What is going on?

[ashirley]

I found a clump of something floating in the pond and when I netted it out, it was a clump of algae. Any ideas as to why it was clumped together like that?

 

[j.w]

Maybe fish tugged it off here and there and then it just got caught up together in a floating clump. Could be it just found the perfect spot to grow and then broke off whatever it was attached to. Heck if I know, just guessing

 

[Tula]

I've had this going on too. I think it is string algae that beaks off.....I'm getting pretty tired of it!

 

[Waterbug]

As string algae on the bottom/sides of the pond dies it decomposes which produce tiny gas bubbles that get trapped in the dead stuff. Eventually there's enough decomposition that the algae is lose and it floats to the surface and floats around for awhile (hours/days) and often the gas is released and the clump sinks back down, gas accumulates again and the process repeats.

Normally there will be more and more clumps, depends on the pond. Often it collects in the skimmer or clogs pumps.

But there are many kinds of algae. Like if these stuff broke up when touched. Or felt like jelly. Dead string algae is pretty slimy and almost jelly like but still has some texture.

 

[ashirley]

This broke up when I netted it. I don't think it was string algae. I had a couple of clumps awhile ago and when I tried to net them with a larger net, the clump dissolved back into the water. The net I used was very fine and it couldn't pass through.
Darn, I thought this might be a sign that I was finally winning the war!

 

[addy1]

Take your net, run it across the bottom of your pond, see if you net up a bunch of muck, use a fine net. If you do you could net that stuff up that would slow down the floating up muck.

 

[callingcolleen1]

I call that stuff "smear algae" cause it is not yet healthy enough to attach to anything and breaks up quick. I find it very early in the spring, like last month, then I get all the filters and pumps going full speed to simulate a natural spring runoff and get rid of lots that way. Now that my massive floating yellow flag is growing good, like a inch a day right now, it sucks up all the excess waste and licks the bottom of my pond clean with it's long flowing roots, the smear algae does not stand a chance. Elsewhere in the three connecting ponds the koi have mowed the string algae down to a soft green short carpet.

 

[bettasngoldfish]

So the yellow flag is not in a pot? It's just floating in your pond?

 

[Waterbug]

This broke up when I netted it. I don't think it was string algae. I had a couple of clumps awhile ago and when I tried to net them with a larger net, the clump dissolved back into the water. The net I used was very fine and it couldn't pass through.
Darn, I thought this might be a sign that I was finally winning the war!

That's an absolutely perfect description. This is single cell algae, green water type. As it dies it sinks to the bottom and rots, gas bubbles form, it floats, then sinks. It's kind of weird how it clumps, I believe it's either a DOC related behavior or ion (electric type thing positive attracted to negative, no actual electric from a wire deal).

Good news is this doesn't normally last long, couple of weeks maybe, even less. It decays pretty fast and then stays on the bottom. The scooping around with the net on the bottom can speed up the rotting and release trapped gas so reduce floaters. It does make water less clear but generally most settles pretty fast, few hours. But depends.

Longer term this stuff decays enough that bits start to suspend in the water, like bits of grey ground pepper. Water remains clear but the little specks start to make water look less clean as more and more enter the water. Fines filters can remove it. But imo it way easier to remove it now. Scooping with a fine mesh net does help a lot, and giving enough time will remove most of it. But it is difficult. You have to move really, really slowly and you can only get a little at time. It's not so much as "netting" it, as you found it will pass thru the net. If you go really slow it kind of just sticks to the net, go to fast and it washes thru.

I prefer to vacuum this stuff in larger ponds. Pond size really determines the best option. Here's my page on the different types of vacuums and how they work in different ponds. Specifically if you want a vacuum you want one that removes water because this stuff breaks up. Something like my Silt Vac.

This is not only a sign you are winning the algae battle, but that you won the battle. At least this battle.

 

[Tula]

I'm considering a finer filter mat for inside my skimmer, as I'm tired of this battle.

My koi won't leave my plants alone, but I'm having a small success with my new floating nets. The water hyacinth looks ok, but my bare root sunpatiens are flourishing with blooms and long flowing roots

 

[callingcolleen1]

So the yellow flag is not in a pot? It's just floating in your pond?
I have had that yellow flag water iris since 1991, back then it was in a typical small 5 inch pot. I transplanted it that year into a large basket of river clay dug right from under the Trans Canada bridge, at the river, and hand mixed with peat till it was a creamy muddy clay., placed it into the pond and couple years later it bust out of the basket and I threw that basket out. Now all that was left was this massive root ball of long flowing roots, and no sign of any dirt or mud to be had!! The plant simply ate the soil, cause where did it go?? Now twenty three years later, the plant is still very much alive and well. I have hacked and butchered that plant repeatly, and I swear it loves it when I rip apart it's roots, cause then it grows even better!! This yellow flag should be in the record books because it grows to 6 feet tall and floats in water almost 3 feet deep! Crazy plant must be some weird genetic mutant or something!

 

[ashirley]

What are sunpatients? Where can you get yellow flag?