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How to Treat Pond Algae
How to Treat Pond Algae. Treating pond algae is not nearly as difficult as you may believe and does not require the use of potentially harmful chemicals. Algae are basically just phytoplankton that multiply very quickly within ponds and turn the water an unattractive tint of green. It's a notorious condition and is a problem that most, if not all,...
Treating pond algae is not nearly as difficult as you may believe and does not require the use of potentially harmful chemicals. Algae are basically just phytoplankton that multiply very quickly within ponds and turn the water an unattractive tint of green. It's a notorious condition and is a problem that most, if not all, pond owners will eventually have to deal with. Fortunately, the organic method by which algae can be treated is also the easiest, safest and most effective.
Things You'll Need
1 handful of barley straw
Mesh bag
Rubber band
Water lilies
Stuff the barley straw into the mesh bag and tie it shut using the rubber band.
Place the bag of straw either in the center of the pond or in the area with the most water flow. As the barley decomposes, it will release a chemical which eliminates algae.
Spread the water lilies over the pond, making sure to cover about two-thirds of the surface. You can also use duckweed or water hyacinth or a combination of all three. The plants will block sunlight and utilize nutrients that would otherwise be used by the algae to multiply.
Tips & Warnings
The best way to treat algae is to prevent it, and a well-planted pond will be the least susceptible to algae. Plants absorb nutrients and block sunlight, which are the two most important factors that promote the growth of algae. In some circumstances, given a small enough pond, it may beneficial to dig a small trough around the perimeter of your pond to catch rainwater, which can carry excess nutrients into the pond.
Chemicals are not typically recommended for treating pond algae since the repercussions of irresponsible usage can be severely detrimental to the balance of the pond's water and harmful to any fish or turtles that may inhabit it. Also take note that chemicals offer only a temporary solution with algae, and the algae that is killed will quickly be replaced by newly grown algae.
