Algae Control
Algae are non-vascular plants (i.e. no vein-like tissues) that grow in all ponds. They are extremely important, being a major source of oxygen and food for other animals living in the pond. There are many forms of algae, ranging from the microscopic life forms that give pond water its green tint to wispy clumps of filamentous algae floating in the water. Some of the larger pond plants growing from the pond bottom are actually branched forms of algae. Without algae, your pond would not be able to host fish, frogs, bugs, or other living creatures. They are essential to having a healthy pond.
"Click" on one of the (3) links shown below if you desire a chemical solution to algae.
Algae can also indicate problems with your pond. Excessive growth of algae and discoloration may mean that the water quality is in trouble. Clumped algae can also interfere with fishing and swimming. If a lot of algae die suddenly in cold weather, their decay can rob oxygen from the water, making your pond unsuitable for fish and other animals. In our opinion, the most natural and effective way of controlling algae is the combination of our pond bacteria and an aeration system.
Prevention of algae:
Most pond owners really begin to notice algae when it ‘blooms’. An algae bloom is a rapid increase in algae growth. You might look out on your pond one summer day and notice a pea-soup look or blobs of green, slimy material, floating in many areas on the pond. By the time you see this amount of growth, it is usually too late to do anything preventative, but you have several options for removing the algae from the pond. However the best strategy for pond owners is to act preventatively to keep excess algae from growing in the first place. The most common reason why ponds have excessive algae is nutrient pollution, which is similar to surplus plant food. Nitrogen, phosphorous, carbon, and potassium are the four nutrients that tend to give pond owners the most trouble. They are the chemicals pond plants use, combined with carbon dioxide and water, to grow and make new leaves. In a pond, these nutrients are invisible, dissolved in the water. Combined with bright sunlight on the pond surface and warm temperatures, algae can easily grow out of control. All pond owners should limit the amount of nutrients flowing into their pond. Common sources of nutrients are fertilizer, farm runoff, septic systems, decomposing lawn clippings, and even rainwater flowing from roads and driveways.
You can reduce nutrient flow into your pond by:
* Leaving a 10 – 20 foot strip around the pond unknown – the dense thicket of woody plants and herbs will take up and remove the nutrients before they enter the pond.
* Restricting fertilizer use where runoff can enter the pond.
* Keeping ponds and septic systems widely separated and if possible prevent positioning the septic field on the “upstream” side of the pond.
* Constructing a long, narrow depression or mini-pond to catch and slow runoff before it enters the pond;
* Keeping livestock, geese, and large groups of ducks away from the pond water.
* Remove excess dead fish if a large-scale fish kill occurs.
* Any attempt to eliminate algae from a pond will be thwarted if these common sources of nutrients are not reduced.
Solutions for the control of algae:
Pond owners have several options for controlling algae before and after it grows excessively. In our opinion, the most natural and effective way of controlling algae is the combination of our pond bacteria and an aeration system. A certain level of algae will always be present in the pond. Your goal should be to keep it under control, while preserving its role of oxygen production and food for insects, and other invertebrates. chemicals are options worth considering if and when algae gets out of control.
NOTICE OF USE:
It will be the consumers responsibility to be aware of, and adhere to, any and all federal, state, and local regulatory guidelines regarding the purchase and use of any chemical product(s) found on this website.
Due to regulatory guidelines, we do not ship aquatic weed and algae control products into the following states: This DOES NOT INCLUDE our natural bacteria products however.
AK,CA,CT,ID,HI,ME,MA,NH,NJ,NY,RI,VT,WA
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