“New pond syndrome”…we all go through it at some point. New pond syndrome can be very stressful because you get handed beautiful masterpiece that you’ve dreamed of and waited for and then WHAM, the pond goes completely green. And then what do we do?
Panic and throw in as much algaecide as possible?
WAIT—read this blog first!
Panic and throw in as much algaecide as possible?
WAIT—read this blog first!
What is Green Algae?
Some refer to it as “pea soup” green and if it’s in your water, then it means that your pond ecosystem is “out of balance”. “New Pond Syndrome” or “Green Water Syndrome” typically happens with new ponds and shortly after a Spring Cleaning when the beneficial bacteria colonies haven’t quite began working for the season.
It’s natural to want your pond to stay as clear as it was on Day 1 but a real outdoor pond with aquatic plants and fish is in its most natural state with some algae growth on the rocks and a leaf or two that did not make it into your skimming system. The more you feed your pond fish, the more they poop—so expect to have to add water treatments and perform necessary yearly cleanouts to help take care of the natural ecosystem living within your pond. Also- SUN: if you have sun and you have water, you will have algae! With the right steps, you can help prevent green water or simply combat it when it rears its ugly head.
It’s natural to want your pond to stay as clear as it was on Day 1 but a real outdoor pond with aquatic plants and fish is in its most natural state with some algae growth on the rocks and a leaf or two that did not make it into your skimming system. The more you feed your pond fish, the more they poop—so expect to have to add water treatments and perform necessary yearly cleanouts to help take care of the natural ecosystem living within your pond. Also- SUN: if you have sun and you have water, you will have algae! With the right steps, you can help prevent green water or simply combat it when it rears its ugly head.
Filtration System & Beneficial Bacteria
If you have an Aquascape Filtration System (what Dreamscapes Watergardens installs with)—you should have BioMedia called "Bioballs" in your top box, also known as a Biofalls. BioMedia (along with the rocks and gravel in your pond) gives Beneficial Bacteria a place to grow and colonize. Beneficial Bacteria helps to break down the dead organic matter (such as decaying leaves or fish poop) in a pond once it exists. When you first start a pond up for the season, it takes a little while for those beneficial bacteria to colonize big enough to be able to take care of the fish load. We usually recommend double dosing with Aquascapes Beneficial Bacteria for a few weeks to BOOST your colonies. The good news is that you can not overdose with this stuff, meaning you can not harm the plants, fish or other wildlife by adding more than the standard dosing for your size waterfeature.
*NOTE: NEVER clean off your Bioballs once you get going for the season -- don't even lift them up into the air to clean off the filter mats in the Biofalls. Everytime you expose your bioballs (or lavarock if you're rockin' a different system) to oxygen or hose them off, you kill off ALL of your beneficial bacteria colonies and are starting over from scratch! They may start to look mucky and gross, but I promise you, it's okay!
*NOTE: NEVER clean off your Bioballs once you get going for the season -- don't even lift them up into the air to clean off the filter mats in the Biofalls. Everytime you expose your bioballs (or lavarock if you're rockin' a different system) to oxygen or hose them off, you kill off ALL of your beneficial bacteria colonies and are starting over from scratch! They may start to look mucky and gross, but I promise you, it's okay!
Aquatic Plants
Plant roots fight for the same nutrients in the pond that algae does and if plants are pulling the nutrients first, algae has less room to grow. Marginal plants help filter water and lilies help shade the water from the sun. Until plants have fully woke up for the season and/or matured, algae unfortunately has free reign to grow. Therefore, it's going to be a little bit of a battle until your plants have grown up and your get into a maintenance routine.
For more information on aquatic plants in our area of Central Pennsylvania, read our Aquatic Plants Blog!
For more information on aquatic plants in our area of Central Pennsylvania, read our Aquatic Plants Blog!
Algaecides:
Once you have an algae problem in your pond, you have to kill the algae in order to get rid of it. The best way to do this as a REACTIVE measure is to apply an algaecide to the water by paying close attention to your dosing rates. Any algaecide from any company has to deplete the oxygen levels in your water in order to starve the algae of what it needs most. BUT, that means it's also taking the oxygen from your fish! Dosing more than your actual gallons of water can suffocate the fish and cause stress, reducing their slim coat, if not fatality.
SAB, Stream & Pond Clean. SAB is made specifically for STRING algae that exists in the pond, as it contains pure strains of concentrated beneficial bacteria and enzymes and is ideal for breaking down debris in ponds. This natural cleanser helps to maintain a strong biological balance, which ensures a clean and healthy pond.
Liquid Algaecide is designed to specifically treat PEASOUP green water (like the picture at the beginning of this post), as well as, mild cases of string algae.
Ecoblast Contact Granular Algaecide works great at killing off the algae that grows on the rocks and gravel of your waterfall. This algaecide treats controls and prevents a broad spectrum of planktonic and filamentous algae. In order to work, this granular has to make direct contact with the algae (i.e. unplug your pump and let all the waterfall water run into the pond before sprinkling this product on).
Beneficial Bacteria. While this is not an algaecide, it works hand in hand with an algaecide IN THAT your algaecide kills the algae while you're beneficial bacteria breaks it down! If you don't break down the dead algae, the algae will inevitably fertilize more algae growth: much like manure does in a cornfield.
SAB, Stream & Pond Clean. SAB is made specifically for STRING algae that exists in the pond, as it contains pure strains of concentrated beneficial bacteria and enzymes and is ideal for breaking down debris in ponds. This natural cleanser helps to maintain a strong biological balance, which ensures a clean and healthy pond.
Liquid Algaecide is designed to specifically treat PEASOUP green water (like the picture at the beginning of this post), as well as, mild cases of string algae.
Ecoblast Contact Granular Algaecide works great at killing off the algae that grows on the rocks and gravel of your waterfall. This algaecide treats controls and prevents a broad spectrum of planktonic and filamentous algae. In order to work, this granular has to make direct contact with the algae (i.e. unplug your pump and let all the waterfall water run into the pond before sprinkling this product on).
Beneficial Bacteria. While this is not an algaecide, it works hand in hand with an algaecide IN THAT your algaecide kills the algae while you're beneficial bacteria breaks it down! If you don't break down the dead algae, the algae will inevitably fertilize more algae growth: much like manure does in a cornfield.
So Now What?
Green water is rarely uncomfortable or dangerous for fish and they need no special treatment during this time, and feedings should continue as usual. However, for more specific information on your pond water balance, please contact us directly!
Located in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Dreamscapes Watergardens installs and renovates koi fish ponds and pondless waterfalls (disappearing waterfalls) all over the Central Pennsylvania area. For more information on koi ponds and waterfeature installations, please contact us directly!
Dreamscapes also carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August. If you think you need it, we have it!
Retail Hours: April 5th-October 27th 2018:
Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
Saturday: 9am-12pm
October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT
Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | info@dreamscapeswatergardens.com
Dreamscapes Watergardens services koi ponds and waterfalls in the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania,
Located in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Dreamscapes Watergardens installs and renovates koi fish ponds and pondless waterfalls (disappearing waterfalls) all over the Central Pennsylvania area. For more information on koi ponds and waterfeature installations, please contact us directly!
Dreamscapes also carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August. If you think you need it, we have it!
Retail Hours: April 5th-October 27th 2018:
Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
Saturday: 9am-12pm
October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT
Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | info@dreamscapeswatergardens.com
Dreamscapes Watergardens services koi ponds and waterfalls in the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania,
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