Does anyone know how to clear Algae from my pond without harming my goldfish?

Answer 1

First, what kind of algae do you have? Is it free floating algae that makes the pond look green or is it filamentous algae growing on the surface of the liner and other objects. Some algae in your pond is beneficial because it acts like a biological filter for nitrates. Try barley straw. It releases H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) when it breaks down. This won't harm the fish or plants but should keep the algae in check. If you have blanket weed algae, which is green clumps of algae floating in the water, you need to get an algicide from a pet store. I had a plecostomus in my pond before Katrina and he kept everything clean. Do you have any fish in the pond? Koi and goldfish will graze on algae filamentous algae that grows on rock or other structures in the pond. Also try adding an air pump to add oxygen and circulate the water along with a pump and filter. Depending on what size pond you have I would recommend a Skippy filter. Just google skippy filter for info. Mine works great.

Answer 2

Algae can grow too fast if the water is not oxygenated enough same as if you had a goldfish in a bowl. you can either empty it and fully clean it or when people buy household goldfish your advised to take half the water out every few weeks and replace it but if you have a pond i imagine that you have a pump so i wouold just trim any plant life down a bit, make sure your not over feeding this can cause excess of algae aswell. Also do not add salt these are not sea fish a catfish would eat a lot of the algae

Answer 3

Algae thrive on nutrients in the pond water and also sunlight.Algae will diminish in winter as light levels drop. If you have no biological filter system ...You can get one from Garden centres or better still go online and use your favourite search engine and type either Blagdon Water Gardens or Bradshaws and you will get a load of info from there.Fishmate is a decent brand of U/V filter system at around £38, If you don't want to run to that expense or if you dont have electricity supply in your garden you will have to go down the chemical route.Many types available and some are better than others.Aquaplankton is one of the very best but is expensive .If you get the filament type of algae called angel hair in the long green strands. A rough twig from a garden hedge just twirled in the water will remove loads of the stuff.If its suspended algae that makes the water cloudy this wont work.Bio Filter is best option but chemical treatment is your other option. Do NOT use salt in your pond !!

Answer 4

If you have "pea soup" because of free-cell algae in the water, try a UV-sterilizer. We bought one for a 750-gallon pond and in 3 weeks it was crystal clear. It just a UV lightbulb in a dark case and your filter pump just pushes the water through. The light kills off everything that goes through without chemicals.

We left the algae on the walls of the pond because it gave the fish something to eat and helped break down the ammonia the fish produced. But if it's a problem, try barley balls (no jokes please) - they help reduce it.

Answer 5

My parents own a pub which had this big fish tank in the bar and to stop the Algae from forming on the sides of the glass they used to put in a small amount of salt. The tank was 6ft x 2ft x 2ft and a level teaspoon of salt was enough for a tank that size. So use your discretion on the amount you use. It didn't harm the fish.

Answer 6

You can put some clean barley straw in a net bag and out that in the pond. Algae needs high levels of nitrogen, and straw uses up nitrogen as it rots.
Also, Daphnia eat amazing amounts of algae, you can get them live (sold as fish food).

Answer 7

There is a fish called an algae eater an they live with the other fish in the tank they r usually black and don't swim around much but they work good they r worth buying one an it will save u alot of time with cleaning.I hope this helps.

Answer 8

my pond has no pump or filters,just a few plants, and lots of water snails, water is very clear with no algae!!!!!!! p.s i have 5 quite big fish in pond , hope this helps you.

Answer 9

You may need a bigger filter and pump, but you can always use a long handled rake to get the weeds and algae out (the longer the better for the sake of safety. good luck.

Answer 10

the sun causes algae in ponds, if you can add a tree by pond to have shade for pond. there is chemicals you can buy to add to pond, and you can buy pond filter with light that kills algae....