Water parameters and String Algae

The Algae is wild this year. I can pull it out by the handful everyday and
the pond is only 500 gallons. I finally put a few Water Hyacinths in on the
weekend, but they look a little off. So I tested the water tonight and
Nitrates and Nitrites are ZERO, PH is 8.4, KH is 180 and GH is 75. I haven't
checked the Phosphates, but they must be off the scale. I'm getting a lot of
bird droppings in the pond. I added some Potassium for now, but it looks
like the WH are going to need some Nitrates.

I'm a little reluctant to add Nitrates. I haven't been feeding the fish (9
GF) much, given all the Algae and bug life available. Do you think
increasing the fish feeding will help the plants? The Algae couldn't get any
worse anyway!

The Algae is wild this year. I can pull it out by the handful everyday and
the pond is only 500 gallons. I finally put a few Water Hyacinths in on
the weekend,

Hi Bill - I don't know where you live - I'm in Sw Ont and I have a battle
with string algae every spring until my lilies pads start to give me some
surface coverage on my pond - we have finally got some warmer weather here
(~90's the last couple of days) so the lilies are finally taking off - as
well I use a bacteria additive all season long which helps and mine has died
back a lot in the last few days, if not completely gone - if you haven't
tried that it might be worth a try
Gale :~)

"Gale Pearce" wrote in message
...

The Algae is wild this year. I can pull it out by the handful everyday
and
the pond is only 500 gallons. I finally put a few Water Hyacinths in on
the weekend,

Hi Bill - I don't know where you live - I'm in Sw Ont and I have a battle
with string algae every spring until my lilies pads start to give me some
surface coverage on my pond - we have finally got some warmer weather here
(~90's the last couple of days) so the lilies are finally taking off - as
well I use a bacteria additive all season long which helps and mine has
died
back a lot in the last few days, if not completely gone - if you haven't
tried that it might be worth a try
Gale :~)

I'm in Southern Ontario. I never really has a String Algae problem until the
end of last summer. My lilies were doing fairly well, but have slowed down a
bit. They may need some plant spikes.

What's the bacteria you mentioned?

"Bill Stock" wrote in message
...

"Gale Pearce" wrote in message
...

The Algae is wild this year. I can pull it out by the handful everyday
and
the pond is only 500 gallons. I finally put a few Water Hyacinths in on
the weekend,

Hi Bill - I don't know where you live - I'm in Sw Ont and I have a
battle
with string algae every spring until my lilies pads start to give me
some
surface coverage on my pond - we have finally got some warmer weather
here
(~90's the last couple of days) so the lilies are finally taking off -
as
well I use a bacteria additive all season long which helps and mine has
died
back a lot in the last few days, if not completely gone - if you haven't
tried that it might be worth a try
Gale :~)

I'm in Southern Ontario. I never really has a String Algae problem until
the end of last summer. My lilies were doing fairly well, but have slowed
down a bit. They may need some plant spikes.

What's the bacteria you mentioned?


I use Aquazyme, but there are also other products on the market:

http://tinyurl.com/blef7

"TetraPond Concentrated Aqua-Zyme is a bacterial and enzyme water purifier
that eliminates green water . The natural enzymes break down the nutrients
on which algae thrive, therefore the algae cannot survive. One 12-ounce
container can maintain water clarity in a 1,000 gallon pond for an entire
season. It is safe for fish, plants, people and the environment and is
particularly useful in the spring before water garden plants begin their
own purifying processes."


This stuff works great, will help prevent pea soup algae as well as
reducing string algae,and will boost the efficieny of any filtration system
you have by colonizing your filter. It keeps sludge from building up on
the bottom of the pond, and greatly reduces nutrients in the water. My
water is so low in suspended solids that I can clearly see all the way to
the bottom of my pond (45").

well I use a bacteria additive all season long which helps and mine has
died
back a lot in the last few days, if not completely gone - if you haven't
tried that it might be worth a try
Gale :~)

I'm in Southern Ontario. I never really has a String Algae problem until
the
end of last summer. My lilies were doing fairly well, but have slowed down
a
bit. They may need some plant spikes.

What's the bacteria you mentioned?

As George mentioned, there are many brands of Bacteria additives
available -I have used Bacta Pur Klear for 8 yrs now - a 1 liter bottle does
my ~1000 gal pond for the season at a rate of 1.5 - 2 oz/wk until Sept
Lilies - I have read over and over here how some people have profuse
flowering of their lilies without fertilizer and decided to try it one
year - I only got 1 or 2 flowers open at the same time w/ small lily pads
and went back to my pond tabs the next year - 2 to a pot every 6 to 8 wks I
am currently at ~ 40% surface coverage with pads and today have 4 flowers
open (first ones)
Good Luck Gale :~)

"Gale Pearce" wrote in message
...
well I use a bacteria additive all season long which helps and mine has
died
back a lot in the last few days, if not completely gone - if you
haven't
tried that it might be worth a try
Gale :~)

I'm in Southern Ontario. I never really has a String Algae problem until
the
end of last summer. My lilies were doing fairly well, but have slowed
down
a
bit. They may need some plant spikes.

What's the bacteria you mentioned?

As George mentioned, there are many brands of Bacteria additives
available -I have used Bacta Pur Klear for 8 yrs now - a 1 liter bottle
does
my ~1000 gal pond for the season at a rate of 1.5 - 2 oz/wk until Sept
Lilies - I have read over and over here how some people have profuse
flowering of their lilies without fertilizer and decided to try it one
year - I only got 1 or 2 flowers open at the same time w/ small lily pads
and went back to my pond tabs the next year - 2 to a pot every 6 to 8 wks
I
am currently at ~ 40% surface coverage with pads and today have 4 flowers
open (first ones)
Good Luck Gale :~)

Thanks Gale & George. I picked up some Aqua-Zyme, so we'll see how it goes.

"Bill Stock" wrote in message
...

"Gale Pearce" wrote in message
...
well I use a bacteria additive all season long which helps and mine
has
died
back a lot in the last few days, if not completely gone - if you
haven't
tried that it might be worth a try
Gale :~)

I'm in Southern Ontario. I never really has a String Algae problem
until
the
end of last summer. My lilies were doing fairly well, but have slowed
down
a
bit. They may need some plant spikes.

What's the bacteria you mentioned?

As George mentioned, there are many brands of Bacteria additives
available -I have used Bacta Pur Klear for 8 yrs now - a 1 liter bottle
does
my ~1000 gal pond for the season at a rate of 1.5 - 2 oz/wk until Sept
Lilies - I have read over and over here how some people have profuse
flowering of their lilies without fertilizer and decided to try it one
year - I only got 1 or 2 flowers open at the same time w/ small lily
pads
and went back to my pond tabs the next year - 2 to a pot every 6 to 8
wks I
am currently at ~ 40% surface coverage with pads and today have 4
flowers
open (first ones)
Good Luck Gale :~)

Thanks Gale & George. I picked up some Aqua-Zyme, so we'll see how it
goes.


You are welcome. Always glad to help. The key to using that stuff is
patience. It could take up to a month to see beneficial effects, but it
will eventually work well for you. Just be consistent with its usage.

GeorgeGood things come to those who wait

My mom is always complaining that her pond isn't clear. It's not algae, but
a lot of sludge. Well, the plants are doing super! She has at least 8
water lily buds and 4 iris blooms, more than she's ever had!

"Gale Pearce" wrote in message
...
well I use a bacteria additive all season long which helps and mine has
died
back a lot in the last few days, if not completely gone - if you
haven't
tried that it might be worth a try
Gale :~)

I'm in Southern Ontario. I never really has a String Algae problem until
the
end of last summer. My lilies were doing fairly well, but have slowed
down
a
bit. They may need some plant spikes.

What's the bacteria you mentioned?

As George mentioned, there are many brands of Bacteria additives
available -I have used Bacta Pur Klear for 8 yrs now - a 1 liter bottle
does
my ~1000 gal pond for the season at a rate of 1.5 - 2 oz/wk until Sept
Lilies - I have read over and over here how some people have profuse
flowering of their lilies without fertilizer and decided to try it one
year - I only got 1 or 2 flowers open at the same time w/ small lily pads
and went back to my pond tabs the next year - 2 to a pot every 6 to 8 wks
I
am currently at ~ 40% surface coverage with pads and today have 4 flowers
open (first ones)
Good Luck Gale :~)

Bill,

Algae won't kill or harm your fish the way overfeeding or poor water
quality will. Please resist the urge to add more nutrients in to your
pond to bolster your plants. Your water quality is good- so don't let
that become a problem. String algae usually grows best in clear water
because it doesn't have to compete for nutrients with the one celled
free floating algae.

I suggest adding water celery, frog bit, or water lettuce. You need
more shade in your pond. What type of bio-filter system do you have?
I am curious because other posters recommend adding more bacteria to
the pond. The bacteria needs to be added only once a year or not at
all. It will colonize on your bio media, rocks, your planting
containers. It will not colonize on your filter mats for very long-
you either clean your mats and wash the bacteria away (even with back
flushing) or you leave them dirty and they clog or become overwhelmed
with anaerobic bacteria.

String algae is also a passive filter. Try taking a rough stick (some
people use a toilet wand) and twirl ithe string algae like cotton
candy. There goes the string algae (and maybe some snails,and lots of
little debris).


--
Koitoy

"Koitoy" wrote in message
...

Bill,

Algae won't kill or harm your fish the way overfeeding or poor water
quality will. Please resist the urge to add more nutrients in to your
pond to bolster your plants. Your water quality is good- so don't let
that become a problem. String algae usually grows best in clear water
because it doesn't have to compete for nutrients with the one celled
free floating algae.

No green soup for three years. I've got a UV on the "Bio-Filter".

I can understand your reluctance to mess with the Nitrates, but the WH did
not do well last year with the low (zero) Nitrates. Although the cooler
weather might have been a factor.

I suggest adding water celery, frog bit, or water lettuce. You need
more shade in your pond. What type of bio-filter system do you have?
I am curious because other posters recommend adding more bacteria to
the pond. The bacteria needs to be added only once a year or not at
all. It will colonize on your bio media, rocks, your planting
containers. It will not colonize on your filter mats for very long-
you either clean your mats and wash the bacteria away (even with back
flushing) or you leave them dirty and they clog or become overwhelmed
with anaerobic bacteria.

Right now I have a Bio-Force 500, which clogs at least twice a week. I have
a flowerpot skippy filter in the works, when I can find time to build it.

String algae is also a passive filter. Try taking a rough stick (some
people use a toilet wand) and twirl ithe string algae like cotton
candy. There goes the string algae (and maybe some snails,and lots of
little debris).

I've seen the toilet brush idea. That should give the neighbours a chuckle.
I just swirl my hand around now, which is fairly effective.


--
Koitoy