Treating Filamentous Algae

A common algae that is found in many ponds and lakes is called filamentous algae. Filamentous algae is a mass of long, stringy, hair like strands that are usually green in color, but can become yellow grayish or brown.  Filamentous Algae is often times referred to as pond scum, water net, frog spittle, or moss.  Since plant identification is essential in treating your pond, it is crucial to understand how to identify different types of weeds and algae.  To identify algae like Filamentous, look for formation of greenish mats on the water surface.  It may form hair-like growth on logs, rocks, and other vegetation at the bottom of the lake or on the shoreline.                                                                                            

Figuring out the correct treatment plan is the next step to getting your pond back to normal if you have any type of algae growing.  Crystal Plex Algae Control is the third step in our product line that will help control the Filamentous algae that is growing on your pond.  The main ingredient of the Crystal Plex Control is copper sulfate (19.8%) which will effectively control any algae outbreak.  The best way to apply is by spraying it directly onto the algae.  If the algae outbreak is heavy, make sure to treat 1/3 or ½ of your pond at a time to avoid depleting the oxygen from the pond.  Avoid using this product if your pond is stocked with koi, goldfish, or trout because they are ultra-sensitive to the copper sulfate and may result in a fish kill.  For best results, apply Crystal plex when it is calm and sunny or whenever the weather allows. 

Once you have your growth under control, make sure that you are taking steps to prevent a future outbreak.  In order to do this, we recommend that you use any color in our Crystal Blue pond dye line as well as our Natural Pond Cleaner.  The colorant will restrict the sunlight from your pond, making it hard for weeds or algae to get any nutrients.  The next step that you will need to use is our Natural Pond Cleaner.  This product can be used 5-10 days after treatment and get rid of the dead vegetation you will have after treating the algae.  Natural Pond Cleaner is made of 23 different bacterial enzymes that will also take away nutrients the algae need to live. 

After finding a treatment program and using preventative measures, your pond will be healthy all season long.  Since each pond is different and it is often times hard to determine how much product to use, feel free to ask our experts any time.  We are here to help and want you to be successful in your pond treatment.