My new pond is starting to turn green

[koidaddy]

DO NOT USE CHEMICALS! They will also kill the bacteria you need. UV lights are ok but are pricey. Cover it during the peak day hours.

 

[happyfishgirls]

Another great product you might want to try is called Microbe Lift. They have a spring and winter application. What it is is beneficial bacteria in a liquid form. You put it in your pond in the spring (about now) and it gives your pond a boost instead of waiting till everything balances out. Note: do not use if you have a UV sterlizer in your pond.
I have used it and I do like it.

 

[koiguy1969]

you can still use bacterial additives with a u.v unit you just turn it off for a day ...good bacteria colonizes hard surfaces it doesnt free float. within hours most will have found an area to call home.

 

[koidaddy]

The chemicals I was refering to are the alge killers. I used clean green once and it didn't help long term. Actually it didn't help at all. It did kill alge but never for good and my water never cleared up. Microb lift is good stuff but I haven't used it since my first build.

Just wanted to clarify my statement from earlier when I said NO CHEMICALS.

 

[undrtkr_00]

Can somebody explain to me the theory behind how increasing bacteria life will reduce the amount of algae in your pond? Having kept saltwater aquariums for a few years, I know a fair amount about the nitrogen cycle, nutrient loading, and bacterial functions in water, and the idea that simply boosting bacteria loading in the pond will reduce the amount of algae does not make a lot of sense to me.

 

[koidaddy]

If the bacteria feeds on it there is less for the alge to feed on?

Also in an aqurium most alge blooms are caused by a light source.

 

[DrDave]

Your bio filter, once it is functional, will consume a lot of the nutrients the algae needs to survive.

 

[undrtkr_00]

Consume how? If the bacteria are eating it, then dying, the nutrients are still in the system. I know you can export nitrates by bacteria turning it into nitrogen gas (which bubbles away) but what about phosphates and other nutrients? I understand plant growth, which then gets removed from the system (esp. duckweed, hyacinth, water lettuce, etc), but don't see how bacteria does anything but break nutrients down from solids in to dissolved organics, etc.

I'm not saying it's not true, I just don't understand the claim, and I am looking for someone who does to explain it to me.

 

[coolwind2003a]

So are you all speaking of green clean as i was looking into using it on my pond as i have developed a bad case of string alge Is it not wise to use it ?? Will it kill out all my bio in my filters ?
Thanks Greg