Posted on behalf of Garth, what advice would you give?



Good evening

I have 2 ponds , one of 2800 L and another of 5000 L . filter systems are s/s canisters a 30 L and a 60 L respectively



1) 2800 L pond has no UV, and a .37kw pedrollo circulating pump. I have 38 comets averaging 10cm in length . feeding aqua nutro , pond is crystal clear , fish are happy , just a thin film of algae growing on the walls (perfect) pond in full sun. no medication or algaecides added, no need to



2) Now with the 5000 L pond which is situated 3meters away , has a 15 w UV , inhabits 30 koi 1 x40cm, 1 x 35cm ,

2 x 30cm, 4x 20cm , 7 x 10cm , and the rest are smaller . the same maintenance is carried out on both ponds ,



Water tests



Ph -------------- 8.5

Ammonia------ 0 mg/l

Nitrite -----------< 0.3 mg/l

Nitrate -----------0

Phosphate -----0



Water changes done from the same water supply



Hair / string algae and blanket weed a major problem . a daily chore to try and remove . I have tried almost everything from cheap to expensive products off the shelf which does the job but 2 to 3 weeks and its back , hair algae grows to about 500mm in length . I have tried barley straw ,algo fin , Viresco more than once and guess what , no luck.The viresco was guaranteed to work by competitive exclusion , I have even overdosed viresco x 3 times. I have liaised with so many koi experts and no-one seems to be able to help . today I added pond clear , not particularly happy as it is an algaecide but it is my last resort.if pond clear does the trick , how regularly must it be added and what are the long term problems I can face due to the repetitive use of an algaecide ?



Please help as I am fighting this war for the past almost 3 years.



Thanks & regards

Garth

I used Viresco on terrible blanket weed and it fixed it within 24-48 hours..

I wonder if he let it sit in the bucket over night in the dark before adding it. Also did he switch his pumps off..

Bobby informed me that "Clear water" worked for him.



I personally try to stay away from all kinds of chemicals as far as possible.

Green water is not bad for Koi, as a matter of fact, it is very good for them and breeders often prefer to keep their water green, because the fish thrive on algae and ensure a good skin quality to the koi and enhance the colours. However, we want to see our fish. Isn't that what Koi keeping is all about??
Very often, the quality of green water is much better than crystal clear water.
The reason why the water turns green is because of the accumulation of nutrients in the water, especially those gathered during winter. The algae blossom on these nutrients, and one must get rid of the nutrients and the algae being the cause and the result.
The other reason for green water (which is linked to the above) is because of the absence of enough bacteria, especially directly after winter, because the bacteria takes a while to grow after the winter months, as it requires enough heat to grow. New ponds always go through a phase of green water, despite the presence of a UV light. This is nature's way of sorting out a balance. Even if a pond is old, the use of medication can also cause a setback because it often kills the bacteria.

Don't interfere unnecessarily.
There are various options to solve the problem which can and should be used in conjunction with each other, depending on the severity of the problem.

Mechanical way
An effective UV light will clear most of the floating algae which makes your water green. However, it is not effective against blanket weed, the hardy type of algae on the sides and bottom, but these does not affect the colour of the water and can be removed manually if required. One have to remember that the tube is only really effective for a period of one year. So, if you have green water despite the presence of a UV light, a replacement of the tube or an additional light might be an option. It takes a few days to clear the water. When you buy a UV light, always buy a bit bigger than what u actually require. There is not a big difference in the price of a 15-watt and 30-watt UV light. The one is approximately R 550.00 and the other one is R 620.00. We install 30 watt UV lights in ponds of 12 000 litres, although the manufactures indicate that they are good enough for 30 000 litres.
Chemical way
There are various chemicals available on the market, the most common one is "Pond Clear" which is available at most Koi outlets. It is "fairly" inexpensive at approximately R 75 a jar, which is good for a few treatments on an average pond. This will however cure the situation only temporarily, and it is extremely important to use the right dosages.
Potassium Permanganate can also be used, but it is not advisable for the novice. If you suspect the presence of parasites anyway, this is an option. The Potassium will attack the algae which will make your whole pond brown as it kills the algae within hours, and leave a clean pond a few days later after a water change. However, it also kills beneficial bacteria, unless you can successfully bypass your bio filter.
Plants
Another option is to introduce water plants or more plants that will use all the nutrients and compete with the algae, and the algae will gradually die off. Very often, Koi keepers introduce plants that were planted in nutrient rich soil. This will initially cause the opposite and make your problem worst because it normally causes an algae bloom. Water plants should be planted in normal garden soil with low nutrients mixed with gravel as apposed to compost or rich potting soil.
Bacteria
Most types of bacteria breaks down the nutrients. Introducing a bigger bio filter will cure the pond of algae, but it might take a few months. An option to get the water clear much faster, is to introduce a bale of straw into the water which will generate the right type of bacteria to limit the nutrients in the water. This is why a mature pond normally have crystal clear water, and it is difficult to maintain clear water in a newly build pond younger than 12 months.
Shade
To introduce more shade onto the pond, will also help to clear the green water and it will help to prevent it from happening again to some extent. The higher the temperature, the more algae will grow and the greener the water will be. Your water will always be much clearer in the winter, as the algae does not grow at low temperatures.
Salt
The increase of salt is also an option as it limits the growth of algae. However, it also limits the growth of bacteria and pond plants if the quantity is too much. A good option is to throw course salt directly on the blanket weed.
Replacement of water
Most people think that the quickest solution is to do more water changes or a total water change, thinking that the clear water added will solve the problem. The opposite happens. New water is rich in nutrients and the algae thrive again. A lot of Koi keepers have leaks in their ponds forcing them to add new water on a regular basis. These koi keepers always battle to keep their water clear. Often, too many water changes are the culprit of blanket weed problems.
Patience
In a lot of circumstances, you only need time. Any new pond will go through a green phase despite the presence of a UV light. Be patient. It will probably clear within a week. Let nature takes it's course. Nature is busy to create a balance. If not, assist nature by doing something about it. Just remember, blanket weed can block your filter and bottom drain and algae can cause bad bacteria and an increase in Nitrites when dying off, which can be detrimental to your Koi.

Paul has given the whole story. When I started my ponds last year I went through the phases of pea soup and then buckets full of string algae. As my plants took hold the string algae lost their grip. What was interesting for was that in my veggie pond I have around 40 assorted gold fish and they chow that algae with gusto.

During the months from May I stopped feeding my Koi and about three weeks ago I began to see the string algae forming in the filters and the streams but the ponds stayed clear. I am not feeding the koi daily yet and they keep the ponds clean.

The single biggest factor in getting the algae under control in the veggie pond was the goldfish. I could not believe how the stripped it off the bags, rocks and amongst the plants.

thanks for the info but i followed the instructions as per the instruction sheet and it does not mention anything about switching the pumps off.i have relayed my total story to the manufacturer as well and they cannot even explain the problem
thanks

I just came home from Nigeria and found an enormous amount of string algae, worst I have ever seen. The water is clear, I can see to the bottom.

I suppose that this could have been a result of the sudden drop in temperature, overfeeding by my son and I recently replanted some of my plants.

I try never to use chemicals, do not use salt, but I had to do something, because if I do not stop them, they will block all my filters. I bought a container of Clear Pond and just added it to my pond.

Just in case, I bypassed my waterfall with plants as well as my biofilters. Is this necessary? Anything else, or can I let my whole system run? Or as mentioned by gakes, should I switch my system off?

Albie

Hi Guys

In my setup I have found only three things that works for string algae.
The first and best being Potassium,
Secondly within 4 to 6 weeks is barley straw
And lastly is getting the algae cycle to control itself IE dead algae cells kills live algae cells once you have it going.
Probably the reason why the other pond is clear.
Water changes as Paul say's will only increase it.
UV wont help for string algae
Salt I also don't think so.

If the measurement of nitrates is correct as stated there should be no algae??

Hi Neville

I just have got this fear for potassium killing the bacteria in my biofilter.

This invasion of string algae was the worst I have ever experienced- this pond now going through its first winter.

Will see what the Pond Clear does. I have stopped the filters for a few hours now, but feel that I should start them again, but bypass my plants as I am still unsure what effect it will have on the plants.

I agree with your comment on the UV light, as my water is as clear as can be.

Thanks for your reply

Albie

Hi Albie,

Die Pond Clear sal niks aan jou filter doen nie, maar dis beter om die plante te bypass.
To veel kos in die Winter kan die probleem veroorsaak.
Groete.

Hi Albie.

Yea unfortunately pondclear will not remove string algae. It is true that with string algae your water will be very clear as if it reacts as a filter media Hey.

Don,t stop your filters it wont help just now you pick up other problems. Spoke to Pieter today he promised to post his solutions to the problem.

Potassium wont kill all your bio bacteria but you should really by-pass it, during treatments, if you are well filtered and not overstocked I wont bother. Problem is I think it is too cold for potassium to work well now, not too sure.

The problem with barley straw is to get it up here, It is available from Servaas de Kok in Cape area.

Hi,

I have a theory about string algae, I could be wrong, so please you are welcome to prove me wrong!
“You will only found string algae, where the circulation of the pond water is too slow”
String algae blossom in still standing water.

If you look at ponds with a strong current and/or water circulation/ turn over, string algae are no problem.
The best is to remove the string algae manually! Everything you use will not solve the problem permanently.

If chemicals (medicine or otherwise) are used in a pond, never, but NEVER turn of the pump or oxygen supply!

Neville wrote:

Hi Albie.

Yea unfortunately pondclear will not remove string algae .

Yes it will.

Well Pieter, you might be right. Despite all the instructions to clean the sand filter basket, it was totally blocked when I opened it today- probably resulting in a very slow water flow. I did the usual chores, cleaned the sand filter, etc today, etc, so the current will be much stronger now.

So Neville, is pond clear then just effective with floating algae?

Will see how it looks tomorrow

Albie

Hi Albie,

Myself and a friend of mine have not been succesfull with it on string algae and have found it to be of short assistance on others.

I think Jaco sells it.

The cleaning up of your filters will certainly help and you could remove as much as possible of the algae using a garden rake.

Just remember that filter basket as well as your sand filter will clog up quickly again.

Neville wrote:

I think Jaco sells it.

No I don't, and I had great success with it in the past.


PS. Sies Neville

Ja jong,

Jy gooi seker die hele bottel in,
Jaco ek wonder of dit nie saak maak oor water gehaltes nie, hier by my en my ander koi pel gebeur daar net mooi niks, of baie min.

Ek self is suksesvol gewees met pp en barley strooi. Maar nou is mygoed weer skoon.
JY sal weet is die temp nie nou te laag vir pp of maak dit nie regtig saak nie, ek het nou nie gekyk nie maar ek glo nie die water is meer as so 13 grade nie.

Just a question on algae control and barley straw... A lot of keepers swear by using barley straw to control algae in their ponds. The substance that barley straw releases that helps control algae is hydrogen peroxide. Would it not help if you add hydrogen peroxide to your pond to help clear the water of algae initially and then add the barley straw to control the algae?

If the answer is yes, how much hydrogen peroxide would you add to the pond? 20ml / 1000l??

I thought my water was clear, but I must say, it is as clear as can be today- so there must have been some floating algae around.

I have bypassed my waterfall with the plants now for 24h- will it be safe to turn it on?

Albie

Hoe kry julle manne algea probleme in die middel van winter? lol

Julle voer dan teveel of die filters is nie mature genoeg nie.

Ek het al baie gehoor dat Hydrogen Peroxide sleg is vir die kiewe van visse. (Ek praat nou van die bottles Hydrogen Peroxide) Weet nie hoe waar dit is nie...

Om 'n dam te PP is ook sleg. PP vreet dink nou net wat doen dit aan die visse se kiewe. Ek sal PP Dip aanraai maar nie sommer die pond treatment nie - dit werk maar jy neuk jou hele dam se ekologie so op.

Die probleem is nie die algea nie dis die water samestelling. Julle NO3 is tehoog....so teveel kos in kort of swak filter. Deur die alge met PP dood temaak neem jy net die simtoom weg nie die probleem nie.

My water is crystal clear.... Het maar net gevra oor die algemeen. Gedink dit kan miskien mense help kom somer tyd.

My dam is vieslik vuil...bruin water oorals. My visse kry hule winter clay beauty treatment. 30 dae van bruin water.

Haai!!!

Ek dog die Ou se probleem was "string algae" / "blanket weed"..........!?

Beauty treatment..................

Hi Wayne

Ek dink ek het die spyker op die kop geslaan- wil nou net die kante beter laat lyk. Sien my quotes:

Quote :

I just came home from Nigeria and found an enormous amount of string algae, worst I have ever seen. The water is clear, I can see to the bottom.

I suppose that this could have been a result of the sudden drop in temperature, overfeeding by my son and I recently replanted some of my plants.

Quote :

Well Pieter, you might be right. Despite all the instructions to clean the sand filter basket, it was totally blocked when I opened it today- probably resulting in a very slow water flow. I did the usual chores, cleaned the sand filter, etc today, etc, so the current will be much stronger now.

Groete
Albie

Hoeveel Barley Straw plaas mens in 'n pond filter

Hi Nelius

My dam is 25000 Lt en ek het twee groente sakkies wat lig gestop is reg by die inlaat ingesit en na 3 weke het die alge begin vrek.