Pond Update

In my last blog, "Algae: A Pond Owner's Nighmare," I described how frustrated I was with my own koi pond. Well, I am happy to report that things are much better! After ordering new filter material, which I clean several times a day, and using the Koi clay, the only place I have algae growing is along the edge of the liner. Through trial and error, I found that if I sprinkled the clay directly on top of the algae, the next day there appears to be much less. Another bonus: my koi, which I've had over ten years, seem much happier, which makes me happy, too!

Have a safe and funfilled Summer!

Gwyn

Algae: A Pond Owners Nightmare

If you are a pond owner, like me, then you understand why algae really is a pond owners nightmare. We put in our pond twenty years ago, and I love everything about it-except the string algae. Each Summer I battle this slimy, green enemy that stops up my pump, and blankets my pond, making it look like a swamp.

This summer is no different. I don't use chemicals, even though they're supposed to be safe for water plants and fish. My outdoor cats, for some odd reason, prefer drinking out of the pond, rather than a clean bowl of fresh water. There are also squirrels, rabbits and birds that visit, so I prefer to battle this green demon as naturally as possible.

So far this year, after reading that Koi Clay works great. I ordered four pounds from Amazon. I hope it works, but I'm still waiting. I also ordered a roll of filtering material one foot by six foot, and cut it into pieces to fit my filter. It is coarse on one side and seems to be filtering out some of the dead algae, which I clean out several times a day. I also have UV lights, one in my pump and one in my above ground filter. Using a long handled flat net (I'm certain there is a name for it) I dip off as much as I can, but it sticks to the roots and fibers of my floating water plants, and the only way to remove it is to clean each and every plant. I just purchased a new liner, may have to get rid of the plants and everything, but the koi, and just start over. 

Gwyn