I've owned a 4 acre pond for about 5 years, and this year I have the worst algae problem I have ever seen. Does anyone know how I can control the algae without hurting the fish and natural habitat?
2007-06-26 11:02:44 · 6 answers · asked by Jeff I 1 in Environment ➔ Other - Environment
Well, there are a few options that you can choose. The first is to find a local Agway and purchase a pelletized treatment (I believe it may be a form of copper sulfate, not 100% sure), but this doesn't go along with the safety of the natural habitat that you've specified.
The second, natural, method that really, really works is to use barley straw. We've used it before on our pond (~1.5 acres) and it works well, but be warned, you have to be careful. I am unsure of the exact calculations (you'll need to do some googling, tons of information out there about using barley for algal control) but for a pond your size, you are going to need a heck of a lot of bales. My calculations came into the order of around 15 bales or so for our size pond, which isn't bad, until you find out the cost of barley bales. Don't even attempt to buy them at local stores or greenhouses, because you'll need so many and they are super expensive. If you can find a farmer in the area, you'll make out very well, because they usually sell them a lot cheaper and could save upwards of $15 a bale! The other option, is to call your County Conservation District, they usually have information available about this and in our area actually had bales available.
The third option I know of is to aerate your pond by purchasing an expensive set up to keep the water moving and aerated.
And the fourth, is to get into a boat and use a lawn rake and rake as much of the algae as possible out of the pond as possible before it dies. (It doesn't hurt fish while it's growing, but as it begins to die and decompose, that is when it really robs the water of the Oxygen needed by the fish due to microbial activity).
Check to see if you have a new source of nutrients into the pond somehow to explain the bloom since this is a new event.
Good luck!
2007-06-26 11:20:46 · answer #1 · answered by guillermo_gee 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As far as the fish are concerned, they don't mind the algae. If it's feasible you can rake it out. The algae is probably due to an imbalance of some sort and the algae is working to restore things back to normal. It doesn't look pretty but it really doesn't hurt anything.
A possible remedy is to get some duckweed started. It will block some of the incoming light and looks kind of cool. This will work if your pond is protected from wind.
2007-06-26 12:30:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A UV sterilizer will breakdown the chemical compounds that create algae. It keeps the water sparkling, sparkling and nonetheless keeps it secure for fish. attempt to dam morning sunlight from the pond on condition that which will create the main algae. in case you have fish you desire a small volume of algae on rocks or what no longer, it creates a organic form of filtration.
2016-10-03 04:45:29 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2007-06-26 12:59:01 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sudden increase in pond algae is due to chemicals getting into the water.
Been fertilizing the lawn?
All you can do is scoop algae out.. or put more chemicals in...
Aeration can reduce the growth rate, but won't stop it.
2007-06-26 11:06:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are certain fish that eat algae. I use them in my aquariums.
2007-06-26 17:08:15 · answer #6 · answered by jdkilp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋