What can I add to my outdoor water fountain to prevent algea ???

Answer 1

There are algaecides you can add to the water as long as animals aren't drinking from it. You may also want to look at scale removers to keep water minerals from messing up the sides of your fountain and the pump. Both are available at swimming pool and spa stores.

Another option is a blue dye such as True Blue Lake and Pond dye. It turns the water blue thus reflecting the sunlight necessary for algae growth. If you can tolerate the blue water, it's a nontoxic formula.

Answer 2

Is the area exposed to a lot of light? If the fountain is in direct sunlight, it can promote the growth of algae. Does the water in the fountation contain high levels of nitrates and phosphates? If so, these contribute to algae growth. Try adding some live plants to the fountain, as plants consume nutrients needed for algae to grow. Also, there are several types of fish that help control algae, as well.

Answer 3

Keeping Algae at Bay
Be patient. If it doesn’t clear up on its own, something is out of balance. The easiest solution is to add more plants. Both algae and water plants compete for the same sunlight and nutrients in your pond. Adding plants can make the nutrients unavailable to the algae, and increasing the amount of surface area covered by water lilies and floating plants can decrease the amount of sunlight available for the algae. This is of particular importance if your pond is small and shallow. If you have a lot of plants and still have too much algae then perhaps there is an excess of nutrients in the water. This could be caused by a number of different factors or a combination of them. One of them could be a run-off problem. Check to make sure that garden or lawn fertilizers are not washing into the pond when it rains. Perhaps you are over-fertilizing your water lilies or doing it incorrectly. Maybe you have too many fish, and their excrement is causing a nutrient increase. Maybe you are overfeeding your fish. The amount of oxygen in the water is also important. The higher the oxygen levels, the lower the carbon dioxide levels will be. Oxygen is needed in the water to support aquatic life like fish, tadpoles and aquatic snails, all of which eat algae. If your fish are coming to the surface gasping for air you have a problem in your pond, namely an oxygen shortage. You can increase the pond’s oxygen levels by adding an aerating nozzle on a pump, planting more oxygenating plants or adding a bit of fresh water.

Answer 4

use a small amount of bleach in the water as long as there are no fish or flowers living in it. If there are things alive go to the local nursery and get advice. Good Luck

Answer 5

if you add bleach even if you have no fishes in your water feature the birds may come and drink water from it so be very careful as it may harm them if you find other solution will be better.

Answer 6

perhaps particularly chlorine.....that keeps pool water clean. not plenty nevertheless. that's somewhat helpful to ask somebody the place you obtain it in the beginning nevertheless...........would not elect you to destroy the pump on the fountain! good success!

Answer 7

if no fish, or plants treat it with a little bleach