Controlling algae is a significant task that even expert biologists and ecologists find challenging. These professionals need to be patient and follow scientific methods to restore balance in a pond or lake. Algae aren’t just unsightly – they can pose health hazards to the wildlife on your property as well as your friends, neighbors, and loved ones.

The experts at Estate Management Services have put together a brief guide on algae, how it works, and how to properly control it in your pond or lake. Don’t be discouraged if you’ve struggled to combat algae. It’s a big job that requires experience, ongoing monitoring, and determination to get right. If one thing is off, it affects the entire body of water and its ecosystem.

What is Algae?

Algae are basically tiny plants that live in water. In small amounts, they are healthy for ponds and lakes. Algae are a normal part of ecosystems. Just like big plants, algae use sunlight to make their own food through a process called photosynthesis. They take in sunlight, water, and a gas called carbon dioxide to make food and oxygen. The oxygen they release goes into the water, helping aquatic life and plants live and breathe.

Algae Versus Algae Blooms

Algae are usually good, but when there are too many pollutants or nutrients in the water, they can grow too much. This overgrowth is called an algae bloom, and it can create algae patches above the surface and sometimes hidden below the surface of the water. Algae blooms use up oxygen and can produce harmful toxins, making it hard for fish and other animals to survive.

Things That Make Algae Spiral Out of Control:

• Environmental Conditions: Algae love warm, stagnant water. Ponds and lakes that get a lot of sunlight are at risk for algae because the sunlight warms the water and allows the algae to photosynthesize more and grow. Stagnant water has less oxygen, which also creates good conditions for algae growth.
• Pollution and Contamination: Runoff from fertilized lawns, agriculture, and wastewater all add more nitrogen and phosphorus to a pond or lake, which is the perfect fuel for algae. Chemical pollutants like herbicides and pesticides can also throw your ecosystem off balance. Even construction or renovation projects nearby can pose a risk to your body of water.
• Other Plants in the Ecosystem: Even organic matter can create unhealthy ponds or lakes that are at risk for causing excess algae. Decomposing plants that aren’t cleaned up properly adds too many nutrients to the water, and an aggressive invasive species can also upset the ecological balance. If there are too few aquatic plants in the pond, there is less competition, and algae will flourish in the absence of healthy diversity.

The Fastest Way to Deal with Algae and Algae Blooms

Time is of the essence when trying to control algae. A small problem can quickly balloon into a larger, more costly one. Here are the first steps any algae expert will take to start combating algae:

1. Get the water and oxygen flowing: Fresh air is good for everyone. Installing a fountain or bubbler available at pond or aquarium supply retailers is a quick way to add more oxygen to your pond or lake and make it less ripe for algae.
2. Catch more nutrient runoff: If you’re fertilizing near your pond or lake and fighting algae, it’s time to rethink your approach. Slow-release fertilizers can be found at garden centers or home improvement stores and are designed to be less harmful to bodies of water. Fertilizer use in your pond or lake can help support other aquatic plants, but over-fertilizing has disastrous consequences, and you could be unknowingly creating dead zones that are hostile to aquatic life. Detailed-oriented management is necessary. Planting grass or other vegetation around your pond or lake can also filter nutrient runoff.
3. Boost the good bacteria: Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter are two types of bacteria that will make your pond or lake healthier if it's been taken over by algae. When used together, this dynamic duo becomes the best waste management system a pond can have. Nitrosomonas converts ammonia into a less harmful substance, and Nitrobacter takes it a step further by converting that substance into nitrate. Plants can use the nitrate as a nutrient.
4. Try an all-natural solution, like barley straw: Barley straw or barley extract is an effective and easy-to-use method for controlling algae in ponds or lakes without chemicals. As it decomposes underwater, barley straw releases natural substances that inhibit algae growth.
5. Be cautious with algaecides: Algaecides provide fast results, but improper use can harm the whole of your pond or lake. Algaecides work by chemically disrupting the cellular processes of algae. Follow the directions very carefully.
6. Consider dredging: Dredging can help give your algae-infested water a fresh start. It clears out nutrient-rich muck from decaying plants and animals. After dredging, your pond or lake will have deeper water with better circulation. Thus, more oxygen and space for a healthy ecosystem to thrive in place of too much algae.

A Balanced Ecosystem

While it might look simple and peaceful on the surface, your pond or lake is teeming with life. For the water to stay clear and the plants and animals to stay healthy, there are many factors that need to be compatible with each other.

Plants – even algae, in appropriate amounts – create oxygen during photosynthesis that fish and other wildlife need. Those fish are part of the nutrient cycle, and their waste in turn helps feed the plants.

Balanced water in a pond or lake is also naturally mixed through rain, wind, and interaction with other bodies of water like rivers or oceans. Properly mixed water distributes nutrients and oxygen more evenly across the pond or lake’s ecosystem, providing balance.

Obviously, pollution and human activity and disturbances can upset this balance, as can the water getting too much or too little sunlight. Fish, plants, weather: every piece of this puzzle is important to keep your pond or lake healthy. An unbalanced body of water is more likely to be riddled with problems caused by algae.

Oxygenating Ponds and Lakes

If you’re experiencing excess algae in your pond or lake, getting more oxygen into the environment straight away can help stabilize the ecosystem and get to the heart of the problem. People often overlook the important role oxygen plays in the overall cycle of a pond and lake. Not only does aeration improve water circulation and limit where algae can grow, but providing more oxygen also ups good bacteria that reduce nutrients that fuel algae.

Ponds and lakes ideally get oxygen through:

1. Air and wind
2. Water flow
3. Seasonal shifts
4. Entering streams and rivers
5. Plants
6. Rain

If your pond or lake is not getting enough oxygen from natural processes, you may require a fountain or aerator.

Types of Algae and Their Risks

Out-of-control algae isn’t just unsightly. It can be toxic to humans, pets, and wildlife. The most dangerous type of algae is blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria. Contact with blue-green algae can cause skin rashes, stomach issues, and even more serious health problems. Golden algae (chrysophyta) isn’t as harmful to children and pets but is deadly for fish.

Green algae (Chlorophyta) is not usually toxic but can bloom into thick mats that block out sunlight, causing further issues for your pond or lake. Euglenoids (Euglenophyta) reduce water quality, and diatoms (Bacillariophyta) suck up a lot of oxygen during decomposition. These issues only worsen if algae treatment is delayed.

Controlling Algae for Good

Long-term algae control tactics are important for any owner of a pond or lake, especially if your water feature is prone to algae growth because of its environment. These are some of the best strategies you can use to keep your pond clear of algal blooms:

1. Keep the water moving with fountains or aerators
2. Use less fertilizer around the pond or lake
3. Plant grass or bushes around the pond or lake
4. Regularly physically remove algae with rakes or machines
5. Stock the pond or lake with algae-eating fish
6. Plant aquatic plants to compete with algae for nutrients
7. Add barley straw to the water when needed
8. Apply UV light to water to kill algae without affecting fish
9. Use environmentally friendly algaecide to kill algae
10. Block sunlight with floating plants or environmentally safe dyes

Remove Algae from a Pond or Lake Without Harming Fish or Wildlife

Maintaining a healthy pond and keeping algae under control can be done using several simple methods that won't harm your fish or any other plants or wildlife that live within or around your pond or lake. First, adding fish that eat algae, like koi, goldfish, and grass carp, can naturally reduce algae since they consume it as part of their diet. Planting a variety of aquatic plants, such as water lilies, also helps because these plants compete with algae for nutrients and provide shade, which slows down algae growth.

As mentioned earlier in this article, using barley straw is another safe and natural way to prevent algae. When it breaks down in the water, it releases substances that stop algae from growing but are harmless to fish. Installing a biological filtration system is also beneficial. These systems contain helpful bacteria that break down waste in the pond, reducing the nutrients that algae need to thrive.

Regular maintenance is key to preventing algae buildup. This includes removing leaves, debris, and other organic matter from the pond, as these can contribute to algae growth. Manually removing algae with a pond net or rake can also help keep the water clear. Additionally, increasing aeration in the pond with fountains, waterfalls, or aerators adds oxygen to the water, supporting beneficial bacteria that help break down organic matter and reduce nutrients available for algae.

Using UV clarifiers in the pond’s filtration system can help control algae by using ultraviolet light to kill algae cells, keeping the water clear without chemicals. Adding beneficial microbes or bacterial supplements to the pond is another good option. These microbes compete with algae for nutrients, helping to naturally limit algae growth and keep the ecosystem balanced.

Finally, managing the amount of sunlight the pond receives can make a big difference. Using floating plants or shade sails to block some sunlight can reduce algae growth since algae need light to thrive. By combining these methods, you can effectively control algae and maintain a healthy, beautiful pond for your fish and plants.

Pond and Lake Management Services for Algae Control

Controlling algae can feel like a full-time job, and you probably already have one of those! If you’ve been regularly having issues with algae blooms in your pond or lake, it might be time to have the pros come out to your property to provide you with a free assessment.

Effective treatment requires constant testing and observation to maintain a balanced and healthy ecosystem. Hiring a routine pond or lake management company ensures consistency.

Our biological experts implement and adjust management strategies based on vetted data and experience. Nutrient levels, water temperature, sunlight, and oxygen levels all need regular monitoring to prevent algae from getting out of control.

Schedule a Free Pond or Lake Management Property Inspection

No two ponds or lakes are alike because each one has its own unique ecosystem. Each body of water has specific needs to remain balanced and healthy. At Estate Management Services, we recognize that every property we manage is unique, as are its maintenance requirements. The cost to maintain your pond or lake will be different from others. That's why we offer free, no-obligation assessments of your body of water. One of our trained experts will visit your pond or lake and provide a precise estimate to keep your water healthy and algae under control, ensuring you only pay for what you need and nothing more.