String algae

[bsr8129]

As I stated in another thread my pond is becoming over run with string algea I have added kitty litter as a recommendation from here. After 12 hrs there was no change. Now after 24 no change but now the water is cloudy assuming from the kitty litter dissolving in the water. I have moved the nylon bag under the water fall for maximum dissolution. I will update the thread on how well it goes

 

[fishin4cars]

This could actually be some of the algea starting to dye off as well. String algae as it dies will turn white and get very mushy. Once this starts you need to be trying to remove as much as possible, I use a new toilet brush and attach it to a dowel rod or spare piece of PVC. Just twist it around and it will grad out clumps. the more you get out the less that will break down. Be sure and watch ammonia spikes, if you start seeing any then time for water change. Have you tried Barley Bails or barley extract. Both are fairly cheap to use and will help too. All natural, no meds.

 

[sissy]

that happened to me also I was assuming I got the wrong kitty litter take it out or you will end up with gray water and what a mess it was to clean up

 

[sissy]

I had to clean up all that muck on the bottom of the pond also .must have been the wrong kind I bought

 

[bsr8129]

Wrong kind of kitty litter?? All kitty litter will dissolve like that when put in water

 

[j.w]

When I use the kitty litter from wal-mart called Special kitty w/ 100% clay it did turn the water cloudy as I was told it would but it cleared up pretty quickly and did not dissolve or get mushy at all. It was little hard pieces of clay and it was in there for a few months during the summer. When I took it out it was still as it was when it went in the water in the net bag. I hung it under my falls and it started killing the string algae by the next day or so turning it whitish yucky blobby looking and then it was floating and I was able to scoop it all out w/ a net. I stick a sock of it in each Spring now. Haven't done it here yet as still feels like winter. Wishing you all luck w/ it as I found it to be a good thing. I used the old stuff taken from the pond in pots for plants mixed w/ some soil :bowdown:

 

[bsr8129]

Well i pulled out the nylon sock. After reading some more about it they talk about only adding 2 tsp I added about 2-3 pounds but it all didn't dissolve. It was very mushy. I will go to walmart this weekend if the string algae isn't gone by then and get thier kitty liter that everyone seems to be using.

 

[vertigo72]

Well i pulled out the nylon sock. After reading some more about it they talk about only adding 2 tsp I added about 2-3 pounds but it all didn't dissolve. It was very mushy. I will go to walmart this weekend if the string algae isn't gone by then and get thier kitty liter that everyone seems to be using.

I think you misunderstand. Kitty litter doesnt magically clean the pond for you, but it does (apparently, havent tried yet) kill the algae. Getting brown and mushy is what string algae do when they die, its still up to you to scoop them out. That would be the case with any algaecide btw.

 

[bsr8129]

The string algae is still very much green. It was the kitty litter that was all mushy

 

[vertigo72]

Oh, so I misunderstood, sorry. Well, there are countless different kind of string algae. Solutions that work for one variety often dont work for another, and you can not tell the type of algae on sight. Like barley hay as someone suggested, works miraculously for many species, but does absolutely nothing for others. If you see no effect at all, not even to the algae closest to the litter, then its time to try something else.

 

[addy1]

I used hydrogen peroxide, 1 liter per 1000 gallons, but I had just goldies, no koi, my arizona pond. My pond keeper uses the peroxide granules when the algae really attacks there. I have heard people say peroxide turns koi gills red.

Here, knock on wood, no algae yet, seems like the bog and bog plants are working keeping it from forming. The only place I saw any string algae was in on the the stream ponds. I had the stream off working on it for a few days heat + sun+ debris= algae. Started circulating water down the stream for a few hours a day algae gone again.

 

[marla]

I have heard of using peroxide, always wondered the dose, Peroxide is the end result of decaying barley and cheaper then barly extract I'm sure, thanks for the dose....koi gills are and should be a nice meaty red color, if not then there is a problem. I have always used barley extract and also koi clay...the clay will turn the water murky at first but clears up after a few hours...I have never used kitty litter, but I would think maybe the same affect.

 

[koiguy1969]

if your so inclined to use barley you may want to consider the extract as a startoff. it already contains the humic acids which turn to peroxide. where it can take 6 weeks to 8 weeks for barley to break down enough to even produce the humic acids. and I would bet, most people who have bad problems with string alge, have it due to the fact they wait till its there to treat instead of using early preventative measures.

 

[addy1]

I have heard of using peroxide, always wondered the dose, Peroxide is the end result of decaying barley and cheaper then barly extract I'm sure, thanks for the dose....koi gills are and should be a nice meaty red color, if not then there is a problem. I have always used barley extract and also koi clay...the clay will turn the water murky at first but clears up after a few hours...I have never used kitty litter, but I would think maybe the same affect.

Thanks marla, someone said that, well I think that was how it was worded. I don't have koi, just goldies and it sure worked in my az pond. So far here no problem with algae.

 

[j.w]

I don't know about 2 tsp. When I used it I put in about a quart of kitty litter in my 2500 gal pond. More won't hurt cuz peeps use it in their plant pots all the time in great quantities.