The BIG secret -Stirng Algae in Ponds
Do you enjoy sitting by your pond each morning, coffee in hand? Have you ever suddenly noticed floating, hair algae or long string algae in the pond that just ruins the whole normal serene aesthetic appeal?
String algae (also known as hair algae)are long, filamentous strands that clings to the rocks and may string out a foot or even 4 feet out! This stuff will float up to the top of the water and look like light green, dense mats. It may look dark green under the water and lighter green when it floats, but can also appear in shades of brown or gray. This type of algae thrives in well-lit, cool and nutrient-rich water. That is why we often see string algae popping up even in the middle of winter here in Colorado.
String algae can pop up practically anytime
In the winter and early spring when the water temperatures aren’t warm enough to support the aquatic plants, hair or string algae takes the opportunity to grow in the cool water and consume the nutrients that is up for grabs.
This is not necessarily a bad thing. The hair algae is cleaning the water as it consume nutrients.
When string algae pops up, we pull it out, we add more beneficial bacteria What we often don’t think of when this type of algae pops up is the underlying cause.
The Secret
The big secret is: Often when there are that large amounts of hair algae popping up…..there is a leak!
No, I am not kidding. When the system loses water and we either add water ourselves or it is automatically added through the autofill, it cools the water and sets up just he right environment for a hair algae to thrive.
We often overlook this underlying cause of string algae.
What to do
- Remove as much of the string algae as you can by either grabbing it by hand (it feels quite fibrous and way less slimy than people think).
- Disengage the autofill if you have one. (this might entail turning off the sprinkler zone it is attached to.
- Turn off the pump.
- When all the water from the waterfall/stream drains down into the pond measure the depth of the water. You can do this by sticking a ruler or yard stick down in a fairly flat place. It does not have to be the deepest part of the water! You could measure down from a flat rock to the top of the water.
- Either way, write it down!
- Then leave the pump off for roughly 24 hours.
- After 24 hours remeasure in exactly the same way.
Do not add water during these 24 hours. Make sure to leave the aerators on.
If the water level did go down then you need to check for low liner all the way around the edge of the pond.
If the water level did not change at all then you have excellent news. The pond itself is holding water and is not leaking. Turn the pump back on. Remeasure and wait another 24 hours before measuring again. If there was water loss with the pump on (and there was not with it off) then you know that there is water loss somewhere in the stream or waterfall.
After you are able to identify a leak you are well on your way to locating and repairing it. Magically, the string algae will subside. Back to loving your beautiful pond!
