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.
The only "sure-fire" cures for hair algae are upgraded biofiltration
and reduced nutrient load (i.e.: fewer fish and less food!). We use a brush on
a stick and extensive verge plantings.
Bob Passovoy
President
MPKS
