Algae greening up as weather warms

[MajorDan]

86 air 68 water. Algae continues to grow on everything and water now is a pretty shade of green. NH3 remains high so I am expecting the water to get greener still. I potted two pickerel rush plants today in kitty litter and some pebbles. I did not add Osmocote based on current water conditions. See the test results from yesterday. Note the NH3 was lower after a day with warmer weather ( green tube on right).
Hoping algae, plants and some sadly slow working bacteria get the NH3 down so some fish can enjoy this great sunny weather.

 

[sissy]

a fact of pond life .I have had so little time for my pond it has gotten bad .I guess it will be time to hook up the uv since the pollen is just horrible . ordered koi cay again so hoping this time I get it

 

[MajorDan]

What is the magic about koi clay?

 

[schizm]

I'm curious about using ash in the pond for potassium to keep algae minimized. How often should the ash be added? I've read to use about a tablespoon per 1000 gallons, but not sure how long it lasts when it's added to the pond.

 

[Lisak1]

I'm curious about using ash in the pond for potassium to keep algae minimized. How often should the ash be added? I've read to use about a tablespoon per 1000 gallons, but not sure how long it lasts when it's added to the pond.

I've never heard of using ash in a pond... like what kind of ash?

 

[j.w]

@MajorDan Clay or even clay kitty litter can help clear up your water.

Check this out: http://nfkc.info/nfkconliine/Cat Litter.htm

@Lisak1 I found this on the net but it appears that eventually the ash will just make the algae worse: https://pondplantgirl.blogspot.com/2011/10/how-to-naturally-control-pond-algae.html

 

[Bluerooster]

Here's one for ya. Tested water while it was crystal clear, about 3 weeks ago. Ammonia-0, Nitrite-o, Nitrate-0, Phosphate-0, PH-off the charts high, (has allways been since pond was put in). Pond started going green, this past week. Tested again, same results. Pond is so thick now, the fish have to chew the water so they can breath it. Has been doing this since the pond was built. Water quality is perfect. Plants everywhere, 4 fish, frogs, tadpoles, salamanders, and snails. What is feeding the algae? Or is algae such an aggressive eater that it pulls the nutrients from the water, before the plants can get any?

I usually don't test a lot anymore. Mostly just when I see a dramatic change in the appearance. I have yet to see those test results change, after 2 or 3 years with this pond.

 

[Lisak1]

Does it eventually clear? A spring algae bloom isn't that unusual in a newer pond. We were told it takes 3-5 years for your pond water to "mature". Once it does, you won't see those regular blooms.

 

[sissy]

Koi clay binds with algae and kills it and is healthy for koi