How do I keep my ponds (manmade plastic) from growing so much algae?
I have plastic ponds with plants and circulation in them, is there any common household product that will clear the pond and not kill the plants or fish? The ponds are in a very sunny place that i cannot move opr shade anymore.
PLEASE do not use bleach as advised in another answer, your fish might last 5 minutes if you use it
there’s no other way around it, you have to figure out some way to shade your pond, no amount of barley bundles or algae eaters
(fish) can control algae in a pond in full sun, plant enough plants to cover 80% surface, build some sort of canopy or gazebo over the ponds, plant small trees or large hedges to block some of the light, I know all the books tell you to locate your pond in the sun and you should if all you have are water lilies but if you have fish and want some semi-clear water then your pond should be in the shade (just be sure to keep leaves out) evena chemical algae-cide won’t be able to control the algae in full-sun
Good Luck
July 30th, 2009 at 1:35 am
barley straw
References :
July 30th, 2009 at 2:19 am
You could stock the pond with algae eating fish. Another thing to try is a chemical additive which will slow the growth.
References :
July 30th, 2009 at 3:05 am
Bleach … about a cup per 100 gallons will keep them clean .. Use the cheap store brands , as good as anything .. and use plain bleach ., not scented, or with any soap additoves .. It won’t harm the fish at all…
References :
July 30th, 2009 at 3:11 am
There is a product on the market to "vacuum" your pond. I don’t know the name but contact a local Water Garden supply store.
Some of that may not be algae. Fishy are messy, especially if you have koi.
And as the previous reply said, Barley Straw or Barley Pellets.
References :
July 30th, 2009 at 3:49 am
PLEASE do not use bleach as advised in another answer, your fish might last 5 minutes if you use it
there’s no other way around it, you have to figure out some way to shade your pond, no amount of barley bundles or algae eaters
(fish) can control algae in a pond in full sun, plant enough plants to cover 80% surface, build some sort of canopy or gazebo over the ponds, plant small trees or large hedges to block some of the light, I know all the books tell you to locate your pond in the sun and you should if all you have are water lilies but if you have fish and want some semi-clear water then your pond should be in the shade (just be sure to keep leaves out) evena chemical algae-cide won’t be able to control the algae in full-sun
Good Luck
References :
30 yrs pond keeping experience
learned from my mistakes