garden gold fish pond?

Question

i have a gold fish pond instaled ultra voilet light but have trouble with algrea growing s there a safe product to clear it

Answer 1

The safest thing to use is a bale of barley straw. It sounds odd, no one knows how it works, but it works. Here's a link to a Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Bulletin on the subject: http://montgomery.extension.psu.edu/NResources/pond/straw-fs.pdf

Barley straw is offered by most places that sell pond supplies, and you can buy them in different sizes depending on the size pond you have.

Some algae in the pond isn't a bad thing - but it's not the best to look at. You can also reduce it by scraping it off by hand, doing water changes - 20% or so, just like a fish tank, to reduce built-up nitrate and phosphate from fish wastes and leaves, etc. blown into the pond, and adding floating plants to cut down on the light to the algae and to compete with it for the remaining nutrients (and give your fish shade during the summer when the water temperature will rise.

UV, by the way will only control the algae spores, or free-floating forms that can flow through the UV unit. If it's attached to the sides of your pond, it never reaches the UV. You also have to replace the bulbs yearly to maintain their effectiveness.

Answer 2

Algea cure is the best. The light will be better in the long run
but you are stuck with the algae. That is something you will have all the time. You could also buy some "Water Shade".
This darkens the water and keeps out the light.

Answer 3

Algae is a sign that your pond is healthy but if you want to get rid of it then buy some algae eaters and toss them in the pond and they will do the job.

Answer 4

Algae crystals are good also have you changed your UV bulb recently they need changing once a year

Answer 5

My first reaction would be to use chemicals, but I hesitate to use them anymore. Then do do it my hand now.

Here's a good article on the 4 ways to reduce it.
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/fhp/waterway/factsheets/aquaticplantbook/part2.shtml#toolbox

Here's another one:
http://www.everythingfishy.com/algae.html

Answer 6

I have Goldfish and Black Mollys in ours.They get along good. Florida USA

Answer 7

you might have too much light in your pond.