How to Get Rid of Algae in My Pond and Waterfall

Pond algae is unsightly to most pond owners. Finding a balanced growth of healthy algae is really quite easy once you have a general understanding of a few basic principles and water treatments. As long as you remember, “There is no such thing as an algae free pond”, you will have a better grasp on the subject when dealing with pond cleaning in the spring or fall.

String Algae Is The Most Common Issue With Most Water Features

Pond algae is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. Typically a new pond, a year old, or less, may experience a couple of stages where algae is more prevalent than on that of a mature pond even if you have a regimented water treatment routine. Even on mature ponds, it is not uncommon to experience algae blooms during the change of seasons from winter to spring or during the hottest days of summer when we get extreme heat waves. Need Help with your algae problems? We service Morris, Passaic, Essex, Bergen, Union, Somerset Counties In the North part of New Jersey (NJ).

Contrary to popular belief, a pump sitting at the bottom of your pond is not an actual working filter. Most pieced together ponds have a mix-match of products in hopes of proper filtration. There are many systems that work really well, but they all take a pre-set amount of routine maintenance.  

Unfortunately, with pond filtration systems that look like this, regular back-washing and refilling expelled water can put a strain on your free time, and make it easy to neglect, causing a backup of alternate issues that compound themselves in multiples. You see green water, we see crashed ecosystems.

Ponds that are overstocked with too many fish certainly promote pond algae. It is so tempting to buy and buy, forgetting that the koi we buy are babies. As they grow, we have an even more acute lack of space, and process ever growing waste. Imagine a 4 inch baby has grown to 1 foot, 3 times it’s size, in few months! The end result is increasing nitrogen levels, which in turn becomes nutrients for algae blooms.

Poor pond circulation occurs most usually when encountered with the cost of replacing a burnt out pond pump. Most often, people opt for a smaller pump to save money, but ultimately cause major circulation issues, which they then battle with endless additives and mixtures trying to solve a problem caused by less circulation.

We have noticed over the years that we receive many phone calls about algae blooms after long, heavy, rainy periods. The rainwater is full of nitrogen which is ultimately a fertilizer that algae can feed on. Having poor filtration, or low circulation will enhance the algae blooms based on how much rain the pond has collected.