String Algae...yes, another question. :)

[Meyer Jordan]

I would not advise treating the pond with any chemicals unless there is evidence of health issues. You may do more harm than good.

 

[Tula]

I would not advise treating the pond with any chemicals unless there is evidence of health issues. You may do more harm than good.

I go back and forth about this, as I get conflicting advice. A friend in the koi club, said same as you....others have said to treat.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

These treatments are not preventative measures. They are for specifically treating existing problems. What you are thinking of doing is like taking an aspirin before you might get a headache or taking Chemo-therapy because you might get Cancer.

 

[Tula]

These treatments are not preventative measures. They are for specifically treating existing problems. What you are thinking of doing is like taking an aspirin before you might get a headache or taking Chemo-therapy because you might get Cancer.

Well then, I shall not do it....this makes sense.

 

[MitchM]

PhosOut!

Is PhosOut lanthanum based?
If so, I've come across a drawback with lanthanum based flocculants. Under certain water conditions lanthanum has been shown to clog the gills of some plankton - daphinia, and bioaccumulate on bacteria.

(sorry, I'm having difficulty posting one of the links)

573-2371-1-CE.pdf

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Is PhosOut lanthanum based?
If so, I've come across a drawback with lanthanum based flocculants. Under certain water conditions lanthanum has been shown to clog the gills of some plankton - daphinia, and bioaccumulate on bacteria.

(sorry, I'm having difficulty posting one of the links)

573-2371-1-CE.pdf

After reading the one research paper that you provided a link to, I could find no reference to or mention of any toxic effects on any aquatic organisms. It is completely expected that any flocculant precipitate will settle. This in no way can be interpreted as bioaccumulation. Bioaccumulatiuon is an internal effect, flocculant precipitant settling and surface accumulation is strictly an external occurrence.
PhosOut is Lanthanum based. There are other Phosphorus flocculants available with an Aluminum base. These are, though also effective, somewhat more risky to use as the Aluminum will invariably alter the water pH. Too much of a pH swing can create major biological issues, as is well known.
Can you post the Title and Author of the other paper. I can find it.

 

[MitchM]

Right, I posted the wrong link as well.
I'll correct that.

.

 

[mgmine]

Lisa1 how much sodium percarbonate do you use? What size pond do you have?

 

[Lisak1]

I have used the Green Clean before, but I don't like how it gets all bubbly in the water after use. It does work for sure though. I still have some of that left, so maybe I will try it again.

I would guess we use about 2 cups on our waterfall about three times a season. It's the only place string algae still grows in our pond. But when our pond was newer and the algae would grow all along the edges, I would sprinkle it along the sides of the pond as well, where the water meets the rock. Our pond is approximately 2500 gallon - our total system (bog and underground rain storage) totals about 4000 gallons.) I've also sprinkled it over the entire pond surface in the spring - the debris from the bottom of the pond that collects over winter will be lifted right to the surface. There's a product sold as Microbe-Lift that does exactly that - guess what it's made of?

I used to buy Green Clean and EcoBlast and a few other products as well. They all worked great but I was discouraged by how expensive they were. I started to research string algae and other ways to combat it and came across a website detailing how to use hydrogen peroxide for algae control. The man had experimented with various levels of H2O2 in his ponds and published the results. He also talked about using sodium percarbonate and when he said "it's the same thing that's packaged and sold as Green Clean, etc" I was elated. We've used it for four years now on our pond with good, positive results.

It does bubble, but that's how it works - by oxidizing. The commercial products are touted as adding oxygen to your water as well.

 

[Nepen]

@Lisak1 that's interesting. When you put it on your waterfall, do you turn off the waterfall first? I think I might need this. Do you have a link to the website you buy from?

 

[mrteach3]

Thanks again everyone. I used the last of my Pond Balance and will be watching closely to see what transpires. Appreciate the help.

 

[mrteach3]

@Nepen When I used the Green Clean, it recommends for the pump to be turned off. I have never tried with the pump still running. As I said, I like the Green Clean, or sodium percarbonate, but just can't stand how long it takes to get the water back to not having the soapy bubbly look to it.

 

[Nepen]

Thanks mrteach!

 

[addy1]

I used the sodium percarbonate last fall, the bubbly look went away with a few hours, but that might be a factor of how my bog works. It did a great job lifting the stuff from the bottom, just net it out. I like the fact the snails tads etc don't float up with it less sorting for critters.

 

[tbendl]

You can get the SP at a pool store can't you?