brownru, I never use the liquid bacteria since my water is clear anyway.

You may end up with some string algae. Don't worry about it unless it starts taking over everything. Some of it is pretty and the fish don't mind.

If it gets out of control just pull it out.

I agree with catfishsam.
My water is clear and I have string algae in my marginals that are about 3-4 inches deep in the water. I just pull the algae out when it looks like it is starting to take over the plants.

I have heard that you want the algae that I call felt, that is sort of like moss. It is good for the snails you want. I hate any string/hair algae, but really the only problem I have is in my stream. Last week I put some shade cloth over my biofalls and it has made a big difference in the amount of algae I have. It isn't pretty, but solved the problem for now until I have time to do something better. I use liquid barley, wonderful stuff. I much prefer it to the barley straw. I also use yeast. We have a septic tank and this is what the installer told me to use. It feeds the good bacteria that you need to break down the stuff. I dissolve it in water first and then add it. It takes A LOT to get it going. I go to Sam's Club and buy the package that is two 1-lb packages. You probably need at least 4 lbs for your size pond to get it started and then you can add one of those 3 packs you get in the grocery store every month. The powdered bacteria you pay big bucks for is mainly yeast anyway. My water is very clear. The string algae isn't 100% gone. I'm trying to thin out my plants in my stream as they really take over and it seems to grab the algae instead of letting it flow into the pond to be be taken care of with the skimmer. I have lots of birds that love to bathe in the stream and they were making a mess with droppings and I was pulling out about a 5 gallon bucket of algae 3 to 4 times a week. I told the birds they were welcome to bathe, but they couldn't poop in the pond or on the rocks anymore and they haven't and the algae has greatly decreased.

Brownru:
There are many theories ranging from the reasonable to the crack-pot, all of which have legions of devotees. The question I like to ask is HOW does it work? The more vague the answer, the less I believe the theory. Some of them, like Norm Meck's theory, sound reasonable until you get to the how-it-works part, then you get into some very speculative territory. This theory has many adherents, like the barley straw theory and the bacteria theory. There were corn meal and banana skin theories around for awhile, but they seem to have died out lately.

Me? I use lots of plants, and I make sure they have all the nutrients they need so they grow fast and can out-compete the algae for phosphorus. I can understand how it works, and it does work for me.

I totally agree with larryl. If you have been on this forum long you will have heard almost daily a new remedy. Pond suppliers are more than happy to sell you their snake oil. Beware.

Here is a link that might be useful: My pond the way it was before the freeze.

The last couple of years I had lots of string algae so was pulling out all the time.

This year I haven't had any.

Okay...my question is will the yeast method work on pea soup water? I have the plants in...the skimmer...hit it with bacteria etc etc. A uv filter (which I dont think is working...cant tell) And a shade cloth. No help...the ph is high, prob due to all the algae. I will try anything at this point that wont kill my fish. I hate adding chemicals though cause once you start then you have to add all kinds of stuff to counter act what you did. HELP!!!!

Gotta say just as you think you have heard them all, up comes another one. I have no idea whether yeast will work. That one is a new one on me. I will say I kind of doubt it because if it did work we would all have heard of it by now. I would bet it is more snake oil but I have been wrong before so .......................

Here is a link that might be useful: My pond the way it was before the freeze.

gordon43812, how long has your pond been set up? If it's new you may just need patience. All new ponds need to 'cycle' and once the plants, fish, filter are 'balanced' the green water clears up. DON'T drain it and clean it, you'll just start over.

Using quilt batting (or whatever) around your pump as a prefilter helps alot. Lots of plants, and good circulation helps, and mature plants that shade/cover 70% of the surface help too.

browru, and Gordon,
I too am in Ohio, near Cleveland, and I've little problem with either type of algea this first year. I had some string algea in early spring...it was the first plant to grow, and didn't wait fo the ice to melt. I thought SURE that I would have mats all year. It didn't happen! When the other plants got going, it all but died out. There are still some traces hear and their, but no long flowing (or floating) groups. Then, I saw that as the water warmed into the fifties, there was a greenish cast and blurry to the bottom. It was also time to clean the pond. You know, I didn't do a thing. I just watched, and kept the little pump and filter sock running. The water grew warmer, the plants grew and are blooming, and the frogs and toads do what frogs and toads do. This week I did start the big barrel filter, and so far it has run about 24 hours. I can see to the bottom of the 4 foot area. I have leaves in it from last year, I have mulberries in it from this year, (the tadpoles seem to love them!) I don't add anything but a little well water to top it up and cool it down a bit, and now I am in process for adding a bog for the barrels to return through. To be fair, I should say I don't have any fish, just anything else nature put in after I filled it with water, and added palnts that came from another pond in November. Fish make a big difference, particularly if there are too many. Yet I firmly believe the way to a good healthy pond, is lots of plants, and not adding a bunch of concoctions. After all the frog eggs are hatched out,m I will add some minnows, but I won't feed them. There should be plenty of stuff for them already.

Try reducing the amount of food you give to your fish, and increasing the plant life. Their is plenty of bacteria in ponds and septic system without our help. To add more other than once in the spring after the water has warmed to around 60 degrees is just silly in my opinion. Instead of adding anything to your septic system, make sure you are keeping anything like cleaners and solvents out of it! Use "old fashioned" methods of cleaning without harsh chemicals. Make sure minimum amounts are used to get the job done when you do have to use them every now and then. Use less soap, detergents, and dispose of no prescriptions or solvents through your septic system. You could flush a few dollars down once in awhile if that makes you happy, it will make the septic service guy happier than that yeast he told you to use!

Larryl/catfish...three cheers for the best answers!

-TT

Pond has been up for about 14 months. Last year the plants did really well and the water wasnt clear but it wasnt this bad. Plants dont seem to be doing good. I am going and picking up 14 more hyacinth this week. So that should help...and when I start to get too many then just yank em out. I have wanted a pond soo long and I got it for my anniversary last year and it was okay but this year has been awful! Not enjoying it at all!! Hopefully I can get this cleared up soon. I really miss my "ponding fun"

OK, the yeast one is new to me, so I have to ask, how is yeast supposed to reduce algae growth? I'm not looking for testimonials, I just want to the hear the theory of how yeast would have an effect on algae.

Forget the bottled bacteria, yeast, etc. Think of a pond as a balanced system. Once all the components of the system are balanced, the pond will not support algae. Algae needs food to live. If your pond bottom is clean, the filters are clean and your fish are not producing more waste then the filters can handle, algae will go away. If you are overstocked, overfeeding, or have a build-up of gunk in the bottom of the pond, you will have algae.

I have one 9000 gallon pond that is sparkling clear with the help of one 57 watt UV and shade cloths over the top of it. My 3000 gallon pond is sparkling clear in full sun with NO UV. The differece is the 9000 gallon pond has VERY large koi in it and they are heavly fed. They put more of a burden on the system so the UV is necessary to fend off algae. The 3000 gallon pond has 13 koi in it, but they are all small...less than 12". They do not eat as much or produce as much waste. The pond is so well balanced that there is no algae in the water.

Remember too....UV bulbs need to be replaced yearly. They still shine the second year, but are not as effective in controlling algae.

Yes, ponds are supposed to have some algae.

People spend far too much time worried about algae. It is a pond, it is supposed to have some algae. Crystal clear water can be unhealthy. Ponds with string algae tend to be clear and healthy.

If your water is solid green you need to add more plants and stop changing the water and stop adding chemicals. You probably have too many fish or you added fish too soon to a new pond. You might also be over cleaning and not allowing "good" bacteria to colonize.

You are throwing away money on barley straw, algaecide, bottled bacteria etc. All snake oil. Yeast? LOL No need for any of this gunk. Spend your money on more plants. Especially underwater plants like Anacharis.