Algae treatments and frogs

BigT · #1 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 10:47 AM

I just started my first pond last September - just a little 250litre 'puddle' and am utterly amazed at the amount of life in it already. I had frogs in February, tadpoles by April and have just discovered a newt. My problem is algae. The pond is not situated in full sun, I have tried a barley straw block and am now resorting to weekly chemical additions which also appear to be based upon barley straw. However, the second I stop treating the pond the algea goes ballistic. I went away for a two week holiday (treating the pond before I left) and on my return, the pond was choked with weed so badly that the pump was clogged solid. Any ideas how I can minimise algae without using anything that will hurt the frogs and newts?

nightshade · #2 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 11:15 AM

Hello bigT,ponds need to stabilise naturally as far as possible a good balance of plants, oxygenators,and only use the special soil for planting also no run off from the garden when it rains or you will fill the water with the nutrients that algae love.
Go easy on chemicals or you will start a cycle a sort of boom and bust without effecting anything but your pocket.What does your pump do?if it could be raised off the bottom of the pond and the intake pointed away from weed/algae to minimise ingestion of biomass (theres posh then) use the water flow to increase the oxygen levels and let the pond settle
you could also shade the pond with the fine green/black netting gardencentres use for shade loving plants,well theres a start see how you get on

pxl8 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigT

Any ideas how I can minimise algae without using anything that will hurt the frogs and newts?

Hi,

Algae is a symptom of a pond that hasn't "cycled". If you treat the algae with one of the chemicals it will keep coming back as you have discovered. Instead you need to get your pond in balance, first question:

What kind of filter are you using?

BigT · #4 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pxl8

Hi,

Algae is a symptom of a pond that hasn't "cycled". If you treat the algae with one of the chemicals it will keep coming back as you have discovered. Instead you need to get your pond in balance, first question:

What kind of filter are you using?

As the pond is so small (think about half the size of your bathtub) I was hoping to get away without the need for a filter. I have a pump circulating the water via a small waterfall and plants to oxygenate and that has taken up most of the room in the pond! I did have a look at natural filters and they seemed to be quite large. Do I need one and if so, can you recommend anything appropriate?

pxl8 · #5 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigT

Do I need one and if so, can you recommend anything appropriate?

A filter serves two purposes, mechanical and biological filtration. You don't need to buy one, you can make one fairly cheaply with bits from a diy store. You need a tank/tub of some sort with flat sides, a 5 litre capacity would more than enough for your pond. You'll also need a what's called a tank connector for the outlet and some plastic piping.

You cut a hole in the side of the tank near the top (leave some room above) for the outlet. Fit the tank connector to the hole along with some pipe to feed back into the pond or the start of your waterfull. From an aquatic centre get some of the plastic tube filter material, they come in various shapes and sizes and you won't need many for your size of tank. Put these in the bottom and use a length of spare pipe for the inlet, stand it vertically in the tank. The hose from the pump will go down the middle of this pipe to feed the filter from the bottom. Finally buy a few bunches of cut watercress from the greengrocer and sit them in the top of the filter. They will quickly root and grow rapidily.

To recap, the hose from the pump goes into a vertical pipe in the tank all the way to the bottom. The tank fills and the outlet near the top feeds back into your waterfull. The tank has the plastic filter material in the bottom and watercress at the top.

The plastic filter material will trap larger debris (mechanical) and provide a place for bacteria to grow (biological). The roots of the watercress once established will provide a finer filter and help disguise the filter unit.

The filter will take about 6 weeks to establish and you should only clean it out once a year at the end of winter. The bacteria you need to balance the pond and keep the green water at bay will thrive in the filter - if you clean the filter you remove the bacteria and the whole process will need to start again.

I made a filter for my own pond in a similar way using a 50ltr pedal bin. I've already had the algae bloom this spring and it's already showing signs of improvement but normally the algae just disappears (overnight) after a few weeks.

BigT · #6 (**permalink**) 07-05-2006, 08:14 AM

Thanks for the filter advice...looks like I have my work schedule for today! I will have a go and report back.

Piccys of the cute newt attached.

xtizwasx · #7 (**permalink**) 18-06-2006, 07:09 AM

thank you so much your idea for the water filter it started me thinking, i set it up two weeks ago and it works really well.
i now have a wonderful clear pond with a water feature that other people want to copy, i know mine looks nothing like you described but i love it and just wanted to thank you for the idea, there are improvements i can still do, silly things like longer hose lol, but all in all it looks great and works well, so thank you very much.…

BigT · #8 (**permalink**) 19-06-2006, 07:37 PM

It works well doesn't it? Previously I was putting in an algae treatment about every 10 days. Since building the filter, I haven't had any algae for 5 weeks and the water is so clear I can see right to the bottom of the pond.

xtizwasx · #9 (**permalink**) 30-06-2006, 04:59 AM

mines only been set up for 4 weeks and the watercress is growing like mad
Q. do i trim it or let it do its own thing

jenwren · #10 (**permalink**) 30-06-2006, 06:55 PM

My pond has never looked back since I introduced daphnia. They eat up algae. No good if you have fish though as they love to eat daphnia! Daphnia cant get into ponds themselves and have to be introduced,often on plants. I purchased mine from a pet shop where they were sold as fish food,now I have colonies! When you see lots of daphnia you know youve got good water conditions.Great little critters!.