We have a 2200 gallon pond, 6 feet deep
with 10 Koi of various sizes but none more than 3 yrs. old.
We live by a lake and some of the algae from the lake got
into the pond via the irrigation system. we have since resolved
that issue.
3 months ago I emptied the pond completely, high pressure
cleaned, added new media and filter, uv tube and the algae
came back with in 1 month and is now quite abundant. we live
in Florida and the pool is in direct sunlight 8 hours a day.
i have used a limited amount of algaefix not wanting to harm
Koi. Any ideas?
Hey Lela!
You would have got the algae regardless.
It is the natural product of ammonia from your fish, phosphates
from your water and visits from local waterfowl. Add sunlight
and PRESTO! Pea soup!
Algaecides are a bad idea. Once in your
pond, they are always there, and as they accumulate, they
will kill off all the resident plant life. The dead plant
tissue then accumulates and increases your organic load,
degrading your water quality.
The best solution for hair or string
algae is to install a plecostemus (armored catfish)into
your pond. He'll be fine year-round in Florida, and he'll
keep your hair algae trimmed. With him in the pond (he'll
grow as big as some of the koi!) you will not need to pressure
wash (which I don't recommend either, since the algae on
the sides of your pond are actually beneficial and the force
of the water can damage your liner)and the rocks will stay
clean.
The floating, microscopic algae need
to be sterilized so they can't reproduce. An ultraviolet
sterilizer placed inline on your water return from filter
to pond will take care of the problem without increasing
your organic load. Make sure you get a UV unit that will
not impede water flow (High-intensity bulb and minimum 2-inch
inlet and outlet) and rig a bypass around it.
Happy ponding!
