This is the first year I've had this horrible stringy algae growing in my pond. I've already emptied it out completely and let the liner dry out, then cleaned every plant as well as I was able to. 3 weeks later, I'm back to literally scooping this awful stuff floating on the top of the water, clinging to whatever plants it can and even growing from the liner like seaweed! Its literally a case of getting into the pond every 2 days to scoop this stuff out and try to clear it from the plants where it grows onto the stems, leaves and even knee-highs which I have around my pots to stop the soil from drifting out of them! I've already killed my huge oldfish and all thats left are the mosquito fish. I wonder, if I tried to save most of the mosquito fish (popping them into the wheelbarrow for a few days, then put some chlorox into the pond, would that kill the algae? I suppose it would also kill my plants, but at this rate, I can win, no matter what I do, so perhaps drastic measures are called for (starting over again). All help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Stringy algae in my pond.
Try an algacide that is safe for your fish. It is sold by pond supply companies. Warmer water breeds algae so it is probably just a temporary condition that will lesson as the cooler season arrives. Maybe you have a way to shade your pond? How about getting a few algae-eating fish? Pond maintenance companies also recommend chemicals that "tint" the water to discourage algae which needs light to grow.... sigh....sometimes it seems like our Florida summers will never end....
Hi bedouin,
There are lots of posts about this if you search the forums.
Try the search terms 'String algae' 'Hair algae' or 'filamentous algae' and you'll get lots of results and lots of ideas and information.
Seems like a good low-tech treatment is 3% Hydrogen Peroxide. . .
Teresa
ah! I resorted to desperate measures. Emptied my entire pool of plants and fish. Poured chlorox into the lined pool and as of now I dont have a single living thing surviving the shock! I'll just let the chloroxed water sit there for a few more days, empty the pond and just start all over again! I'll certainly buy some more goldfish as I miss my old pal! I still dont know if I'll return the plants as they are bound to have remnants of that horrible algae hidden amongst their roots or stems! How sad, as the plants really are so healthy! I'd love to save the 2 waterlilies, if nothing else!
Joanmary
The string algae is no fun!
Please if others have thoughts to chime in. I have only been doing this a couple years.
I find that you start with water quality. I find after it rains my crop of string algae increases. I believe rain water is high in nitrogen which is great for our gardens and so it is good to support algae growth.
Total water changes and bleach will mess with the chemistry in the pond. We need normal bacteria growth for balance. I am sure someone will give the exact number. I believe the most reccamended for the most water to be changed at one time is 25% of the pond's total volume. My set up does not even allow that much at once, so I have forgotten what is the max.
Does not sound like you have too many fish. That bioload can help support algae growth.
Then I go to regular over the counter hydrogen peroxide. It is cheap, does not harm fish or plants or the wild life that comes and is easy to obtain.
Per a 2005 posting that I use as my reference:
- "The typical range of doses used are 1-2 pints per 1000 gallons using 3% hydrogen peroxide with a repeat dose anywhere from 3 days to 1 week if necessary to as high as 1 pint per 100 gallons."
Pour the peroxide into the middle of the pond. Do not pour it in near the filters. I learned the hard way that it messes with the normal bacteria flora if you pour it in directly to the filters.
I keep the peroxide on hand and titrate my dosing to how the algae is growing. Simple and easy. That is what I need.
Good luck!
Epazota
epazota, thanks for the info. Wish I'd thought of Peroxide before I dosed the water with huge amounts of Chlorox! It was so bad that I was literally scraping the stuff off the sideds of the liner with my nails, getting globs of it at a time! so I decided to start all over again. A few weeks ago, I'd cleaned the pond thoroughly, scrubbing the liner and pots, taking as much of the stringy algae off the plants, soil and roots as I could. To no avail! Anyhow, I'll empty the water in a few days, rescrub, refill, return the fountain and probably buy new plants as I dont trust the ones I have to be algae free! What a pity! No, my last huge goldfish had died when I transferred it to the wheelbarrow during my first clean-up. Too much stress. I only had the mosquito fish swimming around, so it was not difficult to remove them this time. If the algae returns, I'll pull the entire liner out and really start all over. We have certainly had quite a bit of rain recently (thank goodness, as we were on drought watering). High temperatures probably started the growth as the water was above 96 degrees (our pool temperature was that - unbelievable!) Anyhow, thanks for the info on the Peroxide. I've made a note of the dosage and will certainly keep it handy. Really do wish I'd done more research and found this info earlier! Joanmary
Joanmary,
Sorry you have had so much trouble. You have worked so hard at removing this. I do not live in your climate, but I do think there is other ways of dealing with the algae than emptying and scrubbing out the pond, getting new plants or tearing out the liner.
Please do a search and look at how others handle the algae. I do not get rid of the algae totally. But, it is under control. I have never done more than take out handfuls when it is bad. I never have scrubbed anything in pond.
Good luck and hopefully you can enjoy your pond.
Epazota
bedouin - the string algae will return, just as before. Water, sunshine and fish waste are all it needs. The more desirable plants you have to compete for nutrients the less string algae you will have. The hydrogen peroxide treatment is effective, but also temporary. This pesky algae is manageable. Try pond algaecides. The very best one for string algae is a rather expensive one. However it works. It totally eliminates string algae and it will not come back as long as you keep the pond dosed. It is SAB or String Algae Buster. The price stops most people cold in their tracks. I find that in the long run it is more economical than most of the other products and it is a natural product. It does not cause any Ph swings or changes. I've used it for three years. It is always on my Christmas list.
http://www.lochnesswatergardens.com/sab7lbs.htm
I have used barlet pellets with great success for two summers now. They sell them at most garden centers.JOY
Ah well, live and learn! I certainly spent enough energy emptying everything, refilling, getting stringy stuff back again, then removing all plants again and dunking Chlorox into the pond! Lost my lovely large goldfish due to stress.....so sad! I left the chlorox in the pond for about a week, replaced all the plants but this time none of them were just 'sitting' on the ledges, but grouped in large plastic pots. So far, so good. No more Chloroxing it....far better to follow your guides and buy the Algae killers! Thanks so much everyone. I'm still so sad about my one goldfish! I still have to rearrange the plants to make an attractive arrangement. But at least they are back in the water.
Has anyone left Alocasia's in ponds, just sitting in water rather than planting them in soil first before placing the pot in the pond?
Now here is a question! Has anyone heard that a goldfish can self-fertilize? I think so! this goldfish had babies and was a single parent! Have you ever heard of this before????? Nature at its best! Joanmary
How long did you have the gold fish? It may have already been PG when you got it. No fish don't impregnate themselves. It takes 2.
I have never put fish in my top pond but somehow it has many. Fish eggs can be introduced from new plants, bird's feet, etc.
Jeri
The goldfish had pals till about 6 months ago. Then the little brown egret started visiting again! Alas!
There were 2 babies a few months apart up to a couple of months ago. Then the poor fish was alone once more with the egret's return! Strange.....But as you say, new plants certainly can introduce surprises to the pond! I'll have to make a run up to the pet store, as the pool seems once again to have stabilized itself! Thank goodness!
Goldfish can reproduce faster than rabbits and with less encouragement. Fertilized eggs can come in with your plants. Sorry about losing your goldfish. Everyone loses one now and then. There is a bit of learning curve with ponding. The list of missteps I took in getting the hang of it is long and pretty funny and there are some things I did I would just as soon forget! But now after six years I thnk I have the hang of the basics anyway. However I still come here to ask questions. It won't be long before you will be doing more enjoying than encountering frustrations.
Snapple 45, one is never too old to learn. So far, so good with the new effort. If I pass a petstore doing my chores today, I'll pop in for some goldfish. I'd like to see them in the pond again. The little brown egret will be visiting frequently, but cet la vie!
Bedouin, try keeping some flagfish in your pond - they help control stringy algae. I don't have nearly the problem since I've added them to my pond, and they eat mosquitoes too.
I think they must eat goldfish eggs, since I'm not having to remove so many from my pond now.
Like snapple45, I have had excellent success with SAB (string algae buster). I now use it as part of a "program" in conjunction with Green Clean algaecide as suggested on another pond website. I use Green Clean if/when the string algae begins to accumulate; GC really dissolves algae quite well. I use SAB as a regular preventative/treatment every 2-3 weeks in the summer. The two in tandem keep my koi/goldfish pond looking very clean.
I was intrigued to read about the use of hydrogen peroxide and tried it in a fountain. It dissolved the string algae just as the Green Clean did but, of course, the peroxide is much cheaper. Both produce bubbles while they work and I suppose that the Green Clean must be a similar oxidizer, just in a granular form. I look forward to trying peroxide in the fish pond but the SAB hasn't allowed any string algae to form, so I may have to wait a while.
I too will be trying the Peroxide first! Hopefully, I'll not have a recurrance of this disgusting stuff in my pond again! Last night I bought a dozen little goldfish plus 2 algae eaters (small fish) which the people said would grow well. There was another fist they recommended; they looked like mini catfish! I think I'll add a couple of those in the pond as well.
Would you believe I saw the little brown heron at the pool yesterday...again! Hopefully he/she has had a good look and saw nothing, so will leave my new babies alone till they are larger and have learnt to hide between the plants! Sigh! One can only try! :)
my pond is now 5 year old and I had learned a lot. I put 5 bots of peroxide every 2 weeks and baking soda if needed and had not had any algae problem. My kois are growing fast and the plants are overgrown. I had found ou that peroxide is for maintenance. It was a big chore for me during the 1st and 2nd year!!! this pond is a gift with the intention that I do the upkeep.Happy ponding!!! Bellie
Well, the STRING ALGAE IS BACK.... as predicted, though still in baby stages, but defintiely there!
PLEASE could you let me know what proportions of PEROXIDE you use in the pond. I've a 32 ounce bottle of Peroxide, ready to use. I've had the pond for years and never had this problem before! I wonder if its occurance is partially due to the intense heat we have had this summer! Unbelievable! My baby goldfish are doing well, as are the 2 strange catlike baby fish sold to me as excellent algae eaters! I may as well just remove all my plants from the large holding pots I put them into, trying to protect them from this algae stuff and just pop them on the shelves, as before. The goldfish liked to hide behind and between them. The large pots dont look attractive anyway!
I'd like to get the Peroxide in the pond tomorrow (Tuesday) asWed I'm off to San Fran to help with my new baby granddaughter for a couple of weeks. My DH too indicates the upkeep of the pond is my job! I dont dare leave the bottle of Proxide with him, 'cause the entire contents will be poured in at once, ...you know.....'more will do the trick'....type of operation........!!!!
How big is your pond? Mine is 18 feet x 32 feet x3.5 deep so please someone tell me how many gallons. I put 8 bots of peroxide in my pond every 2 weeks during summer and I do not have algae.
This message was edited Sep 4, 2007 5:02 PM
bellieg, my pond is somewhat circular, with a 5" diameter.
Ya gotta know the gallons. The minimum effective dosage is 1pt per 1000 gals. This is the 3% common drug store stuff. If this isn't effective increase carefully so you don't kill any good plants along with the string algae. If you get a good string algae kill remember to keep the filters clean. A massive sudden die off can get things pretty dirty.
I too, had a bad case of algae this summer, I hand pulled as much as possible , but noticed that the goldfish love it and were eating it all along the edges of the black rubber pond liner. (This stuff makes for great compost material, I dig a hole, bury it and plant over the top). I have between 25 and 40 goldfish of varying sizes and do not feed them. They are doing very well. For problems with wading birds you can try ringing your pond with monofilament fishing line. It's a great deterrent. Now if I only could find out what is making the nightly raids. My husband swears he saw an otter, but I think it was probably a weasel or possibly a mink. We did find a dead young mink in the yard earlier this summer. Any suggestions?
Thanks snapple45 & mittsy. I'll put 1/2 pint in and hopefully my DH will monitor what happens. If not, I'll be back in a couple of weeks; I'll certainly know the results then and will dose accordingly, if necessary.
Snapole, thats interesting about the goldfish feeding off the algae! There is another algae that has come and gone in the pond, depending on the heat, probably. Its never worried me as invasiveness was not a problem. I wonder if the old goldfish used that as food! I have another plant which is kept below the water, very much like seaweed, with fine, elongated leaves massing in the pot, waving around in the water below. The goldfish loved this, ate and hid in it. The poor pot is again emersed in the water, but the leaves need to regrow due to exposure to the air while in the wheelbarrow! What a traumatic time for plants, fish and moi! But...I'm certainly not getting rid of it, regardless of hassles - which are all solveable!
Chat with you in 2 weeks time!