Hi- a quick question
I have tried peroxide for algae - and it works well in the pond (for string algae). It doesn't work at all on the other kind that mats... and covers the rocks. My husband said that his buddy uses bleach and it works. We have no plants or anything to be harmed --but I am concerned that the bleach will compromise the pump parts. I remember I left bleach and water in a sink once and it corroded the metal ring around the sink drain in no time flat. What do you think? Will bleach deteriorate the pump parts?
We were supposed to have a pondless water feature (long story) ended up needed a larger water reservoir --so we ended un with a 'pond' --but because it was to be a pondless feature --did not install any kind of water /bio filter system. That may be in the future --but for right now would like to keep this water clear and if possible algae free. Thanks
Bleach and Pumps
I use a little bleach in my tabletop fountains and it's never damaged them. Keeps them nice and clear, too. I'd be very concerned about any birds or other critters that might drink from the pond, though. Bleach could be deadly for them.
I am thinking about a cup or two per 1000 gallons -- but my concern was for the corosive aspects... like the pump and also the liners. My mom always said no bleach for the girdles---wrecks the rubber!!
Well, there are commercial algeacides that supposedly kill all the different kinds, do you have any pond stores locally? They should have some.
I don't believe the chlorine oxidizes only metals and metal oxides some plastics are oxidized by chlorine as well - most pump parts that touch water are plastic. however it is used to remove the floating algae in swimming pool (the green color) so I do not believe it will damage the pump , but shorten it's lifespan as the plastic will become brittle.
Shocking with 1.5 gals of liquid chlorine per 10000 gals is normally recommended for swimming pools. Chlorine is most effective for string algae as well. Perhaps washing the rocks with a brush or broom and some chlorine mix would be best. keep animals away from it and the water moving until the chlorine evaporates.
or visit a pet store for a more friendly solution. many fixes are not much more in cost than a few bottles of bleach and a lot less worry
-joe-
Thanks everyone
I have tried the inexpensive fixes (commerically prepared) and the expensive ones -- some as high as 40 plus dollars for a small jar. And, those don't last long either. The peroxide works well for the string algae as I said - it is the other kind that are hard to manage. Pulls up in long flat mats fairly well -- but once on the rocks at the bottom -- it sticks and the vacuum will make it stand on end but not pull it off. Sort of looks like those hairy fibers that stick to mussels --and behaves that way too - very tenacious. I got the entire thing cleaned...as much as I could ...fresh water in......(and I have to buy it because we don't want to challenge the well during the drought) and I turned on the pump and saw that the darn PVC pipe had a few pin hole leaks! At least it was above the surface near the valve that controls the water flow coming out of the fountainhead.... (I hope that is the only leaking site!!) the rest of the pipe is buried underground and runs for many many feet to the pool. Why I thought a pondless stream would be 'easy' 'no care' is beyond me. (I know why ---because it is what the landscaper told me!!) snort!
It sounds like somehow you are getting organic matter. some rocks are porous and contain soil or debris that will feed the plants. change the water less often - or at least NEVER do a full water change as tap water has nutrients to feed algae. I personally - and I don't know your setup - would plant some potted water plants somewhere on the edges to take up the nutrients before the algae can. you will always have a bloom, at least I don't know anyone who doesn't, especially without a filter.. A canister filter filled with carbon will also absorb nutrients and run your fountain or waterfall and keep the water crystal clear as well. . Think fish tank supplies - it sounds like you may be small enough to talk to a good pet store person - they have all the same problems to deal with.
As far as leaks.. I am laughing with you not at you. I have more than my share every spring after the thaw...
That is what I wondered --if it was due to the snow we had. It is not usual here and we left the pump on and all was well and then one night the water froze... stream still running underneath..but the ice on top diverted water and the pond emptied low enough to make the pump shut down. We are now just getting up and running. Thanks for your ideas. I will employ. We didn't have the filter spec'd in because there was to be no water in the pond...just river rock... -moist!! at best!! a long stream with a few waterfalls....ending in a reservoir filled with riverrock. Now I've got the deep hole... it fills with water.... (I think maybe 1100-1300 gallons total to support the stream and waterfalls plus the pond area that was needed to provide a necessary reservoir so that evaporation didn't lower the water and shut the pump down (that is what was happening when it was the 'pondless' stream ... we had to empty the hole and use it to hold water.
I think I can put in some plants down there. The rocks have ledges. I will also try the carbon. Thanks again.
That is a lot of water. My pond is around 1500 gallons and is a good size. With that much water - you definitely need a filter or plants to strip nutrients that feed algae - you might just look into pool chemicals.. at that volume and you are looking for crystal clear waterfall - not a pond. yeah. i can visualize it.. try a pool shock.and the chlorine floaters. Sounds gorgeous - do you have pics?
I do have photos from last year. I am at work so not here. When I get home I will look and upload one or two. I haven't taken much since the river rock pulled out and the entire hole/reservior enlarged. It doubled in size and went deeper too. I sure wish the original design had worked out tho. Never wanted a pond or anything filld with water except for the stream and waterfall areas. Those waterfalls cause a lot of evaporation and along with the drought we had last year -- -- we just couldn't keep enough water in the system to keep the pond running more than a week or 10 days.
These are the old ones
the first pondless basin - with the rock
this comes off the front porch and bridges the stream
one of the waterfalls
Not good photos - and can't find one at the top where the water originates (visually anyway) We drilled a large flagstone and stood it on its end - I couldn't find a statue that I liked.
The photo with the river rock (and the glass ball) shows the original basin ... it was maybe four feet deep in the center and got more shallow as you went to the edges... ended up at ground level. Filled with stone and topped with river rock.... that didn't work..needed a much much larger water reservoir to support the stream. Now it is about 15 feet across and five feet deep almost side to side... (So you have to step down into it) The bottom has been filled with corregated drainage tubing to preserve the volume (water can flow through the tubing) then a layer of plastic...on top ... and that is topped with river rock..... but because of the lay of the land.. one sidewall is higher than the other. SO there is room above the top of the river rock (it could not be piled up to the top of the hole) for standing water ---about 1.5 feet in spots..... so I effectively ended up with a pond at the tail of the stream as opposed to the rock basin. I am going to take your suggestion about the plants and the carbon. If I can't find something that works, I will have to find a place for a filter box outside of the stream.
That is incredible! really, i love it. You must have had a backhoe, or a serious amount of of friends to help out. There are some really good canister filters out there. If you live near a petco or other big box pet store, the usually have pond canister filters on clearance toward the end of the season.. around here anyway. if you want to experiment to see if charcoal works, you can get a large container of activated carbon at any decent pet store with fish...they have small, med, and large mesh bags you fill with carbon and can place in the water stream. it will take time but may work out for you. There are also waterfall filters that will fit beautifully at the top and will filter out larger debris before it breaks down and becomes fertilizer. looks like you get plenty of pollen, leaves, etc.. the foam filter pad is easily picked out and cleaned with a hose. They also sell filter pads you can cut to fit anything and that allows you to make your own filter.
I am going to do some investigation and get something going.
Maybe put it behind the big rock at the top of the stream.
I will also try the charcoal - seems like a easy/inexpensive thing to at least try. Also the barley.
just don't stress it's easy to do. (been there), looks beautiful and it sounds like you enjoy it.. don't let the challenge ruin it for you .. many people do.
good luck!
thanks
It's just the sight of that snake....choking on that algae.....
and that frog covered in the stringy stuff...singing......
She asks me why
I'm just a hairy guy
I'm hairy noon and night
Hair that's a fright
I'm hairy high and low
Don't ask me why
Don't know ........
Gimme head with hair
Long beautiful hair
Shining, gleaming,
Streaming, flaxen, waxen
Give me down to there hair
Shoulder length or longer
Here baby, there mama
Everywhere ....Hair!
;0 ) (I couldn't resist!!)
This message was edited Jul 30, 2009 3:38 PM
missingrosie,
Another time warp with those lyrics!!!! Love it!!!
I also like your stream. Sorry its giving you such fits. Persevere and I expect you will get those pesky details work out.
Helen
Thanks...
I am glad you enjoyed the lyrics --I figured it would give someone an instant trip back to the 70's. (?60's??) I got a good chuckle imagining the 'hairy' algae covered frog singing it and so I thought I'd share.
I am trying to stay positive. I know a lot of folks don't mind the pond work and it is totally worth it --but we thought long and hard before opting for the pondless stream --just for the ease of it. So I ended up with the pond.... and no prep for it .. had we originally planned on the pond, we would have done everything to make sure it was designed/set up with the right stuff! Ah...what is it they say about the 'best laid plans..'
Have you decided on anything - I am very interested in how you are making out.
-joe-
Well we scrubbed it up (drained all the water) I put in peroxide (takes care of the string algae really good - not a problem with that.) I put in about two cups of bleach -- the initial one I think te week before I posted and then again a few days ago. The water is clear --but if had not done anything I think it would still be clear at this point.
I have a pond supply book and I am going to check out the chemicals recommended and this week or next when we have some time I am going to the pet store to see what I can find. (charcoal etc.) I've got a few creeping groundcover in there now that is floating on the water (roots on the shore...so does that count??) I may try the barley too. The last thing I will do is install a filter etc. etc. because that will take tearing apart the pond, interfacing with the piping, moving plantings, finding a place for it and the $$.
as long as the roots are in the water or cover to soak up the sunlight. .. I use the hyacinth that grows long hairy roots that trap everything. it dies off every winter so I buy 4 in the spring and it multiplies to the hundreds by late summer -- I pick out handfulls every week and throw them into the compost.. not ideal, but it is working for me and I have not had any real algae bloom in a very long time.I do have moneywart on the shore that goes into the pond, it's new and looks good but I don't know if it benifits anything but cosmetic.
The front 50 gallon pond has two fish, a solar fountain and a mesh bag with charcoal in it.. I replace the charcoal every year and never had a bloom. chemicals and filters or plants - any combo will help. .. .. I hear the barley work wonders.. as it breaks down it releases hydrogen peroxide into the water - or so i understand from reading the threads for some time..
sounds like you are on the right track.
-joe-