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It is possible to have a clear pond without using any chemicals
at all. (which is a relief for those of us whose brains freeze at '1 teaspoon per gallon') Our ponds are nutrient heavy. We have WAY too many fish in our ponds than Mother Nature recommends. Like the other posters recommended higher order plants are the way to use up the extra nutrients. Ways to cut down on nutrients is to cull the fish population, stop feeding the fish as much and use a filter to screen and convert fish waste. Fresh water is a nutrient for algae and you've had more than your share of fresh water this year. There isn't much you can do about that. Algae and string algae are very efficent at growing when the higher order plants are still waking up. Spring is usually a time when ponds will suffer an algae bloom. I use watercress in the spring to get ahead of the algae. I place stems of it (from the grocery store) under a rock (one stem to a rock) in my waterfall. The stuff loves fast running, cool water. It spreads but the roots are shallow and brittle and it is very easy to rip up. I have watercress that wintered over, frozen in the ice, that is growing like crazy right now and the only other plant growth out there is two inch high iris. The problem with algaecides is that they make lots of suddenly dead algae which feeds the next algae bloom. Your pond isn't old enough to need cleaning yet, but dead plant matter, fish waste, mulm, muck and crud are also good food for algae. And finally sun. Floating plants will shade the water, like lily pads. Water hyacinth are good floaters in that they reproduce like crazy. In zone 7, where we are, they don't survive the winter so have to be taken out as with their demise they will turn into decaying plants (more algae food). Patience is always helpful. Frustrating, but helpful. It takes a while to get to know your system and how to manage it. good luck! kathy :-) |
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