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Actually, I have a few questions... First,
why can't I keep any of my water plants alive? I have a filtration system that
has the regular old white filter and a charcoal filter. Second,
I have been using algicide blocks(cubes), yet I still have tons of algae. And
finally, I love my backyard pond (and fish), but I just don't think I know enough
about it to keep it healthy. Can you suggest a good book to get me going on the
right track as far as learning the basics (i.e., how often to empty and re-fill,
when to add salt, etc.)? I don't know if
you need the stats on the pond itself, but, just in case: ~4ft deep (with 3 shelves
around the perimeter at ~2ft deep), 3x5ft (WxL). It sits in FULL SUN (hence the
algae problem).
Oohhhhkay. Let's start with
the pond itself. Small footprint, but nice and deep, 3x5x4=60cu.
ft.,multiply by 7.48gal/cu.ft=449 gallons You describe
a "regular old white" filter, and I'm going to assume that this is filter
mat. The rest is charcoal, which is actually useless in the outdoor pond setting. Your
problems with the algae tell me that you've got inadequate biofiltration for your
fish load. Algae eats ammonia, and there's enough around to support it, which
means your fish are making it faster than your filter is getting rid of it. You
did not mention which kind of algae was troubling you, but from the desperation
between the lines and the fact that you did not mention "pea soup",
I'll bet that you are battling hair algae, also known as "blanket weed".
You have made a classic beginner's mistake, in that you have read the pretty labels
on the pond chemical box and believed them. Quite frankly,
there is no commercial chemical that can take out hair algae and leave everything
else standing. You describe algicide "cubes"
so I'm assuming you are (and have been) using some chemical plant poison to control
the problem. As far as I know, there is no chemical additive that is selective
for hair algae only. Your aquatics are dying because you are poisoning them with
the pond algaecide, and they are way more sensitive
to the poison than the algae is. There have been any number
of products on the market purported to control hair algae, and the only one I've
ever seen even come close without killing off everything else in the pond is barley
straw. It can be bought in small bales, and seems to work (albeit slowly) as an
inhibitor, without harming other pond plants or critters. It's main drawback is
that it stains the water with brownish dissolved organics, and if you do not have
a way to clear these, you can only get rid of the stain with repeated water changes. Most
experienced pond and koi keepers do not use chemicals in their ponds, unless they
are dealing with a parasite with a free-swimming section to its life cycle, or
with a delayed incubation period on the eggs. About the only commonly used chemical
is salt. For your particular problem, the best short-term
solution would be to get rid of the worst of the hair algae with a toilet bowl
brush, and then do a series of large volume water changes to get rid of as much
of the algaecide as you can. If you then re-establish your population of greedy
water plants and pond marginals (reeds, water mint and cress, pennywort, lilies,
water lettuce and hyacinth, etc.) they will sop up enough of the nitrate to keep
the hair algae growth slowed down to the point where your koi will keep it trimmed
down with their grazing. (Pleckys are good for this too, but have to be brought
in over the winter.)
Long-term? Upgrade your filters! Much
more detailed discussions of filtration, salt and other subjects are available
at the click of a mouse in the FAQs and Articles sections of the website. Rather
than running out and spending bucks on books, you may be better off (if you live
in the Chicago Metro area) joining MPKS and using our extensive library of books
and tapes for free. Regards, Bob
Passovoy
President
Midwest Pond and Koi Society | 