Something I see a lot

[Meyer Jordan]

There are many factors that influence planktonic algae growth; temperature, sunlight, competition from aquatic plants, etc., but as stated by Penn State Extension "If you fail to address the underlying nutrient causes of planktonic algae growth, you will probably encounter a perpetual need to control algae blooms in the summer."
In an otherwise ideal growth environment, planktonic algae will not proliferate without a supporting level of nutrients (Nitrate and Phosphorus). Controlling the nutrient load of a pond is the only lasting method of limiting planktonic algae growth, all others are only 'band-aid' fixes. The keyword here is limiting. A certain level of planktonic algae is necessary and normal. It provides a food source for zooplankton which feed on it. The zooplankton, in turn, provide a food source for the higher organisms including fish.

 

[Dave 54]

@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

Thomas I've seen many fish ponds with string algae problems but in all our years of keeping koi [29 in all] "never" have I seen them eating it, this is why its such a problem.....
You are indeed correct that scrubbing or the ripping out of this form of algae releases spores causing even more of a problem..so its advisable not too....
So many of the koi keepers I know including ourselves when we've had the odd bloom turn to Cloverleaf a purely natural treatment that is made up of unique blend of various enzymes and minerals .
As such the onus has to be on us koi/goldfish keeper to maintain a pond and its water perameters...
Sometimes all that is needed is a tinkering of their feeding habits other times waterchanges are required .
I have a pond that is in direct sunlight that I keep well maintained and has little in the way of algael problems..
I wonder however if you are aware of the exheedingly high levels of both Nitrates and phospherous that can suddenly appear in your pond out of the blue, that is not you the koi/goldfish keepers fault in anyway?
It is caused by the unaviodable it comes in the form of wash off into your pond via the garden but more so by what is the fertilization/muck spreadng as we fondly call it in the UK of farmland .
This then gets into the water table is washed into springs and rivers , which in turn drain into the cities reservours.
You then get is these levels being deposited into our drinking water and thus into our ponds which plays havok with the pondsNitrate/pospherous levels.
We see this late spring here in our neck of the woods [Plymouth Devon] but there can be another peak in the late summer early Autumn....
For those unaware i;e the novice koi/goldfish keeper it can be a frightening and frustrating time fo them most of us tend to forgo water changes for the month when levels are detected .
This is when we start going as so far as to test our tap water prior to it going into the pond......
Where you aware that string algae can kill.... why .... because it and Stergeon do not mix?
Sturgeon are prehistoric as you know but did you knowe that they have no reverse gear by this I mean the do not have the ability to swim backwards should they accidentally.....
These encounters nearly always end in a tragic way the owner sees the end result when he/she next goes to feed their fish because they often drown after becoming entangled in it .
It can only be avioded should the fish keeper make a timely entrance and saves it


Dave

 

[Meyer Jordan]

You then get is these levels being deposited into our drinking water and thus into our ponds which plays havok with the pondsNitrate/pospherous levels.

I find this statement most curious. If I am reading this correctly, water suppliers in the UK either can not or do not control the levels of certain pollutants in the drinking water supply. Here in the U.S. this is strictly controlled by Federal guidelines which set maximum levels as follows: Nitrate - 10mg/L; Phosphorus - 0.025 ppm. At these levels algae blooms should not be a problem, especially if aquatic plants are also present.
I find it troubling to think that the UK may not have enforceable water quality limits on certain pollutants.

 

[Mucky_Waters]

I find it troubling to think that the UK may not have enforceable water quality limits on certain pollutants.

I'm sure that in the US as in Canada it happens that once in a while certain community water sources become contaminated with particular pollutants above acceptable levels, in which case, if the water authorities are doing their job, they will catch those unacceptable levels with their routine testing and take appropriate actions such as issuing boil water advisories etc....
The question is, does the UK do the same? I'm sure it must, it's not a third world country,,,,, yet.

 

[Thomas Gannon]

Thomas I've seen many fish ponds with string algae problems but in all our years of keeping koi [29 in all] "never" have I seen them eating it, this is why its such a problem.....
You are indeed correct that scrubbing or the ripping out of this form of algae releases spores causing even more of a problem..so its advisable not too....
So many of the koi keepers I know including ourselves when we've had the odd bloom turn to Cloverleaf a purely natural treatment that is made up of unique blend of various enzymes and minerals .
As such the onus has to be on us koi/goldfish keeper to maintain a pond and its water perameters...
Sometimes all that is needed is a tinkering of their feeding habits other times waterchanges are required .
I have a pond that is in direct sunlight that I keep well maintained and has little in the way of algael problems..
I wonder however if you are aware of the exheedingly high levels of both Nitrates and phospherous that can suddenly appear in your pond out of the blue, that is not you the koi/goldfish keepers fault in anyway?
It is caused by the unaviodable it comes in the form of wash off into your pond via the garden but more so by what is the fertilization/muck spreadng as we fondly call it in the UK of farmland .
This then gets into the water table is washed into springs and rivers , which in turn drain into the cities reservours.
You then get is these levels being deposited into our drinking water and thus into our ponds which plays havok with the pondsNitrate/pospherous levels.
We see this late spring here in our neck of the woods [Plymouth Devon] but there can be another peak in the late summer early Autumn....
For those unaware i;e the novice koi/goldfish keeper it can be a frightening and frustrating time fo them most of us tend to forgo water changes for the month when levels are detected .
This is when we start going as so far as to test our tap water prior to it going into the pond......
Where you aware that string algae can kill.... why .... because it and Stergeon do not mix?
Sturgeon are prehistoric as you know but did you knowe that they have no reverse gear by this I mean the do not have the ability to swim backwards should they accidentally.....
These encounters nearly always end in a tragic way the owner sees the end result when he/she next goes to feed their fish because they often drown after becoming entangled in it .
It can only be avioded should the fish keeper make a timely entrance and saves it


Dave

You've never seen koi eat algae??? Next time I see it I'll take a picture and show you

 

[Meyer Jordan]

I'm sure that in the US as in Canada it happens that once in a while certain community water sources become contaminated with particular pollutants above acceptable levels, in which case, if the water authorities are doing their job, they will catch those unacceptable levels with their routine testing and take appropriate actions such as issuing boil water advisories etc....
The question is, does the UK do the same? I'm sure it must, it's not a third world country,,,,, yet.

I did some checking on this. The UK, of course, has drinking water quality criteria. What I was surprised to find is that the acceptable maximum level of Nitrate is 50 mg/L. This is high enough to easily support a substantial algae bloom. Certainly another reason not to do water changes, especially in the UK.

 

[Thomas Gannon]

I did some checking on this. The UK, of course, has drinking water quality criteria. What I was surprised to find is that the acceptable maximum level of Nitrate is 50 mg/L. This is high enough to easily support a substantial algae bloom. Certainly another reason not to do water changes, especially in the UK.

The USA's standard is 10mg/L

 

[Meyer Jordan]

The USA's standard is 10mg/L

Already noted in Post #18 of this thread.