Pond tint?

[Loree]

Has anyone ever used pond tint to control algae? My understanding is that the tint interferes with photosynthesis. Thoughts?

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Has anyone ever used pond tint to control algae? My understanding is that the tint interferes with photosynthesis. Thoughts?

That is correct. Anything that blocks sunlight will interfere with photosynthesis. This is exactly why you do not want to use any pond dye for the control of algae. Not only will the planktonic (floating) algae be affected but also the periphyton (attached algae) which supplies Oxygen to the water column, assimilates Ammonia and provides food for the fish.
Yea, use pond dye if you want a biochemically imbalanced pond.

 

[Loree]

Ohhhhhh....gotcha. Makes sense. Thank you.

 

[sissy]

and some make the fish look terrible and some tints can be a little to much .I had blue arms because my neighbor added to much and her pump died and she was getting ready to go to work and could not pull it to see what was wrong .Intake was clogged ,I guess with all the dead stuff that floated free ..

 

[morewater]

Tints are unnatural (black, blue) looking.

The only "tint" that I've seen used that is remotely "natural looking" is barley straw extract.

Again, too much of a tint and you affect your bacteria as well.

Better off ensuring that your pond parameters do the job of controlling any algae problems that you might encounter.

 

[CometKeith]

I never add chemicals of any kind and my fish do fine. Actually I have found out over time the less you do the better off the fish are!

 

[bettasngoldfish]

Chemicals are best off avoided if you have fish in your pond.

Live plants will help with algae issues as will something like a shade sail to keep the pond out of full sun.

 

[sissy]

It has been all summer and only spent minutes on my pond because no time for it .It does depend on how established your pond is of course .Took a few minutes this morning to clean out over grown plants .

 

[budgenator]

My Wife loves them (Aquashade, blue green dye), I hate them; I don't see why not being able to see the fish because the water is blue is better than not being able to see them because the water is green. When she gets too naggy I relent and put in enough to satisfy her without putting in enough to make a real difference and she's happy. I figure the algae will eat the nitrates, get caught in the mechanical filters and be removed from the pond when the filters are cleaned. More plants are going in next year.

 

[Mmathis]

The only time I've seen tint used was in local nursing home ponds. I guess they were going for low maintenance, IDK.