Safe to use chemicals with tadpoles??

[newponder]

Am i safe to use a chemical additive to my pond to get rid of blanket-weed whilst i have tadpoles?? This is the first year i've had spawn and its gone onto hatch and i'd hate to ruin it now!

[cat72uk]

i dont use chemicals in my pond at all any more
i used to but i never found one that actualy worked on weed
so i just weed it by hand

[Kayleigh]

I have watercress thrown in from the supermarkets, and a barely straw bale that the frogs use as an island

This has kept the blanket weed at bay.

[newponder]

Watercress?? That works then does it? Never heard of that
As for Barley straw i have seen that but never tried it!
To be honest i dont think the chemicals have made much difference but there is so much weed its taking over this year - weeding by hand is difficult because the tadpoles WILL bury thenselves in it and they seem to have little concept of danger at this stage in their development in that they dont flee when i put my hands in the water.!!
So i think i will try your suggestions and see how we go on - its not helped by the fact that my pond keeps 'ballooning' due to all the b*^%$y rain - it pushes the pond water out and then when it drains away the pond has dropped 6 inch!! I understand that topping it up by tap water encourages the weed and algae!

[Kayleigh]

I had really bad blanket weed last year and the year before. I have lots of plants/oxygenators that help with using up the nutrients...
The watercress has really helped but you have to give it time. I have only just put the bale of straw in there so that hasn't had any affect yet it was just a precaution (just in case the weed came back) . I did have to remove some of the watercress as its a bit rampant but it easy to remove. It flowers too..
I did stop topping it up with tap water maybe this is the main reason the weed is down on last year..

[tony a]

I used straw last year and it worked so well I could see the bottom of the pond (3ft deep). Haven't used it this year as the blanketweed is not such a problem.

I have found the best way to remove blanketweed is to swirl a bamboo cane around the blanketweed same as they do with candyfloss at the fair.

[cat72uk]

Originally Posted by tony a

I used straw last year and it worked so well I could see the bottom of the pond (3ft deep). Haven't used it this year as the blanketweed is not such a problem.

I have found the best way to remove blanketweed is to swirl a bamboo cane around the blanketweed same as they do with candyfloss at the fair.

i have green candyfloss too

[newponder]

Yes i find it quite theraputic swirling it around and using a grass rake to 'comb' the plants - its just not too easy at the mo' coz the tadpoles are coming out with the weed as well!

Do i have to plant the watercress or will it take by itself??

[Dogghound]

Tadpoles are very chemo-receptive, so the slightest chemical inbalance can have large affects on them so i would avoid any chemical until they leave, also bear in mind whilst young the feed on blanket weed and algae so your possible removing and poisoning their food source.

[newponder]

Thankyou - this is the sort of thing i was concerned about! I wasnt sure how they fed - maybe this is a daft question but is barley straw entirely natural??

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by newponder

Thankyou - this is the sort of thing i was concerned about! I wasnt sure how they fed - maybe this is a daft question but is barley straw entirely natural??

I think the bales you buy for ponds is natural (without chemicals) or it would kill fish and wildlife, and that wouldn't go down well with fish keepers.

Like I said, throw the water cress in, you don't need to plan it. When it gets rampant rake it out.