String Algae Invasion

Hi -

I went on a five day vacation, and while I was gone it was hot (like 90
degrees, So. Cal).

When I got back, I had string algae all over - down the waterfall, in the
pond, the fish were freaking out, etc. I mean, this stuff was everywhere.

This is my first spring, the pond went 'live' last September. What should I
do, I've never even seen string algae until the past two weeks!

"stricks760" wrote in message
ink.net...
Hi -

I went on a five day vacation, and while I was gone it was hot (like 90
degrees, So. Cal).

When I got back, I had string algae all over - down the waterfall, in the
pond, the fish were freaking out, etc. I mean, this stuff was everywhere.

This is my first spring, the pond went 'live' last September. What should
I
do, I've never even seen string algae until the past two weeks!

Scoop it our where it looks ugly, on your falls etc. Toss it in your compost
heap. Don't worry about it in the future. It's normal and means your pond
has a healthy biosystem going. IMHO, some string algae is good...any plant
feasting on fish poop is a good plant if you ask me.

--
BV.
www.iheartmypond.com

"stricks760" wrote in message
ink.net...
Hi -

I went on a five day vacation, and while I was gone it was hot (like 90
degrees, So. Cal).

When I got back, I had string algae all over - down the waterfall, in the
pond, the fish were freaking out, etc. I mean, this stuff was everywhere.

This is my first spring, the pond went 'live' last September. What should
I
do, I've never even seen string algae until the past two weeks!

Scoop it our where it looks ugly, on your falls etc. Toss it in your compost
heap. Don't worry about it in the future. It's normal and means your pond
has a healthy biosystem going. IMHO, some string algae is good...any plant
feasting on fish poop is a good plant if you ask me.

--
BV.
www.iheartmypond.com

On 3/31/04 9:39 AM, "stricks760" wrote:

This is my first spring, the pond went 'live' last September. What should I
do, I've never even seen string algae until the past two weeks!

Just get in there and grab it out by hand.

Joe

San Diego



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On 3/31/04 9:39 AM, "stricks760" wrote:

This is my first spring, the pond went 'live' last September. What should I
do, I've never even seen string algae until the past two weeks!

Just get in there and grab it out by hand.

Joe

San Diego



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A new, not used, toilet brush, the type with a ball shape, swirled around
the pond will remove lots of it. For the water fall area, I have heard that
you can turn off the water fall, salt the string algae, and then turn the
waterfall back on.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html


"stricks760" wrote in message
ink.net...
Hi -

I went on a five day vacation, and while I was gone it was hot (like 90
degrees, So. Cal).

When I got back, I had string algae all over - down the waterfall, in the
pond, the fish were freaking out, etc. I mean, this stuff was everywhere.

This is my first spring, the pond went 'live' last September. What should
I
do, I've never even seen string algae until the past two weeks!

A new, not used, toilet brush, the type with a ball shape, swirled around
the pond will remove lots of it. For the water fall area, I have heard that
you can turn off the water fall, salt the string algae, and then turn the
waterfall back on.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html


"stricks760" wrote in message
ink.net...
Hi -

I went on a five day vacation, and while I was gone it was hot (like 90
degrees, So. Cal).

When I got back, I had string algae all over - down the waterfall, in the
pond, the fish were freaking out, etc. I mean, this stuff was everywhere.

This is my first spring, the pond went 'live' last September. What should
I
do, I've never even seen string algae until the past two weeks!

"stricks760" wrote in message
link.net...
Hi -

I went on a five day vacation, and while I was gone it was hot (like 90
degrees, So. Cal).

When I got back, I had string algae all over - down the waterfall, in the
pond, the fish were freaking out, etc. I mean, this stuff was everywhere.

This is my first spring, the pond went 'live' last September. What should
I
do, I've never even seen string algae until the past two weeks!

String algae looks bad, but it feeds directly on ammonia so it isn't
all bad. If you have more, than you can handle scooping it out
aluminum sulfate will kill it, but the cure is almost as bad as the
disease. Aluminum Sulfate 2.66 ounces per 1000 gal. 4 oz per 1500
gal. It's 20 ppm, which is the dose recommended by the USDA. Reduces
KH removes, phosphates causes particles to coagulate. The dead algae
and snails (Yep, kills snails.) have to be cleaned out of the pond or
they will rot and cause problems also the dead algae releases what it
consumed growing, back into the water adding to the growth of new
string algae.

Another theory is to turn off the UV, add nitrate of soda, not
ammonium nitrate, until another algae becomes dominant in your pond
and turns the water black and kills the string algae. Then the
problem is to clear up the water and that may not happen until the
winter kills the black algae.

Try raking it out first.

Regards,

Hal

"stricks760" wrote in message
link.net...
Hi -

I went on a five day vacation, and while I was gone it was hot (like 90
degrees, So. Cal).

When I got back, I had string algae all over - down the waterfall, in the
pond, the fish were freaking out, etc. I mean, this stuff was everywhere.

This is my first spring, the pond went 'live' last September. What should
I
do, I've never even seen string algae until the past two weeks!

String algae looks bad, but it feeds directly on ammonia so it isn't
all bad. If you have more, than you can handle scooping it out
aluminum sulfate will kill it, but the cure is almost as bad as the
disease. Aluminum Sulfate 2.66 ounces per 1000 gal. 4 oz per 1500
gal. It's 20 ppm, which is the dose recommended by the USDA. Reduces
KH removes, phosphates causes particles to coagulate. The dead algae
and snails (Yep, kills snails.) have to be cleaned out of the pond or
they will rot and cause problems also the dead algae releases what it
consumed growing, back into the water adding to the growth of new
string algae.

Another theory is to turn off the UV, add nitrate of soda, not
ammonium nitrate, until another algae becomes dominant in your pond
and turns the water black and kills the string algae. Then the
problem is to clear up the water and that may not happen until the
winter kills the black algae.

Try raking it out first.

Regards,

Hal

For the water fall, I turn it off and spray the algae with white vinegar,
let it sit for a few minutes then turn the pump back on. You can repeat if
necessary. You will not add enough vinegar to change the pH. Turns the
algae to mush and gets filtered out.
"