black algae

[Neal Broerman]

my pond walls are totally covered with what looks like black algae. the fish
won't eat it and it clogs the filter very fast. any suggestions how to get
rid of it?

Neal Broerman

[Lee Brouillet]

There seems to be quite an outbreak of cyanobacteria (algae) this year. And
it comes in cycles: once you think it's all done and you can breathe a sigh
of relief, it comes back. If you find a cure for it, let us know. Other
than that, I think winter is the only thing that will "cure" it. Make sure
that you have a lot of "fines" filtration in your skimmer and try to get the
stuff trapped before it clogs your main filtration. Be prepared to have to
clean the skimmer twice a day, but it will help.

Good luck.

Lee

"Neal Broerman" > wrote in message
...
> my pond walls are totally covered with what looks like black algae. the
fish
> won't eat it and it clogs the filter very fast. any suggestions how to
get
> rid of it?
>
> Neal Broerman
>
>

[Lee Brouillet]

There seems to be quite an outbreak of cyanobacteria (algae) this year. And
it comes in cycles: once you think it's all done and you can breathe a sigh
of relief, it comes back. If you find a cure for it, let us know. Other
than that, I think winter is the only thing that will "cure" it. Make sure
that you have a lot of "fines" filtration in your skimmer and try to get the
stuff trapped before it clogs your main filtration. Be prepared to have to
clean the skimmer twice a day, but it will help.

Good luck.

Lee

"Neal Broerman" > wrote in message
...
> my pond walls are totally covered with what looks like black algae. the
fish
> won't eat it and it clogs the filter very fast. any suggestions how to
get
> rid of it?
>
> Neal Broerman
>
>

[johnrutz]

here is some info on treating cyano bacteria from when I had the problem
a couple yers ago


John Rutz > writes:
>the algae I have is realy dark green almost black
1

This sounds like a "blue-green algae" (cyanobacteria) bloom.
This can be very persistant.

>at this point i would pay for normal pea green algae

Cyanobacteria tend to bloom when there's excess phosphate
and deficient nitrate. Adding nitrate can initiate a normal green
algae bloom, which will consume the phosphate, starve the
cyanobacteria ending it's bloom. The green algae bloom isn't
as persistant, and is easier to control.
One source of nitrate is hardware store stump remover (some
traditional brands are potassium nitrate, check the label).
Best wishes - Rod

2

Kh 130 PPM
>aprox 15,000 g pond so how much copper sulfate to reach 1 ppm ( I
>am mathematicaly chalenged here ) and do I need to remove plants for this

That is 3 level measuring tablespoons in 15,000 gallons water.
Dissolve each spoonful in a bucket of water and distribute it
as well as possible throughout the pond. Maintain good aeration.

It may affect azolla, duckweed, anacharis, cabomba, watermilfoil.
Other plants should be OK.

Note to others: dosage depends on alkalinity.
See table 8 in USDA "Calculating Treatments for Ponds & Tanks"
http://www.aquanic.org/publicat/usda_rac/efs/srac/410fs.pdf
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/lands/invaspec/2ndlevpgs/pdfs%20for%20pubs/copp
er.pdf
- Rod

John Rutz
Z5 New Mexico

never miss a good oportunity to shut up

see my pond at:

http://www.fuerjefe.com

[johnrutz]

here is some info on treating cyano bacteria from when I had the problem
a couple yers ago


John Rutz > writes:
>the algae I have is realy dark green almost black
1

This sounds like a "blue-green algae" (cyanobacteria) bloom.
This can be very persistant.

>at this point i would pay for normal pea green algae

Cyanobacteria tend to bloom when there's excess phosphate
and deficient nitrate. Adding nitrate can initiate a normal green
algae bloom, which will consume the phosphate, starve the
cyanobacteria ending it's bloom. The green algae bloom isn't
as persistant, and is easier to control.
One source of nitrate is hardware store stump remover (some
traditional brands are potassium nitrate, check the label).
Best wishes - Rod

2

Kh 130 PPM
>aprox 15,000 g pond so how much copper sulfate to reach 1 ppm ( I
>am mathematicaly chalenged here ) and do I need to remove plants for this

That is 3 level measuring tablespoons in 15,000 gallons water.
Dissolve each spoonful in a bucket of water and distribute it
as well as possible throughout the pond. Maintain good aeration.

It may affect azolla, duckweed, anacharis, cabomba, watermilfoil.
Other plants should be OK.

Note to others: dosage depends on alkalinity.
See table 8 in USDA "Calculating Treatments for Ponds & Tanks"
http://www.aquanic.org/publicat/usda_rac/efs/srac/410fs.pdf
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/lands/invaspec/2ndlevpgs/pdfs%20for%20pubs/copp
er.pdf
- Rod

John Rutz
Z5 New Mexico

never miss a good oportunity to shut up

see my pond at:

http://www.fuerjefe.com