Backyard Fish Ponds: Controlling Algae in the Pond

JL_Tuso | May 20, 2011 |

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Backyard garden fish ponds go through natural cycles with the seasons, with spring often bringing a growth of algae in the pond. Unfortunately, your prized fish are partly to blame for the seasonal algae growth. The fish in the pond produce the nutrients that algae need to survive and make pond keeping extra challenging. There are chemicals on the market made to treat algae in fish ponds, but its best to use these only as a last resort. Design your pond with these essential natural elements to preventing and controlling algae in the pond without the use of toxic chemicals.

Reduce Your Fish Count

Do not overcrowd the pond with too many fish. The more fish, the more nutrients the algae will have. There are a few different formulas for determining how many fish to put into a pond. Use conservative formulas and use the size of adult fish, not the size of the baby fish you will fist stock your tank with, to create a healthy biological balance within the pond. A conservative formula for pond stocking is 1/2 inch of fish per square foot of pond. With this, a 100 square foot pond supports 50 inches of fish. If you are putting koi in this pond that grow 15 to 20 inches as adults, then only put 2 or 3 koi into the 100 square foot pond.

Fish Feeding

Do not over feed the fish. Food falling to the bottom and excessive waste from the fish creates a lot of nutrients for algae to grow. Only give your fish as much food as they will consume in about five minutes. And then only feed once or twice a day.

Add Plants

Keep the fish pond well stocked with native aquatic plants. Aquatic plants compete with algae for nutrients, a competition that algae tends to lose. The plants will also shade the water. With less sunlight on the water, the fewer algae will grow in the pond. Using plants native to your region means less work will be needed to care for the plants.

Install a Pond Filter

Install a filter desinged for backyard ponds to clean and filter the water. The filter will remove the algae from the water and keep the pond water moving. Algae grows in stagnant waters. If your fish pond has a current, then algae will be less successful at establishing itself.

Shade the Water

Algae needs sunlight to grow. The less sunlight the pond gets, the less algae will grow. Add tall plants or trees near the pond or build a gazeboo over the pond to provide shade at least part of the day. Shading the pond will also help keep the water temperature cooler in the hot summer months. Lilies that float on the surface will shade the water below and compete withe algae for nutrients.

These steps for controlling algae in your pond will not only make your water less green, it will enhance the natural beauty of the pond and improve the habitat for the fish residing in your backyard pond. Keeping your backyard fish pond natural will also eliminate the need for algae treatments or any other chemicals.