| Are you one of the thousands of people trying to | | | | only to your fish but also to the environment. |
| find out how to clear up a cloudy or green pond | | | | Algaecides contain copper sulfate which can build |
| or aquarium? Have you done everything the | | | | up in the organs of fish and other wildlife. The |
| experts say and you still can't see your fish. | | | | City of Naples, Florida has banned copper sulfate |
| There are many different reasons a pond will | | | | because it heavily contaminates Naples Bay, and |
| become cloudy or green. Weather is number one. | | | | the European Union has regarded forbidding its |
| Different temperatures, rainfall and too much sun | | | | use as it is "not compatible with sustainable |
| will contribute to a nasty pond. Also inadequate | | | | ecosystems." |
| filtration and overfeeding will cause problems, as | | | | Beneficial Bacteria Pros & Cons |
| well as ineffective chemicals. Below are some of | | | | Pros |
| the truths I have discovered in regards to | | | | - Breaks down organic matter thus removing the |
| maintaining a Koi pond or aquarium. | | | | food source from the algae |
| Are all filters created equal? | | | | - Natural |
| - Sand filters are hard to clean and do not trap all | | | | - Safe for fish |
| particles in the sand, allowing some to re-enter | | | | Cons |
| the pond. Also the sand filter should be run 24 | | | | - If you already have an algae problem, it must |
| hours per day for best filtration and must be | | | | be addressed prior to using beneficial bacteria in |
| backwashed on a daily basis. | | | | order to achieve the desired results. |
| - The Bio filter is very similar to the sand filter | | | | - Slow to take effect. It can take up to 6 weeks |
| except that is it even harder to clean. | | | | for a colony to grow large enough to consume |
| - Submersible pumps are hard to maintain, as you | | | | enough of the organic matter to clear up your |
| must climb into the water to perform | | | | pond. |
| maintenance on them and they tend to raise the | | | | - If you water flow is too fast or slow, PH levels |
| water temperature. | | | | too high or low or the water temperature is |
| - Cartridge filters are the best filters to use. They | | | | below 50 degrees the effectiveness of the |
| filter out 99% of the debris, are very easy to | | | | beneficial bacteria will be reduced. |
| clean and last a very long time. You can use | | | | - Lack of aeration decreases the benefits of |
| cartridge filters in aquariums as well. | | | | beneficial bacteria. |
| What are the chemicals the experts recommend? | | | | - If beneficial bacteria is not live it will not work. |
| Algaecides are recommended to remove algae | | | | There is no way to tell if the product you are |
| therefore clearing up a green pond. What they do | | | | purchasing actually contains live bacteria. Check |
| not tell you is that algaecides are a poison not | | | | the expiration date! |