Methods for Eliminating Bad Koi Pond Algae

One of the problems you are going to undoubtedly come across when you've got a koi pond in the yard is algae. Algae love to grow in warm, moist environments, like your pond can provide them. Algae will threaten to take over unless you diligently take the time to thwart it. New pond owners will discover that their pools are especially prone to algae, because they haven't yet established an ecological balance of plants and fish. The truth is, if you've only recently installed a water garden pond in the yard and have noticed stuff growing in the liner or waterfall, it's probably algae, and you will need to take steps to keep it under control.

Although many of the short, velvety algae that quickly covers the liner and anything else within the koi pond are beneficial when they aren't allowed to take over, you'll still have to take steps to hold the population down. There are chemicals you can utilize in the water that won't harm the plants and fish but can help diminish this type of algae, but don't expect to ever completely remove it. A small amount is beneficial in your pool because it puts oxygen into your water and gives the fish something to nibble on.

String algae is a lot more difficult to control. This sort of koi pond algae thrives in areas of the water garden environment where there's a great deal of sunlight. Therefore, it tends to form on waterfalls and in shallow parts of streams. Furthermore, these areas of the pond possess a ready availability of nutrients continually flowing through them. Utilizing a skimmer or algae net can help you remove string algae and also other larger debris, such as leaves.

It is possible for algae to start to be such a problem that it will smother plants and fish. Building your water garden in an area of your yard where it won't be in direct sunlight all day may be beneficial. Should you have only koi inside your pond, they are going to require much less sunlight than plants do, and can even get sunburned should they be exposed to too much. Therefore, select an area which may have direct sunlight for part of the day and will also have shady times and areas. The warmer the water gets, the more algae will form.

You also need to work on controlling the volume of nutrients that enter the water, as the more nutrients that are present means additional algae that should be able to thrive within the environment. By carefully planning where your pond is located or building a lip around the edge, you can lessen the quantity of rainwater runoff that enters the pool. Rainwater contains air pollutants, fertilizers and weed killers, and other particles that are appealing to algae.

Koi pond algae need three things so that they can grow: water, nutrients, and sunlight. By eliminating some of these factors, you can lessen the formation inside your water garden and help it become safer for the plants and fish.