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This is my third year with my pond. Last
year we expanded it to 24'x20'x5'. I have a bottom drain,
pump and skimmer box system effective for this size. My
questions is, when we opened the pond this year we have
so much string algea I can't keep up with it. Any ideas
on how to get rid of this or slow it down? Yes my pond does
get sun.
Wow! Almost 18,000 gallons! I envy you.
Hair (or string algae is a natural product of sunlight, nitrates and phosphates either produced by your fish or washed into your pond with either incoming water from your well or tap, or from your fish and filter. Nitrate is easy. Just plant lots of greedy aquatic or swamp plants with their toes in the water to soak it up. Phosphate can only be got rid of with water changes. Shade your pond as much as possible.
Hair algae can be suppressed with barley straw, if you don't
mind the amber staining of the water, or with barley straw
extracts, which are colorless, but pricey. Best solution overall
is to scoop it out regularly with a biff brush on a stick.
Algaecides leave a lot of organics in the pond when you use
them.
(Answer courtesy Bob Passovoy)
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