What can I do for my pond algae?

I have had my pond for 3 years with no problems. It has 2500 gal. of water, a rock bottom and sides with a water fall, fish, etc. This year, for the first time, algae is on everything. (Not string algae.) I use Algae-Fix regularly. I cannot hose it out. What am I missing and what do I need to do?

Do you mean little flecks of algae floating around? Green water? Do you have a filter? If you have a filter, you might add quilt batting as an extra filter media. You can buy a bag at Walmart for about 10 bucks. Cut some off and wrap around your filters and it is excellent for trapping the algae. Cleaning it is not so easy. Fortunately, we have one of those apartment size washers in our barn so I wash ours in that. We also us uv lights. Hope this helps.

Algae on the sides of the pond is a good thing, it means the pond is healthy. The kind you don't want is string algae, (long streamers of algae) the small algae is food for your fish.And wont harm the pond.
Are you trying to keep the pond absolutly clear with out a trace of algae?

Yep, same here...we have the algae on the sides of the pond too! And we don't try and get rid of ours either. Doesn't affect the clarity of the water which is good.

Our string algae went crazy last month here in SC...but then it went away. We also manually remove. Our 4 yr old grandson loves this job.

We just got a UV light...and hope to place in the ponds soon. We have eight...since we sell water lilies and pond plants.

Tell me more about getting ride of this thing.

Stephanie Pierce
http://www.waterpondfarm.com

Thanks for the algae help. It isn't string algae, it doesn't float, either, but it is attached to the rocks and looks like green fringe. I did a PH test and the water was perfect, so I guess I'll just quit worrying about it. Thanks again.

The algae that attaches to the rocks is beneficial algae, you want it in your ponds. That shows that your pond is balancing. As long as it isn't clouding the water or taking over your plants, you want some algae growth on the sides of the ponds and also rocks, etc. Even in the spring, during cleaning, do not take this algae off. Hope this helps.

I've had the same problem! I talked to several water garden speacialists and everything I have read suggest a bog gravel filter.... I am redoing my pond & will try one. I think they are attractive as well. Will keep you posted!

Thanks everyone. I guess I was just used to the great forms, colors and shapes of the rocks and now you can't see them very well. Think I'll ever get some frogs?

I added a gravel bog filter last fall. I fired it up over a month ago. Within a couple of weeks the pond was clear for the first time in the history of it. It doesn't even have plants in it yet! I anticipate a mild algae bloom with the warmer weather but I can't imagine it being a bad one.

Here's a picture of the bog just after it was completed. It's lined with cobblestones but inside of it is full of river rock, about a foot deep. That will be a good anchor for the plants. It's attached to the pond via a spillway neither of which you can see it this photo. The small bog is a lotus bog.

Your pond is a beauty. So how can I learn about gravel bog filters?

Hi folks. I have a pond that grows hair algea. Previous to the hair algea it was usually green. However. I am a tropical fish breeder/hobbyist. I have many tanks with labyrinth fish. i.e. Betta Splendens, Combtail Gouramis, Paradise fish etc,. Now, all these fish like acidic water. (I use peat to acidify) I also have other fish that like alkaline water. livebearers etc,. Just an observation here but these tanks from 10 to 75 gallon, many of them, all in natural light, I have found no problems with algae in the acidic tanks, yet the other alkaline tanks get to be green rather quickly. So, this year will add a peat moss to the pond, via panty hose. For the tanks I usually cut up some of my wifes panty hose, put in some peat moss, tie the ends of the hose and leave in the tank until the desired PH is acheived. I am seriously thinking of Koi this year for the pond but not sure of the water parameters.

Oops! Wrong pic! The styrofoam covers are what I used on the pond last year to spawn Bettas and Paradise fish. The netting across the pond was intended to keep out the goldies. i will try another pic.

One last try for the pic.

I recently took a water sample and some rocks with my strange algae to a pond store. They tested the water.(I tested it, too, with the strips and it was ok) but the pond shop said it was very alkaline and wondered how often I changed the water. I haven't ever in the 3 years that it has been in my back yard. I was told that I should change it probably twice a year and so I am draining it now, will hose the algae (it's loose and floaty - not string) into the skimmer and hopefully have a cleaner pond tomorrow. Does this sound familiar to anyone?