pond dye

When Pond Dye Makes Sense

blue pond dye There are pond owners that love or hate the stuff but the fact is, pond dye can be pretty useful from time to time.

Years ago, about all one had to work with was a vibrant blue coloring that often made your natural pond look more like the colorful waters you see around a putt-putt golf course or amusement park. And in truth, some people actually like this look, while others simply can’t stand it.

These days though, there are other options…thankfully.

These include a black colored dye, and a black-blue combination which when either is applied to a pond, it will create a pretty natural appearance. You’d be hard pressed to find a person that would even notice it compared the blue color alone.

But here’s the question that comes up now and then.

Is pond dye really helpful or necessary to improve a pond’s appearance?

Stacking The Odds Against Pond Algae – The Introduction

By Mark

Over the years, the use of beneficial bacteria in ponds has helped to clear up, clean up, and restore a number of ponds, and in doing so, algae has been reduced too. This has been one of the positive “side effects” of treating a pond naturally or organically.

Compared to even 10 years ago, the use of the good bugs has grown to the point where most pond owners have at least heard of some of the benefits, whether they may believe in it or not is another thing. Suffice it to say though that the commonly used chemical algaecides, so widely used in the past, are not as favorable as they once were.

There is a growing awareness (which is a good thing) that oftentimes chemicals are not the best solution to the problem, and that addressing some underlying causes may just make more sense. It’s not just in ponds where this is happening of course. Home owners are looking for more natural alternatives for lawn care, pest control, and many other things. Go to any WalMart today and you’ll find some organic produce too, which you never would have imagined seeing “back in the old days”. Sam Walton would probably be proud.
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Working Against Algae In A Large Pond

By Mark

Large ponds have special challenges when you’re dealing with an algae problem. Compared to small ponds where you can remove some of the stuff pretty easily, a large body of water doesn’t always make this all that easy.

Although there are similar reasons why algae might thrive in any pond, the fact is that large ponds are normally affected by environmental factors more than anything else.

In the video below we’ll cover, step by step, the process that we go through in dealing with algae in a large pond. Our goal is simple. Look for anyway to turn the pond around without resorting to the use of chemicals. Sometimes this can’t be avoided but many times it’s very possible to avoid an algaecide altogether.

Here’s a couple of follow up notes. You’ll hear the term beneficial bacteria mentioned. There are many kinds you could use, and in large ponds we break these down into muck reduction bacteria and pond wide cleaning bacteria. These are targeted for various problems and while we may combine them from time to time, they can also be used individually to good effect.

Many people love the idea of ultrasonic algae control and it does work well on large ponds, however it’s very specific in what it can work on. We have now instituted a rental/trial program on most of these units so that someone can actually see if the technology will work for their particular situation, rather than just buying a unit outright and hoping it will work. Like most algae control measures, it alone may not be adequate to deal with every problem but when combined with other sensible measures, it can help to turn a pond algae problem around.

Pond Shading Options For Limiting Green Water Algae

By Mark

I have to admit, sunny days make me happier.

But everything comes with a price they say, and sometimes the price you pay for ample sunlight is pond algae.

In the case of green water, which is caused by numerous single cell algae, the sun can play a major role in it’s growth.

After visiting with many pond owners over the years, when we get calls about green water, one of the common questions we’ll ask is, “does the pond get a lot of sun exposure?” The inevitable answer is almost always, “yes”. Other pond owners that had several ponds were often quick to point out that the ponds in some shade, were often clearer, and the pond’s in the sun were quite green.

Now don’t get me wrong, you want your pond to be exposed to a bit of sun…that’s just a good thing for desirable plants and your fish too, but too much of a good thing can often cause some problems.
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