Just the thought of it makes backyard water gardeners shudder: "green water," "blanket weed," or "pond scum," it's known to scientists as thallophytes and to calmed-down pond-owners as green algae.
Green algae can flourish wherever there is light and fresh water -- in puddles, holes, even in your bathroom. It shouldn't surprise you then that green algae can overwhelm a typical backyard pond. Spores can invade via wind, rain or on the backs of fish and plants you buy. In the worst case scenario, algae can bloom into something called "pea soup," completely hiding everything else, including all your fish and underwater plants.
Green algae can not be totally wiped out from your pond -- nor should it. It's a natural part of the ecological food chain in all backyard ponds, maintaining "balance" and assisting in providing a vital environment for fish and other pond animals. So some algae is necessary. But here's another reason it's not a good idea to try to kill all your green algae -- it's an impossible task.
Why? Because, compared to nature, backyard water gardens contain several thousand times the number of fish and plants per gallon of water. Although we like to think that water gardens mimic nature, man-made ponds are very unnatural in just about every biological and chemical aspect, leading to uncontrolled algae growth.
So what can a water gardener do to combat the 'green monster'?
1. Don't put in too many fish: their excrement produces algae food like phosphates and nitrates.
2. Put a good number of aquatic plants in your pond. Aquatic plants soak up nutrients that otherwise would be eaten by algae. Cover half your pond with floating plants like water lilies, hyacinths and underwater plants like Cabomba.
3. Snails and tadpoles consume pond scum-type algae. Try a few Japanese trapdoor snails and tadpoles.
Sometimes all efforts of "natural" methods don't seem to work, or you've run out of time and patience. In that case, an algaecide can be your answer. Biological filtration can also help; it's designed to remove harmful ammonia released by fish, decomposing plants and algae, and uneaten fish food.
Once again, the ideal way to get rid of excess algae in a natural way is to lower the amount of nitrates and phosphates in your water garden. You can accomplish this by limiting fish, their food and maximizing the number of water plants.
Green algae can flourish wherever there is light and fresh water -- in puddles, holes, even in your bathroom. It shouldn't surprise you then that green algae can overwhelm a typical backyard pond. Spores can invade via wind, rain or on the backs of fish and plants you buy. In the worst case scenario, algae can bloom into something called "pea soup," completely hiding everything else, including all your fish and underwater plants.
Green algae can not be totally wiped out from your pond -- nor should it. It's a natural part of the ecological food chain in all backyard ponds, maintaining "balance" and assisting in providing a vital environment for fish and other pond animals. So some algae is necessary. But here's another reason it's not a good idea to try to kill all your green algae -- it's an impossible task.
Why? Because, compared to nature, backyard water gardens contain several thousand times the number of fish and plants per gallon of water. Although we like to think that water gardens mimic nature, man-made ponds are very unnatural in just about every biological and chemical aspect, leading to uncontrolled algae growth.
So what can a water gardener do to combat the 'green monster'?
1. Don't put in too many fish: their excrement produces algae food like phosphates and nitrates.
2. Put a good number of aquatic plants in your pond. Aquatic plants soak up nutrients that otherwise would be eaten by algae. Cover half your pond with floating plants like water lilies, hyacinths and underwater plants like Cabomba.
3. Snails and tadpoles consume pond scum-type algae. Try a few Japanese trapdoor snails and tadpoles.
Sometimes all efforts of "natural" methods don't seem to work, or you've run out of time and patience. In that case, an algaecide can be your answer. Biological filtration can also help; it's designed to remove harmful ammonia released by fish, decomposing plants and algae, and uneaten fish food.
Once again, the ideal way to get rid of excess algae in a natural way is to lower the amount of nitrates and phosphates in your water garden. You can accomplish this by limiting fish, their food and maximizing the number of water plants.
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Want to find out more about water gardens and ponds? Then visit MPR Supply's website to learn more about water gardens.
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