What Do You Know About Hydra Crystals To Avoid Green Algae Build Up
I frequently receive questions from subscribers, asking for advice relating to their ponds or water gardening in general.
Wherever possible I will attempt to answer them using my own knowledge and expertise. Failing that I will attempt to ascertain an answer for them.
Today I would like to discuss a very common pond keeping problem. One raised by Roger, a reader of my free newsletter who lives in the UK who would like to know how to avoid green algae build up…
“Hi Sean
What do you know of HYDRA CRYSTALS do they work, this year my pond keeps turning green its round 2 meters wide and a meter deep all over, little or no plants as the fish keep eating them and its in full sun. I have tried barley straw extract and keep changing half water at a time but still it changes to green pea soup.
HELP
Roger"
This is my response to Roger
"Hi Roger,
Thanks for your email.
To be honest I don't know a great deal about Hydra Crystals but I am confident that there is only one really effective way to avoid green algae build up.
That is to use what is known as an Ultraviolet clarifier (UV clarifier).
As water is pumped through the UV clarifier the algae cells are bombarded with ultra violet light. This kills them, causing them to clump together. These larger clumps are them removed by your biological filter.
Any pond unless it is a bog filter (veggie filter) needs a pond pump, biological pond filter and UV clarifier. In many cases a biological pond filter includes a UV clarifier.
Many people use chemical additives, such as pond algaecides to avoid green algae build up. This is at best a short term fix and at worst it affects pond pH and beneficial pond bacteria.
Chemical treatments only work for a short period of time and will cause the formation of sludge on your pond floor, a whole new problem altogether.
My advice ... don't use any form of chemical additive for controlling green pond water. The most effective way to permanently control green pond water is to use a UV Clarifier
There is only one additive that I would recommend you use to control the build up of green pond water if you don't intend to use a pond pump, biofilter and UV clarifier and that is a British product called Viresco.
Viresco has been designed to control string algae (blanket weed) and the build up of pond sludge. It will also control green pond water as well because it works by removing the algae food source (nitrate).
Hopefully this will help.
Regards
Sean Roocroft”