GardenBanter.co.uk - AlgaeFix and Muriate of Potash

If you're going the chemical route, they're not mutally exclusive. IOW, the
potash is a nutrient that's used to keep the "fertilizer" levels even. The
fish provide one number, the nitrAtes (the end product of ammonia removal)
supply another number, and the potash supplies the third number (i.e., it's
usually listed as 0-0-60) Plants can't grow properly without all 3
nutrients. You usually have an excess of the first two numbers (supplied by
the fish and the nitrates), but the third is lacking. By adding it, the
plants can then out-compete the algae, thus starving the algae out. The
AlgaeFix will kill the algae, an entirely different concept. Please try to
develop some kind of filtration, even if it's a temporary eye-sore, to
filter out the "fines" (dead algae, in this case). O'wise, the deal algae
will feed a new bloom. At this point, I'm having a brain freeze and can't
remember what the 3 number in fertilizers mean (other than the last number:
potash!), but someone else can fill you in.

I *have* used a UV successfully in defeating an algae bloom, but it gets a
little complicated. First off, if your pond is 1,000 gallons, look for a UV
rated for at least 2,000. The manufacturers like to inflate their claims, so
you need *at least* double. To me, the defining value was the quantity of
water that can be run through the light: I didn't want to do additional
plumbing, and no "step downs". So I purchased a UV that was rated for 3600
gallons per hour, and I run 2600 through it. Therefore, I'm pushing 100%
of my water through at about 2/3 of the rating, so it's slower (more
exposure to the light). I have a lot of mesh and screening in my skimmer box
to catch the dead stuff, and rinse it out daily. My water was green, Green,
GREEN and it cleared in 3 days. And it's stayed that way. I live in central
FL and my pond gets some pretty strong sun: that's what it takes to keep it
clear under my set of circumstances.

The one thing I've learned is that things are different all over: what works
for you might not work for me, simply due to our location and source water
conditions. But I think that a UV sized as above will work for *any*one,
*any*where. It's just a matter of cost.

Lee

"Justin" wrote in message
om...
Can the two be used together effectively? I have done an AlgaeFix
treatment. Should I add potash now or wait? I really am tired of
battling the pea green soup.