How Can I Prevent Pond Algae?

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Not all algae is bad First, let's get our minds wrapped around this: Not all algea in ponds and lakes is bad. The problem comes when you have too much algae, or the wrong type of algae. In fact, the best treatment for pond algae, is algae! I know it sounds a little strange, but that is the way it works. What is pond algae When most people think of pond algae, they think of the type of algae commonly called pond scum, or blanket weed. The proper name for it is fillamentous algae. This is a type of algae that forms long fillaments or strings that then mat together to form a blanket on the surface of the water. This mat or blanket of algae makes fishing, boating, and other recreational use of a lake or pond difficult and distastefull. Pond scum also allows a perfect environment for mosquito production. In general, blanket weed in a lake is not a good thing for human use and interaction with the lake. Understanding pond algae To understand the best treatment for it, we need to understand where it starts, and how it starts. When we notice pond scum, we notice it on the top of the water, but that is not where it begins. Fillamentous algae starts at the bottom of your reservoir, and rises through the water profile as it gains bouyancy from the oxygen it produces. Eventually, enough oxygen is produced to lift it to the top of the water where it floats annoyingly. Clear water is the problem The problem is not that your pond or lake water is too murky, the proble m is that it is too clear. Again, I know that this is counter intuative, but bare with me. You have probably heard someone say "I can't see through muddy water." when they wanted you to move out of their line of site. The same principle applies here, because light penetrates straight through clear water, and because sunlight is needed for plant production, if the water is not clear, plant production is limited. If your water is too clear, you will have pond algae. The answer is not to go out and make the water muddy, the answer is to produce a single cell algae known as phytoplankton to tint the water, and prevent sunlight from reaching the bottom. So how do we prevent pond algae? Pond fertility is the answer. Check your pond or lakes water. If it is clear to a depth of more than 20 inches or so, it is too clear, and chances are, your fish are going hungry as well. A good fertilization program will solve both problems, and many others as well. This is how it works: When the proper amount of the proper fertilizer is introduced into the water, in the proper way, the single cell algae known as phytoplankton will reproduce rapidly in a process called algae bloom. This will continue as long as the water is fertile. The green color, or the golden brown coloring that this method produces will tint the water, preventing sunlight penetration, and preventing the growth of fillamentous algae. To learn how to do this see these pages, How To Fertilize A Pond Or Lake Lake Fertilization Lake Management Lake Weed Control Water Depth Secchi Depth and all the posts in this section of Home And Garden Press: Lake Management