HI,
Last time I posted I had just started my pond and then got side racked wtih other things so sorry I've not been in for awhile.
I am in need of advise.
I installed a UV light earlier this spring and the water is clear as a bell but now there is algae growing all over the place the "shelves are all covered in it the plant pots covered I've cleaned the filters and of course they are all getting covered again...and the waterfall rocks are getting covered with green ..
my 2 small koi look and act fine though
It looks like a fine green hair in mass LOL
I have some algaecide that I used a week ago and I do not want to over do it nor hurt the fish ....HELP????
Algae growing to beat the band ..HELP
Did you use anything to jump start your pond in the spring when you started it up? The microbelift spring start up does help as far as some of the algae that accumulates during the winter. Sometimes, you just have to manually remove the algae. This sounds like string algae that you are battling. I keep hearing that the barley straw is supposed to be real good with this too, but either we did not put it in early enough or something, but we never felt it needed to do what we needed it to do.
My dh has made some tools to help deal with algae in hard to reach places. He has the long sticks/handles that you can get in places such as lowes are a pool supply store. He then fitted on the end of one, he has a round toilet bowl brush and on the other, he has wire brush. The toilet bowl brush attachment works within the pond for picking up the string algae and the other with the wire brush attachment, allows him to take care of the algae that has grown in hard to reach places within the rocks of the waterfalls.
Yes I used some pond starter stuff that I got at lowes I used it when I started the pond to begin with last year and it worked fine.
up until just the last week everything was fine then all of a sudden there it was all over the liner, on the plant parts under water and the filters
Mibus, remember there is actually algae that you WANT if it's the fine hair algae that grows on the sides of your liner, etc.... that is good stuff but agree if it's more long and stringy that it's most likely string algae.
Remember you do not want your pond looking like a swimming pool but you want a balanced pond and part of it is hair algae growing on the sides.
Try to stay away from algaecide but instead us something else for algae such as koi clay.
Usually once a pond is balanced you won't see the string algae anymore.
Good luck!
Ok well I just 2 pictures so maybe this will help in saying what it is
#2
the 2 koi don't seem to be bothered by it at all so far either
Mibus -
That is about what I have in my pond - I may have a bit less. We have been using the Microbelift, which has been great and has cut down on some of the algae. My water temps have been 50-55 and I have to believe your water temps are probably warmer than mine. I know that in the middle of summer, algae tends to be more of a problem. You may have to manually remove it.
Hydrogen Peroxide is supposed to kill the algae, but I have not ever used that either. If you choose to use it, you may want to google hydrogen peroxide and koi ponds to see what amounts to add for however many gallons or somebody else that knows more than I, could jump in. Again, it is not anything that DH and I have ever used. DH enjoys maintaining the pond - so my feelings are to let him manually take care of it, if he so desires.
Also, Bonnie is right - you want some algae in your pond - it is part of the natural balance and you want to establish an ecosystem within your pond in order for it to be a healthy pond.
Let us know what you end up doing and how it goes.
thanks I will do a search and read on it and see what it says
I took a toilet brush today and used it on the shelves of the pond to remove some of it
I did some looking around on the web and found info on using the peroxide and not really knowing the gallons of my pond I did it twice using a total of maybe 1/2 a cup and it has helped ...when I added it to the water I put it in on the shelves of the pond where the fish don't really go and they were down by the bottom in the middle so that way it doesn't hurt them ...it has helped
Swallow hard, look at this link and try this product. S.A.B String Algae Buster.
http://www.gardenponds.com/treatments11.htm
I've used it for 4 years now. It's the only thing that, when used on a regular basis, completely eliminates string algae and keeps it away. My full sun 2500 gal pond and water fall, if left to it's own devices, would be choked with string algae in about 10 days time. I use one 7lb tub per ponding season for both the 2500 gal koi pond and a smaller 480 gal goldfish pond. Yes, I know it's expensive. No, you won't regret it.
Mibus2, My pond is 12 years old, every spring the "String Algae" tries to take over. I use a product called AlgaeFix, I get it at my local pond store. Usually two applications do the job, also I use barley straw in bags in the pond year round. You can get that at the pond store also. The combination of the two and I get clear water all the time. Scoop out all that you can and treat the water with AlgaeFix. It really works and wont harm the fish,of any other critters.