Killing Algae Mats

Algae is one of the most unwanted forms of life you have in your pond. Algae mats are ugly, smelly, and they can ruin the look of your pond. Although algae mats can give off oxygen into a pond, large amounts of algae mats can be detrimental to the health and appearance of your pond. Killing algae mats is as easy as broadcasting copper sulfate or spraying a liquid copper version directly on the mats.

            When you broadcast copper sulfate directly on the algae mats, it’s an instant kill. The algae mats will turn brown within the next 24 to 48 hours. The dead algae will break up and sink over time.  Large rainfalls or surface water agitation will cause the dead algae to break up quicker.  This is considered a quick fix and should not be constantly treated this way.

            Another form of algaecide is a liquid copper sulfate solution. I recommend using this for preventative maintenance or when you start to see algae forming under the water along the shorelines. This type of algaecide stays buoyant in the water for up to thirty days and can help massive algae blooms.

            With both liquid and granular copper sulfate you have to be very cautious when killing algae mats.  You should always treat your pond in sections waiting a week between treatments.  Copper sulfate works so well on algae that the rapid decay of algae will deplete your pond of oxygen and cause a fish kill.  If you treat your pond in sections you are only depleting a small section of your pond from oxygen.  Also keep in mind some species of fish are very sensitive to copper sulfate.  For example; Koi, Trout, and Goldfish will not survive a treatment with copper sulfate.    

            For more information on killing pond algae mats Contact Us.