Your local nursery or garden store should have a wide selection of plants perfect for your pond. Ask if you’re unsure about the best types of plant to use. For best results, cover around 60% of the surface of your pond with plants.
If you’re unsure about how much to feed your fish, check the instructions on your fish food for a rough guide. You should be feeding your fish once a day with a small sprinkling of food. Watch your fish for 5 minutes after you feed them to see how much food is left over and adjust accordingly.
Although this is a very quick solution, it’s not one that will work long-term. Removing the algae won’t stop it from growing back.
Use 8 ounces (0. 23 kg) of barley straw for every 1,000 gallons (3,800 L) of water in your pond. [4] X Research source Barley straw should be available from your local pet shop, as it is used for bedding for a lot of small animals. Otherwise, it may be available at a specialty pond store or online. The amount of hydrogen peroxide released by the rotting barley straw should be just enough to kill the algae, without killing any other plants in your pond.
Tadpoles will also eat mosquito and other insect larvae that may settle on the top of your pond.
Fine bubble aerators should be available from a specialty pond store. If you don’t have one nearby, there are plenty of online retailers that sell aerators.
A pond filter isn’t necessary, but can be useful in keeping the water in your pond clean. If you have a large mechanical filter, you should be able to clean it by attaching a backwash hose and backwashing the filter until the water runs clear. For smaller filters, remove the filter and clean it with non-chlorinated water to remove any obvious grime, gunk, or algae. Make sure you clean out your pond filter away from the pond. If you clean it too close the pond, everything you remove from the filter will end up back in your pond over time.
Filters with UV light sterilizers will be more expensive than other filters, but also a lot more effective. They should be available from a specialty pond store or online. This is a very effective way to kill algae in ponds, but may also harm beneficial bacteria and other positive organic material in your pond.
Algaecides and herbicides are made of chemicals that are designed to kill algae, so they will be more harmful than other natural methods used to remove algae. Use algaecides as a last resort. Always consult the instructions on your chosen algaecides or herbicides before using them in a pond with plants or living creatures. Make sure you check with local regulations before treating your water with an algaecide. You may need a permit for some chemicals in some locations. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when working with an algaecide. Using more than is required may damage your pond or harm any wildlife living in or around it.
You shouldn’t rely on shade that comes from large trees, as they may drop leaves into the pond. Fallen leaves will eventually rot and let algae grow, meaning you’ll need to clean your pond more often. Shade mats and sails are custom-made barriers that will prevent excess sunlight from getting into your pond. They should be available at specialty pond stores or online.
This will also help keep fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides from getting into your pond through water runoff. All of these can be very detrimental to the health of your pond and the living things in it.
Pond dye should be available online or at your local specialty pond store. The amount of pond dye needed will vary based on the size of your pond. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid over-dyeing your pond.
