Blanket Weed

[vespula]

We have a fairly new pond of about 8 weeks, the pool stays very clear
as we have an ultra voilet light, and an air machine and pump. But we
seem to have picked up blanket weed we don't know if it came on a
plant we bought or if this is a common problem with ponds, any advise
on getting rid of it would be welcome

[Crashj]

On 17 Sep 2004 00:27:15 -0700, (vespula)
wrote:
>We have a fairly new pond of about 8 weeks, the pool stays very clear
>as we have an ultra voilet light, and an air machine and pump. But we
>seem to have picked up blanket weed we don't know if it came on a
>plant we bought or if this is a common problem with ponds, any advise
>on getting rid of it would be welcome

Pull, boy, pull. You may want to start a composter.
--
Crashj

[[email protected]]

(vespula) wrote in message >...
> We have a fairly new pond of about 8 weeks, the pool stays very clear
> as we have an ultra voilet light, and an air machine and pump. But we
> seem to have picked up blanket weed we don't know if it came on a
> plant we bought or if this is a common problem with ponds, any advise
> on getting rid of it would be welcome

Koi are good, if you do not have Koi etc, add more plants, like Lilies
etc.
More plants will mean less light for the blanket weed.

Prune plants as needed.
Remove all the blanket weed you now have, water change etc.
Then add more plants.

If you have about 50%+ of coverage, algae is seldom an issue. But you
still need to remove excess plant growth.

I've never used a UV for a number of ponds.
Never needed too.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[Jim and Phyllis Hurley]

Our koi view it as a treat. They slide half out of the water onto plants to
gobble it up. Get koi!

Jim

--
____________________________________________
See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net\p\pwp-jameshurley
Ask me about Jog-A-Thon fundraiser (clears $120+ per child) at: jogathon.net

"vespula" > wrote in message
om...
> We have a fairly new pond of about 8 weeks, the pool stays very clear
> as we have an ultra voilet light, and an air machine and pump. But we
> seem to have picked up blanket weed we don't know if it came on a
> plant we bought or if this is a common problem with ponds, any advise
> on getting rid of it would be welcome

[Lostin1999]

"Jim and Phyllis Hurley" > wrote in message
. ..
> Our koi view it as a treat. They slide half out of the water onto plants
to
> gobble it up. Get koi!
>
Jim are you talking duck weed? because blanket weed is hair like strands
of algae, and thus far ive not found anything but chemicals to take it out..
(apart from the twisted stick routine)

pulled over 3 lb's out of my pond in last week (after sitting in lawn for 30
mins to drain off some of the water) its nasty stuff... even grass carp
don't touch it...

my fish love a treat of duckweed, but nothing seems to touch blanket weed
(not even a UV)

HTH

Lost

[S. M. Henning]

"Lostin1999" > wrote:

> nothing seems to touch blanket weed

I had good luck controlling severe blanket (string algae) weed that was
trapping and killing my fish (golden shiner minnows) like a spider web.
I used:

€ Trap-door snails into the pond to eat the string algae.
€ Bale of barley straw to kill the string algae
€ Bacteria to help eliminate the dead algae.

I also have a lot of marginal filter plants in the pond to take the
nutrients out of the water.

No filter, no UV, no pump, no Koi, no problem.

--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman

[Lostin1999]

"S. M. Henning" > wrote in message
...
> "Lostin1999" > wrote:
>
> > nothing seems to touch blanket weed
>
> I had good luck controlling severe blanket (string algae) weed that was
> trapping and killing my fish (golden shiner minnows) like a spider web.
> I used:
>
> ? Trap-door snails into the pond to eat the string algae.

can i get Trap door snails in the uk (legally?)

> ? Bale of barley straw to kill the string algae

ive been using barley straw, but its almost all rotted now (i was hoping
the cooler weather (its autumn(fall) now in uk) would mean no more needed
till next spring..) guess ill be off to the pond suppliers for some
pellets..

> ? Bacteria to help eliminate the dead algae.

would this be "added" bacteria or the ponds natural?? if added would
"filter booster" work?

> I also have a lot of marginal filter plants in the pond to take the
> nutrients out of the water.

next year im going to add some water hyacinth's, but as my pond is
ornamental one thing i didnt want was loads of plants (although im still
trying to design a veggie filter with a slow flow for my pond (but as its
got cooler ill probably not get it sorted till next spring!)

> No filter, no UV, no pump, no Koi, no problem.

Congrats!!

Lost

[Jim and Phyllis Hurley]

Yes, I am talking about blanket weed (long strands like hair) rather than
duckweed (small leaves that multiply like mad). Our koi love duckweed too.

We get blanket weed in the veggie filters. In the main pond, it gets eaten.
It is amazing to see the koi go up on the pots for a bite.

Jim

--
____________________________________________
See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net\p\pwp-jameshurley
Ask me about Jog-A-Thon fundraiser (clears $120+ per child) at: jogathon.net

"Lostin1999" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Jim and Phyllis Hurley" > wrote in message
> . ..
> > Our koi view it as a treat. They slide half out of the water onto
plants
> to
> > gobble it up. Get koi!
> >
> Jim are you talking duck weed? because blanket weed is hair like strands
> of algae, and thus far ive not found anything but chemicals to take it
out..
> (apart from the twisted stick routine)
>
> pulled over 3 lb's out of my pond in last week (after sitting in lawn for
30
> mins to drain off some of the water) its nasty stuff... even grass carp
> don't touch it...
>
> my fish love a treat of duckweed, but nothing seems to touch blanket weed
> (not even a UV)
>
> HTH
>
> Lost
>
>

[Chakoteya]

vespula Wrote:
> We have a fairly new pond of about 8 weeks, the pool stays very clear
> as we have an ultra voilet light, and an air machine and pump. But we
> seem to have picked up blanket weed we don't know if it came on a
> plant we bought or if this is a common problem with ponds, any advise
> on getting rid of it would be welcome

You'll never completely get rid of it, but the fewer nutrients in the
pond the better. Plenty of marginal and submerged plants helps. It's
easy to pull out with a stick and a twirling motion.

Is the pond in full sun, or does it get shaded as the sun moves across?


--
Chakoteya

[S. M. Henning]

"Lostin1999" > wrote:

> > * Bacteria to help eliminate the dead algae.
>
> would this be "added" bacteria or the ponds natural?? if added would
> "filter booster" work?

It is a powdered sludge-eating product (concentrated bacteria culture).

> > I also have a lot of marginal filter plants in the pond to take the
> > nutrients out of the water.
>
> next year im going to add some water hyacinth's, but as my pond is
> ornamental one thing i didnt want was loads of plants (although im still
> trying to design a veggie filter with a slow flow for my pond (but as its
> got cooler ill probably not get it sorted till next spring!)

Marginal plants or a veggie filter are necessary to get the nutrients
out of the water. That is what the string algae is living on. If you
don't eliminate the nutrients the string algae will keep coming back.

--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman

[vespula]

Chakoteya > wrote in message news:<1095523316.Ohrs+grF21q4sxAI2yadaQ@teranews>...
> vespula Wrote:
> > We have a fairly new pond of about 8 weeks, the pool stays very clear
> > as we have an ultra voilet light, and an air machine and pump. But we
> > seem to have picked up blanket weed we don't know if it came on a
> > plant we bought or if this is a common problem with ponds, any advise
> > on getting rid of it would be welcome
>
> You'll never completely get rid of it, but the fewer nutrients in the
> pond the better. Plenty of marginal and submerged plants helps. It's
> easy to pull out with a stick and a twirling motion.
>
> Is the pond in full sun, or does it get shaded as the sun moves across?

It has full sun for about 4 hours in the morning then shade for the
rest of the day, we also have 2 koi's (one ghost one english) they
have shown no intrest in eating the blanket weed.

[Jim and Phyllis Hurley]

I wonder if our koi are just strange. Or maybe it is an age factor. How
big/old are yours?

Your experience makes me glad our koi have decided blanketweed is a treat.

Jim

--
____________________________________________
See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net\p\pwp-jameshurley
Ask me about Jog-A-Thon fundraiser (clears $120+ per child) at: jogathon.net

"vespula" > wrote in message
om...
> Chakoteya > wrote in message
news:<1095523316.Ohrs+grF21q4sxAI2yadaQ@teranews>...
> > vespula Wrote:
> > > We have a fairly new pond of about 8 weeks, the pool stays very clear
> > > as we have an ultra voilet light, and an air machine and pump. But we
> > > seem to have picked up blanket weed we don't know if it came on a
> > > plant we bought or if this is a common problem with ponds, any advise
> > > on getting rid of it would be welcome
> >
> > You'll never completely get rid of it, but the fewer nutrients in the
> > pond the better. Plenty of marginal and submerged plants helps. It's
> > easy to pull out with a stick and a twirling motion.
> >
> > Is the pond in full sun, or does it get shaded as the sun moves across?
>
> It has full sun for about 4 hours in the morning then shade for the
> rest of the day, we also have 2 koi's (one ghost one english) they
> have shown no intrest in eating the blanket weed.

[vespula]

"Jim and Phyllis Hurley" > wrote in message >...
> I wonder if our koi are just strange. Or maybe it is an age factor. How
> big/old are yours?
>
> Your experience makes me glad our koi have decided blanketweed is a treat.
>
> Jim

Our koi are not that old about a year and only about 3 inches so maybe
they will grow to love it we can hope

Denise
>
> --
> ____________________________________________
> See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net\p\pwp-jameshurley
> Ask me about Jog-A-Thon fundraiser (clears $120+ per child) at: jogathon.net
>
> "vespula" > wrote in message
> om...
> > Chakoteya > wrote in message
> news:<1095523316.Ohrs+grF21q4sxAI2yadaQ@teranews>...
> > > vespula Wrote:
> > > > We have a fairly new pond of about 8 weeks, the pool stays very clear
> > > > as we have an ultra voilet light, and an air machine and pump. But we
> > > > seem to have picked up blanket weed we don't know if it came on a
> > > > plant we bought or if this is a common problem with ponds, any advise
> > > > on getting rid of it would be welcome
> > >
> > > You'll never completely get rid of it, but the fewer nutrients in the
> > > pond the better. Plenty of marginal and submerged plants helps. It's
> > > easy to pull out with a stick and a twirling motion.
> > >
> > > Is the pond in full sun, or does it get shaded as the sun moves across?
> >
> > It has full sun for about 4 hours in the morning then shade for the
> > rest of the day, we also have 2 koi's (one ghost one english) they
> > have shown no intrest in eating the blanket weed.

[Jim and Phyllis Hurley]

I hope your koi come to enjoy the weed. Ours are 15-24" now.

Jim

--
____________________________________________
See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net\p\pwp-jameshurley
Ask me about Jog-A-Thon fundraiser (clears $120+ per child) at: jogathon.net

"vespula" > wrote in message
om...
> "Jim and Phyllis Hurley" > wrote in message
>...
> > I wonder if our koi are just strange. Or maybe it is an age factor.
How
> > big/old are yours?
> >
> > Your experience makes me glad our koi have decided blanketweed is a
treat.
> >
> > Jim
>
> Our koi are not that old about a year and only about 3 inches so maybe
> they will grow to love it we can hope
>
> Denise
> >
> > --
> > ____________________________________________
> > See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net\p\pwp-jameshurley
> > Ask me about Jog-A-Thon fundraiser (clears $120+ per child) at:
jogathon.net
> >
> > "vespula" > wrote in message
> > om...
> > > Chakoteya > wrote in message
> > news:<1095523316.Ohrs+grF21q4sxAI2yadaQ@teranews>...
> > > > vespula Wrote:
> > > > > We have a fairly new pond of about 8 weeks, the pool stays very
clear
> > > > > as we have an ultra voilet light, and an air machine and pump.
But we
> > > > > seem to have picked up blanket weed we don't know if it came on a
> > > > > plant we bought or if this is a common problem with ponds, any
advise
> > > > > on getting rid of it would be welcome
> > > >
> > > > You'll never completely get rid of it, but the fewer nutrients in
the
> > > > pond the better. Plenty of marginal and submerged plants helps. It's
> > > > easy to pull out with a stick and a twirling motion.
> > > >
> > > > Is the pond in full sun, or does it get shaded as the sun moves
across?
> > >
> > > It has full sun for about 4 hours in the morning then shade for the
> > > rest of the day, we also have 2 koi's (one ghost one english) they
> > > have shown no intrest in eating the blanket weed.

[Roy]

I woulds have to think a 1 year old Koi should be larger than 3" Then
again I don;t really know. Some of theKoi I bought in the petshop were
only around 3" when I put them in my pond in early April, and they are
already monsters, most being at least 12" or so........even my little
feeder gold fish are 6 to 7 inches, and they also were put in the opnd
at the same time.

My koi seem to turn their nose up at Azolla and most all aquatic
plants for some reason.....but they sure can puyt a dent in a 10 pound
bag of feed in no time. My one butterfly koi and the two shubunkins in
the half barrel will devour a half a cup of duckweed or fairy moss in
no time flat, as well as anything else thats green. Seems strange the
ones in the larger pond don;t seem to bother any plants or algae.
I do have a red / white sarassa that thinks its a cow, as that little
fat fool will literally eat plants or algae all day ong, scarf up all
the food pellets very quickly and beg for more, and if not given any
eat my water lillies and anything else it can get its mouth on.
Darnest hungriest fish I have ever seen.......He got to be so bad I
had to take him out of the half barrel and put him in with the big
pigs......

On 19 Sep 2004 13:21:21 -0700, (vespula)
wrote:

>===<>"Jim and Phyllis Hurley" > wrote in message >...
>===<>> I wonder if our koi are just strange. Or maybe it is an age factor. How
>===<>> big/old are yours?
>===<>>
>===<>> Your experience makes me glad our koi have decided blanketweed is a treat.
>===<>>
>===<>> Jim
>===<>
>===<>Our koi are not that old about a year and only about 3 inches so maybe
>===<>they will grow to love it we can hope
>===<>
>===<>Denise
>===<>>
>===<>> --
>===<>> ____________________________________________
>===<>> See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net\p\pwp-jameshurley
>===<>> Ask me about Jog-A-Thon fundraiser (clears $120+ per child) at: jogathon.net
>===<>>
>===<>> "vespula" > wrote in message
>===<>> om...
>===<>> > Chakoteya > wrote in message
>===<>> news:<1095523316.Ohrs+grF21q4sxAI2yadaQ@teranews>...
>===<>> > > vespula Wrote:
>===<>> > > > We have a fairly new pond of about 8 weeks, the pool stays very clear
>===<>> > > > as we have an ultra voilet light, and an air machine and pump. But we
>===<>> > > > seem to have picked up blanket weed we don't know if it came on a
>===<>> > > > plant we bought or if this is a common problem with ponds, any advise
>===<>> > > > on getting rid of it would be welcome
>===<>> > >
>===<>> > > You'll never completely get rid of it, but the fewer nutrients in the
>===<>> > > pond the better. Plenty of marginal and submerged plants helps. It's
>===<>> > > easy to pull out with a stick and a twirling motion.
>===<>> > >
>===<>> > > Is the pond in full sun, or does it get shaded as the sun moves across?
>===<>> >
>===<>> > It has full sun for about 4 hours in the morning then shade for the
>===<>> > rest of the day, we also have 2 koi's (one ghost one english) they
>===<>> > have shown no intrest in eating the blanket weed.

Visit my website: http://www.frugalmachinist.com
Opinions expressed are those of my wife,
I had no input whatsoever.
Remove "nospam" from email addy.

[Derek Broughton]

vespula wrote:
>
> It has full sun for about 4 hours in the morning then shade for the
> rest of the day, we also have 2 koi's (one ghost one english) they
> have shown no intrest in eating the blanket weed.

LOL. If they ate it (a) we'd never have a problem with it and (b) it
wouldn't be blanket _weed_, it would be blanket _food_. To a small extent,
they will eat it if you don't feed them anything else. But they'd rather
just eat the roots of your water hyacinth - or something else you're
attached to.
--
derek

[Nedra]

My koi don't like Azolla either .... but show them duckweed and they go
crazy...
that and water hyacinths are their favs. Their ordinary koi food is their
odds on
favorite.

Nedra

"Roy" > wrote in message
...
> I woulds have to think a 1 year old Koi should be larger than 3" Then
> again I don;t really know. Some of theKoi I bought in the petshop were
> only around 3" when I put them in my pond in early April, and they are
> already monsters, most being at least 12" or so........even my little
> feeder gold fish are 6 to 7 inches, and they also were put in the opnd
> at the same time.
>
> My koi seem to turn their nose up at Azolla and most all aquatic
> plants for some reason.....but they sure can puyt a dent in a 10 pound
> bag of feed in no time. My one butterfly koi and the two shubunkins in
> the half barrel will devour a half a cup of duckweed or fairy moss in
> no time flat, as well as anything else thats green. Seems strange the
> ones in the larger pond don;t seem to bother any plants or algae.
> I do have a red / white sarassa that thinks its a cow, as that little
> fat fool will literally eat plants or algae all day ong, scarf up all
> the food pellets very quickly and beg for more, and if not given any
> eat my water lillies and anything else it can get its mouth on.
> Darnest hungriest fish I have ever seen.......He got to be so bad I
> had to take him out of the half barrel and put him in with the big
> pigs......
>
> On 19 Sep 2004 13:21:21 -0700, (vespula)
> wrote:
>
> >===<>"Jim and Phyllis Hurley" > wrote in
message >...
> >===<>> I wonder if our koi are just strange. Or maybe it is an age
factor. How
> >===<>> big/old are yours?
> >===<>>
> >===<>> Your experience makes me glad our koi have decided blanketweed is
a treat.
> >===<>>
> >===<>> Jim
> >===<>
> >===<>Our koi are not that old about a year and only about 3 inches so
maybe
> >===<>they will grow to love it we can hope
> >===<>
> >===<>Denise
> >===<>>
> >===<>> --
> >===<>> ____________________________________________
> >===<>> See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net\p\pwp-jameshurley
> >===<>> Ask me about Jog-A-Thon fundraiser (clears $120+ per child) at:
jogathon.net
> >===<>>
> >===<>> "vespula" > wrote in message
> >===<>> om...
> >===<>> > Chakoteya > wrote in
message
> >===<>> news:<1095523316.Ohrs+grF21q4sxAI2yadaQ@teranews>...
> >===<>> > > vespula Wrote:
> >===<>> > > > We have a fairly new pond of about 8 weeks, the pool stays
very clear
> >===<>> > > > as we have an ultra voilet light, and an air machine and
pump. But we
> >===<>> > > > seem to have picked up blanket weed we don't know if it came
on a
> >===<>> > > > plant we bought or if this is a common problem with ponds,
any advise
> >===<>> > > > on getting rid of it would be welcome
> >===<>> > >
> >===<>> > > You'll never completely get rid of it, but the fewer nutrients
in the
> >===<>> > > pond the better. Plenty of marginal and submerged plants
helps. It's
> >===<>> > > easy to pull out with a stick and a twirling motion.
> >===<>> > >
> >===<>> > > Is the pond in full sun, or does it get shaded as the sun
moves across?
> >===<>> >
> >===<>> > It has full sun for about 4 hours in the morning then shade for
the
> >===<>> > rest of the day, we also have 2 koi's (one ghost one english)
they
> >===<>> > have shown no intrest in eating the blanket weed.
>
> Visit my website: http://www.frugalmachinist.com
> Opinions expressed are those of my wife,
> I had no input whatsoever.
> Remove "nospam" from email addy.