Beginner Gardening: Pondless Waterfalls or Pondless Fountains, 1 by shrubbs

shrubbs wrote:
As far as the algae - I found 2 ideas for pondless waterfalls that seem to be a sure thing.

1. Should you have an algae problem in the lower pool area it is best to shade out the algae with other plant material like Water Hyacinth or Water Lettuce (basically floaters). Stay away from ALL plants that need to be rooted in the gravel or soil (i.e. Lilies or Reeds). If you can cover the pool area (or areas) with a thick cover of floating plant material this should block out the light enough to really cut down on your algae problem.

Here's the issue ... the algae will work its way through the stream and grow on the rocks where water is more turbulent.

2. Use a algae killer from a pond store ... $$$$$ .... I got a better idea. Below is a picture of the a product sold a local dollar store (The Dollar General). Never would have guessed this ... it is a septic tank cleaner. Apparently the same bacteria that are in THIS septic tank cleaner are the same in algaecides that are sold at the pond store. We used this product in our pond at work to stop the string algae from taking over our pond and stream. We followed the directions as far as the boxed contents needed for so many gallons of water. We put the correct rate in our water garden 3-4 times a year and have not had any string algae for the past 2 years. Our fish have had no problems. The stone and rocks get some dark green algae lightly covering them, but that will happen no matter what you do.

By the way ... this box was only $2.50 (as far as I recollect).

Barely loaves don't work as well as you think and liquid algaecides should be left for aquariums. Natural bacteria is the best solution for algae in pondless waterfalls.

As far as the filter - need to do more research.