Algae, the unsightly green stuff that grows in our ponds from time to time. It's one of the most common issues pond owners face.
All ponds will eventually come across this issue. We can help you keep it at bay, but first, we need to understand it.
In Canada, we have 2 main types of algae that form, Green Water Algae (suspended algae) and String Algae. We'll be focusing on these two types. If you haven't already, you'll want to learn what these two algae's are and what causes them. This important knowledge will help you beat your algae issues and keep them away.
To learn more about what pond algae is and what causes it, click HERE
We'll be going over how you can prevent algae before it forms as well as how to control it and get rid of it once it does form. Algae can be an annoying sight that goes away after some time or a continuous issue, following these steps will help rid your pond of it faster and help keep it away.
Control and Prevention for Both Types of Algae
Control and prevention is the best thing you can do for a pond. Once algae starts forming you can still get rid of it fairly easy; however, once its a major issue, it can take great lengths and effort to get rid of it. The best method is prevention.
Both Algae forms are relatively similar so we'll start with some things you can do to control and prevent both of them. If you already have algae issues, you should review the prevention section as well and take the appropriate measures and treatments available.
Since the two main factors to algae growth are 1. Excess nutrients and 2. Direct Sunlight, we'll want to control these issues no matter where we are in the prevention or control timeline.
Prevention:
Limit the Amount of Fish in Your Pond
Pond fish such as Koi and Goldfish, tend to be larger than aquarium fish, as such we don't follow the same rules as we would an aquarium. A pond should have no more than 1 inch of fish per 10 gallons of water.
Let's say you have a pond that holds 1000 gallons of water, you would want no more than 100 inches of fish. This could mean only 3-4 Koi or 5-7 Goldfish if they are fully grown. Koi grow 24 - 36 inches and Goldfish can grow up to 15 inches fully grown.
Control Fish Feeding
Fish food breaks down quickly, causing water imbalances. As such, we need to ensure we are only feeding fish the amount they need. To solve this issue, there are fish foods that don't break down the same as others or cause cloudy water. These foods can help. Also make sure you follow the feeding instructions and don't overfeed fish. A general rule of thumb is to feed the fish only what they can eat in 4-5 minutes, then remove the rest of the uneaten food with a net.
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