String algae are
the algae filaments that hang from rocks, attach to plants, or float on the
surface of the water. Do not confuse string algae with the soft, velvety,
jelly-like coating that forms on the sides of the pond. This is good algae -
the fish like to eat it and it contains beneficial bacteria. One way of
getting rid of string algae is to pull it out by hand, or drain your pond and
scrape it all out. You can't use an algaecide as it will wreak havoc on your
ecosystem and harm your fish. So, ridding your pond of string algae "manually"
requires persistence and effort. For those of you
looking for a less labor-intensive solution, we recommend a two-phase approach
using water treatments. The first phase is to kill the existing string algae
using Crystal Clear's Algae-Off or PondCare's
AlgaeFix . These
products will not alter your pond's ecosystem, will not harm your fish or your
plants, and are ineffective on the "good" algae. You do need decent water
circulation in your pond to ensure the treatments are well-dispersed. Also,
when the string algae dies and turns brown, make sure to remove it from the pond.
Once the existing string algae is gone, it's time to roll out the
second phase - Barley. Barley
emits natural enzymes that suppresses the growth of string algae. Keep in mind,
it will do nothing to eliminate
existing string algae. We prefer Microbe-Lift Barley
Extract to barley bales or other extracts as it is easier to use and highly
effective.
