How do you remove scum from a pond?

Question

My pond is covered in a brown algae-type scum. Is there something I can add to the water that will get rid of it? I don't want to hurt the fish in the pond, tho, or the geese that swim in it.

The pond is natural, not man-made.

Answer 1

Go to your local building supply store (like a Home Depot, Menards, Lowes). In the Garden section they should have an algae killer product for decorative/oramental ponds. There are some that are fish-safe and others that are not, so be sure to check the label. A couple bottles of the stuff was something like $8 and it treated something like 1000-2000 gallons.

I recently had the same issue, including fuzzy looking algae stuck to the side of the pond (which is sometimes resistant to normal treatments). A few days after I added the product all the algae was dead and laying at the bottom of the pond. So you'll want a way to scoop that stuff out, unless your fish enjoy eating it.

Best of luck

Answer 2

Pond scum is difficult to get rid of, the poisons used can be really bad for the fish and geese.

I had some that floated on the top, and a spillway was the way to get rid of it, but if it is deep, that won't work.

Answer 3

Go to a landscape plants place near you, they will be able to answer all your questions about your pond problem. Good chance they stock what it is that you need to rid your pond of the scum ...or tell them they are not allowed to fish there anymore.....

Answer 4

I wonder if your pet store can recommend a type of fish that eats that scum and will not hurt your other fish. No idea personally. Good luck!

Answer 5

Yeah, there's some crap you can buy at pet stores that gets rid of that supposedly. Costs about $6 a bottle.

Answer 6

Move the fish.
Bleach and a brush.