Pond Algae Application

09 May 2016

Pond algae is one of the most common pond problems that pond owners face. I would venture to guess that most pond owners know they will need to use an algaecide to control the growth. However, many pond owners have no idea how to use an algaecide effectively.

There are two types of algaecides that can be used in aquatic environments, liquid and granular. Sanco’s liquid copper sulfate, Crystal Plex, is easy to use and will control a larger variety of algae than the granular. 1 gallon of Crystal Plex will treat 1 acre 1-2 feet deep. If you have a 1acre pond with an average depth of 4 feet you will use a total of 2 gallons of Crystal Plex on your pond.

Dosing for 1 acre pond with an average depth of 4 feet:

Mix 1 gallon of Crystal Plex with 2-3 gallon of water
Spray half of your pond growth
Wait 5 days and do the same treatment on the other half of the pond

*depending on the severity of the growth it may take multiple applications to get the growth under control. Algae typically grows in layers, starting at the bottom and then releasing and coming to the surface in the form of a mat. Killing the mats on the top is the first step. Once those are gone your follow up treatments will be able to reach the algae on the pond floor that hasn’t released.

For the granular copper you have the choice to cast out the granular or dilute the crystals in warm water and spray. The max dose of granular copper we recommend for a 1 acre pond with an average depth of 2 feet is about 5 lbs. Depending on how extensive the coverage of growth is, 5lbs may become difficult to spread evenly over the area that needs treated. Therefore, you will need to mix the granular in warm water until all the granular dissolves.

Dosing for 1 acre pond with an average depth of 4 feet:

Dilute 5 lbs of copper in 3 gallons of warm water
Spray half of your pond growth
Wait 5 days and do the same treatment on the other half

Using pond dye and pond bacteria will also aid in slowing the growth rate of your algae. For additional questions on how to use a pond algaecide to treat algae contact the experts at Sanco.