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#1
12-07-2005, 02:34 AM
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Helpa Pond Newbie (please)
I bought a house with a man made pond about 15' in diameter. 60% of
the surface covered with either pond plants or shade from surrounding trees. I have a waterfall pump circulating water from one side through a hose to the other side where it spills it back into the pond. Unfortuneatly, the surface has been growing a green algae and also thousands of tiny yellow/green seeds or leaves are in the pond. Are those tiny seeds part of the algae or a product of one of the pond foliage? I currently don't have any fish in the pond; would adding fish make that go away? If not, what can I do to keep it relatively clean? thanks!! |
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#2
12-07-2005, 05:23 AM
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#3
12-07-2005, 05:33 AM
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I bought a house with a man made pond about 15' in diameter. 60% of the surface covered with either pond plants or shade from surrounding trees. I have a waterfall pump circulating water from one side through a hose to the other side where it spills it back into the pond. Unfortuneatly, the surface has been growing a green algae and also thousands of tiny yellow/green seeds or leaves are in the pond. Are those tiny seeds part of the algae or a product of one of the pond foliage? I currently don't have any fish in the pond; would adding fish make that go away? If not, what can I do to keep it relatively clean? thanks!! Can you take a picture and post it to a website? I'm wondering if you have duckweed rather than algae. Google for a picture of that or Azolla. ~ jan I'd think you're right on this. This is my favorite duckweed page, quite comprehensive: http://www.mobot.org/jwcross/duckweed/duckweed.htm As for the getting rid of it, Koi might eat it. Or they might not. Duckweed appreciates still water, so upping the tempo on the waterfall might help. Finally, whatever it is -- Duckweed or not! -- requires nutrients to grow. That it's growing so heavily implies nutrient-laden water Get a bigger filter. You don't have to buy one, read he http://www.pondsolutions.com/bog_filter.htm And he http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search As a last resort (only look to this /after/ proper biofiltration is in place for your pond), read he http://www.emperoraquatics.com/whati...rilization.php C// |
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#4
12-07-2005, 05:49 AM
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"Courageous" wrote in message ... Finally, whatever it is -- Duckweed or not! -- requires nutrients to grow. That it's growing so heavily implies nutrient-laden water Get a bigger filter. You don't have to buy one, read he http://www.pondsolutions.com/bog_filter.htm ========================== Or you can make your own from a Rubbermaid water trough for about $50, hoses and bulkheads included. :-) -- McKoi.... the frugal ponder... EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED. My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b ~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o |
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#5
12-07-2005, 05:54 AM
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On Mon, 11 Jul 2005 21:33:04 -0700, Courageous wrote:
This is my favorite duckweed page, quite comprehensive: http://www.mobot.org/jwcross/duckweed/duckweed.htm Excellent! Finally, whatever it is -- Duckweed or not! -- requires nutrients to grow. That it's growing so heavily implies nutrient-laden water I don't know about that, I use it in my containers holding plants only to keep the algae from growing, no fish in the containers. Seems water and sunlight is about all it needs to flourish. I would think a skimmer would help a lot. One might have to manually skim it off, but a mechanical skimmer would (hopefully) get the remaining ones. ~ jan ~Power to the Porg, Flow On!~ |
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#6
12-07-2005, 12:54 PM
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Hi - thanks for the website. I do indeed have a duckweed problem
 .I planted several more water liles yesterday so hopefully they will use up the nutrients instead of the duckweed. I'm not prepared at this point to go digging trenches etc. next to the pond to solve this problem - is there some way to kill the duckweed off? If not can anyone suggest a solution that doesn't involve digging trenches or spending hundreds of dollars? I don't mind the algae blooms because I think they will go away on their own, but the duckweed is getting worse. thanks! |
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#7
12-07-2005, 02:25 PM
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Courageous wrote:
I bought a house with a man made pond about 15' in diameter. 60% of the surface covered with either pond plants or shade from surrounding trees. I have a waterfall pump circulating water from one side through a hose to the other side where it spills it back into the pond. Unfortuneatly, the surface has been growing a green algae and also thousands of tiny yellow/green seeds or leaves are in the pond. Are those tiny seeds part of the algae or a product of one of the pond foliage? I currently don't have any fish in the pond; would adding fish make that go away? If not, what can I do to keep it relatively clean? thanks!! Can you take a picture and post it to a website? I'm wondering if you have duckweed rather than algae. Google for a picture of that or Azolla. ~ jan I'd think you're right on this. This is my favorite duckweed page, quite comprehensive: http://www.mobot.org/jwcross/duckweed/duckweed.htm As for the getting rid of it, Koi might eat it. Or they might not. Duckweed appreciates still water, so upping the tempo on the waterfall might help. Finally, whatever it is -- Duckweed or not! -- requires nutrients to grow. That it's growing so heavily implies nutrient-laden water Get a bigger filter. You don't have to buy one, read he http://www.pondsolutions.com/bog_filter.htm And he http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search As a last resort (only look to this /after/ proper biofiltration is in place for your pond), read he http://www.emperoraquatics.com/whati...rilization.php Now THAT's a lot of duck weed!!! :-) . I am just so happy that mine is starting to grow! We are now at the 1/2 point of our ponding season. Next month when things start to cool of late August, stuff won't be growing so much and the winters here kill all the duck weed, wh, w lettuce, and anything aquatic that cannot be submerged. But who is thinking about that now? Not me! Oh, no, not me! :-P . W. Dale |
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#8
12-07-2005, 02:28 PM
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#9
12-07-2005, 02:54 PM
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If you can overflow the pond, then use the hose as a broom and sweep the
duckweed over the edge. It may not get rid of all of it, but will get rid of a lot. If you have municipal water, then be sure to dechlor. -- RichToyBox http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html wrote in message oups.com... Hi - thanks for the website. I do indeed have a duckweed problem .I planted several more water liles yesterday so hopefully they will use up the nutrients instead of the duckweed. I'm not prepared at this point to go digging trenches etc. next to the pond to solve this problem - is there some way to kill the duckweed off? If not can anyone suggest a solution that doesn't involve digging trenches or spending hundreds of dollars? I don't mind the algae blooms because I think they will go away on their own, but the duckweed is getting worse. thanks! |
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#10
12-07-2005, 02:59 PM
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Hi - thanks for the response - firstly, I have water lilies and such in
the pond and can't just sweep the hose over the top. Second, if it won't get all the duckweed, won't it just grow back in a few days anyway? What would be the effect of adding some goldfish (to eat the duckweed)? Would I need to keep the waterfall pump running all winter (zone 4/5) if I did that so the fish don't die? thanks! RichToyBox wrote: If you can overflow the pond, then use the hose as a broom and sweep the duckweed over the edge. It may not get rid of all of it, but will get rid of a lot. If you have municipal water, then be sure to dechlor. -- RichToyBox http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html wrote in message oups.com... Hi - thanks for the website. I do indeed have a duckweed problem .I planted several more water liles yesterday so hopefully they will use up the nutrients instead of the duckweed. I'm not prepared at this point to go digging trenches etc. next to the pond to solve this problem - is there some way to kill the duckweed off? If not can anyone suggest a solution that doesn't involve digging trenches or spending hundreds of dollars? I don't mind the algae blooms because I think they will go away on their own, but the duckweed is getting worse. thanks! |
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#11
12-07-2005, 03:05 PM
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For winter, the pump can be set such that the discharge is pointed towards
the surface, just breaking the surface to keep a hole in the ice. If that is not sufficient, then a deicer may be needed. A hole is necessary to allow gas exchange, to get oxygen in the pond and dissipate the toxic gasses. Some in the colder climes, move the fish inside for the winter and shut everything down. When I said sweep the hose across the surface, what I meant was to take the stream of water from the hose and use it like a broom. It should not hurt the lilies, and definitely won't hurt any of the other plants. -- RichToyBox http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html wrote in message oups.com... Hi - thanks for the response - firstly, I have water lilies and such in the pond and can't just sweep the hose over the top. Second, if it won't get all the duckweed, won't it just grow back in a few days anyway? What would be the effect of adding some goldfish (to eat the duckweed)? Would I need to keep the waterfall pump running all winter (zone 4/5) if I did that so the fish don't die? thanks! RichToyBox wrote: If you can overflow the pond, then use the hose as a broom and sweep the duckweed over the edge. It may not get rid of all of it, but will get rid of a lot. If you have municipal water, then be sure to dechlor. -- RichToyBox http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html wrote in message oups.com... Hi - thanks for the website. I do indeed have a duckweed problem .I planted several more water liles yesterday so hopefully they will use up the nutrients instead of the duckweed. I'm not prepared at this point to go digging trenches etc. next to the pond to solve this problem - is there some way to kill the duckweed off? If not can anyone suggest a solution that doesn't involve digging trenches or spending hundreds of dollars? I don't mind the algae blooms because I think they will go away on their own, but the duckweed is getting worse. thanks! |
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#12
12-07-2005, 03:40 PM
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hmm if I remove the hose and set the discharge upwards, it will shoot a
fountain into the air a few feet.. Also, will I risk ruining the pump if I keep it in the pond over the winter? It's about 12" from the surface (it's a shallow pond) and I'm in NE Ohio. thanks. RichToyBox wrote: For winter, the pump can be set such that the discharge is pointed towards the surface, just breaking the surface to keep a hole in the ice. If that is not sufficient, then a deicer may be needed. A hole is necessary to allow gas exchange, to get oxygen in the pond and dissipate the toxic gasses. Some in the colder climes, move the fish inside for the winter and shut everything down. When I said sweep the hose across the surface, what I meant was to take the stream of water from the hose and use it like a broom. It should not hurt the lilies, and definitely won't hurt any of the other plants. -- RichToyBox http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html wrote in message oups.com... Hi - thanks for the response - firstly, I have water lilies and such in the pond and can't just sweep the hose over the top. Second, if it won't get all the duckweed, won't it just grow back in a few days anyway? What would be the effect of adding some goldfish (to eat the duckweed)? Would I need to keep the waterfall pump running all winter (zone 4/5) if I did that so the fish don't die? thanks! RichToyBox wrote: If you can overflow the pond, then use the hose as a broom and sweep the duckweed over the edge. It may not get rid of all of it, but will get rid of a lot. If you have municipal water, then be sure to dechlor. -- RichToyBox http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html wrote in message oups.com... Hi - thanks for the website. I do indeed have a duckweed problem .I planted several more water liles yesterday so hopefully they will use up the nutrients instead of the duckweed. I'm not prepared at this point to go digging trenches etc. next to the pond to solve this problem - is there some way to kill the duckweed off? If not can anyone suggest a solution that doesn't involve digging trenches or spending hundreds of dollars? I don't mind the algae blooms because I think they will go away on their own, but the duckweed is getting worse. thanks! |
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#13
12-07-2005, 05:27 PM
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#15
12-07-2005, 11:48 PM
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On 12 Jul 2005 13:02:31 -0700, wrote:
Most of my pond floor is about 12" under water - a little area is 18" or so. I will probably have to move all the liles into the 18" area for them to survive the winter which wouldn't leave any room for the pump/fish. Can the lilies survive here (NE Ohio) in the 12" water (top of the planter only 6" from the surface)? That would leave me room for the pump and fish lower down... Forget the pump, sounds like it may be too strong to use. An air pump w/air stone and a stock tank heater (w/guard), and a stock tank heater backup, may be the better way for you to go. Now a stock tank heater would only be needed when really cold, but with only 12-18" to store your lilies in, an Zone 4/5, you'll need one just to keep them alive, not just the goldfish. The lilies will be fine as long as the crowns don't freeze. A stock tank heater will keep the ice layer from getting too thick. Goldfish, since you're looking for something to eat the duckweed and not be too prolific I recommend getting some fantails over feeder goldfish. They eat just as much duckweed (don't feed them) and if you do get too many they are much easier to catch. ~ jan See my ponds and filter design: www.jjspond.us ~Keep 'em Wet!~ Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a To e-mail see website |
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