In our introductory blog post of this series we discussed pond owners being extremely hesitant to administer pond algae treatments. This is probably the number one reason pond owners do not treat their pond algae; they are worried about pond algae treatments killing their fish. We would be lying if we said there weren’t risks involved, however, we are confident that you can successfully treat for pond algae and keep your fish safe. The purpose of this blog post is to give pond owners the confidence to treat their pond algae while still respecting the risks involved.
Let’s start with what type of pond our pond algaecides are meant to be used on. Our products are specifically meant for bodies of water that are measured in acres, not small decorative ponds. There are a couple of species of fish that are extremely sensitive to copper sulfate, which is the active ingredient in many pond algaecides. Koi, Goldfish, and Trout are extremely sensitive to copper sulfate. Ponds with these types of fish should not be treated with copper based products. The type of pond that usually contain these types of fish are small decorative ponds that are measured in gallons not acres. Trout are the exception… to this rule, but are not typically found in a large privately owned pond because they require cool, oxygen rich, and clean water. Many ponds don’t have the water quality to support Trout.
Pond algae labels can be intimidating at first glance. Algaecide labels are mandated by the EPA and can be difficult to read and interpret. These products are concentrates; in their concentrated form they can be dangerous if left on skin, ingested, inhaled, or gotten in eyes just like any other concentrated product in the market. However, once applied to your pond in the proper dosage and in the right way there are no restrictions for swimming, fishing, irrigation, or even livestock consumption!
There are some basic rules of thumb when it comes to treating your pond. These rules apply to pond treatment when you are killing a growth not applying pond dye or pond bacteria.
By following these 3 simple rules you will keep your fish safe and get the most out of your pond algae treatment. I encourage you to check out the blog post about Fish Kill. Knowing the some common misconceptions about pond products and fish kill may change your perspective.
Here is what application will look like when following the 3 rules listed above. Crystal Plex is a liquid algaecide that kills a broader variety of algae. For a 1 acre pond with an average depth of 4-6 feet mix a gallon of Crystal Plex with 3-4 gallons of water (the water is just to help you spread the product) and spray ½ of your pond. Wait 10 days and do the same application to the other side. Copper Sulfate is a granular algaecide. We recommend diluting copper sulfate in hot water and spraying. For a 1 acre pond, use 3lbs mixed with 3-4 gallons of water and spray ½ of the pond. Wait 10 days and do the same application to the other side.
If you are still uneasy about pond algae treatment, contact us.
Next Monday we will release Part 4 of our Pond Algae Treatment Series: Why Is My Pond Algae Worse Than My Neighbors?
Part 1: Different Algae Require Different Pond Algae Treatment
Part 2: When Do I Start Pond Algae Treatment?
Part 3: Will Pond Algae Treatment Hurt My Fish? (Current Blog Post)
When do I start my pond algae treatment? This is going to be different for everyone because of temperature and severity of growth. The easy answer to this question is: treat when you notice algae growing in your pond. However, sometimes you can have algae growth early in the season. When this happens, we tell pond owners to be patient! Continue to add dye and bacteria, but hold off on your pond algae treatment. I know, I know…a chemical company telling you to hold off on treatment. As much as we want to sell our products, we want our customers to be successful while using our products, because we know they will come back for more when they are successful.
Pond owners are often tempted to start treating when water temperatures are too cool. Pond algae treatments should be administered when water temperatures reach at least 50°F. Do not go by air temperature! While algae may be present in water temperatures cooler than 50°F, the growth is in a dormant state. Dormant pond algae will not be absorbing a significant amount of nutrients, much less any algaecide treatments.
Therefore, it is imperative to keep pond dye and pond bacteria in your pond early in the season. These products won’t stop pond algae growth, but they will help slow the rate of growth making it more manageable once water temperatures reach a point that you can start using copper based products to control the growth.
In the meantime, be sure you identify the type of pond algae growing and you know the size of your body of water. There are two copper based products you can use for your pond algae treatment, Copper Sulfate Granular or Crystal Plex. The type of algae you have will determine the best product to be used; check out Part 1 of this blog series “Different Algae Require Different Pond Algae Treatment” to pinpoint which copper product best controls your particular type of algae. Get your product purchased and ready so that you can spray your algae as soon as the water temperatures are appropriate. Pond algae treatments will generally need to be done every 10-14 days until algae growth subsides.
Next Monday we will release Part 3 of our Pond Algae Treatment Series: Will Pond Algae Treatment Hurt My Fish?
Part 1: Different Algae Require Different Pond Algae Treatment
Part 2: When Do I Start Pond Algae Treatment? (Current Blog Post)
Part 3: Will Pond Algae Treatment Hurt My Fish?
Repeatedly we will have pond owners contact us about a pond algae treatment that failed. We start all of these conversations in the same way… We ask them what they have growing. The pond owner will often say algae. What pond owners don’t realize is that all pond algae is NOT created equally; different pond algae require different types of algae treatment. Having trouble identifying your pond algae? Check out our pond plant ID page for additional help.
Here are some of the most common groups of pond algae: Planktonic, Filamentous, and Chara. There are specific types of algae that fall under these groups. Most types of algae are identified by a common or slang name.
The following types of algae fall under Planktonic: Euglena (red algae), Blue-Green (toxic algae), Oscillatoria, and Green Water. Planktonic algae is known for changing pond water color to green, brown, blue-green or even red! Planktonic algae are usually microscopic in nature and may not take on any type of form, therefore, this group of algae can’t be manually raked or removed except for Oscillatoria. Oscillatoria collects in the form of a mat on the pond’s surface but looks like snot and smells terrible! Planktonic algae is usually the result of excess nutrients and lack of other plant competition. A liquid copper sulfate like Crystal Plex is the only type of pond algae treatment that will control these types of pond algae. Granular copper sulfate will not affect algae from the Planktonic group.
The types of algae that fall under the Filamentous group are Horse Hair, “Moss”, and Algae Mats. The common names of these types of algae tell you a lot about how filamentous algae can be identified. Algae within this group is usually very thick and will form in mats on the pond surface. Once removed from the pond it tends to feel dry and coarse. Filamentous algae is extremely common and fairly easy to treat. The use of granular copper, liquid copper, or a combination of both have been used to effectively treat pond algae.
Chara pond algae virtually stands on its own in a group. There is one other type of algae that we classify with Chara, Starry Stonewort. Chara is interesting because it is frequently misidentified as a weed. It appears to be rooted, has a stem, and resembles a weed more than an algae. Chara grows in big billowing puff on the pond floor and once thick enough they can breach the surface of the water. This growth has a crunchy texture and a musky odor. A byproduct of Chara is usually an extremely clear body of water. Chara is a filter algae and we highly advise keeping a chunk of Chara to ensure your pond water remains clean and clear. The most effective pond algae treatment is liquid copper sulfate or Crystal Plex. Granular copper will not treat Chara. Late in the season the algae will become calcified and treatments will be ineffective.
Still having trouble identifying the algae in your pond? Take a picture of it and send it to us. We will do everything we can to identify the growth and point you towards the best pond algae treatment.
Next Monday we will release Part 2 of our Pond Algae Treatment Series: When Do I Start Pond Algae Treatment?
Part 1: Different Algae Require Different Pond Algae Treatment (Current Blog Post)
Part 2: When Do I Start Pond Algae Treatment?
Part 3: Will Pond Algae Treatment Hurt My Fish?
Many pond owners are extremely hesitant to administer pond algae treatments. This fear results in idleness, which results in a once beautiful body of water covered in green algae. Here at Sanco, we believe knowledge is power and fear is often just a result of the lack of knowledge. So, in this blog series we are going to tell you everything you need to know about pond algae treatment! At the end of this series, you will have the confidence to tackle your pond algae treatments.
Part 1: Different Algae Require Different Pond Algae Treatment
Part 2: When Do I Start Pond Algae Treatment?
Part 3: Will Pond Algae Treatment Hurt My Fish?
Part 4: Why Is My Pond Algae Worse Than My Neighbors?
Part 5: Tips To Slow Down Pond Algae Growth
If you have been following this series, then you know how much we believe in educating yourself. It isn’t a matter of “if” you get pond algae it is a matter of when! Pond algae needs very little to thrive, heck a puddle can start to grow pond algae.
We’ll try to give you the answers to the most commonly asked questions about pond algae treatment so that a) You feel confident in treating your pond and b) You can enjoy your beautiful pond all season long.
Preventive pond care is your first line of defense in keeping your pond healthy. To prevent is to make something unable to do something. In this case, the goal of preventive pond care is to create an environment unconducive for weeds and algae to grow. There are several ways to implement preventive pond care to help slow down pond growth.
Getting on a schedule is important. As summer approaches calendars fill up and before you know it, it has been 2 months since your last treatment of pond dye and pond bacteria. Pond dye and pond bacteria should be applied monthly depending on rainfall. These products are easy to apply and can be applied at the same time. Simply pour 1 gallon of each into a pond that is 1 acre with an average depth of 4-6 feet deep. If you aren’t sure the size of your pond refer to Part 1 of this blog series, the link is below.
Using pond dye is an essential part to preventive pond care. When you choose not to use a pond dye, you will be fighting an uphill battle to control weed and algae growth. We have 3 different colors to choose from: Crystal Blue, Ocean Blue, and Black Out. Pond dye’s often help settle out floating particles and give an overall crisp look to the pond.
Pond Bacteria also plays a very significant part in preventive pond care. Pond Bacteria not only helps neutralize fertilizer run off, but it will also help keep muck from accumulating on the pond floor. Muck on a pond floor is the most fertile material. Left untreated, this rich material becomes a feast for weeds and algae in years to follow. Sanco has a maintenance dose of liquid bacteria, Natural Pond Cleaner, that can be poured in with the pond dye. However, we also have a more concentrated form of bacteria, Muck Doctor, that can be used to clean up targeted areas like beaches and docks.
Pond products aren’t the only way to combat weeds and algae. Pond aerators and fountains will get the surface of your water moving. Some weeds must have very still or stagnant water to grow. By creating surface movement, you are not only adding beneficial oxygen to the pond, but you are preventing certain varieties of weeds from growing.
The final preventive pond care tip we have for you is to be careful when applying lawn fertilizers. Lawn fertilizers are used to make lawns green; therefore, they are going to do the same thing when they run-off into your pond. We advise all pond owners to keep a 20ft perimeter around the pond that you do not fertilize. Keeping grass a couple of inches longer around the pond will help filter run-off.
We want to remind pond owners that preventive pond care is not done to stop growth altogether. The purpose of preventive pond care is to make growth more manageable when it starts. This leads into Part 4 of our DIY Pond Care Blog Series: Curative Pond Care. Check back next Monday to see how to treat your pond growth once it starts.
Part 2: Pond Care…I Like a Natural Pond
Part 3: Preventive Pond Care (Current Post)
