Intelligent Algae Control For Small Ponds
Of the many outdoor hobbies that people enjoy, few are gaining as much popularity as owning a small backyard pond. Many people build a water garden with the hopes of it being a great place to relax and along with that it can even add some value to one’s home. All in all and pond is a great addition to a property.
All of this goes out the window however when algae begins to show up. Usually it’s green, slimey, sometimes stinky, and downright ugly. Pond algae can virtually destroy the ambiance of a pond very quickly and because of this it’s no wonder that most pond owners will do just about anything to get rid of it.
Of all the ponds that may get algae, the vast majority of them have fish. Goldfish as well as Koi are very popular and while fish bring a pond to life, they also create an environment that’s nutrient rich and primed for plant growth. Most experts suggest that any fish pond also have a biological filter installed to help deal with these conditions.
One of the keys to pond algae control is to insure that any fish pond has a filter array that’s set up right and is not undersized for the pond’s gallon size and the amount of fish in it. More fish equals more demand. Dealers and manufacturing companies will have details on what will work best if they are provided with some simple details concerning a pond.
Once a biofilter is installed the next major step is to cultivate it with fresh beneficial bacteria which is the real worker in the filter’s operation. Bacteria begins to “eat away” at organic elements in the water and the discharged flow comes out much cleaner. If a biofilter doesn’t have adequate bacteria in it, it won’t work well so it’s a good idea to add fresh bacteria to the water at every start up, and from time to time, to make sure good healthy bacteria is present in the filter.
When bacteria is added to the pond water itself as we suggest, a side benefit of this is that some of these “good bugs” will colonize in the the pond body, as well as in the filter. This may help control algae and slow the accumulation of muck at the bottom of the pond.
If a biological filter is the #1 tool for pond algae control, then pond plants would have to be a close second on the list. Plants of various kinds, whether they float or lay under the water are all helpful to clean the water and create a healthier environment for fish. Choose those that add to the natural look of the pond and the pond will not only be healthier but it will look better too.
For many ponds, these simple steps will often turn the tide on algae growth and provide a simple and economical form of algae control that will work on all types of unwanted growth.
