In the last two weeks the algae has really taken off. Both waterfalls
are covered in string algae and the veggie pond is lined with some other
moss-like algae. Is this good or bad? I don't know if I should take some
of it out or not.

Lemme just clarify, if the algae is helping my pond water stay clear
then I definitely want it. On the other hand I don't know if I should
remove it because it's taking nutrients my other plants could use.
basically, all I want is to do what ever gives me the clearest water
since that's why I have plants in the first place.

Thanks
Mike S

Michael Shaffer wrote:
In the last two weeks the algae has really taken off. Both waterfalls
are covered in string algae and the veggie pond is lined with some other
moss-like algae. Is this good or bad? I don't know if I should take some
of it out or not.

The moss-like algae is very desirable in the pond. The string algae, can be
removed with a twirling motion with a new toilet brush, if desired. Both
types of algae work to give the gin clear water. K30a will give more info
when she returns, won't you K30a. Get yourself straight so that you can
keep us straight.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html


"Michael Shaffer" wrote in message
...
In the last two weeks the algae has really taken off. Both waterfalls
are covered in string algae and the veggie pond is lined with some other
moss-like algae. Is this good or bad? I don't know if I should take some
of it out or not.

Lemme just clarify, if the algae is helping my pond water stay clear
then I definitely want it. On the other hand I don't know if I should
remove it because it's taking nutrients my other plants could use.
basically, all I want is to do what ever gives me the clearest water
since that's why I have plants in the first place.

I removed my insanely growing string algae and got a huge green water
bloom.

I was thinking, like you, that if I removed the string algae, the
higher order plants would kick in and grow faster.

Nope. Floating green algae took over.

I'm not in the process of installing a U.V. which will "force" the
higher order plants to use more nutrients to grow (or so I am thinking
).

Does anyone know a comparison of fertilizer needs between floating
algae and things like anacharis, parrot's feather, and lillies?

Algae needs less nutrients than plants and algae can be stunted or stopped
by limiting nitrate and phosphate, and mainly phosphate. The trick is to get
your plants to where they use all available nitrate and phosphate that the
pond is generating. A plant will stop utilizing nitrate and phosphate when
its trace minerals and macro nutrients are limited. So for example if you
had 100PPM nitrate and 100PPM phosphate your plants would not consume it if
your iron level was 0PPM. The algae would however.

Some people keep algae around because it utilizes phosphate and nitrate from
the water. If you're lucky and you get a strain of algae you can live with
you're doing good. If you get a strain that you can't live with you're doing
bad.

Sam

"Critical Popperian" wrote in message
om...
Lemme just clarify, if the algae is helping my pond water stay clear
then I definitely want it. On the other hand I don't know if I should
remove it because it's taking nutrients my other plants could use.
basically, all I want is to do what ever gives me the clearest water
since that's why I have plants in the first place.

I removed my insanely growing string algae and got a huge green water
bloom.

I was thinking, like you, that if I removed the string algae, the
higher order plants would kick in and grow faster.

Nope. Floating green algae took over.

I'm not in the process of installing a U.V. which will "force" the
higher order plants to use more nutrients to grow (or so I am thinking
).

Does anyone know a comparison of fertilizer needs between floating
algae and things like anacharis, parrot's feather, and lillies?

Here are rec.ponds' collected tips ;-)


Algae fighting tips
~ Nutrients for algae are sun, new water, fish waste, fertilized run off,
rotting plants, blown in dirt.
~ New ponds and spring ponds need time for plants to get established, algae is
quicker at getting going.
~ add plants, of any kind, in the pond. Especially underwater plants.
~ Shade is good - provided by lily pads, floating plants or artificial shade
for part of the day.
~ LOW fish stocking (20 gallons per goldfish, 100 per koi after starting with
1,000 gallons) and *not* overfeeding the fish. Too many fish and too much
feeding is probably responsible for most pea soup water.
~ adding a combination mechanical and biological filter to screen gunk and
convert fishy ammonia waste.
~ build a veggie filter, run water through plants, as easy as floating water
hyacinth in your filter.
~ clean up dead plant matter and screen for falling leaves
in the fall.
~ water movement, occasional water changes of 10%
~ add a sludge consumer, concentrated bacteria.
I use A HREF="http://united-tech.com"http://united-tech.com/A
~ building ponds with bottom drains and skimmers.
~ do not use algaecides, they only make lots of suddenly dead algae
and that will feed the next algae bloom.
~ do not worry about algae that grows on things (substrate algae) this is good
for a pond
~ gently remove string algae
~ UV sterilizes work on suspended algae - are expensive though.
~ patience and time ;-)


k30a
and the watergardening labradors
http://www.geocities.com/watergarden...dors/home.html

Aesthetically, it is noce to pull the string algae...also it opens water to
see in. Taking it out takes out nutrients for other algae. Letting it die
returns the nutrients to the cycle.

If it is easy, pull the string algae.

J

--
__________________________________________
Check out Jog-A-Thon fundraiser (clears $140+ per jogger) at:
www.jogathon.net
See our pond at: http://www.home.bellsouth.net/p/pwp-jameshurley
"Michael Shaffer" wrote in message
...
In the last two weeks the algae has really taken off. Both waterfalls
are covered in string algae and the veggie pond is lined with some other
moss-like algae. Is this good or bad? I don't know if I should take some
of it out or not.

After pulling, plucking, and dredging the floating string algae for the last
week (after rain filled my pond beyond the skimmer) my water is now clear;
or at least now I can see all my fishes all the way to the bottom of my
pond. The water *appears* greenish now, but I believe that is due to algae
growing on the rocks on the bottom of the pond. I haven't put fish food in
the pond for 10 days or so, and when I did today they weren't a BIT
interested, but keep eating the algae on the rocks.

Should I worry 'bout the algae on the rocks or let it be? I know I'm not
running an aquarium here, and I can see the fishes just fine, but would like
the water to appear clearer.

O the joys of a newbie ponder!!

Thanks all!

--==jb==--

--
~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=

john burton
Bach 50B3
Bass Trombone, Charleston NeoPhonic Orchestra
South Charleston, West Virginia

"Phyllis and Jim Hurley" wrote in
message ...
Aesthetically, it is noce to pull the string algae...also it opens water
to
see in. Taking it out takes out nutrients for other algae. Letting it
die
returns the nutrients to the cycle.

If it is easy, pull the string algae.

J

--
__________________________________________
Check out Jog-A-Thon fundraiser (clears $140+ per jogger) at:
www.jogathon.net
See our pond at: http://www.home.bellsouth.net/p/pwp-jameshurley
"Michael Shaffer" wrote in message
...
In the last two weeks the algae has really taken off. Both waterfalls
are covered in string algae and the veggie pond is lined with some other
moss-like algae. Is this good or bad? I don't know if I should take some
of it out or not.

John wrote Should I worry 'bout the algae on the rocks or let it be?

Let it be. It is substrate algae. It takes up nutrients, provides food for the
fish and helps balance the pond.
The algae that colors the pond pea soup green is suspended single cells.
It is evil ;-)


k30a
and the watergardening labradors
http://www.geocities.com/watergarden...dors/home.html

Let it be.

Yup, when the Beatles were asked about string algae that's what they
answered ;-)

String algae are the cheapest plants you never had to buy...

The only reason to get rid of it is when you have small sturgeons BTW

Theo