In order to keep creatures such as fish and lovingly cared for aquatic plants healthy, you should take some countermeasures when dealing with algae in the pond. Green algae thrives primarily in higher temperatures and sunshine, which leads to problems for many garden owners with ponds in spring. Fortunately, algae growth in garden ponds can be prevented in various ways, be it natural, chemical or with devices. However, it is better to use gentle control methods and home remedies for several reasons, and here are some of the best of them.
How can you identify the different algae in the pond?
Most standing water, be it garden ponds, aquariums or lakes, are susceptible to various types of algae. They feed on sunlight and excess nutrients in the water, such as waste from fish in crowded tanks. Some tried and tested methods to...Keep garden ponds cleancan include adding aquatic plants and using barley straw. Natural algae eaters such as water fleas, tadpoles and snails can also help. However, it can also be useful to identify the different types of algae in order to use the best possible antidotes.
In general, there are types of algae such as blue-green and green algae, chandelier algae, filamentous algae, golden algae, red algae, diatoms and glossy algae. However, the most dangerous of these are blue-green algae because they are toxic and can produce harmful algae blooms. The toxins they contain can affect the gills, liver and nervous system, and sometimes even cause death. As a rule, however, it generally makes more sense to use home remedies to remove all of these types of algae in the pond. This ensures that harmful algae in the pond with fish no longer pose a danger to the creatures. Before dealing with it, it is also important to identify the possible causes for it.
Causes of algae growth in garden ponds
Most types of algae and those that thrive in bodies of waterCyanobacteria developthanks to the nutrients it contains. In addition, excessive nutrient enrichment in a garden pond is considered a key influencing factor for bacterial and algae growth. Some of the essential nutrients that contribute are nitrogen and phosphorus. However, there are also other factors such as water temperature that cause growth. The blue-green algae blooms described above typically develop in early spring. This is because when there is rainfall during this warm weather period, the waters are high and there is more sunshine. This means that algae growth continues even in the summer months.
In addition, outside temperatures above 25°C can create an optimal environment for algae to develop in the pond. In such weather conditions, blue-green algae also have a competitive advantage over other types of algae that can only thrive at lower temperatures. Algae growth can be kept in check if the plants in the water are exposed to extreme light intensity over a long period of time. However, when it comes to blue-green algae, this species grows most intensely when exposed to intermittent high light intensities. Such conditions are met below the water surface, where the light environment is changeable.
What damage occurs when algae grow excessively in the pond?
Since algae growth causes a lack of oxygen in waters of a pond, this can affect pond fish andselected pond plantsfight for the vital nutrient. Accordingly, such conditions can affect the quality of life in the garden pond and cause organisms living in it to suffer. In addition, some algae in the pond are toxic to fish and can kill them, which would make all your efforts pointless. Further damage caused by this is the removal of important nutrients for aquatic plants, which can worsen water quality and appearance.
How can you fight algae in the pond using natural means?
Choosing the right pond plants is the first and most important step in natural algae control. The other important measures are not to overfeed pond fish and to breed fish species that eat algae. Additionally, you can keep algae growth to a minimum by regularly cleaning surface water. All of these steps will also help you decide which home remedies or other solutions you should try. Here are the general and most common actions you can take.
- Determination of algae species– The first step is to identify the algae growing in your pond. You should check whether it is green algae, golden algae, blue-green algae, red algae or other types of algae.
- Choose the appropriate method for combating algae– First you should decide which control method you can use to get rid of the relevant types of algae most effectively. The option is to remove some manually and then use other treatments such as homemade algaecide or a mud vacuum.
- Plant the garden pond– Common pond plants such as water lilies help break down fish waste accumulated in the water, which usually allows the algae to thrive. You can also plant your pond with a few types of plants such as flowers and grass clippings to mitigate the source of algae accumulation. These also provide more shade against sun-loving algae and protect your pond fish from predators. This will also reduce bacterial growth as plants contribute to the nutrient cycling of the pond's ecosystem.
- Do not overfeed fish– Your pond fish should be given as much food as they can consume so that it does not rot and cause further algae growth.
- Take preventive measures against future algae in the pond– Complete elimination of all types of algae guarantees that you can expect reduced growth. However, once you have removed everything, some preventative steps are required to be able to solve the problem in the long run. This includes the use of home remedies using the following tips.
Prevent algae growth with home remedies
There are some homemade solutions and home remedies that can be used to combat algae in the pond. You can also use some easily available and accessible household items and garden tools to remove the algae manually. These can be rakes, nets, gardening gloves to remove the slime and many more. However, afterward, you should also brush the surfaces and clean the pond to prevent rot or regrowth. Otherwise, you can try the following remedies.
- Hydrogen peroxide– With this method of combating algae, you protect your pond fish as hydrogen peroxide is harmless to them. However, you should take the amount of water into account. For example, use ½ cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide for about 1 gallon of water. You should then only apply the stuff to the affected area, being careful not to pour it directly onto the fish as it can damage their gills.
- Baking sodaUse against algae in the pond - Baking soda is another common home remedy that you can use to fight algae. It helps to brush them off directly, using about a teaspoon per 30 liters of water. Simply combine baking soda and water from your pond in a bucket and let the mixture dissolve before pouring it into your garden pond. This would accordingly change the pH of the water and make it unfavorable for algae.
- Algae in the pondVinegarCombat – Cleaning the pond with vinegar is another effective preventive measure you can take. However, this variant would only work if the pond was drained. Thanks to the acid content in acetic acid, algae residue can be removed from all surfaces. The method also does not harm your fish and cannot change the pH value of the water.
This is how you can make an algaecide against algae in your pond yourself
Although not one of the typical home remedies for algae growth, homemade algaecides using a combination of bleach and well water can also be effective. However, you should also use this type of control method when the pond is drained. Otherwise, homemade bleach can be toxic to fish and plants. Otherwise, you can replace homemade bleach with bleach to remove algae. Another option is to use organic cornmeal, but it should be free of pests and chemicals. You can simply put 1 cup of it in a sock or pantyhose foot. Seal or tie the opening and place it in the pond. The cornmeal slowly dissolves in the water and destroys algae.
