Are There Different Treatments For Different Algae Types?

You might recall a recent article where I talked about pond weeds and algae, and that when you deal with weeds, it’s important to identify what you have so that you can treat it effectively.

Different weeds require different treatments in some cases.

But what about algae? Does this work the same way?

Well, kind of, but not so much…let me explain.

There are some things that might be used to help with algae problems that are very specific. These would include uv light, which is really only useful on green water issues. It won’t help with string algae problems. Ultrasound can help with both of these general types of algae but there are some very specific species of algae in each group that it may not work well against due to their cell structure.

Apart from these two, often used options, most of the options we suggest to help with water quality issues that can lead to algae growth are very broad spectrum in their effects.

Let’s take, for example, the use of beneficial bacteria. We know that these good microbes will work well to lock up and lower nutrients like phosphates, nitrites, and nitrates and since these feed algae growth, by lowering them, we can potentially affect all types of algae. Keep in mind, we’re not targeting or killing algae directly with this approach, we’re simply cleaning a pond up to the point that algae can’t bloom well.

Most algaecides, and particularly those that contain copper, or ionizers that release copper into the water are not limited in what they’ll help with either. Copper is toxic to all types of algae, be it single cell algae that creates green tinted water, or filamentous algae in it’s various forms. This includes hair algae as well as Chara which is a unique branching algae.

In small ponds, adding various desirable plants is another holistic tool which can work against all algae types. Again, like bacteria, we’re sort of trying out out-compete the algae for it’s food sources, and when this is done successfully algae can’t grow well. For many ponds an abundant array of plants will help greatly.

All in all, if I had to choose the best methods to combat algae, they would involve this broad reaching strategy that works to improve the pond first rather than just treating a symptom called algae. The more direct and specific treatments can come later if they are needed at all, but more often than not, when you improve the conditions in the pond itself, be it the reduction of muck build up at the bottom, high nutrients in the water, or long running exposure to sunlight (just to name a few) then it’s amazing how often things begin to look better overall.