Practice manual removal – get in there and start pulling it
Perform a cleanout of the pond
Use chemical-based and bacteria-based treatments that clear string algae in your koi pond and water garden (we recommend EcoBlast treatment or Algaecides)
Provide more oxygen to your pond with a simple air pump and diffuser, which is very effective, as well as adding more complex aquatic plants to out-compete algae for nutrient resources
Add shade to your pond
Try tinting your pond water, as long as you don’t mind blue or black water
Bring in grass carp to eat up the algae, if you have a larger scale pond
Beware that any water changes can help reduce nutrients and growth rate of algae, but it can sometimes make it worse! Although most of these treatment options are not overnight solutions, all of them are effective when applied correctly and can be combined with other treatments as well. Be extremely careful with “overnight solutions” as fast-acting changes are NOT the best thing for livestock.
Here at Garden State Koi, we tend to lean on the IonGen system for string algae since it’s had the best results for us. Our team of water feature experts has installed many IonGen systems and they are easy to use once explained. Equipment such as ionizers are said to control and reduce string algae growth by half or more!
Even under the best of circumstances, there will always be a bit of string algae in your pond, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing! As pond keepers, our goal should be to control it – not actually remove it. Let’s enjoy the benefits of it without the annoying factors (like those awful blooms) that drive us all nuts! Who likes seeing fish all tangled up in those long green strands? Not us! The next time your pond or water feature gets strung out, take a step back and give us a call and we will walk you through the best solution for your unique scenario.