How to keep string algae away

[CountryEscape]

Ladies, I guess we keep the yellow finches here in IL all winter long, so I'll let them know to head east so you can enjoy them. They are the most colorful birds at feeders during the winter here, right in front of the cardinals and blue jays. Of course, I don't get any at my house (well, maybe a few) since I don't have a good stand of trees nearby for them to fly to, only the 5 or so large trees in my yard and that must not be sufficient. So, I have to be happy with the silly little sparrows. How sad is that?! LOL
I'm definitely going to get everything up and running this weekend, no matter what the temps are. First on the list will be to pull the filter container out so I can get the ball valve to open and shut easily. Then going to goop up the rocks on the waterfall so the water goes over the end of the first flat rock, as then it should fall properly over the rest of the rocks. Then get the pump pulled, cleaned off (if necessary) and placed in summertime spot, and hook up all the tubing. I suspect that goop will need some drying time, so that will depend if I get to turn on the water on Sat. or have to wait until Sunday. Either way, the pond WILL be up and running this weekend, one way or another. Can't wait!!!

 

[sissy]

I was out by the pond yesterday and little frog jumped on my leg .Is 55 already this morning but looks like rain and feels like rain is coming and supposed to be near 70 again today and then saturday only 50 degrees .So need to get the cart and lawnmower out to do yard work again .Remember some algae gives your tadpoles something to eat .They need lots of it to grow feet

 

[addy1]

The yellow finches leave for the winter, then we have a ton of them over the summer. During the winter we have tons of cardinals, junkos, wood peckers, flickers

 

[j.w]

Ok sissy I will be sure to leave some algae for the taddies if I get some cuz frogs w/o feet is a not a good thing!

 

[mrsclem]

BTW- I had tested my pond before putting the kitty litter bag in the filter & ph was 7.2. When I pulled it ph was 8.4. The other pond stayed at 7.2.

 

[j.w]

Here's a guy who is a chemist and this is his post about using kitty litter in his aquarium:

Fluorite, laterite, peat, pumice, KITTY LITTER, now there's a
substrate I can comment on. First off, Dan Q. if you're reading this,
I hope you get well soon. I set up my tank JUST like Dan suggested in
his website: litter, Osmocote pellets, sand, and water.

Since chemistry is my life, I decided to investigate different
litters. After testing pH's, I narrowed it down to STP Oil-dri and
Special Kitty litter (Wal-Mart brand in red bag - dirt cheap;-)).
Cheap is good, so I went with Special Kitty. The pH of 1 tsp/cup
water, swirled, allowed to settle was 6.5. The same water was
analyzed on my ICP at work. It actually absorbed some Ca, Na, and K
from the water (I ran a blank of tap water for bkg.) It also leached
a little Fe and Al from the litter (0.05ppm). As I can remember, a
small amount of micro nutrients also leached out, but after seeing
the data, I realized that PMDD was a sure needed for good growth.

I cleaned the tank and dumped it in dry. (Dangerous feline invader
alert) I mixed in the Osmocote and added an inch of play sand.
TA-DA...

After carefully adding the water and planting, I was ready to see
what happened. That's been 7 months ago. At least twice a month, I
uproot stem plants and replant, and I've moved Apon., crypts, and a
big sword without too much damage. I also added DIY CO2 about a month
into it, I'm not a patient man. She's growing like mad now!

The litter has been doing pretty good. Sometimes a little poof of
litter comes up when I'm playing in there, but it settles right out
and it's not noticable on the sand. It still keeps it's litter shape
when wet, but will gradually break down to silt when the corys give
it a good once-over. My pH is stable and my nutrient levels are good,
so I have no complaints. I was wanting to try some Fluroite, but I'll
have to convince the wife that 4 large aquariums are an asset, not a
hinderance or money-pit.

I was embarrassed to ask for aquarium substrate for Valentines Day.


____________________________________________________________
Jamie Johnson
Chemist-Trace Metals
Davis & Floyd, Inc.
jjohnson at davisfloyd_com
(864)229-4413 work
(864)229-7119

"Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground"
-Theodore Roosevelt

 

[j.w]

Maybe try what he did and put some in a cup of water and test it for ph. I have never done this so would be interested to see what happens.

 

[mrsclem]

I had used the kitty litter before for my plants and never had a problem so maybe something else caused the ph change but not sure what it could be.

 

[addy1]

My plants grow great in the kitty litter, my ph is low out of the well , like 5.6 low, the pond stayed around 7 all summer.

 

[SE18]

I got string algae last year. I don't keep fish and it doesn't seem to hurt anything. When it gets too thick, a stick twirls around it and out it comes. Takes about 5 minutes of work to do, maybe twice a year. I'm guessing that it grows because of the tap water I use that comes through the float when the water level gets too low. Anyway, a bit of string algae IMO looks pretty cool, as long as it's not clogging everything up. Just my take on this. Let me know if there's something I need to be concerned about though.

 

[sissy]

I wonder if there is a keep string algae dance to keep it away .If there is we may need to learn it .Almost 65 here and it is only 11:30

 

[koiguy1969]

string alge isnt a threat...just an eyesore for the most part. fish will eat it play in it , hide in it, and spawn in it. the biggest threat is to your pump(s) clogging them up. fry especially love it, as they can more freely manuver thru it due to their smaller size. i float globs of string alge in my fry tub(s) and in it and directly under it is where the fry will congregate.

 

[j.w]

I think I'll leave it in my one big plant ring then if no harm from it. If I throw some plants in there w/ it will it create a problem for them?

 

[addy1]

For the plants or the string algae? jw lol, it won't hurt the plants.

 

[j.w]

Ok addy, funny, funny and I thought it might reach out and strangle the plants but guess it's ok.