String Algae in Winter (Zone 6)
 

I just checked and the nice rich green carpet on the bottom of my pond
is string algae. The stuff beginning to cover the surface of the pond
is not duckweed, but azolla. I am hoping the azolla through shade and
filtering during the winter will help hold down the string algae growth
until the water warms up in the spring.

The golden shiner minnows are still swimming. The tadpoles are still
moving about. No sign of the frogs. All my marginal plants are sitting
on the bottom so the pots won't crack. There are some huge anacharis
"bushes" growing. I have tubs of water hyacinth in my greenhouse ready
to put in after the last frost.

Since my pond is spring fed, nutrient filtering is important all year
long. Is there anything I can do now or do I just play catchup in the
spring?
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18,000 gallon (17'x 47'x 2-4') lily pond garden in Zone 6
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 23:18:51 -0500, Stephen Henning wrote:

I just checked and the nice rich green carpet on the bottom of my pond
is string algae.

There is fuzz algae that can be up to 2" long, that is the most desirable
plant filtration you can have. So is it really string, or just fuzz?

Since my pond is spring fed, nutrient filtering is important all year
long. Is there anything I can do now or do I just play catchup in the
spring?

Probably catchup, but if you have string algae, one of the things I found
out from experience a few years ago.... I keep my ponds covered with
screening or shade cloth all fall & winter. Originally it was just to keep
leaves out, until I got the filters going full throttle again in Spring.
Going on a pond tour for a pond construction class early one spring there
was one thing those ponds had that I did not, string algae, lots of it. So
if it is feasible, perhaps shade the pond during winter? ~ jan

See my ponds thru the seasons and/or my filter design:
http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

~Keep 'em Defrosted~
Tri-Cities, WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website

~ jan JJsPond.us wrote:

There is fuzz algae that can be up to 2" long, that is the most desirable
plant filtration you can have. So is it really string, or just fuzz?

Thanks for the clue. I will have to look more carefully. It looks
different than the string algae that took over the pond in spring when
we first filled it. The bottom of the pond was clear until this winter
then this nice green carpet started growing on the bottom. It looks
like a nice bright green plush fuzzy carpet on the bottom of the pool.
It is definitely more than 2" thick, but it stays near the bottom while
the string algae sent streamers up to the top. The tadpoles like to lie
in the stuff. The fish don't seem to mind it at all. They got tangled
up in the string algae in spring.
--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
18,000 gallon (17'x 47'x 2-4') lily pond garden in Zone 6
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 23:18:51 -0500, Stephen Henning
wrote:

Since my pond is spring fed, nutrient filtering is important all year
long. Is there anything I can do now or do I just play catchup in the
spring?

Don't mean to be discouraging, but IMO with a continual spring feed
your pond is not going to be easily controlled. I'd try to enjoy it
as an experience and appreciate what the spring does for you. There
are over 1000 varieties of algae and the variety of string algae I had
one spring was a carpet 6" long bottom and sides, but didn't actually
harm anything until I got upset and tried to get rid of it. Aluminum
sulfate kills it, but the mass of dead algae plugged the drain and I
vacuumed the dead stuff for hours. (Being about as smart as a fence
post, I did this a couple times too.) The final cure was another
algae that turned the water black for a couple months. If it ever
happens again I shall keep the carpet, so long as it stays on the
bottom and sides and doesn't float to the top in a bubbly, snotty
looking mass.

Regards,

Hal

There is fuzz algae that can be up to 2" long, that is the most desirable
plant filtration you can have. So is it really string, or just fuzz? ~ jan

On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 10:08:47 -0500, Stephen Henning wrote:

Thanks for the clue. I will have to look more carefully. It looks
different than the string algae that took over the pond in spring when
we first filled it. The bottom of the pond was clear until this winter
then this nice green carpet started growing on the bottom. It looks
like a nice bright green plush fuzzy carpet on the bottom of the pool.
It is definitely more than 2" thick, but it stays near the bottom while
the string algae sent streamers up to the top. The tadpoles like to lie
in the stuff. The fish don't seem to mind it at all. They got tangled
up in the string algae in spring.

Nothing can be finer
Than fuzz on the liner
in the morn.n.n.ning (or anytime).

I call that pasture and my koi are like horses grazing. Probably why I
rarely see it any longer than 2". ;o) ~ jan


~Power to the Porg, Flow On!~

~ jan JJsPond.us wrote:

I wrote:
I just checked and the nice rich green carpet on the bottom of my pond

There is fuzz algae that can be up to 2" long, that is the most desirable
plant filtration you can have. So is it really string, or just fuzz?

Since my pond is spring fed, nutrient filtering is important all year
long. Is there anything I can do now or do I just play catchup in the
spring?

Probably catchup, but if you have string algae, one of the things I found
out from experience a few years ago.... I keep my ponds covered with
screening or shade cloth all fall & winter. Originally it was just to keep
leaves out, until I got the filters going full throttle again in Spring.
Going on a pond tour for a pond construction class early one spring there
was one thing those ponds had that I did not, string algae, lots of it. So
if it is feasible, perhaps shade the pond during winter? ~ jan

OK, it must have been fuzz algae because I see the string algae coming
in now and it is definitely different. My pond is a little large for a
shade cover, but I may have to solve that problem.
--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
18,000 gallon (17'x 47'x 2-4') lily pond garden in Zone 6
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA

18,000 gallon (17'x 47'x 2-4') lily pond garden in Zone 6
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA

Wow! Pictures on the web anywhere? ~ jan

~Power to the Porg, Flow On!~

~ jan JJsPond.us wrote:

Wow! Pictures on the web anywhere? ~ jan

Yes, at:

http://home.dejazzd.com/shenning/pool8-18.jpg

That picture was taken August 18th. The pond was finished and filled
about April 18th, so it had stabilized for about 5 months. The marginal
plants in pots on submerged benches. The water lilies are about 18"
deep.
--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
18,000 gallon (17'x 47'x 2-4') lily pond garden in Zone 6
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA

On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 00:01:53 -0500, Stephen Henning
wrote:

http://home.dejazzd.com/shenning/pool8-18.jpg


Wow, yeah, winter pool cover, one of those that is on the spring loaded
thing, still lets light & water thru, but cuts the light enough that string
algae doesn't grow rampant. Unfortunately, not cheap. :( ~ jan

~Power to the Porg, Flow On!~

~ jan JJsPond.us wrote:

Wow, yeah, winter pool cover, one of those that is on the spring loaded
thing, still lets light & water thru, but cuts the light enough that string
algae doesn't grow rampant. Unfortunately, not cheap.

Do you have any pointers as to who makes they are where they are found?

The shops here have stock sizes of folded covers. I was hoping I could
use something that was light enough to remove in the summer, but could
be unrolled on my flat ledge.
--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
18,000 gallon (17'x 47'x 2-4') lily pond garden in Zone 6
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA