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I am having an alge problem this
year. I get round circles of alge on the top of my pond. My
skimmer needs constant cleaning. I have a 900 gallon pond
with a small stream and water fall. I have had the pond for
3 years and have never had this bad of a problem. Should I
empty it and scrub down the sides and bottom? Would a pond
vac help? My skimmer needs constant cleaning. Is there a fish
I can get that can help control this. I have goldfish and
Koi already.
You've got hair algae. It is a product
of nitrates from your fish and filter, phosphates from your
water source and runoff from the fertilizers in your lawn,
and sunlight. Scrubbing and pond vacs will not help. You need
lots of plants around the pond margin with their toes in the
water, floating aquatics and lilies to sop up those nutrients.
I'm usually not a fan of chemical additives, but there are
a number of barley straw extracts now available which can
help. Do not use algaecides! The resulting organic load from
the dead algae will kill your fish.
Shade and water changes will also help.
(Answer courtesy Bob Passovoy)
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