Almost every owner of a garden or swimming pond has already made the acquaintance of algae. Many species are unsightly, undesirable and disturb the aesthetic impression of the pond. Nevertheless, algae are considered to be a source of oxygen and are therefore a natural component of the ecological system in the pond.
Formation of algae
Since algae themselves are contained in fine dust, they colonize every water point in a short time. Therefore you can find them both in the garden pond and in the swimming pond. If there is the right concentration of nutrients in the water, they will live peacefully with other inhabitants of the pond. They serve microorganisms as a food source and provide oxygen. However, if there is an excess of nutrients in the pond, this can favor the living conditions of the algae. The result is a strong increase. This lightning-fast increase in algae is called algal bloom.
Depending on the quality and composition of the water, there are thousands of types of algae. In general, there are two large shapes in particular that can make life difficult for any pond fan. One of them are thread algae. They mostly swim on the pond surface or grow on stones and plants. The long-thread green algae show up:
- cobweb-like
- cushiony
- nationwide
- tufted,
- fur or cotton wool or
as thin, long, unbranched or branched threads.
Typical characteristics
Thread algae spread very quickly. So they swim either extensively or like cotton wool on the surface of the pond and overgrown stones, decorative objects and plants like tufts. Characteristic are the thin, up to 20 cm long
Threads. Furthermore, thread algae do not prevent water temperatures around 5 ° C from multiplying. The unpleasant plants clump together in all water depths and clog filter systems. The smallest living things and fish can get caught in it. This form of algae occurs particularly often in alkaline water.causes
The excess of nutrients is one of the many reasons for this type of algae to multiply at lightning speed. Natural factors include:
- dying plant parts and remains
- rotten autumn leaves on the pond floor
- too few aquatic plants
- fish population too high
- Lack of oxygen
- no water circulation
- rainwater containing nitrates
Furthermore, the following factors can negatively affect the nutrient concentration:
- missing filter system
- Garden soil as a substrate for the plants in the pond
- Garden soil washed into the pond
- Pollen count
Those who feed their fish too generously in the pond also promote the growth of the long-thread green algae. Because the excess of food decomposes in the water. The nutrient concentration is also influenced by an excessively high stock of fish and the related fish droppings. A high level of solar radiation leads to a warming of the pond, especially in small ponds. This creates the living conditions for this type of algae. A naturally heated and nutrient-rich biotope allows the unpleasant plants to flourish optimally.
Thread algae die off over time and sink to the bottom of the pond. There they are broken down by bacteria, fungi and microorganisms. This will remove the stored nutrients like phosphate
When thread algae become a problem
Anyone who discovers thread algae in the pond can, as a first measure, fish them out of the water with a roughened, unpainted stick, net or something similar. The thread algae wrap around the stick by circular or rotating movements and can thus be easily removed.
If the algae have already settled on the surface of the pond like a cushion, it is no longer enough to fish them out. As a rule, almost all garden owners then resort to chemical agents. Special water additives destroy the filamentous green algae quite easily, but this does not last long. The algae will come back next year at the latest. Therefore, the chemical club method is not necessarily sustainable. Apart from that, chemical agents do not only change the pond water. Fish and microorganisms can also be harmful to health.
Fix the cause instead of fighting the symptoms
In the long term, pond owners should not rely on chemical agents, but rather find and remedy the cause of the unchecked growth of the unpleasant plants. In most cases there are two factors responsible for the pond tilting. On the one hand, there is too much sunlight and, on the other hand, the over-fertilization of the water - two optimal components for growing thread algae.
Fight thread algae with the help of nature
Pond fans can use floating plants to curb the growth of the unpleasant plants. This removes the light from the algae. Aquatic plants that grow quickly are just as helpful as they draw a large amount of nutrients from the water. If the pond is in a friendly and bright place, tall grasses on the bank of the pond provide the necessary shade. If you also reduce the shallow shores of your pond and avoid hard water, you also prevent thread algae.
Other preventive measures
The long-thread green algae are sun worshipers. The more sun they get, the faster they grow. For this reason, a partially shaded location should be selected when planning the pond. However, it does not make sense to create the pond under shade such as large trees. Many garden owners build their pond at the
deepest point in the garden. This means that fertilizers can also get into the pond with the rainwater. This not only promotes the growth of algae, but soon makes the pond look as green as the owner would like the lawn to have. Apart from that, the depth of the garden pond also plays an important role in nutrient problems. As a rule, the pond should have a depth of at least 1.5 meters. This is the only way to prevent the water from heating up excessively.Interesting facts about thread algae in the pond
When annoying thread algae spread in the garden pond, it is very annoying for most swimming pond owners. Therefore, you should pay attention to a few things from the outset before you start your new one Creates a swimming pond:
- When planning the pond, it should be ensured that it is not in the blazing sun all day.
- If the swimming pond already exists and has been given a sunny spot, it should be shaded afterwards.
This can be done without any problems, for example by planting the banks with tall grass or trees, which also create a nicer ambience around the pond. But also the use of floating plants that float on the surface of the water provides additional shade for the Swimming pond.
- You should also take preventive measures against fast-growing Aquatic plants To fall back on.
- If you only use plants that grow very slowly, you run the risk of the thread algae multiplying.
Because the slowly growing plants still leave too many nutrients in the water, which in turn ensure better growth of the thread algae. The waterweed, for example, is particularly well suited to the swimming pond or to extract nutrients from the water and thus prevent excessive growth of thread algae.
- Furthermore, one should not keep the fish population too high. Too many fish also provoke the growth of thread algae.
- When the fish are being fed, only very small amounts should be brought in. The fish should be able to eat these within a very short time.
In autumn, the swimming pond must always be covered with a net. In this way, leaves and other rubbish cannot get into the swimming pond and neither can the water enrich with nutrients, which would lead to increased growth of the hated thread algae again.
