Red menace
Lindsay4
Posts: 34
Could anyone advise on a strange red/brown substance which is quickly covering the stones and sides of my new micro pond?
I created it three weeks ago from washing up bowl. Gravel and stones on the bottom, plus more pebbles and stones as escape routes. I added two marginal plants in pots with the soil just below the water surface. Also added one small string of pond weed.
The water is fairly clear but this last week I have seen a rather horrid red/brown substance is covering everything.One of the marginal plants, which had lovely green leaves, is also starting to change...the leaves themselves are going more reddish in colour though look healthy enough.
Is it an algae perhaps? And if so, do I need to empty the bowl and start again? Maybe the pond weed strand needs to come out?
Any advice gratefully received! Thanks
Posts
It will be algae - try adding some Barley Straw extract - it will keep the water clear, but you need a certain amount of algae on the stones etc - that's what all the little critters eat http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/extract-of-barley-straw-pid8289.html?Aff=GPL&gclid=CMH1spWriL4CFWUOwwod3EwApA
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks very much for the information Dovefromabove, I'll give that a try. I knew I needed some algaefor the creatures, but this stuff is rather gross!