SOMETHING in the ponds environment isnt right. Sun is easy to blame but, since our pond gets full South/Southwest sun all day long, I dont buy the sun being the major factor as many think...

 

[richyd]

So you....
...bought more barley straw? Yeah, it should work this time. The world needs more optimists.

In the past couple of days I've been researching forum bots and experimenting with them. They've been around a long time and are widely used, including by the forum owners. They do indeed seem human and people do interact with them. At least, I assume the interaction is human. Could be other bots.

This thread would be typical bot behavior. Poster's location is generic UK rather than a city. Starting a thread is the easiest and oldest method. But placing a link to a product to buy in that first post is now obvious. Posting a response to it's own post and placing the link there is one step up.

The third post responding to John would be difficult, but maybe not that hard. Posts about barley have been around for a long time, all basically the same, lots of data to use to determine responses.

So richyd, I gotta ask...are you a bot?

My bot had flagged your first post for a response and wanted to post with a link to a product but I stopped it. I'm just experimenting so I'm not letting it to commit posts without my review. I got suspicious that maybe this was a tactic to detect bots.

I'm finding this all very fascinating. I think the web may be changing human behavior more in such a short period than at any another time in human history. It's like living Sci-Fi.

It begs the question of whether bots are good or evil. They certainly used to be evil. But they evolved to act so much like humans that humans can't seem to tell the difference. Is that bad? If a bot posts a question and I write an answer what's the harm? I enjoyed writing the answer. It's just as entertaining for me. Blue pill or red pill?

Yeah, barley is a complete scam. But I don't think that's really the point. Barley is a blue pill and what's wrong with that? If it makes someone happy even if only for the short term. And there's a good chance that the algae would die anyways in the 6-8 weeks these products claim to need to work, so the owner has every chance of "being right".

Totally uncalled for waterbug. I'm from Birmingham, United Kingdom and I've stated probably more than 10 times on this forum that I am a newbie to ponds. Please see previous posts.
I'm having problems with my pond and thought you guys might be able to advise me on a few things.
I'll go elsewhere from now on. I'd rather get helpful advice instead of being insulted .

 

[Waterbug]

Algae taking over a pond means the pond is in excellent shape. To get a pond to be unable to grow algae means it must be polluted with heavy metals (copper) or drive some element to such an extreme that algae can't grow. That would not be good imo.

Humans do this weird thing where if they don't like something they attach every evil connotation they can. It's not personal, the algae is just doing its thing.

Aquarists grow algae in special filters to keep their aquarium clean. They pay a lot in electric to provide enough light for the privilege. But because algae grows more easily in a pond it's suddenly a terrible thing. Strange world we live in.

My guest is that if all algae could be removed from most peoples' ponds that the fish would die shortly there after. The only thing keeping people's fish alive in many cases is the algae. Because the algae knows a whole lot more about keeping a pond healthy than most people will ever know.

Enjoy our friend the algae. Weed it like you weed a garden when it gets too much for your taste. But don't hate it.

 

[Waterbug]

Totally uncalled for waterbug. I'm from Birmingham, United Kingdom and I've stated probably more than 10 times on this forum that I am a newbie to ponds. Please see previous posts.
I'm having problems with my pond and thought you guys might be able to advise me on a few things.
I'll go elsewhere from now on. I'd rather get helpful advice instead of being insulted .

Sorry. But you're the one who said barley didn't work and then bought more. Wasn't really meant to be an insult, just pointing out the obvious.

Or maybe it was the bot thing? Didn't say you were a bot...just seemed like a bot. I now think many posts are bots.

 

[richyd]

Sorry. But you're the one who said barley didn't work and then bought more. Wasn't really meant to be an insult, just pointing out the obvious.

Or maybe it was the bot thing? Didn't say you were a bot...just seemed like a bot. I now think many posts are bots.

I'm not a bot, waterbug, just want my pond as good as can be. Appreciate your post before this. Going to bed . Peace

 

[Waterbug]

No problem.

Consider using the ignore feature in your profile settings so you don't ever have to see any of my posts ever again. With that you can limit responses to only the kind of things you want to hear. Works great and you never have your feelings hurt. No need to go elsewhere. Besides, I could be in the next forum too.

There are definitely lots of people (or bots) ready to tell you barley works great. Just ignore the rest and life will seem good.

 

[HARO]

Waterbug; FWIW, I am NOT a bot! Just wanted to get that out of the way!! :bye2:
John

 

[capewind]

Algae taking over a pond means the pond is in excellent shape.

Algae taking over a pond is NOT a sign of being in excellent shape, but an ABUNDANCE of nutrients ... The algae is simply natures way of trying to restore balance. Algae IS a friend, but sometimes too much of a good thing is a problem.

 

[Waterbug]

Waterbug; FWIW, I am NOT a bot! Just wanted to get that out of the way!! :bye2:
John

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT A BOT WOULD SAY! Noooooo. They're everywhere and they're all after me.

Algae taking over a pond is NOT a sign of being in excellent shape, but an ABUNDANCE of nutrients ...

Really? Algae will only grow if there is an ABUNDANCE of nutrients? You sure about that? At what level would algae need to grow? 10 ppm nitrate? 20?

Because both macroalgae (string, slime, etc) and microalgae (green water) will grow like gangbusters in a pond with 0 ammonia and 0 nitrate. As a matter of fact these plants are grown specifically to lower ammonia and nitrate to zero levels.

Impossible the mob cries! Of course plants need nutrients!

Well, there is a difference between measured nutrient levels and produced nutrient levels. With the fish, food, decomposing stuff a pond is continuously producing nutrients, a never ending supply. Algae can consume those nutrients so they never accumulate in the water where they could be measured.

The algae is simply natures way of trying to restore balance.

My favorite concept of all time.

What exactly is this balance nature is trying to restore? Clear water? Green water? An aesthetically pleasing to human covering of perfect length fuzzy green algae covering an ugly liner? No ammonia? No nitrates? 10 ppm nitrate level? Because that concept seems like a completely made up thing that sounds really cool but has no meaning at all. At least to me.

But I never dropped acid. I mean not counting pH buffer.

 

[capewind]

Really? Algae will only grow if there is an ABUNDANCE of nutrients? You sure about that? At what level would algae need to grow? 10 ppm nitrate? 20?

LOL ... I did not use the word only But my OPINION is if algae is going to town, SOMETHING is feeding it.

I dont care if algae has one cell or many, I see it as a plant. One I dont want a LOT of, but still just a plant. I can put a self rooting plant into a glass of plain water, and it will grow, but if I FEED that plant, it grows faster.

About a week ago, I collected a three naked stems of water cress that the fish tore off and were floating around the pond .. I brought them inside and put them into a bowl of water in a sunny window (happens to be above the pond). Within a couple of days, they had new leaves poking up, just in the bowl of plain water. I took one small stem, and cut it into 2" pieces and planted them in Miracle Grow potting mix, burying the small eye of leaves started. Both the naked stems still in the bowl of water, and those I planted are growing ...

The ones in the bowl ... shoots now from 1/4" to a max of 3" ... The ones I potted ... shoots now from 3" to TEN INCHES ... THE SAME STEMS ... the only reason those in the bowl are not planted is because I havent gotten to them yet. You tell me ... do you SEE a difference?