 |
Green Pond Water!
For the green pond water (unicellular), there are two certain cures: ultraviolet radiation (URV) and plants filtration.
Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) This is known to be the most certain cure. When water passed through a tube containing a bulb emitting UV radiation, it actually kills the algae green cells. When all components are selected correctly, this method takes about 7 to 10 days to clear green pond water.
40-watt UV Sterilizer to handle my pond would cost me over $250. Having tight budget, I didn’t want to spend that much money. For the first two years algae control cost me back braking hard labor of draining and cleaning the pond. So finally, I got tired of it, spend the money and install UV Sterilizer.
When operating properly, the UVR system interrupts algae green cycle, the pond filter will not clog as often and the bottom of the pond will have less dead algae in form of sediment. Another word, UVR helps to achieve clear water and reduce maintenance.
Plants Filtration This method is using plants for filtration. Smaller pass-through pool with hydroponically grown plants acts as a filter for the primary pool. Plants depriving algae green of the three forms of nitrogen fertilizer: ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. This keeps water clear.
Dick Schuck’s Ten Percent Solution Plant Filtration effectively uses the principals of eco-balance to control green pond water.
Any other filter media, such as Lava Rock, Shaved PVC, etc, converts ammonia and nitrite to nitrate, which is still available to feed algae green.
Certain aquatic plants emit allelopathic chemicals, which help inhibit algae, and consume heavy metal pollutants that are harmful to fish.
The downside of plant filtration is that it only works when the plants are actively growing. When plants are dormant in early spring and in fall, it is best to keep using URV. It will keep water clear during these times.
Chemical Cures The other methods of clearing green pond water, is the use of chemical algaecides. I used the Algae-Fix, the Accu Clear and some others.
Chemical cures are generally short lived and must be repeated often. Algae-Fix contains copper sulfate and can cause a dangerous buildup of copper which can harm your fish and plants.
Accu Clear is alum-based flocculates. So when the settled algae begin to decompose, Accu Clear (flocculates) may reduce the oxygen level in the water. The alum-based flocculates also may bind to the gills of the fish and cause stress.
While these products work, they are considered short-term solution that could cause unwanted side effects. Today my pond is kept clear of algae green with use of the skimmer, UV sterilizer and bio-filtration.
Bacterial Products Bacterial products suppliers purport to clear algae green, but are careful not to claim algaecidal properties.
There are no scientific studies on how and when they clear pond water, but this is not to say that the bacterial products don’t do the job. While the lack of certainty and timing of the event is not always predictable, bacterial microbes may clear green pond water by consuming or eliminating nutrients that feed algae green.
Since nobody knows when they are clearing the water or when something else is doing it, I go light on bacteria.
Allelopathic Base Products Everybody selling barley straw and barley pellets to help with algae green. However, barley may emit toxic or allelopathic chemicals that inhibit all forms of algae. Also, there are no scientific studies that show the efficiency of the product.
Just like in bacterial products, we are confronted with a question, is the barley straw or something else is clearing green pond water. In all trails with chemical, bacterial and allelopathic products you will be the judge.
Back from Green Pond Water to Algae-Control Page

|
|