My wife bought me a UV filter for our
3000 gal pond with the hope it would kill the algae. It looks
like it would be difficult to plumb into my Biofalls filter
system. Is it worth the trouble and would it, in fact, even
kill off the algae and help keep my pond cleaner. Right now
I have a pretty big algae problem. I've also tried large bales
of barley straw in the waterfall tub where the water enters
the pond. Other than dying the water a dark tea brown I'm
not sure the barley straw is doing much. What are your opinions
of the UV filter and barley straw?
Do whatever it takes to install the UV. If you have a standard
skimmer/biofalls system, the UV can be put anywhere in the
pipework after the pump. If the UV has a I/O diameter less
than your standard piping, you will want to rig it on a
bypass loop, with valves at either end to allow you to remove
it for maintenance and to adjust flows.
UV lights will inactivate floating
algae. Barley straw is usually used for hair algae suppression,
and always discolors the water. There are no "sure-fire"
cures for hair algae. We use a brush on a stick and extensive
verge plantings.
Bob Passovoy
President
MPKS
