Proper pond care requires you to stay on top of algae growth. If it takes over, it can suffocate the plants and fish in the water and become poisonous to humans and animals. Fortunately, this becomes less of an issue once the water feature matures and develops the proper balance of plant life, marine life, and bacteria growth. In the meantime, you’ll need to learn how to treat and control potential algae threats.

Treatment

Treating an overgrowth of algae requires you to find an imbalance in your pond’s water chemistry. When the water becomes too stagnant, too warm, or receives too much nitrogen or phosphorus, algae growth increases.

After cleaning out the current overgrowth, clean out the water feature’s filtration system. If this gets clogged, the water cannot move how it needs to, and algae thrive in stagnant water.

Once this is handled, add plants that provide shade — like water lilies and water lettuce — to lower the water’s temperature. Finally, take measures to reduce water runoff from your yard, which can contain the nutrients that algae like to feed off of.

Prevention

To prevent algae from getting out of control in the future, get the right pond pump. The wrong size can limit the flow of the water. A water garden pump should be able to move at least half of the volume every hour; whereas, a koi pond needs more filtration and should have its full volume moved each hour.

Performing regular water feature maintenance will also limit algae development. Use a skimmer net or pond vacuum to remove accumulating sludge and string algae before it gets tall. If this happens, you’ll need to remove it physically.

Adding bacteria and enzyme products will also decrease algae growth. Start adding more plant life around the pond to absorb any excess nutrients in the future. Also, limit the number of fish you add and don’t feed them more than they can consume in five minutes.

For the best results dealing with out-of-control algae, contact the experts at Specialty Water Gardens & Landscapes in Columbia, MO. They provide products that will help you maintain the water feature’s ecosystem and offer maintenance services to ensure it remains in good shape year-round. Call them today at (573) 442-9027 to find out how they can help you. You can also visit their website to learn more about their services.