Tired of battling string algae!

[gigigreen]

I've always had an abundance of string algae, even over the winter months. No matter how much I clean it out, use barley, bene. bacteria, algaecide, it I see new growth daily. Anything I might be missing that might help. Also, I did drain the pond this spring, but I now have dark water, tea color kinda. I don't have any leaves or pinestraw in it that could be causing it. Any ideas or how to clear it up? I am using a clarifier, not helping yet. I live north of Atlanta, Ga. The pond depth is 2 to 3 ft in some areas.

 

[addy1]

I never have the stuff in the big pond, lots of plants compete for the nutrients. (I only filter with a bog i.e. pea gravel and tons of plants) Maybe more plants could help.

 

[MikeKoi4Life77]

Plants and more plants, couldnt have said it beter addy1. Aquaponics grow bed works wonders for my pond, I have so many plants that I intentionaly over feed them to yeild a bigger/faster crop. I planted a tomato plant 3 weeks ago into a pot of lavarock and stuck it under the drain pipe that empties from my grow bed into the pond, it started out about 6" tall and is now over 3 feet tall. No need for UV clarifiers or chemicals, my water is crystal clear, when you push the water plants to the side that is, I need to trade some more to the pet shops for some more tadpoles.

 

[gigigreen]

Well I can do that! I'll get some more plants. I knew they were good for shading the water; but didn't think about them competing with the algae for nutrients. The string algae wraps all around the plants. I do have some but, I guess not near enough. My water is def. not crystal clear yet, its tea color & foaming! Which the foaming i think is from the algaecide, ugh! Thanks guys!

 

[mheiderscheit]

This year is my first year with an Iongen. So far, I haven't had a bit of string algae. This is amazing as I have always had a big outbreak after starting up after winter.

 

[HTH]

Plants in pots do not help, what is required is roots in contact with the water.

 

[Fishylove]

Yup. What he said

 

[gigigreen]

Oh wow, glad to hear that. So, its ok to have plants rooted at the bottom of the pond, no problem with them harming the liner? I had one last yr. but pulled it out when i drained the pond.

 

[gigigreen]

I'm sorry, whats a longen?

 

[mheiderscheit]

There is a YouTube video. Search the Aquascapes iongen water clarifier. For me, I just put the probe in my skimmer box. It has been wonderful so far. Usually by this point, I have a huge breakout of string algae-nothing so far. I would recommend giving it a try. The cheapest place I found is Webb's Water Gardens.