String Algae

[Dave M.]

We put our pond in this summer, about 4500 gallons, didn't get it going
until mid August. 17 small goldfish, a few plants, all seem to be doing well
and water temp is down to about 45 so we're not feeding the fish anymore.
While it was hot this summer, water stayed clear and no issues, now that it
has gotten cold, we're starting to see string algae, will this grow all
winter (we're in Northern Virginia) or will it die off in the colder
weather? Trying to decide if we should treat it or just remove it by hand
for now, not getting a lot but just caught me off guard given how cold the
water is when it appeared. Thanks.

[BenignVanilla]

"Dave M." > wrote in message
. ..
> We put our pond in this summer, about 4500 gallons, didn't get it going
> until mid August. 17 small goldfish, a few plants, all seem to be doing
well
> and water temp is down to about 45 so we're not feeding the fish anymore.
> While it was hot this summer, water stayed clear and no issues, now that
it
> has gotten cold, we're starting to see string algae, will this grow all
> winter (we're in Northern Virginia) or will it die off in the colder
> weather? Trying to decide if we should treat it or just remove it by hand
> for now, not getting a lot but just caught me off guard given how cold the
> water is when it appeared. Thanks.

IMHO...string algae is good when controlled. It is a voracious eater, so
again IMHO if it grows that hardily, then it will help to out compete the
green water. It is easy to remove by hand, in my experience (sorry tired of
IMHO) it's easy to manage. I also found that this fall it was a great tool
for catching and removing leaves and pine needles.

BV.

[Dave M.]

Good points, no need to get crazy about getting rid of it, the main thing
that caught me off guard was how it started growing only after the water got
cold but guess it was probably more reasonable to think it started growing
after there was time for the water to get some nutrients from fish food and
waste to a point where it could grow.

"BenignVanilla" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Dave M." > wrote in message
> . ..
> > We put our pond in this summer, about 4500 gallons, didn't get it going
> > until mid August. 17 small goldfish, a few plants, all seem to be doing
> well
> > and water temp is down to about 45 so we're not feeding the fish
anymore.
> > While it was hot this summer, water stayed clear and no issues, now that
> it
> > has gotten cold, we're starting to see string algae, will this grow all
> > winter (we're in Northern Virginia) or will it die off in the colder
> > weather? Trying to decide if we should treat it or just remove it by
hand
> > for now, not getting a lot but just caught me off guard given how cold
the
> > water is when it appeared. Thanks.
>
> IMHO...string algae is good when controlled. It is a voracious eater, so
> again IMHO if it grows that hardily, then it will help to out compete the
> green water. It is easy to remove by hand, in my experience (sorry tired
of
> IMHO) it's easy to manage. I also found that this fall it was a great tool
> for catching and removing leaves and pine needles.
>
> BV.
>
>

[ponder]

surprisingly algae loves the cool water. Most people think it needs hot
water but it starts in the cool water, usually in the spring. Then it kicks
in, why? because it has so much food.
It will keep your water clear and I would leave it for now it will die as it
cant take a freeze.

"Dave M." > wrote in message
. ..
> Good points, no need to get crazy about getting rid of it, the main thing
> that caught me off guard was how it started growing only after the water
got
> cold but guess it was probably more reasonable to think it started growing
> after there was time for the water to get some nutrients from fish food
and
> waste to a point where it could grow.
>
> "BenignVanilla" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "Dave M." > wrote in message
> > . ..
> > > We put our pond in this summer, about 4500 gallons, didn't get it
going
> > > until mid August. 17 small goldfish, a few plants, all seem to be
doing
> > well
> > > and water temp is down to about 45 so we're not feeding the fish
> anymore.
> > > While it was hot this summer, water stayed clear and no issues, now
that
> > it
> > > has gotten cold, we're starting to see string algae, will this grow
all
> > > winter (we're in Northern Virginia) or will it die off in the colder
> > > weather? Trying to decide if we should treat it or just remove it by
> hand
> > > for now, not getting a lot but just caught me off guard given how cold
> the
> > > water is when it appeared. Thanks.
> >
> > IMHO...string algae is good when controlled. It is a voracious eater, so
> > again IMHO if it grows that hardily, then it will help to out compete
the
> > green water. It is easy to remove by hand, in my experience (sorry tired
> of
> > IMHO) it's easy to manage. I also found that this fall it was a great
tool
> > for catching and removing leaves and pine needles.
> >
> > BV.
> >
> >
>
>

[Tom La Bron]

Ponder,

You are so correct. My pond is trying running, pumps and filter and my
water temps are in the high 30's over night and the string algae is doing
great. Every once and a while I have to raise my main pump and clear the
sucked in string algae from the intake because it has the tendency of
slowing the flow, but it sure grows great in my pond area where the pump is
positioned.

Tom L.L.
"ponder" > wrote in message
.. .
> surprisingly algae loves the cool water. Most people think it needs hot
> water but it starts in the cool water, usually in the spring. Then it
kicks
> in, why? because it has so much food.
> It will keep your water clear and I would leave it for now it will die as
it
> cant take a freeze.
>
> "Dave M." > wrote in message
> . ..
> > Good points, no need to get crazy about getting rid of it, the main
thing
> > that caught me off guard was how it started growing only after the water
> got
> > cold but guess it was probably more reasonable to think it started
growing
> > after there was time for the water to get some nutrients from fish food
> and
> > waste to a point where it could grow.
> >
> > "BenignVanilla" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > >
> > > "Dave M." > wrote in message
> > > . ..
> > > > We put our pond in this summer, about 4500 gallons, didn't get it
> going
> > > > until mid August. 17 small goldfish, a few plants, all seem to be
> doing
> > > well
> > > > and water temp is down to about 45 so we're not feeding the fish
> > anymore.
> > > > While it was hot this summer, water stayed clear and no issues, now
> that
> > > it
> > > > has gotten cold, we're starting to see string algae, will this grow
> all
> > > > winter (we're in Northern Virginia) or will it die off in the colder
> > > > weather? Trying to decide if we should treat it or just remove it by
> > hand
> > > > for now, not getting a lot but just caught me off guard given how
cold
> > the
> > > > water is when it appeared. Thanks.
> > >
> > > IMHO...string algae is good when controlled. It is a voracious eater,
so
> > > again IMHO if it grows that hardily, then it will help to out compete
> the
> > > green water. It is easy to remove by hand, in my experience (sorry
tired
> > of
> > > IMHO) it's easy to manage. I also found that this fall it was a great
> tool
> > > for catching and removing leaves and pine needles.
> > >
> > > BV.
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>