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    Thread: So how many types of algae are there?

    1. #1
      avorancher is offline Senior Member
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      Post So how many types of algae are there?

      I have a nice 1/4" carpet of algae growing on the sides of the pond. Never had string algae and sounds like I don't want any. Had green water last summer that UV took care of right away. But... last summer and this year I have tiny bits of suspended algae floating in the water. It is so small that my Nexus K1 static filters nor my AlphaBead seem to catch it. I've tried a 100 micron filter sock but the algae just dissolves and goes through it. Same with trying to net it out... it just dissolves when I pick up the net.

      Water temp is 65F and I'll put on a shade cloth when the temps reach 70F.

      Here is a photo (BDs are at 7 ft. depth). Looks good at first, but when you look close the koi look like they are in a freshly shaken snow globe.
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      I think it is the blanket algae you're seeing...the fish are hungry and eat it and bits and pieces come off. Then they chew it and more comes out of the gills. Nice pond BTW
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      Ditto on the nice pond!!!
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      If it breaks, it was meant to!"





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      What are your phosphate and nitrAte levels?

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      Quote Originally Posted by LilHoover View Post
      What are your phosphate and nitrAte levels?
      pH 8.2
      KH 107
      Ammonia 0
      Nitrites 0
      Nitrates <5

      Phosphates 5 ppm several months ago but not a test I do every week. I'll test it tomorrow. Good thinking.

    7. #7
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      That water is absolutely beautiful

    8. #8
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      Its hard to imagine more gin clear water.

      On the algae, perhaps its worth having a peak at a drop of water with a microscope set at x125, just to be sure if its algae, or fine sediment from the algae, which the uv has nuked you are noticing. mebbe, estimate a micron size...

      Perhaps there is a micron mesh which can do a once and for all clearance of that size gunk once in a while. Dousing the pond with koi clay might round up the pesky l'il particulates

      Regards, andy
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      Andy, I tried a large dose of koi clay this past weekend and it did knock it down quite a bit. I did another dose yesterday but it didn't do much. I must have gotten all I could get with the first dose, but there is still a lot left.

      Yes, it looks good from a distance but up close it is like a miniature blizzard. Last summer I blamed everything on it being a new pond. Is there a time limit on how long I can use that excuse?

    10. #10
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      Hi Steve,
      On a clay pond in the Winter months sometimes a thermocline shows itself, the most amazing glistening layer of fine particulates wafting in a perfect layer between the cold and the colder layer, quite bedazzling.

      Not what you would like to hear, I have no idea what it would take to pick each miniscule particle out, but here's a guess, when you applied the koi clay if your pumps were running, the clay was filtered out before the bulk of the particulates had the chance to be 'hugged' by the clay

      Mebbe, switch the pumps off and give the clay more time to do the dirty with the stubborn stuff, use less koi clay at a time, disperse it early in the morning to catch the convection currents of the sun through the day, switch pumps on to filter it out overnight?

      Regards, andy
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    11. #11
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      It and it`s relations are Menaces

      I used to pump my Water through 3 inch thick Water Polishing Pads

    12. #12
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      is not that ph a bit high? i have that in my saltwater tank!

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      OK, I did a phosphate test this morning and the result is .5 ppm (not 5 ppm as I previously stated). So that is pretty low and all other parameters are constant. Moliken, unfortunately that is a normal pH for this area and about the same as tap water.

      Other factors that I failed to mention. Salt level is .15% (gradually coming down from .3% in February). Daily feeding has started. 30 koi in 14,000 gallons but oldest one is nisai so the fish load is still light. ORP value is around 270mv. Foam Fractionator is gathering about a quart of foam in the early mornings.

      I don't think I'd be able to find a speck under the scope... there is probably less than 100 specks in a cup of water. Finding some in a drop of water would be harder than winning the lottery. It is only when looking through several feet of water that you notice it. I might be able to net some out with a ultra-fine net later today.

      Andy, fascinating info about the layering. Not sure I would want to cut off my moving bed filters for any length of time at these temps, but maybe reducing their flow and pond circulation would help.

    14. #14
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      So what about string algae? A KOA recommended sodium percarbonate but I didn't get instructions on how much or how to apply it...I have 2 waterfalls and a stream going into a 6000 gallon pond. About 35 koi and 2 goldfish. Any advice? I have string algae all up and down the stream, been pulling it out as much as possible and using liquid barley, but it doesn't seem to be helping much. Bead filter and vortex are slowing down as a result, I've had to exchange bioballs in the vortex twice now because they fill up with algae...thanks for your ideas! Vicki

    15. #15
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      So is it particulate matter or algae? With low phosphate, low nitrAte, perhaps it is the turnover rate that is too fast--is the problem not algae specifically, but all particles that don't have enough time to settle out?

      By the way, your pond is stunning.

    16. #16
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      Quote Originally Posted by LilHoover View Post
      So is it particulate matter or algae? With low phosphate, low nitrAte, perhaps it is the turnover rate that is too fast--is the problem not algae specifically, but all particles that don't have enough time to settle out?

      By the way, your pond is stunning.
      I think it is some form of algae or plant.

      Was able to net some out and transfer to a slide today. Wish I had a video adapter because it is rather pretty at magnification. Could see it a 40x, but start seeing details at 100x to 400x. Four or Five small dark green globs with about 20 segmented tenticles reaching in all directions. The segments looked like the bog plant called horsetail, which I have near the pond. I've never had string algae, but I would imagine it looks a little like this only a lot larger.

      Funny, while looking at it under the scope, I noticed movement. Something that looks like a single Chilodonella was moving up and down the tenticles. Didn't move like it was swimming though... more like a bug climbing up and down a plant leaf. It never left the "algae" and finally stopped moving about 15 minutes or so.

    17. #17
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      Quote Originally Posted by avorancher View Post
      I think it is some form of algae or plant.

      Was able to net some out and transfer to a slide today. Wish I had a video adapter because it is rather pretty at magnification. Could see it a 40x, but start seeing details at 100x to 400x. Four or Five small dark green globs with about 20 segmented tenticles reaching in all directions. The segments looked like the bog plant called horsetail, which I have near the pond. I've never had string algae, but I would imagine it looks a little like this only a lot larger.

      Funny, while looking at it under the scope, I noticed movement. Something that looks like a single Chilodonella was moving up and down the tenticles. Didn't move like it was swimming though... more like a bug climbing up and down a plant leaf. It never left the "algae" and finally stopped moving about 15 minutes or so.
      Did they look like any of these ?



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      I'm having the same exact problem in Calabasas. I have a lot of pine trees that are dropping really fine pollen partcles right now. I have placed some fine batting in the skimmers to try and filter the pollen and algae out. It is getting better, but is till have the snow globe deal. It seems that the fish are munching on the sides and bottom dislodging the carpet algae. Because my temps are rising slowly, I have been light feeding once a day with wheat germ based food, but the kids are restless and want more food.

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      A lot like several of the "pond algae" in the 2nd link. I guess it is just normal, run of the mill, everyday pond algae. How disappointing. Now, how does an anal person eliminate it and obtain the holy grail of invisible water?

    20. #20
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      Quote Originally Posted by avorancher View Post
      A lot like several of the "pond algae" in the 2nd link. I guess it is just normal, run of the mill, everyday pond algae. How disappointing. Now, how does an anal person eliminate it and obtain the holy grail of invisible water?
      UVS/O3 External/Remote Pond Intervention would be my choice innocuous approaches I have implemented have consisted of "Barley Straw Extract" supplemented with "Shading"

      Clays impact temporarily but clog up all Fines Filter media IMO

      A more Aggressive in system approach is outlined here

      https://www.koiphen.com/forums/showth...ght=kill+green

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