String algae

[arkay]

Last year I had string algae for the first time. I'm doing spring cleaning now & wonder if there are preventive steps I can take to make sure the algae doesn't come back. I unpot all my plants, for instance, in order to divide them. Should I wash the pots w/ Clorox instead of just the soap & water I normally use? I also wash the pebbles - same question about them. Do I have to replace all the dirt w/ new?
Thanks for any advice.

 

[cokeisit]

I think algae is the #1 problem people have when owning a pond. We help more people with algae control than any other. We typically suggest people start using a good bacteria early in the year and religiously throughout the season. This helps with keep organic waste broken down and controlling the amount of available nutrients. It is also a good idea to keep an algaecide handy. We suggest GreenClean since it is safe for fish and other aquatic life. If you have the means, you could also benefit from an aerator or fountain to help add oxygen back into the water, which algae hates. There are also things like dying the water or planting so surface aquatic plants to help shade the water and limit sunlight penetration. IF you are interested, you can visit the Algae Control section of our website and find links to some helpful articles.

 

[DrDave]

I get it every year as well. I just keep pulling it out the excess and eventually it goes away by itself. My adult koi love to play in it.

 

[arkay]

Thanks. That's certainly the easiest solution.

 

[arkay]

I have 5 "water" areas - 2 are (very small) ponds & they do have filters & aerators & mosquito fish & one has goldfish. The other 3 are static since books say not to have moving water with lotus & they're the ones that have to worst string so I'll try the dyes. I do have water lettuce & fairy fern, etc. floating on the surface. I don't understand why, after 10 years, I got the strings to begin with.
Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[kev]

will uv kill string algae?

 

[cokeisit]

I believe UV only really works on planktonic algae (pea soup water) and is less effective on string algae.

 

[mafioso]

I typically scrub the walls of my pond once a week with an algae brush since my pond has concrete walls and let the filter remove all of it. its been pretty effective against string algae but planktonic is still giving me a good a$$ kicking.

 

[DrDave]

I find that string algae has a limited life span. Every year, my pond gets string algae in the spring and as I remove it, the pond eventually clears. I don't know if this is universal, but in So Cal, that is what I have experienced.

I have also found that my adult Koi love it and not only eat it but hang out inside it.

As far as the pea soup algae, I have not had any since making and installing my biological filter last summer.

 

[PHYLAL]

I find that string algae has a limited life span. Every year, my pond gets string algae in the spring and as I remove it, the pond eventually clears. I don't know if this is universal, but in So Cal, that is what I have experienced.

I have also found that my adult Koi love it and not only eat it but hang out inside it.

As far as the pea soup algae, I have not had any since making and installing my biological filter last summer.

Here in SE Pennsylvania we had a cool spring. The bulk of the pond plants were slow getting started but the string algae…….

I just pulled out what I could, used a debris net to remove it from the bottom, and dealt with it.

The fish loved it. The first spawn was in the algae, and since I did not try to remove the fry, they used it for food (as do the adults).

When the potted and floating plants finally took off, it was like someone turned off a switch on the algae growth. There is still some here and there in the pond, which is fine by me, looks natural.

 

[arkay]

This year I don't have string algae at all but I do have pea soup for water despite filters & lots of floaters. Usually the water's clear by this time but I think our very hot, muggy weather has aggravated the algae growth. I'm in Brooklyn, NY.

 

[rigler2]

An alternative to green clean is oxypond clean by microbe lift, it work great I would highly recommend it. Be sure to remove as much as algae as possible before treatment, the treatment can spike ammonia levels in your pond. Most of all be faithful with your bacteria applications!

 

[boogies1952]

I was just starting to get string algae on the submerged rocks in my pond and my waterfall stone was turning dark green and getting harder to clean.

I applied 2 cups (per 1000 gallons) of Quick Fix by Clear Pond.. with the pump off for 45 minutes...Algae is GONE...Rocks are clean..waterfall stones like new...WOW what afifference

 

[pondfish]

I found the best colution is a combination of 3 products: Barley Straw, Algae Fix and Pond Balance. These products work great for lessening your algae growth. I have found that the best results are if you use all three products together. First put in the Barley Straw (which takes 1 month to activate). Then put in the Pond Balance to uproot the algae. Wait 10 days, then fully remove all the string algae by hand. Next put in some Algae Fix and continue to do so once a week. Only replace the Pond Balance every time you do a water change.

 

[razornick]

I'm new to ponding but have experience with black and green string algae in my unheated outdoor planted aquariums. I've found two fish that completely eliminated my problem: the Siamese Algae Eater and American Flag Fish. The former is tropical and did not survive he first SoCal winter. But the latter, a small indigenious pupfish native to Florida, are extremely hardy. You can order them online. I put 12 in my 2-week-old pond as a preventive measure.