Why is my pond so green?

Question

I have a pump and a filter with uv, but when it is all switched on, it just moves the green stuff all around the pond making it look all cloudy so you cant see the fish. When the filter and pump is switched off, it settles, and only then you can see the fish. Also, i have heard you should leave the pump and filter on continuously, but this doesnt clear it. Any help???

Answer 1

The reason you have so much algae is the light and nutrients it gets. From your description, it seems most of your problem is free-floating algae.

Your filter and UV will help if you leave them on all the time, but there's more you can do. If your pond is relatively small, remove all dead leaves and any dead pond plants from last year (you should do this in the fall, and anytime you see anything on the bottom anyway). As these decompose, they add nutrients to your water, as do fish wastes and uneaten fish foods. At this time of year, pond water is being stirred up and all the decomposing stuff at the bottom is being spread throughout the water - this acts like a fertilizer to the algae. One way to reduce the algae is to remove some of the water (around 25%) and replace it with tap water (add a dechlorinator since you've got fish in your pond). You might need to do this a few times until the other pond plants (if you have any) start to grow, then they'll compete with the algae for the nutrients. Don't feed fish unless the water temperature is over 55o, and don't add fertilizer to your pond plants yet either! Wait till there's good growth on the pond plants you want.

You can shade the algae as well, by using plants that float on the water's surface and plants with floating leaves - these also provide shade for your fish and help keep the water temperature of the pond lower. Dyes to color the water can be used to prevent algae, but be aware, they can prevent growth of underwater oxygenating plants (these get shaded as well) and the darker color of the water causes it to hold more heat - if you keep coldwater fish (goldfish or koi) they might not appreciate the warer temperature, plus you make them less visible again by using the dye.

Your UV sterilizer will help with the control of free-floating algae, because they are pumped through the sterilizer where they are hit with UV radiation to kill them (or mutate them so they can't reproduce) - the longer you leave the unit on, the more algae you'll affect. Algae that's attached isn't affected by the UV directly, but the reproductive spores will be. Also, if your UV unit is more than a year old, it may not be as effective - the lamps lose a lot of their efficiency after 12 months, so the lamp might need to be replaced.

Another method of control is barley straw. You buy this in small bales to put into the pond. It doesn't affect attached algae already growing, but will prevent new algae from forming. It won't harm fish or other plants, either.

Some additional information on algae control for ponds and use of barley straw are attached below:

Answer 2

If the UV is working right, it will get rid of it, 100% guaranteed (physics and biology don't lie).

Now, the UV does need to run 24 hours a day to be effective. You need to replace the bulb in the UV at least every 12 months. Also, the amount of water that passes through the UV needs to be very SLOW. Many times, people use the same main pump that powers their filter to also power the UV, and the pump is usually too big for the UV to be effective. You need to slow the water through the UV so you can get more contact time with the UV radiation. If their is enought UV B radiation hitting the algae, it is guaranteed to die as the radiation actually alters the genetic makeup of the algae making it impossible to replicate.

I don't know how many gallons your pond is or how many watts the UV is, but I would get a second pump used only to hook up the UV. Often, depending on the pond size, a small fish tank power head is all the water flow needed for a UV on a pre-form garden pond like what you would get at Home Depot. Maybe up to 300-500 gallons.

Answer 3

A UV light will not kill algae first off. It will keep ich at bay. Secondly, your pond should be in full sun or as much sun as possiable. Your filter and UV should run 24 hours per day. If you are having that much algae there are a few things you can do. If you have the filter off, and the pond settles, you can do a 1/4 water change by using a gravel siphon and sucking out what you can. Also, adding floating plants like water lettuce, planting cattails and floating hysiths will greatly reduce the algae. There is only one chemical I would suggest you put in for controlling algae and it is ecofix with algae tint. There is nothing "chemical" wise that will hurt your fish. It will tint the water slightly blue but the algae will die back. Floating plants as well will not be harmed by it either.

Keeping your filter running will also draw the algae out. Try using a phosporus pad inside the filter to trap most of it and clean the pads every two days for a week. This too will greatly reduce the algae.

Good luck

Answer 4

I am no pond expert but I do know that u are suffering from alge, its because ur pond is not shaded from direct sunlight.

If at all possible u can put Gazeebho?? its like a tent without the sides, there was an old guy who lives near me and his pond was spotless, he covers it up with a gazeebo when the sun is out.

You could temp cover the pond with some type of cover or wood when the sun is out and remove when the worst of the suns rays has gone.

Ref ur pump and filters, I would rather leave tht to someone who knows what they are talking about, all I do know on some filters u either clean them or others u leave them in, aqnd they get cleaned using water from the pond rather than the tap, thats if u use the filters i had in my tank, but lets leave it to those who know best.

Answer 5

the green is algae caused by the sun the pump and UV light should run 24 hours a day you could do a partial water change and treat the the pond with chemicals also add plants this will help you haven't said how big the pond is it could be the pump and UV isn't powerful enough for the size of your pond

Answer 6

The answer in one word is Bacteria. First it sounds like you have heavy stringy (green) Algae. The Algae does no real harm, just a green pea soup pond. The Algae live of any "nutrition" in the pond, dead leaves etc and sunlight. use a fish net and sweep up what you can.

Plants help to remove the nutrition and shade helps. However,strangely enough you are maybe being too clean with your filter system, as anyone would. Of coutse you need clean filters but you also need some "dirty" filter pads which will produce bacteria to "eat" your green Algae as your water is being filtered.

e.g. For Marine Aquariums Filtration, promoting and keeping bacteria is very important for clean healthy water. Strange but True.

Answer 7

my husband has a large koi pool and it is crystal clear he uses something called green away which will clump the algae together and then the pond pump and filter will clear it but he has just asked me if your pond is in full sun light if it is then you will need to shade it in some way which will cut down on how much algae you are getting but do keep your pump and filter running or your fish will not have enough oxygen in the pond for them my husband has a air pump running all through the summer months to which also helps he also said when using green away you will need to unblock your pump more often as it will clog more with the algae you are clearing hope this helps

Answer 8

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