Help Please!

On 27 Sep 2005 06:00:27 -0700, "captain039-recponds" wrote:

I'm new to the group, and we've had our pond for 2 seasons now. Last
year, everything worked out very well after the initial break-in
period. This year, we have a very bad case of string algae (I think),
and I've drained the pond. Now that the pond is drained, what is the
best bet to get rid of the algae, so I don't have it in the spring. I
don't mind filling the pond, treating it, and draining it again, but it
will drain into a garden area, so we must be careful not to kill plants
in the process. We have 25 goldfish, 700 gallon pond (should be
enough), plenty of water movement, and a homemade bio filter. We had a
few plants to begin the season (no algae problem), but they rapidly
grew to quite a few. Any words of wisdom? Our pond is one with a rubber
liner. Any input will be greatly appreciated.

Draining isn't the answer, unless you have a lot of muck build up at the
bottom and don't have a shop vac to suck it out. Why koi ponders recommend
frequent partial water changes (10%/week) over big changes, so as not to
upset the balance.

Don't want string algae? Get rid of 15 goldfish (maybe more), they're the
main reason you have it. All that rich fishy poo. Or build a bigger
out-of-the-pond filter. ~ jan

See my ponds and filter design:
www.jjspond.us

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

Thank you very much for the replies. I should have added that our pond
is in our shade garden, which gets very little time with direct
sunlight (maybe 2 hours or so per day). The only difference between
last year and this year is that we have more fish this year. Maybe that
*is* the cause. Thanks again.

I should have asked if below zero weather will kill the algae we now
have, or if it would be wise to use an algaecide or something else?

"captain039-recponds" wrote in message
ups.com...

I should have asked if below zero weather will kill the algae we now
have, or if it would be wise to use an algaecide or something else?
===============================
No, freezing wont kill it. It will come back in the spring if conditions are
the same. You may want to get rid of some of your goldfish. How about
overfeeding? No one's just tossing fish food in your pond an walking off I
hope (a mistake a friend of mine was making). All uneaten food will decay
and feed the algae. Water lettuce competes well with algae and thrives in
partial shade. It simply starves it out. Water lilies will shade it out
algae and live in partial shade although most wont bloom in such conditions.
Adding some hornwart and elodia will also help starve it out.
--
McKoi.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

captain039-recponds wrote:

I should have asked if below zero weather will kill the algae we now
have, or if it would be wise to use an algaecide or something else?

Yes, it will - for the most part. It's _never_ wise to use an algaecide in
a fish pond. You aren't doing anything to solve the main problem -
nitrates - and you can only hurt the fish.
--
derek

new ponds go thru "succession" (scroll to the bottom to see a synopsis of sand dune
succession)
http://weloveteaching.com/spring2005...evolution.html

when the pond is first filled most water is going to be full of nutrients. It is
also going to be cold. as the sun warms it up algae bits float in or are brought in
on insect and bird feet. this part can be speeded up by seeding with a LOT of algae.
as the algae grows there are 3 main types (with good aeration), algae on the side of
the liner, algae free in the water and string algae. if there is no aeration there
is also bubble algae. ponders like the algae on the sides we call it sweater algae.
with no fish or nutrient run off eventually the free algae (pea soup) and string
algae die off for the most part (some hangs around) leaving the algae on the sides of
the pond. the pond is now "balanced". even if iced over the algae keeps growing.
somewhere during this first phase the filter of our choice is added. it takes about
a month for a filter to mature. I use a veggie filter
http://weloveteaching.com/mypond/mypond.htm
in the shade, shade loving plants will be needed. I hear some people use hostas.
Once the pond is clear, temp of the water is warmed up is the time to add fish. Fish
need to be added a few at a time, the smaller the pond the fewer the fish. it takes
a mature pond a mere couple weeks to adjust to the new load of fertilizers. The
reappearance of pea soup (free algae) usually means too many fish have been added.
pea soup is an indicator of excess nutrients in the water. Actually, I have seen pea
soup clear in a couple days when the water was moved in the shade. algae likes the
sun so it is important to use test kits if shade prevents algae blooms due to excess
nutrients.
In fall I remove my plants, the tender ones go into the house under lights. In
spring I start running the veggie filter empty and string algae quickly shows up and
grows removing nutrients. during the year when the plants are in the filter I never
see string algae. String algae is seen in clear creeks as the snow and ice melts.
freezing does not kill algae, algae continues to grow under clear ice.
A UV filter can be used to kill the pea soup algae. I dont start using it until I
see my veggie filter is really up and running. I would rather have the excess
nutrients used up by the algae than toxing out my fish. please dont use algaecides,
they are toxic to some degree and getting to the cause of the algae is better for the
pond. Ingrid

"captain039-recponds" wrote:
I should have asked if below zero weather will kill the algae we now
have, or if it would be wise to use an algaecide or something else?



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This has been a very informative and educational thread. Thank you all
very much for sharing your expertise.