Just the thought of it makes backyard water gardeners shudder: "green water," "blanket weed," or "pond scum," it's known to scientists as thallophytes and to calmed-down pond-owners as green algae.
Algae live just about anywhere you have light and water: in puddles, soil, even in your bathroom shower. It should come as no surprise that algae can grow like crazy in water gardens. Algae spores can enter your pond by wind, rain, on the sides of fish and on water plants you introduce into the pond. Single-celled green algae may form "pea soup" blooms, taking over your pond and overwhelming fish and submerged plants.
Algae live just about anywhere you have light and water: in puddles, soil, even in your bathroom shower. It should come as no surprise that algae can grow like crazy in water gardens. Algae spores can enter your pond by wind, rain, on the sides of fish and on water plants you introduce into the pond. Single-celled green algae may form "pea soup" blooms, taking over your pond and overwhelming fish and submerged plants.
Green algae can not be completely eradicated from your pond -- and it shouldn't. Algae is a vital part of the natural ecology in all backyard ponds, keeping it in "balance" and helping to maintain a healthy environment for fish and other pond creatures. So a little algae is a good thing. But there's another reason why it's not sensible to to wipe algae out completely - it's simply not possible.
Why? Because, compared to nature, backyard water gardens contain several thousand times the number of fish and plants per gallon of water. Although we like to think that water gardens mimic nature, man-made ponds are very unnatural in just about every biological and chemical aspect, leading to uncontrolled algae growth.
So what's the answer for the average backyard water gardener who is dealing with this 'green monster?'
1. Don't put in too many fish: their excrement produces algae food like phosphates and nitrates.
2. Introduce lots of aquatic plants. Aquatic plants reduce algae growth by removing excess nutrients from the water. Try to cover 50% of pond surface with floating plants like water lilies and water hyacinths and submerged plants like Cabomba.
3. Snails and tadpoles eat "pond scum" algae. Add a few Japanese trapdoor snails and tadpoles.
Sometimes these "natural" tactics aren't effective, or you simply run out of time. In that case, you can use an algaecide. Bio-filers can also be tried; they're good at removing damaging ammonia, produced by fish, dead plants and too much fish food.
Once again, the ideal way to get rid of excess algae in a natural way
Why? Because, compared to nature, backyard water gardens contain several thousand times the number of fish and plants per gallon of water. Although we like to think that water gardens mimic nature, man-made ponds are very unnatural in just about every biological and chemical aspect, leading to uncontrolled algae growth.
So what's the answer for the average backyard water gardener who is dealing with this 'green monster?'
1. Don't put in too many fish: their excrement produces algae food like phosphates and nitrates.
2. Introduce lots of aquatic plants. Aquatic plants reduce algae growth by removing excess nutrients from the water. Try to cover 50% of pond surface with floating plants like water lilies and water hyacinths and submerged plants like Cabomba.
3. Snails and tadpoles eat "pond scum" algae. Add a few Japanese trapdoor snails and tadpoles.
Sometimes these "natural" tactics aren't effective, or you simply run out of time. In that case, you can use an algaecide. Bio-filers can also be tried; they're good at removing damaging ammonia, produced by fish, dead plants and too much fish food.
Once again, the ideal way to get rid of excess algae in a natural way
1. Don't put in too many fish: their excrement produces algae food like phosphates and nitrates.
2. Introduce lots of aquatic plants. Aquatic plants reduce algae growth by removing excess nutrients from the water. Try to cover 50% of pond surface with floating plants like water lilies and water hyacinths and submerged plants like Cabomba.
3. Snails and tadpoles eat "pond scum" algae. Add a few Japanese trapdoor snails and tadpoles.
Sometimes these "natural" tactics aren't effective, or you simply run out of time. In that case, you can use an algaecide. Bio-filers can also be tried; they're good at removing damaging ammonia, produced by fish, dead plants and too much fish food.
Once again, the ideal way to get rid of excess algae in a natural way is to lower the amount of nitrates and phosphates in your water garden. You can accomplish this by limiting fish, their food and maximizing the number of water plants.
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2. Introduce lots of aquatic plants. Aquatic plants reduce algae growth by removing excess nutrients from the water. Try to cover 50% of pond surface with floating plants like water lilies and water hyacinths and submerged plants like Cabomba.
3. Snails and tadpoles eat "pond scum" algae. Add a few Japanese trapdoor snails and tadpoles.
Sometimes these "natural" tactics aren't effective, or you simply run out of time. In that case, you can use an algaecide. Bio-filers can also be tried; they're good at removing damaging ammonia, produced by fish, dead plants and too much fish food.
Once again, the ideal way to get rid of excess algae in a natural way is to lower the amount of nitrates and phosphates in your water garden. You can accomplish this by limiting fish, their food and maximizing the number of water plants.
About the Author:
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