Pond Algae Control Problem?

Most algae are microscopic organisms, which do not have stems roots or leaves; however, some can grow to be meters long. There are different colors of algae too, depending on location. Algae can grow almost everywhere, no matter where in the world you are located and algae can grow in fresh or salt water.

Algae are important in the aquatic ecosystems, the oceans, lakes, ponds, etc. because it provide food and nutrients to the animals in that ecosystem. However, too much algae is not good. Your fish tank or pond or lake can be overcome with algal blooms (large amounts of algae), which can harm the surrounding environment and the life that is in the water.

Excessive algae growth cannot only make the appearance of the body of water dirty, but it traps sediment and can stop sunlight from reaching the bottom of the body of water. This in turn can basically smother the life beneath the surface because light is needed by plants to make food. How exactly can it kill koi fish in a pond for example? Algae blooms basically reduce the amount of oxygen in the pond. Oxygen is the gas that all animals need to survive. Organisms take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. Plants take in the carbon dioxide and make oxygen. The process is called the carbon dioxide-oxygen cycle and the two gases go hand in hand. If there is not enough oxygen in the pond water, then all life can die. New ponds generally have the most trouble with algae because there is not a good balance of plants and animals within the water, which balance the oxygen cycle. In time, as the plant and animal species balance, the problems usually solve themselves.

When the problem of algae growth arises in a pond, there are few steps you can take in order to try to resolve the issues such as installing a pump with a filter that is the proper size for your pond. The pump should be able to move half of the water that is in your pond and the filter can never be too small for a pond. By doing this, the pump and filter will provide a healthy environment for the fish and plant life in time.

Also, it is a good idea to skim the top of the pond to remove some the larger algae blooms. This can be done using a net with a fine screen. And lastly, there are enzymes and bacteria products that can help maintain the pond, this is more of a preventative measure, but it can be added after the problem has arisen. Overall, taking care of a pond can be time consuming and hard work. In time, the plant and animal life needs to be balanced in the water to maintain that proper balance of life and gases, oxygen and carbon dioxide. The most important tip to controlling algae growth in a pond is to make sure you have pump and filter that is large enough for the pond.