Pond Management Blog

How Do I Get Rid of Pond Algae?

How To Control Pond Algae

There are endless alleged ways for controlling pond algae. Pond dye, pond chemicals, fountains, diffused aeration, circulators, probiotic, grass carp, and the list goes on and on...

As you can expect, some of these pond algae removal techniques  are more effective than others. Indeed, some do absolutely nothing while others do more than expected. Additionally, some of these practices are safer for the overall pond environment than others. Some protect the natural aquatic habitat, while others can destroy it. The proper way to control pond algae will keep the health of the ecosystem in mind, while also remaining extremely effective.

There are right and wrong ways to treat pond algae.

How to Kill Pond Algae (and the pond ecosystem)

Anyone can kill a large algae bloom and have a clean pond. A heavy dosage of copper sulfate will kill all of the pond algae, and leave the surface crystal clear - practically like a swimming pool. The problem is that the pond is a pond, not a swimming pool. After treatments like these the surface may look pristine, but underneath it the pond ecosystem is suffering. Oxygen levels are being depleted, fish are becoming stressed and unhealthy, while all of the dead algae is sinking to the bottom where it becomes pond muck and sediment. Have you ever wondered why the pond algae comes back so quickly after each chemical treatment? It's because this dead pond algae is quickly transformed from an annoying green algae into an equally annoying natural fertilizer for the next algae bloom. This is why chemical treatments such as copper sulfate are so dangerous - once you begin using them you cannot stop, because the next growth of pond algae will be even more powerful than the last. Over time, this becomes extremely problematic for the pond ecosytem, as well as surrounding natural habitats.

Read more about the dangers of using copper sulfate to control pond algae.

How to Prevent Pond Algae (the eco-friendly way)

The best way to treat pond algae is to attack the nutrients that are responsible for its growth, instead of attacking the algae itself. The way you do this is with bacteria. There are decomposing bacteria that exist naturally within the pond ecosystem whose only job is to break down elements such as nitrogen and phosphorous that fuel pond algae growth. The problem is, these bacteria need oxygen in order to do their job as efficiently and effectively as possible. Without enough oxygen, these processes happen up to 18 times slower, and they emit byproducts such as sulphur and methane (you can imagine how that could alter the pond environment for the worse).

Adequate pond aeration is the most effective way to make sure that the water has enough oxygen to allow these processes to occur properly. Pond aeration can add oxygen to the water in one of two ways: 1) putting the air into the water or 2) putting the water into the air. The second method is far less effective than the first. (It should be noted at this time that pond fountains are not pond aerators, as they are used for decoration, and do very little to add oxygen back into the pond ecosystem) Putting the air into the water via a diffused aeration system is much more efficient from an energy consumption standpoint, as well as in terms of overall oxygen transfer. In these instances, a pond aeration system will rest on the bottom of the pond and expel hundreds of thousands of bubbles into the water column. It is these bubbles that are responsible for the oxygen transfer.

Additionally, pond aeration can be supplemented with Pond Pro-Biotic treatments. This beneficial bacteria acts as a boost to the natural decomposing bacteria, and will aid the pond aeration in getting the pond ecosystem back into a healthy balance much quicker. It can also provide some short-term benefits, as the Pro-Biotic is specifically made to target algae-forming nutrients. Therefore, it's use should result in a noticeable decrease in pond algae growth.

With tactics such as these, you are treating the causes of these problems, as opposed to the symptoms. If you like thinking metaphorically, think of it as taking antibiotics instead of tylenol - treating the infection instead of putting on a band-aid and hoping it heals itself. Ponds have no immune system, and if they begin to suffer they cannot heal themselves. Thus, they need a healthy dosage of pond aeration and Pond Pro-Biotic in order to become a lively, functional pond environment. This philosophy is much more effective in the long term than alternatives, and results in a balanced pond ecosystem for years to come.

Learn more about controlling pond algae by getting your hands on the exclusive Pond Management Guidebook!