Algae Invasion! Tips For Fighting the Battle, From a Tampa Bay Store

It's green, it's slimy! It creeps, it crawls! It can overtake a pond in mere days! Sounds like something straight out of a horror movie right? For pond owners dealing with this home refinancing monster impotence is exactly what it can prove to be! It's called Algae and it comes in all types and shapes.

What exactly IS Algae? What are the most common forms in Ponds? How can I get rid of it and prevent it from coming back? These are questions most pond owners have. Well your friends in Tampa Bay know a thing or three about Algae. Let's shine some light on this scary movie!

The First thing you have to know about Algae is that not all types are bad for your pond. In fact, most of it is beneficial! There are two categories: good and bad. Good Algae is unavoidable and a natural part of any freshwater ecosystem. Bad Algae, however, is usually a result of poor water quality and excessive sunlight.

But what is Algae? Simply put Algae are rootless Bringitout that grow proportionate to the amount of nutrients available in the water. Some also consider Algae to be a fungus. But to Pond owners the definition of Algae is trouble.

There are MANY different types of Algae, but for Pond owners three stand out above the rest: Pea (or Green) water, String Algae, and Fuzz (or Carpet) Algae.

Pea Water is caused by single-celled Algae that are suspended in the water Blinkbot If left untreated for a period of time it will turn your pond water completely green. This is arguably one of the hardest types to control. Keep in mind though that this type is NOT harmful to your pond. If anything the fish enjoy the shade from the sun.

But if lack of visibility from your pond and or fish is simply making you "green" here are a few steps you can take to get rid of it:

1. Conduct a 20% water change to reduce the volume of Algae

2. Reduce the amount of sunlight the pond is exposed to by using a blue dye.

3. Decrease how much you feed your fish and completely cease fertilizing your pond plants until you have clear water again.

4. Clean out your skimmer and/or filter removing any debris that may be helping to "feed" the Algae.

5. Add more Beneficial Bacteria to the pond. The helpful enzymes will use the nutrients in the water starving the Algae of nourishment.

6. Be patient!! Green water will eventually clear up over time. Although taking the above steps will speed the process, do not expect instant results. It might take a good week or more until there is no more PEA GREEN SOUP.

The next most common Pond Algae is String Algae. It's long and hair like and tends to grow around marginal plants, cling to rocks, and linger in stream beds. There are a few things you can do to get rid of this intruder.

1. Physically remove as much of the String Algae as possible. You can do this by using a toilet brush (preferably new...eww) and twisting it around the strands.

2. Use an ECO FRIENDLY algaecide to first, kill off all the Algae. Most algaecides will turn the Algae black and then deteriorate and be sucked up in the filter.

3. Make sure you clean your filter after using the algaecide! Also, collect any dead String Algae before it can have a chance to contribute to "PEA SOUP."

4. Add a Beneficial Bacteria a day after using the algaecide. Using both the products together not only kill the String Algae but prevent it from coming back.

Fuzz or Carpet Algae is the next contestant. This is that green covering that can be found on the sides of the pond, on the rocks of your stream and waterfall and sometimes on the bottom of the gravel. No matter how ugly this type of Algae appears, it is actually a natural part of the pond and has its benefits. Fish, frogs, snails, turtles and any other aquatic life that made their way into your pond enjoy eating it and it helps add oxygen to the pond. But, If you MUST get rid of it here is what you can do:

1. The most effective way is to hand clean the rocks. We have found that using a dish scrub or coarse cleaning pad works the best (do not attempt to use a rag.)

2. Clean out your filter of any broken-up Algae.

3. Plecostomus and Snails may be purchased to control Carpet Algae as well. They enjoy the fuzzy treat.

4. Reduce the amount of food you feed your goldfish and Koi. If left without processed food they too will eat the Algae.

Remember that getting rid of Algae all together WILL NEVER happen! Unless of course you decided to pour bleach in your pond---we do not recommend this! These tips will help keep the monster under control putting an end to the horror flick!

For more information please visit us at coolponds.comcoolponds.com