How to prevent your pond from greening?

Instances of pond water greening are the result of the proliferation of single-celled algae or cyanobacteria (scientific term for blue-green algae), which not only spoil the appearance of the pond, but also disrupt its ecosystem. .

The water becomes greenish and gives off an unpleasant odor, and waterlogging occurs. This is dangerous because the invasive algae prevent light and air from penetrating deep into the pond and hinder the growth and development of other aquatic plants. Lack of sunlight and oxygen can lead to the death of fish living in the pond. However, if the water is in motion and is well oxygenated, it can be green without being toxic to living beings in your pond.

Main causes of greening of pond waters

The development of vegetation in reserve waters is a natural process that serves to restore the ecosystem of water bodies after the winter period. Warn only if the spring bloom lasts more than 10-14 days. On the other hand, in summer, you have to start fighting against waterlogging as soon as you notice the first signs of this phenomenon. There are several reasons for this process:

• Standing water in the pond with little aeration;
• Too much organic matter (dead leaves, pollen, etc.);
• Too much plant food and fish food;
• Lawn too rich in nitrogen and nitrates nearby;
• Degradation of sealing;
• Sludge caused by fish excrement.

Prevention of pollution of ponds and basins

Proper cleaning of the pond helps prevent the pond from becoming uninhabitable over time and turning into a swamp. A thorough cleaning of the pond consists of emptying all the water, moving the fish into tanks and mechanically cleaning the bottom and walls of the pond of silt and algae.

It is advisable to empty your pool a minimum and to use a filtration system adapted to your piece of water. You can also use a pond vacuum to clean up debris from the pond. To avoid having to go through this procedure too often, follow our advice:

• Throughout the season, clear the surface of the water of excess algae, dead leaves and other waste;
• In the spring, feed your fish a high-protein food (this helps them recover more quickly from winter, even if they haven't spent the winter in the pond);
• Perform a thorough inspection of your fish each spring;
• Isolate diseased fish from healthy fish;
• Inspect the bottom of the pond before the start of the season to check that it is not deteriorated (even if you have not drained or wintered the fish inside);
• If you do not have the opportunity to regularly clean the pond of fallen leaves, cover the surface of the pond with a fine-mesh net in autumn.

How to clean a pond of greenery?

There are several ways to clean a fish pond:

• Manual pool cleaning
• Cleaning the filtration system;
• Installing the filter;
• Cleaning with a slotted spoon;
• Cleaning with a pond vacuum;
• Cleaning with flocculant (oclear type);
• Planting of special filtering plants;
• Water treatment with bio-additives;
• Use of ultraviolet lamps;
• The introduction of certain species of fish into the pond.

How to clean a pond manually?

• Remove excess vegetation (including invasive crop plants) from edges and weeds.
• Remove dead leaves, twigs and other organic debris from the surface of the pond using a net.
• Remove invasive buttercups and algae with a fan rake.

Use of pumps and filters

Installing a filter is one of the most popular ways to maintain a balanced pond ecosystem. This device not only removes harmful impurities from the water, but also oxygenates it.

Standard artificial pond filters use a three-stage purification system: mechanical, biological and ultraviolet. Such a device allows not only to remove mechanical impurities from water, which cause saturation of the pond, but also to deprive harmful plants of nutrients. All filters are divided into 2 large groups:

• Flow filters are suitable for use in large ponds with fish;
• Pressure filters are ideal for small ornamental ponds.

Cleaning waste with a slotted spoon.

A skrimmer is a device for removing debris from the surface of the pond. It is essentially a pumping device, which filters the water and sends the remaining debris to a basket. Depending on where they are installed, these devices are divided into three categories:

• bottom skrimmer;
• Skrimmer on board (shore);
• Surface skrimmer (floating).

The main disadvantage of the protein skimmer is that it cannot clean the pond tank of accumulated silt. This is why skrimmers are most often used as a complementary tool, rather than the main means of cleaning the pond.

Cleaning the bottom of the pond with a vacuum cleaner

The basic principle is practically identical to that of the vacuum cleaner. The device draws water from the bottom of the pond and filters it, sending the dirt and sludge accumulated in the pond bowl into a specially designed dirt trap.

Chemical cleaning of the pond

Great care must be taken with this method of cleaning as inadvertent use of chemicals can kill aquatic plants and fish in the pond. That is why experts recommend it as an exception. You can buy a pond cleaning product in specialized stores.

It is safest to use the chemicals in the spring, before filling the pond with fresh water and putting fish in it (2 to 3 weeks before the planned start of the season). Instead of using special agents, you can use solutions of manganese dioxide or brilliant green (0.1-0.2 g per cubic meter).

Prevention of the greening of a pond using plants

Planting cultivated aquatic plants is a very effective way to combat greening:

Riparian plants (iris, lily, cattail) prevent weeds from growing;

Aquatic plants (water lily, nymph) absorb nutrients directly from the water and thus prevent the growth of harmful vegetation;

Underwater plants (peristophyll, waterweed) take root in the pond floor and also prevent the growth of unwanted algae.