Reducing algae build up in your garden pond or water feature

So you have noticed something green in your pond or water feature, expanding to the sides, and maybe even a discolouring of the water. What is it? It is a common underwater plant species called algae. Contrary to beliefs, algae is beneficial to ponds, as it provides a food source for fish. However, algae poses several problems, too. One thing is for sure though, algae is not the prettiest of things to look at and in many cases most people tend to reduce or completely remove algae from their ponds or water features. There needs to be a happy medium to the amount of algae build up you allow though as you do not want algae to overtake your feature.

How does algae build up?

For algae to grow it needs light. So especially at this time of year where we are blessed with a large amount of daylight algae is something that we need to look out for. Another contributing factor to the growth of algae is warm water and ‘nitrates’ (which build up from not doing regular water changes). With the warm weather that we are having right now your water in your features is bound to warm up which will cause algae to grow quickly. Also if phosphates are present, they will promote algae growth. Further natural factors that cause algae in your garden pond and force you to control algae growth in summer are rain, pollen count, rotten foliage and the excrements of pond fish. These all create an abundance of nutrients in the water that is ideal environment for the growth of algae.

Replacing depleted oxygen in your pond is a great way to reduce or even prevent algae build up. Simply adding an aeration device, such as a Solar Oxygenator will provide added oxygen to the water and help prevent algae build up. When the algae die and is being decomposed, the added oxygen provided by the device allows the decomposition process to occur properly and also provide oxygen for the fish.

The aeration device works by splashing the water in the air, this is not only adding valuable oxygen, it is also helping to vent gases such as carbon dioxide which is being produced in large amounts from the decomposition process. It is now possible to get solar oxygenators that operate both day and night. This obviously gives you the benefit of having your system running through the night.

UK Water Features has a huge range of garden summer essentials ranging from garden lighting, garden buildings, bbq's and water features.