Need help identifying algae! Please!

[cody]

I have always used water from the hose instead of the big pond. Why do you say i should use water from another source? Thanks

 

[cody]

I have always used water from the hose instead of the big pond. Why do you say i should use water from another source? Thanks

To clarify, i have never refilled the little pond from the large ponds water

 

[Meyer Jordan]

To clarify, i have never refilled the little pond from the large ponds water

Sorry, I misinterpreted what you said about using the big pond's water.
You are still using an ionizer on the big pond. correct? This is what I am trying to bypass. any use of ionizer treated water in this small pond. That, as @MitchM implied is the source of this last microbial growth issue.

 

[cody]

Sorry, I misinterpreted what you said about using the big pond's water.
You are still using an ionizer on the big pond. correct? This is what I am trying to bypass. any use of ionizer treated water in this small pond. That, as @MitchM implied is the source of this last microbial growth issue.

I see now. I will use the hose after removing the ionizer. Thanks again

 

[cody]

I see now. I will use the hose after removing the ionizer. Thanks again

On a different note, I had a few questions about adding pond bacteria in a bottle to a water feature:
1. Does this stuff even do anything or is it a gimmick?
2. Any specific brands/types you would recommend?
3. I have read that this stuff helps the health of nitrifying bacteria, is that nonsense?

I bought 1 gallon of pond bacteria by Pond Worx and added it in the spring but I did not notice
any difference in the feature.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

On a different note, I had a few questions about adding pond bacteria in a bottle to a water feature:
1. Does this stuff even do anything or is it a gimmick?
2. Any specific brands/types you would recommend?
3. I have read that this stuff helps the health of nitrifying bacteria, is that nonsense?

I bought 1 gallon of pond bacteria by Pond Worx and added it in the spring but I did not notice
any difference in the feature.

First off, let me state that many of these products are minrepresented and overrated by their manufacturers.
As to this instance, does this Water Feature have fish? If not, bacterial treatments will accomplish nothing.
Did you, by chance, add this item to the pond under discussion earlier in this thread?

 

[cody]

No I did not use it in my small pond, I only used it in my large water feature that has around 80 fish. So if a pond has fish, this product can be beneficial due to the fact that it may help the nitrifying bacteria process the waste in a more efficient manner?

 

[Meyer Jordan]

So if a pond has fish, this product can be beneficial due to the fact that it may help the nitrifying bacteria process the waste in a more efficient manner?

Well no!
Nitrifying bacteria are just that Nitrogen oxidizers.
For the reduction of solid waste, heterotrophic bacteria and fungi are the turn-to guys.
Any established pond will already have all of these bacteria and fungi that the pond will support. Adding additional bacteria is a waste of time and money.
What the manufacturers of these products don't tell you is that included in this bottle of bacteria is also enough food (Carbon) to get them going. When the food supply is gone so are they..

 

[cody]

Roger that. So to recap this topic, it is a waste of money to add "pond bacteria" for a well established healthy pond?

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Roger that. So to recap this topic, it is a waste of money to add "pond bacteria" for a well established healthy pond?

For the level of results that you may or may not realize, YES!

 

[MitchM]

... This would happen each time after an empty/scrub/refill cycle.

How often do you do this empty/scrub/refill process, and is this also something you do to your big pond?

 

[cody]

I have never done it to my big pond in 3 years. I was only doing it to my small pond once the algae was out of control bad which was usually once a month. I just filled it (hose) and turned everything back on without the ionizer, ill keep ya posted.

 

[MitchM]

Algae shouldn't be an out of control problem within a month of setting up a pond with plants and no fish.
I would suggest weekly tests of ammonia, nitrate and phosphate so we can possibly find the problem.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Algae shouldn't be an out of control problem within a month of setting up a pond with plants and no fish.
I would suggest weekly tests of ammonia, nitrate and phosphate so we can possibly find the problem.

Perhaps test the source water first.

 

[MitchM]

Perhaps test the source water first.

Yes.
It would also be helpful to know the present plant population and whether they are plants in a fertilized potted substrate.