Something I see a lot

[Thomas Gannon]

A large misconception that I have to address a lot is that algaecide doesn't get rid of algae. It merely kills the algae and leaves a black sludge at the bottom. For that I tell a customer to use a three day treatment of sludgeaway. I just had to say that because I have to answer this question on a daily basis.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

A large misconception that I have to address a lot is that algaecide doesn't get rid of algae. It merely kills the algae and leaves a black sludge at the bottom. For that I tell a customer to use a three day treatment of sludgeaway. I just had to say that because I have to answer this question on a daily basis.

And the 'sludge-buster' leaves the nutrients in the water column to feed the next algae bloom. A double monetary expenditure to get back to where it began....overfeeding of the fish without enough aquatic plantings to take up the resulting nutrient load.

 

[Thomas Gannon]

And the 'sludge-buster' leaves the nutrients in the water column to feed the next algae bloom. A double monetary expenditure to get back to where it began....overfeeding of the fish without enough aquatic plantings to take up the resulting nutrient load.

Its all one big mess.

 

[Marshall]

A large misconception that I have to address a lot is that algaecide doesn't get rid of algae. It merely kills the algae and leaves a black sludge at the bottom. For that I tell a customer to use a three day treatment of sludgeaway. I just had to say that because I have to answer this question on a daily basis.

My experience has taught me that another way to keep algae in check is to add floating plants to create shade plus a uv-sterilizer which will eliminate algae. I have been using a UV-sterilizer for a couple years now and have yet to see a significant algae bloom. My small pond on the other hand does not have a uv sterilizer and it has had several algae problems.

 

[Thomas Gannon]

My experience has taught me that another way to keep algae in check is to add floating plants to create shade plus a uv-sterilizer which will eliminate algae. I have been using a UV-sterilizer for a couple years now and have yet to see a significant algae bloom. My small pond on the other hand does not have a uv sterilizer and it has had several algae problems.

I would like to reccomend that but the ones we sell are not cheap and people shy away from that option.

 

[Marshall]

I would like to reccomend that but the ones we sell are not cheap and people shy away from that option.

Mine was about 100 bucks and that is just the uv unit as I already had an extra pump so definitely not cheap but I think in the long run it is worth it.

 

[Thomas Gannon]

@Marshall customers like to think short term.

 

[Dave 54]

This is when it pays dividends to have a 4" bottomdrain once the sludge has passed through into my first filter it is drained straight to drain, as are my other two 32" filters and the barrel filter that is full to the brim with K1 Aqua pond bio balIs and bio chips bio chips.
The mean time I trickle through my Dechrination filter at a very slow rate the chlorine being taken out before it even entres the system see link:-

http://www.vyair.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=67


Dave

 

[Meyer Jordan]

UV's do clear planktonic algae, but, sadly, the nutrients STILL remain in the pond as with algaecides.

 

[bettasngoldfish]

I have a small pond without a UV and I don't have any trouble with algae. I don't need to use chemicals to keep it clear of algae either, just lot's of live plants.

 

[cas]

lot's of live plants

Yep - and aeration!

 

[Thomas Gannon]

@bettasngoldfish @cas
The plants consume nitrogen in the water and a large amount of nitrogen I'm the water can cause algae blooms.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

With the proper ratio of Aquatic plants to fish, Nitrate levels will never rise high enough to support an algae bloom.

 

[bettasngoldfish]

I only had algae one time and that was the very first summer I had the pond. It was a small preform with goldfish and just a few lilies. I did a few water changes and added more live plants and it clear up after a few weeks or so. Have not had a problem since then. My pond is also in a shaded area of the back yard so it doesn't get full sun all day long. Maybe that helps?

 

[Thomas Gannon]

@bettasngoldfish
There are many causes of algae such as high nitrogen or phosphorus, a lot of direct sunlight, and stagnant water. This is to just name a few. Also sometimes people will try to get rid of algae on rocks by scrubbing them this can actually cause some forms of algae to release spores. Also koi will eat some forms of algae such as string algae