How Do I Get Rid Of Blanket Weed In My Pond?
What exactly is blanketweed?
It is a type of filamentous algae, often referred to as string algae, that starts to grow along the walls of the pond and among various plants within it. In severe cases, this algae can spread extensively, covering the entire surface of the water and potentially trapping fish, particularly species like Sterlet and Sturgeon, due to their rigid and rough bodies.
What are the factors that lead to the growth of blanketweed?
Blanketweed requires three essential elements to thrive: bright light, water, and nutrients. Without these components, it cannot begin to grow. However, by managing two of these factors, we can help address the issue once blanketweed has already formed. The most common way it enters our ponds is through aquatic plants, such as water lilies, but it can also grow in ponds that have no plants, like koi ponds, suggesting that its spores may be airborne. Blanketweed harnesses sunlight to perform photosynthesis, producing oxygen during the day and carbon dioxide at night. Moreover, a significant growth of blanketweed in your pond can affect pH levels by altering the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide, which can negatively impact oxygen levels during the night. Blanketweed is frequently encountered in ponds that have little to no shade.
What are some effective methods to eliminate blanketweed?
The first step is to manually remove as much of the blanketweed as you can. You can utilize a blanketweed brush, and if necessary, you can even use scissors to cut it away, or winding it around a stick for easier extraction from your pond. Then use a net to collect as many free-floating bits as possible. This practice helps prevent your filter or pump from becoming clogged. The collected material can either be added to your compost pile or disposed of. It’s important to inspect your filtration system afterward, as lingering dirt and particles might provide the necessary conditions for blanketweed to thrive. Make sure you have strong mechanical filtration in place and maintain your filter regularly to eliminate debris from the process
In wildlife ponds that do not contain any fish blanketweed must consume all the surplus nutrients available, ultimately leading to its own depletion due to a lack of food. Eventually, small organisms in the pond will aid in breaking down the algae and feed on it.
When should you use a blanketweed treatment
After removing as much as you can, you might consider using a blanketweed treatment. Some of these treatments work by introducing beneficial bacteria into the water, which aids in clearing excess nutrients and starves the algae. Other methods involve adding a blend of minerals and enzymes that causes the water to become cloudy, altering the chemistry in a way that weakens the blanketweed and disrupts its growth and strength. One traditional option is using barley straw, which releases hydrogen peroxide, a common algaecide. Barley straw comes in the form of a small bale that you float on the pond’s surface. However, for other treatments, it’s essential to accurately measure your pond’s volume, apply the treatment accordingly, and allow it time to take effect. Here at Cotswold Koi, we recommend…Evolution Aqua Stop Blanketweed
Methods to avoid blanketweed formation
If your pond is exposed to direct sunlight, it may be beneficial to think about installing a shade structure or applying a dark cover, as this can greatly affect the quality of the water. It is crucial to test both your tap water and the water in your pond for factors such as pH, general hardness (GH), carbonate hardness (KH), and phosphate concentrations. Should any of these measurements be elevated, you should take steps to bring them down, as blanketweed tends to thrive less in clearer water with lower phosphate levels compared to harder water with high phosphate concentrations. In more extreme situations, opting for rainwater or water filtered through reverse osmosis may be preferable to using tap water. You can also make necessary adjustments to the pH of the pond water and utilize a phosphate remover to manage phosphate levels effectively. Additionally, consider implementing a product that actively prevents the growth of blanketweed. Cloverleaf Pre-Vent Blanketweed is what we would recommended as an effective preventive solution.