Hi from Montana!

[addy1]

Addy I use kitty litter in my water Lillies and it didn't help at all last year to get rid of the string algae. I also through handfuls into the pond and it didn't work either.

Well darn, it was a guess, I don't have carpet algae, green water or string algae in the big pond. It stays crystal clear all of the time. No chemicals, only my bog for filtration.

 

[CountryEscape]

MT, if you have string algae near the top on the sides of your pond, or on your waterfall, lower the pond or shut off the waterfall and do like Sissy does. She takes peroxide and I think she dilutes it with water, then sprays it on the algae after you lower the water. Let it dry in the sun, and it will die. Then use a brush and scrub it off as best you can, raise your water or turn on the waterfall, and it will be gone. I did a drastic thing last year, string algae was really bad, growing 6-8" a day on the sides west side of my pond. I poured full strength peroxide over the algae on the edge. I didn't just dump it, but splashed it a little at a time along the edge. It DID get rid of the algae, but I would never do it again, as it also made my water brown and murky for about a month. At least that's what I blame for the brown water. The water changed colors about a week later, but I later thought back and figured it was the peroxide. I didn't lose any plants or lilies, they were all fine, but I'm sure slower to grow because of the peroxide. This year, if I get it, I'm going to lower the water and spray it on the algae, as it seems to grow on the top few inches of water anyhow.

 

[callingcolleen1]

Sometimes just increasing the pond flow and filtration is enough to clear up the smear algae nice! Today was beautiful here in Canada, fish were swimming all around and I cleaned out the filters and hooked up additional pump flow. Fish were enjoying the spring sun and I soaked up lots too working in the yard.

 

[mtpond]

I'm going to give the kitty litter another try and if it doesnt work I'll probably try the peroxide. I've been thinking that maybe I'll do a bog but haven't completely convinced myself thats the way I should go. I added a lot of plants to the pond last summer so after I get them in the pond and they start growing I'm hoping that will help. Last summer I even got one of the iris's that Colleen has that she says keeps her ponds algae under control. I left it in the pond over the winter so hoping it starts taking off soon This summer I'm planning on doing some improvements to the pond, like adding a shelf toward the top on two more sides of the pond so I can get rid of more rocks in the pond. I wish I had found this forum when I was building my pond I would of did my pond a lot different.

 

[Big Lou]

Put the first dose of algeside yesterday. Another dose tomorrow. Once the trees get leaves algae goes away. I use a commerical pond soil for our potted underwater plants. Last year our lily pad plant was stymied by a over whelming surface plant colony. Yesterday I saw four young pads on the surface. ( happy lily pad smile )

 

[callingcolleen1]

Mypond, your yellow flag will get bigger this year and eventually you should have a really big clump in three to four years. They do grow fast and you should see some green shoots soon, if not already. My Yellow flag is growing nicely now, and has three or four inches of green now. I kept the water running at reduced flow all winter, and yesterday I got the extra pumps and filters going to simulate a natural increased spring runoff flow. The natural increased flow of water will really stimulate the plants to grow well and help clear the pond of string and smear algae as well as clear up last years sludge and push it down into the marshes and filters. Now is the time to have lots of water movement and bubble action breaking the waters surface.

 

[koiguy1969]

WELCOME ABOARD!

 

[CountryEscape]

MT, I found this forum before I built my first pond, and still I wish I had done things differently. I think I hurried too much, and didn't pay close enough attention to the details on the edges. That's what I would like to have done differently, so that the edges are not showing any liner, but in the end, the plants cover the edges, so it's really not a big deal. I'm fine with it ... other things I've changed and will continue to change until I get it right! That's part of the fun, I think.

 

[callingcolleen1]

I think we all hurried too much in the beginning cause we just could not wait, and everybody always says they would do this and that different, but after 21 years of ponds, I have changed them many times, and still never satisfied!

 

[sissy]

always changing this and that

 

[j.w]

I would do things wayyyyyyyyyyyy different if I had it all to do over again!

 

[mtpond]

I agree with you JW but your pond looks beautiful, what would you change?

 

[j.w]

I'd leave much more room around mine to plant more plants. I'd have a bog. Bigger pond of course! Leave more liner folded under for extra. Have a walk in area.......would have to protect that part so animals couldn't just go in. I'd stick w/ the goldfish type of fish but lean more towards the Shubunkin and OJ/white spotted and pure white ones w/ long tails. Oh and I'd have a nice long steam w/ a broader more extensive waterfall and lots more rocks. A nice patio area to sit and enjoy right up close would be good. I could go on and on forever. Might like to have a pergola over the pond (helps to hide pond from flying birds scoping out the place) something like this one:

 

[sissy]

I love the trellis over that one but i would add a swing to the mix .Nice hanging swing .

 

[j.w]

Then you could swing right into the pond..........and there ya go again w/ the wet thing sissy .........I'll sit on the sidelines and watch in my hammock while Haro squirts ya w/ a hose, jump sissy,jump.......watch out don't land on the fountain head or you shall sit and spin :razz: