If you are searching “how to remove algae from my pond” or “how to clean algae from my pond without harming fish” this post should help send you in the right direction.
Algae or string algae is a filamentous species that attaches to plants, hangs from rocks in waterfalls, or hangs on the surface of the water. The long strands tangle together and form thick mats. Excessive string algae will reduce oxygen content, but it doesn’t mean bad water. New ponds often develop green water, but this usually clears within 90 days as plants grow and use up excess nutrients.
- Remove Algae
- Remove Debris
- Free Floating Aquatic Plants
- Use Barley Straw
- Utilize Beneficial Bacteria Tablets
1. Remove Algae
Rake out as much algae as possible with a pond or garden rake, taking care not to damage the pond liner by accidentally tearing it.
2. Remove Debris
Remove fallen leaves and dead plant foliage from the pond. Siphon plant debris and silt from the bottom of the pond with a pond vacuum, working slowly and carefully to avoid stressing your fish.
3. Free Floating Aquatic Plants
Plant enough floating aquatic plants so that around 50 to 70 percent of the pond surface itself is covered. Place free-floating plants directly into the water. Cover the soil in aquatic plant containers with heavy gravel and place them at the pond level that allows their foilage to float on the surface. If needed place bricks in the pond to stand container plants at the correct level.
4. Use Barley Straw
Place a bundle of barley straw on a large upside-down plastic pot in the pond, so that the bundle is just submerged underneath the water. One 8-ounce bundle treats around 1,000 gallons of pond water. The algae will slowly disappear as the barley straw breaks down when exposed to sunlight and oxygen.
5. Utilize Beneficial Bacteria Tablets
Place a tablet of beneficial pond bacteria in your pond, on a plant or rock, every two weeks. One 1-ounce tablet usually treats around 1,000 gallons of pond water.
Supplies You Will Need
- Aquatic Plants
- Beneficial Bacteria Tablets
- Bricks (Optional)
- Bundle Of Barley Straw
- Pond or Garden Rake
- Heavy Gravel
- Large Plastic Plant Pot
- Pond Vacuum
Tips For Your Pond
Anchored and also free-floating water plants shade out algae and can absorb excessive nutrients. Water lilies grow in water from 1 foot, up to 4 feet deep and can spread 5 to 6 feet wide. Bearing 5-inch summer flowers that open yellow and turn coppery-bronze, this low-maintenance plant is hardy. Fanwort which bears white flowers May through September and has branching stems of tiny, fan-shaped leaves spread 1 foot to 3 feet wide.
Warnings For Your Pond
Don’t oversupply your pond with fish. One hundred gallons of water is enough for one 6-inch fish or ten 1-inch fish. To determine the amount of water in your pond, multiply its average length, width and depth. Multiply the total by 7.5. This will give you the number of gallons in your pond.
Don’t over feed your fish. Give them as much as they can eat in two minutes, at least up to four times a day. Stop feeding as soon as food is left uneaten, and don’t feed your fish when temperatures are consistently below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
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The water hyacinth are popular options for floating plants. It is a species that’ annual in colder areas of North America, but in warmer regions it is perennial. They can produce blue or purple flowers, with roots forming a ‘nest’ compacted under them. They provide an excellent filtering system to remove excess nutrients.
This is another free floating plant that is popular. Water lettuce is more warm/tropic climate plant which develops compact leaf clusters above the surface, while developing compact root mass under the plant.
With floating plants that have attached roots, water lilies are the most popular option for a koi pond owner, and can be the best option from any type of aquatic plant. The water lilies do good in nearly any region of North America, no matter the season and are able to be potted and positioned at the bottom of ponds. Above the surface, pond owners get a view of pleasant leafy coverage that produces beautiful flowers to accent any pond design.
With a similar appearance to water lilies, a lotus is among the oldest aquatic plants cultivated, making an excellent part to a koi pond. Usually, their leaves are large, and can measure up to 18-inches across. This provides a great amount of shade for koi during summer months. Commonly confused with the water lilies, a lotus flower is fragrant and beautiful. Although, it needs to be noted that lotus flowers do have substantial growth rates, and best for a larger koi pond.
The water poppy produces smaller oval leaves with yellow flowers. They are a good option for a koi pond and grow rather fast during summer. It can provide a nice yellow accent to ponds, while providing a filtering system.
Another favorite for koi pond owners is the water iris, as there are several pieces to choose from. They provide a long sharp leaf, and based on the species can produce different color flowers, from white, blue, or yellow. Typically, these plants are placed in pots which are submerged in the water. The majority of water iris will survive in partial or full sun, which is good for those that have tree coverage.
This is aplant that is quick to grow and produces slender green stems. It’s best positioned on a peripheral section of a pond, doing best in partial shade.
