Pond problems - Ask Extension
Can you tell me if you have a service to help identify the algae or what ever it is that keeps our pond looking unpleasant.
Knowledgebase
Pond problems #875556
Asked July 01, 2024, 6:30 PM EDT
Can you tell me if you have a service to help identify the algae or what ever it is that keeps our pond looking unpleasant.
Huron County Ohio
Expert Response
That's my job. I may be able to help in general terms. If the problem truly is algae, it may take microscope work to identify to species, but it's not likely necessary to know the species for management purposes. Can you share photos?
Eugene
Eugene
0145474
On Monday, July 1, 2024 at 11:45:36 PM EDT, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
I sent these photos and I am hoping you received them.
We have tried to treat our pond, however we have not had alot of success. We have used the chemicals from the Pond Guy which they suggested the products and the quantity to use. The list is Knockdown, Treatment Booster, Eco boost, Pond Clear, Algae Defense, and Muckaway. These are Air Max products. We have called them for coaching and still have had bad results after following their direction. We do have fish in the pond and they have not died. Can you help?
Recently I was in contact with you about our pond. I replied to your email and sent photos and a description. I can honestly say I do not know if you have received anything from me. Our internet has been having problems. Please let me know if you get this email. or call<personal data hidden>
Thank you
Sorry for delay. Very busy at present. I've seen the photos posted here, but there's not enough detail for me to draw any conclusions. Can you get clear close ups of where the bloom is relatively heavy?
Best,
Eugene
Best,
Eugene
This is about the best I can do. Hope it is enough. Thank you.
On Thursday, July 11, 2024 at 12:51:14 PM EDT, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
I did contact local office but they never returned my call.
On Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 01:42:54 PM EDT, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Dear Linda Mandrik,
Unfortunately, we are unable to find an expert that can help with your question (Question #0145474). You may try contacting your local Extension office by searching for "Cooperative Extension Huron".
Thank you,
Ask Extension
Unfortunately, we are unable to find an expert that can help with your question (Question #0145474). You may try contacting your local Extension office by searching for "Cooperative Extension Huron".
Thank you,
Ask Extension
Greetings Linda,
And sincerest apologies for delay. I somehow missed that your second round of photos had been posted in mid-July.
I'm also sorry you didn't get direct response from the Huron Extension office, but there's a fair chance they would have simply turned your question back to me. (Frankly, that would have been good in making me aware of your additional photos since our initial correspondence.)
Unfortunately, the resolution still isn't good enough for me to narrow possibilities much, and positive identification would likely require microscope work in this case. At this stage, I couldn't even differentiate between green algae (true, plant-like algae) and blue-green algae (cyanobacteria).
Some cyanobacteria can produce toxins. Do not panic, but do minimize human contact and restrict access by pets and other domestic animals just to be safe. Consider washing
(and hosing off pets) following contact with pond water.
I can say that the most common pesticides applied to algae and other phytoplankton blooms are formulas of copper. Copper is very persistent in the environment, not in your water column, but it will ultimately accumulate in pond sediments. This doesn't ordinarily constitute a problem, but I do recommend copper be applied conservatively. Hard water interacts with copper, so you'll need higher within label-permitted doses with increasing hardness. Copper is pretty benign to most fishes, but can be harsh to some species; minnow relatives (including grass carp/white amur) and trouts are more susceptible to stress from copper, so again, be conservative with applications if you have any of those fishes present.
Blooms concentrated on the surface may respond to formulas of sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate/sodium percarbonate. Those chemicals are functionally like hydrogen peroxide and so quite benign, quickly breaking down to simply oxygen and some mineral salts. They're chemically very reactive, much more caustic than toxic, and thus don't penetrate too deeply but still quite effective on or near the surface.
By the time you were initially writing (July), most ponds were already quite warm. Once that surface water temperature hits 72–74°F or so, be mindful to not treat too much algae or vegetation at once. Killing too much green stuff in warm water can risk a dissolved oxygen crash and result in a fish kill. Be mindful to read the label of any algaecide chosen for instructions to reduce that risk, watching perhaps for terms "partial" or "spot" treatment.
I do hope this is useful. Do stay in touch if more info would be useful, and feel free to write me directly at the e-mail address below.
Best,
Eugene
And sincerest apologies for delay. I somehow missed that your second round of photos had been posted in mid-July.
I'm also sorry you didn't get direct response from the Huron Extension office, but there's a fair chance they would have simply turned your question back to me. (Frankly, that would have been good in making me aware of your additional photos since our initial correspondence.)
Unfortunately, the resolution still isn't good enough for me to narrow possibilities much, and positive identification would likely require microscope work in this case. At this stage, I couldn't even differentiate between green algae (true, plant-like algae) and blue-green algae (cyanobacteria).
Some cyanobacteria can produce toxins. Do not panic, but do minimize human contact and restrict access by pets and other domestic animals just to be safe. Consider washing
(and hosing off pets) following contact with pond water.
I can say that the most common pesticides applied to algae and other phytoplankton blooms are formulas of copper. Copper is very persistent in the environment, not in your water column, but it will ultimately accumulate in pond sediments. This doesn't ordinarily constitute a problem, but I do recommend copper be applied conservatively. Hard water interacts with copper, so you'll need higher within label-permitted doses with increasing hardness. Copper is pretty benign to most fishes, but can be harsh to some species; minnow relatives (including grass carp/white amur) and trouts are more susceptible to stress from copper, so again, be conservative with applications if you have any of those fishes present.
Blooms concentrated on the surface may respond to formulas of sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate/sodium percarbonate. Those chemicals are functionally like hydrogen peroxide and so quite benign, quickly breaking down to simply oxygen and some mineral salts. They're chemically very reactive, much more caustic than toxic, and thus don't penetrate too deeply but still quite effective on or near the surface.
By the time you were initially writing (July), most ponds were already quite warm. Once that surface water temperature hits 72–74°F or so, be mindful to not treat too much algae or vegetation at once. Killing too much green stuff in warm water can risk a dissolved oxygen crash and result in a fish kill. Be mindful to read the label of any algaecide chosen for instructions to reduce that risk, watching perhaps for terms "partial" or "spot" treatment.
I do hope this is useful. Do stay in touch if more info would be useful, and feel free to write me directly at the e-mail address below.
Best,
Eugene
