No More Koi Pond Algae… Here’s How To Kill It Completely!
Without a shadow of doubt, koi pond algae is quite likely the greatest thorn in the side of koi fish enthusiasts… not just because of the ugly appearance and odor it creates… but because of a more harmful reason – algae can in fact kill their fish if not eradicated quickly!
And yet the reality is you can stop algae amassing quite simply and get around the problem… controlling algae is straightforward, if you learn the right way to deal with it!
And on that note, here are some worthwhile tips to help you quickly get koi pond algae under control.
Typically there are two ways to control algae – with chemicals or by natural means.
This article will cover natural algae control. Controlling with chemicals will be described in later articles.
It must be said though, that natural containment is preferable because it will not disturb or upset a pond’s ecology. Of course after saying that, there are going to be occasions where you will have to use chemicals and this is acceptable on the condition that it isn’t the solitary type of algae treatment.
But first it’s important to understand the key reason koi pond algae poses a threat and from there we will look at preventing it.
The main reason is that dead and rotten algae produces ammonia, and a buildup of ammonia quickly depletes the oxygen supply… and I don’t really have to tell you that koi fish lacking oxygen are like humans lacking air… they just can’t breathe, so they get sick and die!
But here is the good news… with some thoughtful planning you can totally deter algae from growing, halt dangerous ammonia buildup and keep your koi safe.
Hence, here is what algae needs to thrive – good sunlight and nutrients. If you limit these elements you severely curb growth or even eradicate it completely so this is where some smart planning comes into play.
Restrict direct sunlight on your koi pond
This does not mean that you can’t have any sun on the pond because it does need some, but the important thing to think about is the method for keeping as much sunlight off the pond floor as able, because that is the place algae thrives.
In the event you are constructing a koi pond, consider making as many areas as you can a minimum of four feet deep… the deeper the better, because sunlight struggles to get further down than this depth.
You will no doubt need a few shallow areas about 18-24 inches deep, so for these places consider making use of plants with a good amount of large leaves in order to form plentiful amounts of shade.
Water lilies are a great natural shade defense weapon with their big leaves plus they look fantastic and improve the appearance of the pond.
For those who already have an existing pond that can’t be altered depth wise, why not consider planting lilies and making some shade cover that is built over the pond. Maybe a timber framed shelter with shade material fixed on top… you have many alternatives and a little imagination will go a long way here… but you know what’s meant here right?
If you are able to get 70-80% under shade… it will amaze you how rapidly the koi pond algae growth slows down.
Eliminate the nutrients that aid algae growth
Another thing as critical as sunlight restriction is the need to eliminate the essential nutrients that algae has to have to survive… eliminate it’s nutrient source and starve it to death!
Get rid of all:
- Fish excrement
- Uneaten fish food
- Decaying algae
- Dead or dying fish (yes they do die on occasion)
- Rotting leaves and debris
- Particular phosphates and tap water nitrates
For sure this means actively cleaning and vacuuming of the pond floor, as well as good filtration and water circulation, however the gains you make are worth the effort. Because as spoken of above, you will in fact be starving the koi pond algae to death!
Plus… a good clean pond shows how much you care about your koi.
So use these two simple tips and you will be amazed at how rapidly plankton algae starts to become less of a problem – allowing you to get on with the real fun stuff – like growing vibrant koi!
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