String Algae *cure*

[*muffin*]

I am posting this in case someone does not know of this.
If I had not seem it myslef,, I'd still be skeptical, (from reading on other
groups)

you use Koi Clay!!

yesterday I noticed I had hundreds of strands of this stuff growing, ( there
were only a couple LONG pieces last week, but I ignored them), so I figured
I better do 'something'.
I put in Koi Clay last night & *WOW* it has all dissapeared! I am stunned!!
(other ponders say it takes several days to get rid of it)

it was suggested for 2 Tablespoons per thousand gal. ( I only put in 1 T.
per thousand) and have read different directions as to every day or every
other day.

Koi Clay is supposed to be very beneficial for your pond ( besides the
Koi).

(I bought mine last year , but it was packed away all winter, ebay is a good
source, Calcium Bentonite)

[B Ghostrider]

the best way , i found ,to deal with string alge is the roll up your
sleaves and start pulling.

On Thu, 27 May 2004 16:39:42 -0400, "*muffin*" >
wrote:

>I am posting this in case someone does not know of this.
>If I had not seem it myslef,, I'd still be skeptical, (from reading on other
>groups)
>
>you use Koi Clay!!
>
>yesterday I noticed I had hundreds of strands of this stuff growing, ( there
>were only a couple LONG pieces last week, but I ignored them), so I figured
>I better do 'something'.
>I put in Koi Clay last night & *WOW* it has all dissapeared! I am stunned!!
>(other ponders say it takes several days to get rid of it)
>
>it was suggested for 2 Tablespoons per thousand gal. ( I only put in 1 T.
>per thousand) and have read different directions as to every day or every
>other day.
>
>Koi Clay is supposed to be very beneficial for your pond ( besides the
>Koi).
>
>(I bought mine last year , but it was packed away all winter, ebay is a good
>source, Calcium Bentonite)
>

[Happy'Cam'per]

Hi Muffin :)

JFYI the reason you have string algae in the first place is probably from
suspended nutrients in the water column, more than likely elevated Iron
levels, hence the string algae. The reason Koi clay helps to combat string
algae is because the clay will bind the iron! The iron has probably come
from water runoff or from pot plant/garden soil. Next time you plant some
more pots in your pond put a layer of clay at the bottom, this will further
help to reduce suspended iron and your plants will go gangbusters for it.
--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**


"*muffin*" > wrote in message
...
> I am posting this in case someone does not know of this.
> If I had not seem it myslef,, I'd still be skeptical, (from reading on
other
> groups)
>
> you use Koi Clay!!
>
> yesterday I noticed I had hundreds of strands of this stuff growing, (
there
> were only a couple LONG pieces last week, but I ignored them), so I
figured
> I better do 'something'.
> I put in Koi Clay last night & *WOW* it has all dissapeared! I am
stunned!!
> (other ponders say it takes several days to get rid of it)
>
> it was suggested for 2 Tablespoons per thousand gal. ( I only put in 1 T.
> per thousand) and have read different directions as to every day or every
> other day.
>
> Koi Clay is supposed to be very beneficial for your pond ( besides the
> Koi).
>
> (I bought mine last year , but it was packed away all winter, ebay is a
good
> source, Calcium Bentonite)
>
>

[Susan H. Simko]

B Ghostrider wrote:
> the best way , i found ,to deal with string alge is the roll up your
> sleaves and start pulling.

Easiest way:

Tadpoles! *grin* Now that we have had taddies for two weeks there's no
algae to be seen in the pond.

Susan
shsimko[@]duke[.]edu

[*muffin*]

"B Ghostrider" > wrote in message
...
> the best way , i found ,to deal with string alge is the roll up your
> sleaves and start pulling.
>


why on earth would you want to do physical work, when you have the option
NOT to???

[Heather]

Hi Happy 'Cam'per

Thank you for solving the mystery! We don't have a lot of direct sunlight
on our stream but always are fighting string algae. In the pond too but not
as bad. Nitrates are not even showing on the tests but still the string
algae. We have well water and there is a high concentration of iron in the
water. Thank you for telling us about that relationship.

I don't have Koi but I'll try the Koi clay stuff if I can find it and see if
that helps.

Heather




"Happy'Cam'per" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Muffin :)
>
> JFYI the reason you have string algae in the first place is probably from
> suspended nutrients in the water column, more than likely elevated Iron
> levels, hence the string algae. The reason Koi clay helps to combat string
> algae is because the clay will bind the iron! The iron has probably come
> from water runoff or from pot plant/garden soil. Next time you plant some
> more pots in your pond put a layer of clay at the bottom, this will
further
> help to reduce suspended iron and your plants will go gangbusters for it.
> --
> **So long, and thanks for all the fish!**
>
>
> "*muffin*" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I am posting this in case someone does not know of this.
> > If I had not seem it myslef,, I'd still be skeptical, (from reading on
> other
> > groups)
> >
> > you use Koi Clay!!
> >
> > yesterday I noticed I had hundreds of strands of this stuff growing, (
> there
> > were only a couple LONG pieces last week, but I ignored them), so I
> figured
> > I better do 'something'.
> > I put in Koi Clay last night & *WOW* it has all dissapeared! I am
> stunned!!
> > (other ponders say it takes several days to get rid of it)
> >
> > it was suggested for 2 Tablespoons per thousand gal. ( I only put in 1
T.
> > per thousand) and have read different directions as to every day or
every
> > other day.
> >
> > Koi Clay is supposed to be very beneficial for your pond ( besides the
> > Koi).
> >
> > (I bought mine last year , but it was packed away all winter, ebay is a
> good
> > source, Calcium Bentonite)
> >
> >
>
>

[Gail Futoran]

"*muffin*" > wrote in message
...
>
> "B Ghostrider" > wrote in message
> ...
> > the best way , i found ,to deal with string alge is the
roll up your
> > sleaves and start pulling.
>
> why on earth would you want to do physical work, when you
have the option
> NOT to???

When in doubt (about anything added to pond
water), I'd rather do physical work first until
I'm sure of the safety of a product. I know you
didn't ask me, but I agreed with B Ghostrider. :)

And another point: at my age and given
arthritis in all joints, any gentle physical work
I can do in the garden is a GOOD THING!
Pulling string algae definitely falls into that
category.

Gail
near San Antonio TX Zone 8

[*muffin*]

yes, but this is not one of those foreign chemicals.
koi clay is GOOD for the pond & well, especially for the fish!

this is just an added benefit of this item.


"Gail Futoran" > wrote in message
...
> "*muffin*" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "B Ghostrider" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > the best way , i found ,to deal with string alge is the
> roll up your
> > > sleaves and start pulling.
> >
> > why on earth would you want to do physical work, when you
> have the option
> > NOT to???
>
> When in doubt (about anything added to pond
> water), I'd rather do physical work first until
> I'm sure of the safety of a product. I know you
> didn't ask me, but I agreed with B Ghostrider. :)
>
> And another point: at my age and given
> arthritis in all joints, any gentle physical work
> I can do in the garden is a GOOD THING!
> Pulling string algae definitely falls into that
> category.
>
> Gail
> near San Antonio TX Zone 8
>
>

[Gail Futoran]

It was your statement (copied from below):

> > > why on earth would you want to do physical work, when
you
> > have the option
> > > NOT to???

that kinda set me off. You seem to be suggesting
there's something wrong with physical work.
Most ponders, like gardeners, actually *enjoy*
physical labor! Else why bother digging large
holes in fine clay... (mutter mutter mutter).

I.e., there's no harm in recommending a product
you've had good luck with, but the way you're
going about it is a bit of a turnoff. For me, at
least.

Different strokes...

Oh, and by the way, "natural chemicals" can
be just as harmful as "foreign chemicals".
E.g., a lot of common garden plants are
poisonous to cats. My neighbor's hedge
consists of shrubs that are highly poisonous
to humans. And too much of just about
anything is harmful. So let's not assume "foreign
chemicals" (whatever that means) are necessarily
better/safer than ... um, native chemicals?? :)

Gail

"*muffin*" > wrote in message
...
> yes, but this is not one of those foreign chemicals.
> koi clay is GOOD for the pond & well, especially for the
fish!
>
> this is just an added benefit of this item.
>
>
> "Gail Futoran" > wrote in
message
>
...
> > "*muffin*" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > >
> > > "B Ghostrider" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > the best way , i found ,to deal with string alge is
the
> > roll up your
> > > > sleaves and start pulling.
> > >
> > > why on earth would you want to do physical work, when
you
> > have the option
> > > NOT to???
> >
> > When in doubt (about anything added to pond
> > water), I'd rather do physical work first until
> > I'm sure of the safety of a product. I know you
> > didn't ask me, but I agreed with B Ghostrider. :)
> >
> > And another point: at my age and given
> > arthritis in all joints, any gentle physical work
> > I can do in the garden is a GOOD THING!
> > Pulling string algae definitely falls into that
> > category.
> >
> > Gail
> > near San Antonio TX Zone 8
> >
> >
>
>

[*muffin*]

"Gail Futoran" > wrote in message
...
> It was your statement (copied from below):
>
> > > > why on earth would you want to do physical work, when
> you
> > > have the option
> > > > NOT to???
>
> that kinda set me off. You seem to be suggesting
> there's something wrong with physical work.
> Most ponders, like gardeners, actually *enjoy*
> physical labor! Else why bother digging large
> holes in fine clay... (mutter mutter mutter).

ok, (chill,, lol)

myself is getting OLD, I do not relish the idea of crawling in a pond in 10
yrs when I am 60!

I do all the other stuff, right now, planting etc, but there WILL come a day
I will be unable,, then what,, fill it in?
there are enough things to do with a pond, and anything that can help , why
is that a problem? ( I do have a physical problem now that limits me, to
some extent, and am lucky I can do what I can get accomplished<that is
beside the point>)

I see many people (post) who clean out their ponds each year/ empty, haul
out the crud & refill,, others say use BZT or the like,, so by what you are
saying , no one should use BZT? they should just empty it & shovel out all
the crud?

I put my comments about the string algae on this group because I read MANY
many posts about it, and most say to use algae fix or something,, now that
would be something I would think you & others would be up in arms about. I
was trying to be helpful and suggest a natural method.
but if your idea is going in & swilling string algae around a 'collecter'
all the time, you must have a heck of a lot of energy & free time.
I'd rather use that time for the other upkeep I need to do.

[*muffin*]

> Oh, and by the way, "natural chemicals" can
> be just as harmful as "foreign chemicals".
E.g., a lot of common garden plants are
poisonous to cats.


I have never heard/read anything harmful about Koi clay. everything I have
read say it has very beneficial properties. we are not talking plant
extracts here ,, from poisonous plants. If you know what it is used for &
harmful for, then there should be no problem.

(Of course a horse etc eating a yew is NOT good,, you need to check these
things out beforehand. goats love poison ivy,, but not good for human
consumption ,,would you eat mushrooms from your woods?? I doubt it.)

<foreign chemicals= algea fix etc, etc>

[jbjrfan]

Thanks for the tip as I have been fighting this string for years and tried
lots of stuff that only seems to keep it from getting rampant and not
killing it I will go out and buy some and give it a try if it works and
doesn't kill my plants its the best tip ever for me :-)

[Gail Futoran]

"*muffin*" > wrote
[snip]
> but if your idea is going in & swilling string algae
around a 'collecter'
[snip]

My hands. Sometimes a stick (I suppose that's
what you mean by a "collector"). But mostly my
hands. That's also how I clean up dead waterlily
leaves, dead stems & the like. I'm 61 and retired
and hope like hell I can still be doing "physical work"
in the yard when I'm in my 80s, like a good friend
of mine who still does most of her own yardwork
even though she can well afford to pay someone
else to do it.

Gail
near San Antonio TX

[dkat]

My Mother is 90, still does her own yard work and walks from 20 to 30 miles
a week. Gardening and walking are supposedly the best health choices you
can make. :)

"Gail Futoran" > wrote in message
...
> "*muffin*" > wrote
> [snip]
> > but if your idea is going in & swilling string algae
> around a 'collecter'
> [snip]
>
> My hands. Sometimes a stick (I suppose that's
> what you mean by a "collector"). But mostly my
> hands. That's also how I clean up dead waterlily
> leaves, dead stems & the like. I'm 61 and retired
> and hope like hell I can still be doing "physical work"
> in the yard when I'm in my 80s, like a good friend
> of mine who still does most of her own yardwork
> even though she can well afford to pay someone
> else to do it.
>
> Gail
> near San Antonio TX
>
>
>

[Sean Dinh]

I didn't know that clay would bind the Iron to cut off nutrient to the String
Algae. My experience with clay and SA was that the clay bond to the SA and
block off the light. The SA would disappear after a few days.

You don't need Koi clay. I used clay marketed as plasticizer for thin set
mortar at OSH before. I always used it to clarify my aquarium, until I ran
out. My latest accidental discovery is that Koi shifting through 5 bag of
Special Kitty litter have the same effect.

jbjrfan wrote:

> Thanks for the tip as I have been fighting this string for years and tried
> lots of stuff that only seems to keep it from getting rampant and not
> killing it I will go out and buy some and give it a try if it works and
> doesn't kill my plants its the best tip ever for me :-)

[Happy'Cam'per]

"Heather" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Happy 'Cam'per
>
> Thank you for solving the mystery!

Hi Heather,

Its my pleasure for sharing the info but I cannot accept credit for the
'solving of' part. Through keeping planted aquaria you pick up on certain
'methods used' which I am just applying to a pond scenario. Keep in mind
that this is not a quick fix to your algae problems, it may help a bit but
certainly won't keep your pond completely free of Algae.

You mention you have zero Nitrates, either your test kit is wrong or you
have no fish in your pond, or you have bucketfulls of plants that are
sucking all the N up. Having zero nitrates is bad, this too can be causing
the string algae. Algae usually appears when the main nutrients N, P, K are
not in sync. K or Pottassium can be added to the pond without adverse
affects to the fish and the plants will benefit too, you can recognise
Pottassium defficiency in plants by the small pin holes that develop on the
leaves. N & P are very important nutrients for the plants. P or Phosphate
should be abundant in any pond (rotting leaves, mulm etc.) Check your water
test again for Nitrates, take a sample to your LFS aswell just to compare
the readings. If your Nitrate level is indeed near to zero then this could
be your problem. N & P should be in an approximate ratio of 10:1 N:P. You
could add more fish to get the N level up or you would have to remove some
plants as there just is'nt enough nutrients for them to thrive. If anything
is unclear then please ask questions and I'll try my best to answer them for
you. Again, all this info comes from keeping planted aquaria and not ponds,
although I'm pretty sure the method applies: look after your plants and not
the algae, give the plants what they need and you'll have happy fishies and
thriving plants. HTH
--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**

[Heather]

Hi Cam

Interesting comments... I do have a few plants that are not the deep green
I think they should be. I will test the water tonight and go from there.

Thanks again,
Heather


"Happy'Cam'per" > wrote in message
...
> "Heather" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi Happy 'Cam'per
> >
> > Thank you for solving the mystery!
>
> Hi Heather,
>
> Its my pleasure for sharing the info but I cannot accept credit for the
> 'solving of' part. Through keeping planted aquaria you pick up on certain
> 'methods used' which I am just applying to a pond scenario. Keep in mind
> that this is not a quick fix to your algae problems, it may help a bit but
> certainly won't keep your pond completely free of Algae.
>
> You mention you have zero Nitrates, either your test kit is wrong or you
> have no fish in your pond, or you have bucketfulls of plants that are
> sucking all the N up. Having zero nitrates is bad, this too can be causing
> the string algae. Algae usually appears when the main nutrients N, P, K
are
> not in sync. K or Pottassium can be added to the pond without adverse
> affects to the fish and the plants will benefit too, you can recognise
> Pottassium defficiency in plants by the small pin holes that develop on
the
> leaves. N & P are very important nutrients for the plants. P or Phosphate
> should be abundant in any pond (rotting leaves, mulm etc.) Check your
water
> test again for Nitrates, take a sample to your LFS aswell just to compare
> the readings. If your Nitrate level is indeed near to zero then this could
> be your problem. N & P should be in an approximate ratio of 10:1 N:P.
You
> could add more fish to get the N level up or you would have to remove some
> plants as there just is'nt enough nutrients for them to thrive. If
anything
> is unclear then please ask questions and I'll try my best to answer them
for
> you. Again, all this info comes from keeping planted aquaria and not
ponds,
> although I'm pretty sure the method applies: look after your plants and
not
> the algae, give the plants what they need and you'll have happy fishies
and
> thriving plants. HTH
> --
> **So long, and thanks for all the fish!**
>
>

[Lee B.]

Ah yes. And then you can have nitrAtes that are off the chart, too - which
will contribute to algae. By "off the chart", I mean it: it was over 200! A
series of 50% water changes finally got it down to 20. My "normal" 15%
weekly water exchanges were not enough to keep up. I have no plants. I have
phosphates and nitrates in my water supply, so that didn't help any.

Lee

"Happy'Cam'per" > wrote in message
...
> "Heather" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi Happy 'Cam'per
> >
> > Thank you for solving the mystery!
>
> Hi Heather,
>
> Its my pleasure for sharing the info but I cannot accept credit for the
> 'solving of' part. Through keeping planted aquaria you pick up on certain
> 'methods used' which I am just applying to a pond scenario. Keep in mind
> that this is not a quick fix to your algae problems, it may help a bit but
> certainly won't keep your pond completely free of Algae.
>
> You mention you have zero Nitrates, either your test kit is wrong or you
> have no fish in your pond, or you have bucketfulls of plants that are
> sucking all the N up. Having zero nitrates is bad, this too can be causing
> the string algae. Algae usually appears when the main nutrients N, P, K
are
> not in sync. K or Pottassium can be added to the pond without adverse
> affects to the fish and the plants will benefit too, you can recognise
> Pottassium defficiency in plants by the small pin holes that develop on
the
> leaves. N & P are very important nutrients for the plants. P or Phosphate
> should be abundant in any pond (rotting leaves, mulm etc.) Check your
water
> test again for Nitrates, take a sample to your LFS aswell just to compare
> the readings. If your Nitrate level is indeed near to zero then this could
> be your problem. N & P should be in an approximate ratio of 10:1 N:P.
You
> could add more fish to get the N level up or you would have to remove some
> plants as there just is'nt enough nutrients for them to thrive. If
anything
> is unclear then please ask questions and I'll try my best to answer them
for
> you. Again, all this info comes from keeping planted aquaria and not
ponds,
> although I'm pretty sure the method applies: look after your plants and
not
> the algae, give the plants what they need and you'll have happy fishies
and
> thriving plants. HTH
> --
> **So long, and thanks for all the fish!**
>
>

[*muffin*]

I honestly envy you.

I can see, doing yard work, but I have enough problems climbing in & out of
the pond,,, < I can see myself falling & killing myself>

actually "I" detest yardwork & gardening, never got 'into' that. (can't
stand the sun) I force myself to do what needs to be done , and will look
for short cuts on all I can.

I have other hobbies that consume me and keep me very happily busy.

(VBG) guess that is why we are not all train conductors.



I'm 61 and retired
> and hope like hell I can still be doing "physical work"
> in the yard when I'm in my 80s, like a good friend
> of mine who still does most of her own yardwork
> even though she can well afford to pay someone
> else to do it.
>
> Gail
> near San Antonio TX
>
>
>

[jbjrfan]

I was told last month on here that koi clay is the cure for string algae and
I ordered it and it came yesterday and after one treatment and one day looks
like 40 percent of it is gone already im thinking they must be right as I
haven't done anything else just wanted to say thanks for the BEST TIP EVER
for me to whoever it was and to the people that was giving them a hard time
pppffffffttt you don't know do do :-) lmbo