The first thing to consider when dealing with pond algae is what is feeding the algae. Algae grows when it has a food source and photosynthesis.
Algae grows when it is fed and has plenty of sunlight.
What feeds algae? Fish waste, uneaten fish food, leaves, grass clippings, twigs, tree and weed seeds, bark, mulch, dust, and fertilizer run-off. Anything that the wind or rain can blow or wash into your pond will feed algae. So how do you deal with what blows or washes into your pond?
The first thing to do is to make sure that there is a small berm or mounding around the perimeter of your pond to make sure no irrigation or any type of ground water can flow into your pond, stream, or waterfalls. Make sure that no mulch, bark, or any type of plant or lawn fertilizer can wash into your pond.
The next thing is to have good mechanical and biological filtration. Mechanical filtration is to aid in the removal of wind blown debris before it can become a food source of algae. Biological filtration is to aid in removal of dissolved organics before they can become food sources of algae.
A good mechanical filter such as an easy to clean pond skimmer will help remove debris that is blown into the pond. We have several easy to clean HydroClean Pond Skimmers to choose from that will use the power of your pump to 'vacuum' the surface of your pond. Leaves and other debris will be drawn into the skimmer's leaf net, filter basket, and/or filter brushes. Simply remove the leaf net, filter basket, or filter brush rack and hose them off. Everything that the skimmer trapped will not become a food source for algae.
A biological filter provides water polishing and surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow and colonize. The beneficial bacteria inside a biological filter consumers fish waste, ammonia, and other dissolved organics from the water before algae can feed upon it.
We have three sizes of easy to clean biological waterfall filters and two sizes of easy to clean biological koi pond bead filters. A biological filter when seeded with beneficial bacteria breaks down dissolved organics before algae can feed on them.
