Algae in corners of pond

I have just posted a question about my pump. Now i noticed a lot of string
type algae in the corners of the pond and a lot of algae in the filters them
selves, but the water is clear and test strips say water is good. I made a
skippy type filter which worked great last year, but this year, not so
great. Have the same amount of fish. My water hyacinths are doing really
poor. They won't grow, just seem to turn brown or just stay the same....Any
help? Thanks......................

On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:05:44 CST, "Paul" <> wrote:

>I have just posted a question about my pump. Now i noticed a lot of string
>type algae in the corners of the pond and a lot of algae in the filters them
>selves, but the water is clear and test strips say water is good. I made a
>skippy type filter which worked great last year, but this year, not so
>great. Have the same amount of fish. My water hyacinths are doing really
>poor. They won't grow, just seem to turn brown or just stay the same....Any
>help? Thanks......................

Dying WH are a good indication of possible too high a pH. What are the
numbers on your test strips claiming? What is the expiration date of the
strips? ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us

Your algae growth suggests that your other plants are not growing
strongly. When they do, the algae can't compete. It's growth just
says there are nutrients not being grabbed by stronger plants. You
are surely right to point to poor growth by your other plants. Jan
and others will make suggestions about helping them have a growth
environment. You can pull the string algae with a brush and remove
the nutrients it has captured. Pulling it is an aesthetic decision.
It will die back once it gets out-competed.

Jim

PH level getting higher from doing water changes? I also add pond salts to
required level using a test kit.
"Phyllis and Jim" <> wrote in message
news: ups.com...
> Your algae growth suggests that your other plants are not growing
> strongly. When they do, the algae can't compete. It's growth just
> says there are nutrients not being grabbed by stronger plants. You
> are surely right to point to poor growth by your other plants. Jan
> and others will make suggestions about helping them have a growth
> environment. You can pull the string algae with a brush and remove
> the nutrients it has captured. Pulling it is an aesthetic decision.
> It will die back once it gets out-competed.
>
> Jim
>

Well according to test strips these are the results: Nitrate 0 Nitrite 0
Ttl Hardness 150ppm Ttl Alkalinity Moderate/80ppm Ph 8.0. The date
stamped on botton is 03/2006 A lot of algae is in the filter
itself...............Thanks
"~ jan" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:05:44 CST, "Paul" <> wrote:
>
> >I have just posted a question about my pump. Now i noticed a lot of
string
> >type algae in the corners of the pond and a lot of algae in the filters
them
> >selves, but the water is clear and test strips say water is good. I made
a
> >skippy type filter which worked great last year, but this year, not so
> >great. Have the same amount of fish. My water hyacinths are doing really
> >poor. They won't grow, just seem to turn brown or just stay the
same....Any
> >help? Thanks......................
>
> Dying WH are a good indication of possible too high a pH. What are the
> numbers on your test strips claiming? What is the expiration date of the
> strips? ~ jan
> ------------
> Zone 7a, SE Washington State
> Ponds: www.jjspond.us
>

"Paul" <> wrote in message
news:. ..
> Well according to test strips these are the results: Nitrate 0 Nitrite
> 0
> Ttl Hardness 150ppm Ttl Alkalinity Moderate/80ppm Ph 8.0. The
> date
> stamped on botton is 03/2006 A lot of algae is in the filter
> itself...............Thanks

The Ph seems to be really high for a freshwater pond. I keep mine at 7.4
or below. I also find it very hard to believe that your nitrate levels are
0. If there are no nitrates in the water, what is the algae feeding off
of? I think you may want to consider getting another nitrate kit and
re-testing the water. I'd also try to slowly get that Ph down. I'd
probably go ahead and clean the filter as well. Hope this helps.

George

> "~ jan" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:05:44 CST, "Paul" <> wrote:
>>
>> >I have just posted a question about my pump. Now i noticed a lot of
> string
>> >type algae in the corners of the pond and a lot of algae in the filters
> them
>> >selves, but the water is clear and test strips say water is good. I
>> >made
> a
>> >skippy type filter which worked great last year, but this year, not so
>> >great. Have the same amount of fish. My water hyacinths are doing
>> >really
>> >poor. They won't grow, just seem to turn brown or just stay the
> same....Any
>> >help? Thanks......................
>>
>> Dying WH are a good indication of possible too high a pH. What are the
>> numbers on your test strips claiming? What is the expiration date of the
>> strips? ~ jan
>> ------------
>> Zone 7a, SE Washington State
>> Ponds: www.jjspond.us
>>
>

"Paul" <> wrote in message
news:. ..
> Well according to test strips these are the results: Nitrate 0 Nitrite
> 0
> Ttl Hardness 150ppm Ttl Alkalinity Moderate/80ppm Ph 8.0. The
> date
> stamped on botton is 03/2006 A lot of algae is in the filter
> itself...............Thanks

I also meant to ask you if you've tested the water you are adding to the
pond.

George

"Paul" <> wrote in message
news:. ..
> Well according to test strips these are the results: Nitrate 0 Nitrite
> 0
> Ttl Hardness 150ppm Ttl Alkalinity Moderate/80ppm Ph 8.0. The
> date
> stamped on botton is 03/2006 A lot of algae is in the filter
> itself...............Thanks

Another thing. If algae is growing in the filter, then I take it that the
filter is exposed to sunlight. I'd change that unless you are talking
about a veggie filter. My filters are fully enclosed, and so no sunlight
gets in. Some algae does occasionally grow on the outside of the submerged
pre-filter canister, however, but that's almost never a problem. But
remember, algae is not necessarily a bad thing. It can be unsightly and
runaway growth is an indication of an imbalance, but you are always going
to have some algae, and that is actually a good thing. You just want to
try to grow the right kind of algae. Do you have any pictures of your pond
and your filtration system that you can post on a photo web site, and post
a link here for us to look at? That would be appreciated. I would try to
get that Ph down (which may be affecting your plants) and get a new nitrate
test kit.

George

>Well according to test strips these are the results: Nitrate 0 Nitrite 0
>Ttl Hardness 150ppm Ttl Alkalinity Moderate/80ppm Ph 8.0. The date
>stamped on botton is 03/2006 A lot of algae is in the filter
>itself...............Thanks

What is the highest reading the pH on the strips goes to? If only 8.0, it
could be much higher. What is the % of salt currently in the water?

If there is not a problem with your fish, there is no need for salt...
unless you have a nitrite reading. The strips though are not the way to go
for reading that, just not reliable enough, plus they're pricey if using 1
or more/day.

Expired 3/06? They either are way out of date, or expired 3/07, which still
means expired. I highly recommend getting liquid test kits. American
Pharmaceuticals... Or better, easier, a tad more money, but you can buy
refills rather than the whole kit, Nutrafin/Hagen test kits. They're test
for Ammonia is instant read (no 5 minute wait), and only 1 bottle needed,
doesn't show ammonia when Amquel used. Get the Wide Range pH kit.

I haven't tried their Nitrite or KH kit, but I plan to switch entirely over
to their kits when next I purchase. Plus they have a very clear expiration
date printed on the box. ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us

George wrote:
> "Paul" <> wrote in message
> news:. ..
>> Well according to test strips these are the results: Nitrate 0 Nitrite 0
>> Ttl Hardness 150ppm Ttl Alkalinity Moderate/80ppm Ph 8.0. The
>> date
>> stamped on botton is 03/2006 A lot of algae is in the filter
>> itself...............Thanks
>
> The Ph seems to be really high for a freshwater pond. I keep mine at
> 7.4 or below.

My pond, now 13 months old, has always given 8 to 8.5 for Ph. I've had no
problems.
I have some string algae, and the pond planting is going wild! Algae is a
fact of life, I wouldn't worry about it.
--
ßôyþëtë
London, UK