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Pond algae

mary.gostickmary.gostick Posts: 3
in Problem solving
I have a new project this year which is a new wildlife pond. The pond is tiny 1x0.5m approx. Already it keeps filling up with algae which I have been clearing out with fishing net and using as fertilizer. (As suggested by Monty!) There has been a lot of soil dropped in accident which is obvs encouraging the algae growth but is there anything I can do to avoid emptying the water, removing soil and refilling. I have a couple of plants at mo. Are floating plants the best way of reducing algae?  I thought water hyacinths as they seem small. Lillies might be too big for such a small pond. Sorry for all the questions btw. I hope someone has the time to read all this. I have been researching but need help from experienced pond lovers!😁 

Posts

  • robairdmacraignilrobairdmacraignil Posts: 782
    If you have made the pond for wild life the process of emptying it and refilling will be slowing the development of normal pond life in it. If it was my pond I'd get a bucket of water form an existing natural pond to add to my new pond to help seed it with some of the water life that will naturally graze on and limit the amount of algae in the water. Any type of pond plant should also help remove the nutrients that are feeding the algae.

    If you are keeping the pond for wildlife it does not have to be pristine filtered upland stream quality pure water that is needed for rearing trout and some amount of algae is not that much of a problem for the type of wild life that you might want to encourage with a simple wildlife pond. The algae should become less of an issue when the pond life that will feed on the algae develops and the plants you add remove some of the nutrients from the water.
    https://www.youtube.com/user/sustainableveg/videos
  • mary.gostickmary.gostick Posts: 3
    Thanks that's great advice. I will get some more plants. I'm thinking floating plants will be the easiest to add and help to overcome the amount of algae
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    You can now buy a solution made from barley straw which is effective against blanket weed.   have a look online or in a good garden centre with an aquatic section.   You can also use a black pond dye to darken the water and reduce algae growth but it will also affect any oxygenator plants you have so check first.

    The RHS offers plenty of info on algae in ponds and it is not a good idea to change the water as tap water encourages algae.   Have a read of this - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=162 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
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  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I use Blagdon Barley Straw extract in my little wildlife pond.
    Any pond will take a season or so to clear once filled.
    Tap water contains lots of minerals that are easily digested by algae - hence the green water and blanket weed.
    It will clear of its own accord once you get some plants start growing, as they will outcompete the algae and it'll starve and die back.
    What you need most is patience I'm afraid :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • mary.gostickmary.gostick Posts: 3
    edited March 2021
    Thanks Pete and Obelixx. I have heard of adding barley straw. I will have to be more patient as you say Pete! 😏. Will check out the link later 👍
  • cuccok2013cuccok2013 Posts: 1
    edited July 2022
    Hi, Adam mentioned in an episode that there is some kind of dye that could also do the job done. Anyone knows what dye is that?
    Thank you.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    It's called Pond Dye and widely available - usually in blue or black
    https://www.google.com/search?q=Pond+Dye&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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