String Algae, Getting Rid Of

[kcw317]

We have had a mild winter in southeastern pennsylvania this winter, i removed my water pump and uv sterilizer somtime in early december. we've had some cold nights and in the mourning a thin sheet of ice was on top of my pond which would melt away by midday. i probally could have left the waterfall going but i didn't know? what is happening is a coating of String Algae is everywhere! which is suprising me! I want to know a good product to use for my spring pond preperation? has anybody used Hydra Quartz blanket weed, string algae and slime remover before and if so is it good to use or if you suggest another product this would be helpful....thanks Kevin

[Robyn]

In the last week, my waterfall has grown a lot of hair algae too. I don't worry about it as most of it goes away in my pond once things warm up. I don't have it (at least not noticeably) in other parts of the pond. Hair or string algae likes cool, moving water. I did get more of a coating of hair algae on the liner of my 153 gallon pond. That too mostly is gone by May or June. I don't do anything about it. I don't like to use chemicals. There are many out there that claim to kill it. The problem is that they may also harm other algae and plants. Plus, if you have a lot of algae, and then it dies, that creates a larger problem. Plus, it will come back so you'd have to keep using the chemicals. See http://www.fishpondinfo.com/plants/algae2.htm for more on ponds and algae.

[kcw317]

Thanks Robyn, you are always helpful and I really appreciate it....Kevin

[Broxandval]

Hi kcw317
It is commom practice here in the UK on koi ponds to say the least to leave the pump running and your U/V on.
When was the last time you changed your bulb?
You should change it once a year or in my case every two as I have one of the new generation of U/V, the result only a thin coat of algae around the sides of the pond and on the bottom.
The pond if you cover it with policarbonate sheeting should not freeze and conventional thinking in the UK is that running water will not freeze, proof of this was the -10c conditions we had last winter here in the UK.
Robyn your page on Algae is very imformative but you need to update it and add the new generation U/V's which are low wattage and also the bulb is twin with a two year period between changes

rgrds
broxandval

[kcw317]

Hi Broxandval, I purchased a new uv sterilizer last April, It is the newer model with the two tubes and low wattage. I was afraid by leaving it on all winter that it would break and it was expensive! at the time i wasn't sure what our winter would be like. which it is turning out to be really mild, besides it gave me the opportunity to clean it. I also feel I have another year before I replace the tubes!! The same goes for my waterfall and water pump? The string algae is not at panicing proportions and it seems to be not getting any worse...Thanks for the advice...Kevin

[Broxandval]

Hi Kevin do you lagg your pipes ?
It helps keep the cold at bay but from what I was taught running water doesnt freeze our pond is 4ft deep and lagged as is the bottom drain and the filter housing the pond has polycarbonate sheeting to keep off the worst of the weather and last year it went down to -10c around here without freezing the only things we do is turn the air supply down to a bare trickle throughout the winter but I'm unsure of what type of pond you have how deep nor gallons imperial and size.
Otherwise all the things I'm describing re more for a koi pond.
Please let me know

rgrds

broxandval

[kcw317]

I have a 1000 Gallon pond that's 3 feet deep measureing 9 feet across and 5 feet wide I have Gold fish and Golden Orfe's along with Trap Door Snails and CrayFish (Crawdads) This Summer I'm Putting in Our Red Slider Turtle and he's about 5 inches in size......Kevin

[Rosiemeadow]

I have string algae in my little pond for the first time ever, but nothing in the big pond & thank goodness my big pond is finally crystal clear!