String Algae *cure*

Hi Muffin

JFYI the reason you have string algae in the first place is probably from
suspended nutrients in the water column, more than likely elevated Iron
levels, hence the string algae. The reason Koi clay helps to combat string
algae is because the clay will bind the iron! The iron has probably come
from water runoff or from pot plant/garden soil. Next time you plant some
more pots in your pond put a layer of clay at the bottom, this will further
help to reduce suspended iron and your plants will go gangbusters for it.
--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**


"*muffin*" wrote in message
...
I am posting this in case someone does not know of this.
If I had not seem it myslef,, I'd still be skeptical, (from reading on
other
groups)

you use Koi Clay!!

yesterday I noticed I had hundreds of strands of this stuff growing, (
there
were only a couple LONG pieces last week, but I ignored them), so I
figured
I better do 'something'.
I put in Koi Clay last night & *WOW* it has all dissapeared! I am
stunned!!
(other ponders say it takes several days to get rid of it)

it was suggested for 2 Tablespoons per thousand gal. ( I only put in 1 T.
per thousand) and have read different directions as to every day or every
other day.

Koi Clay is supposed to be very beneficial for your pond ( besides the
Koi).

(I bought mine last year , but it was packed away all winter, ebay is a
good
source, Calcium Bentonite)

Hi Happy 'Cam'per

Thank you for solving the mystery! We don't have a lot of direct sunlight
on our stream but always are fighting string algae. In the pond too but not
as bad. Nitrates are not even showing on the tests but still the string
algae. We have well water and there is a high concentration of iron in the
water. Thank you for telling us about that relationship.

I don't have Koi but I'll try the Koi clay stuff if I can find it and see if
that helps.

Heather




"Happy'Cam'per" wrote in message
...
Hi Muffin

JFYI the reason you have string algae in the first place is probably from
suspended nutrients in the water column, more than likely elevated Iron
levels, hence the string algae. The reason Koi clay helps to combat string
algae is because the clay will bind the iron! The iron has probably come
from water runoff or from pot plant/garden soil. Next time you plant some
more pots in your pond put a layer of clay at the bottom, this will
further
help to reduce suspended iron and your plants will go gangbusters for it.
--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**


"*muffin*" wrote in message
...
I am posting this in case someone does not know of this.
If I had not seem it myslef,, I'd still be skeptical, (from reading on
other
groups)

you use Koi Clay!!

yesterday I noticed I had hundreds of strands of this stuff growing, (
there
were only a couple LONG pieces last week, but I ignored them), so I
figured
I better do 'something'.
I put in Koi Clay last night & *WOW* it has all dissapeared! I am
stunned!!
(other ponders say it takes several days to get rid of it)

it was suggested for 2 Tablespoons per thousand gal. ( I only put in 1
T.
per thousand) and have read different directions as to every day or
every
other day.

Koi Clay is supposed to be very beneficial for your pond ( besides the
Koi).

(I bought mine last year , but it was packed away all winter, ebay is a
good
source, Calcium Bentonite)

"Heather" wrote in message
news
Hi Happy 'Cam'per

Thank you for solving the mystery!

Hi Heather,

Its my pleasure for sharing the info but I cannot accept credit for the
'solving of' part. Through keeping planted aquaria you pick up on certain
'methods used' which I am just applying to a pond scenario. Keep in mind
that this is not a quick fix to your algae problems, it may help a bit but
certainly won't keep your pond completely free of Algae.

You mention you have zero Nitrates, either your test kit is wrong or you
have no fish in your pond, or you have bucketfulls of plants that are
sucking all the N up. Having zero nitrates is bad, this too can be causing
the string algae. Algae usually appears when the main nutrients N, P, K are
not in sync. K or Pottassium can be added to the pond without adverse
affects to the fish and the plants will benefit too, you can recognise
Pottassium defficiency in plants by the small pin holes that develop on the
leaves. N & P are very important nutrients for the plants. P or Phosphate
should be abundant in any pond (rotting leaves, mulm etc.) Check your water
test again for Nitrates, take a sample to your LFS aswell just to compare
the readings. If your Nitrate level is indeed near to zero then this could
be your problem. N & P should be in an approximate ratio of 10:1 N:P. You
could add more fish to get the N level up or you would have to remove some
plants as there just is'nt enough nutrients for them to thrive. If anything
is unclear then please ask questions and I'll try my best to answer them for
you. Again, all this info comes from keeping planted aquaria and not ponds,
although I'm pretty sure the method applies: look after your plants and not
the algae, give the plants what they need and you'll have happy fishies and
thriving plants. HTH
--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**

Hi Cam

Interesting comments... I do have a few plants that are not the deep green
I think they should be. I will test the water tonight and go from there.

Thanks again,
Heather


"Happy'Cam'per" wrote in message
...
"Heather" wrote in message
news
Hi Happy 'Cam'per

Thank you for solving the mystery!

Hi Heather,

Its my pleasure for sharing the info but I cannot accept credit for the
'solving of' part. Through keeping planted aquaria you pick up on certain
'methods used' which I am just applying to a pond scenario. Keep in mind
that this is not a quick fix to your algae problems, it may help a bit but
certainly won't keep your pond completely free of Algae.

You mention you have zero Nitrates, either your test kit is wrong or you
have no fish in your pond, or you have bucketfulls of plants that are
sucking all the N up. Having zero nitrates is bad, this too can be causing
the string algae. Algae usually appears when the main nutrients N, P, K
are
not in sync. K or Pottassium can be added to the pond without adverse
affects to the fish and the plants will benefit too, you can recognise
Pottassium defficiency in plants by the small pin holes that develop on
the
leaves. N & P are very important nutrients for the plants. P or Phosphate
should be abundant in any pond (rotting leaves, mulm etc.) Check your
water
test again for Nitrates, take a sample to your LFS aswell just to compare
the readings. If your Nitrate level is indeed near to zero then this could
be your problem. N & P should be in an approximate ratio of 10:1 N:P.
You
could add more fish to get the N level up or you would have to remove some
plants as there just is'nt enough nutrients for them to thrive. If
anything
is unclear then please ask questions and I'll try my best to answer them
for
you. Again, all this info comes from keeping planted aquaria and not
ponds,
although I'm pretty sure the method applies: look after your plants and
not
the algae, give the plants what they need and you'll have happy fishies
and
thriving plants. HTH
--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**

Ah yes. And then you can have nitrAtes that are off the chart, too - which
will contribute to algae. By "off the chart", I mean it: it was over 200! A
series of 50% water changes finally got it down to 20. My "normal" 15%
weekly water exchanges were not enough to keep up. I have no plants. I have
phosphates and nitrates in my water supply, so that didn't help any.

Lee

"Happy'Cam'per" wrote in message
...
"Heather" wrote in message
news
Hi Happy 'Cam'per

Thank you for solving the mystery!

Hi Heather,

Its my pleasure for sharing the info but I cannot accept credit for the
'solving of' part. Through keeping planted aquaria you pick up on certain
'methods used' which I am just applying to a pond scenario. Keep in mind
that this is not a quick fix to your algae problems, it may help a bit but
certainly won't keep your pond completely free of Algae.

You mention you have zero Nitrates, either your test kit is wrong or you
have no fish in your pond, or you have bucketfulls of plants that are
sucking all the N up. Having zero nitrates is bad, this too can be causing
the string algae. Algae usually appears when the main nutrients N, P, K
are
not in sync. K or Pottassium can be added to the pond without adverse
affects to the fish and the plants will benefit too, you can recognise
Pottassium defficiency in plants by the small pin holes that develop on
the
leaves. N & P are very important nutrients for the plants. P or Phosphate
should be abundant in any pond (rotting leaves, mulm etc.) Check your
water
test again for Nitrates, take a sample to your LFS aswell just to compare
the readings. If your Nitrate level is indeed near to zero then this could
be your problem. N & P should be in an approximate ratio of 10:1 N:P.
You
could add more fish to get the N level up or you would have to remove some
plants as there just is'nt enough nutrients for them to thrive. If
anything
is unclear then please ask questions and I'll try my best to answer them
for
you. Again, all this info comes from keeping planted aquaria and not
ponds,
although I'm pretty sure the method applies: look after your plants and
not
the algae, give the plants what they need and you'll have happy fishies
and
thriving plants. HTH
--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**