Controlling Pond algae can be very frustrating. Numerous products make bold promises only to be followed by limited results and another bottle of promises.
How can a pond owner ever hope to achieve success and control algae?
We have heard this story over and over again from our members. One time, in particular, a member told us about their pond algae control experience. They were looking to buy a house with land and stumbled onto a perfect house with a beautiful 2-acre pond right in the front yard.
They dreamed of having their guests drive up their long meandering driveway as it snaked around the gorgeous farm pond. A beautiful tree line accented the pond with large oaks and cypress trees, dripping drops of dew into a spring fed pond completely stocked with fish.
The excitement grew as they looked at the property and the beautiful home nestled on the property with a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. To them, it was the perfect 10 acres they had always dreamed about, so they purchased the land, home, and pond.
After a long cold winter and settling into their new home, the property began to come alive. The trees grew leaves; the grass grew three inches a day, and the pond became covered with an algae bloom. Their dreams quickly became a nightmare as they became slaves to their property every weekend.
They tried adding blue pond dye to stop the algae, only to end up with a pond that looked like Franky’s Fun Park. The algae still grew despite the pond dye. Friends quickly recommended to them that the Tractor Supply Store sold chemicals that would help them stop the algae from growing.
After spending over $500 on aquatic herbicides and pond dye, they were ready to cry. Their dreams were shot, the lawnmower couldn’t keep up, and the colors in their dream had faded.
Home Owner Associations or HOA’s tell us similar stories of purchasing a home on a “waterfront” property, which is often nothing more than a retention pond. One of the best parts of our business is helping frustrated pond owners achieve their dreams.
Algae control is the backbone of being a steward of water. Algae is our “window view” into what the pond is doing beneath the water. Filamentous algae, often call “string algae” is a by-product of excess nutrients in the pond. Think of it like, pouring miracle grow fertilizer in your swimming pool.
The swimming pool is a chemically balanced body of water. When Miracle Grow is introduced to the swimming pool, the Miracle Grow will give fuel or phosphates to the pool, which will grow algae as it will be out of balance.
Algae loves to be top dog! Without any competition for the nutrients, algae thrive. This is typically when a pond owner or an HOA starts with some pond treatment like pond dye or Copper Sulfate. Treating the body of water with these types of chemicals is a reactive approach and will give results.
However, since algae grow in a 7-14 day cycle, depending on water temperatures, it comes back quickly. In fact, the mere death of the algae creates a vicious cycle by creating more fertilizer for the next algae bloom.
How do you stop this algae cycle and control algae in your pond? You can break the algae cycle best by starving the algae to death. There are numerous ways to do this but, it does take some time and a pond management plan.
To guarantee our success, this is why we have chosen to be steward’s of water through our monthly membership plans. By controlling algae with both reactive and proactive treatments such as Copper Sulfate, surfactants, phosphorus locking agents, bacterias, enzymes, and bottom aeration, etc.
We have slain the dragon of algae for our members. Like most things in life, consistency and knowledge bread success. While others treat ponds one time for clients or offer quarterly service, we have decided to get to the root of the problem and solve your algae control issues for our members on a monthly basis.
Now serving Greenville SC, Spartanburg SC, Asheville NC, Charlotte NC, Winston-Salem NC, & Greensboro NC areas.
Get started. Become a member today!
