What's the best green water solution?

Discussion in 'Water Gardening' started by Oliver Stone, Sep 8, 2015.

  1. Oliver Stone

    Oliver Stone Apprentice Gardener

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    Just wondering what green water products people are using and if they're any good?
     
  2. roders

    roders Total Gardener

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    Could you please rephrase the question.
    Why would you want green water..........
     
  3. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Must agree with roders, its a slightly vague question, a bit more info perhaps? Oliver.:smile:
     
  4. WeeTam

    WeeTam Total Gardener

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    Cool water temp,min water depth,good shading from pondside vegetation,water lillies,and a bale of straw wrapped in netting to combat the green water right now.
     
  5. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    My pond goes green in spring, but usually clears by early summer.
    If its green now, I think you have a balance problem.
     
  6. kindredspirit

    kindredspirit Gardening around a big Puddle. :)

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  7. burnie

    burnie Super Gardener

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    If the pond is not heavily stocked with fish, then adding Daphnia(a small native pond insect) will clear it. I used to help manage some gravel pits for fishing in Derbyshire and they cleared a pit a hundred metres square. Where the fish density was higher, the fish ate them all.
     
  8. alexsmith

    alexsmith Apprentice Gardener

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    Green pond water is caused by algae and garden centers and aquatics shops don't want you to know this but getting clear water is simpler than you think. Buying expensive chemicals and filters is great for garden centers, it makes them £££ over and over again.Why? because it doesn't work, at least not for long and you will be back for something else later in the season or next year.
    The way to nice clear water is pretty simple and even better it doesn't cost a thing.

    Green water is caused by algae. Algae turns nutrients in the water (with sunlight ) into more algae. Simple.
    Algae blooms when new, nutrient rich water is added to a pond ie:tap water. When the nutrients are used up the algae will stop.
    People unknowingly "add" algae to water in several ways, through topping up the pond with tap water, adding new plants in soil full of nutrients or through feeding fish.(fish also produce nutrient rich waste). So you now you know how to think about slowing the nutrient side of the triangle.
    The next part of the solution is reducing the light. Ever wondered why a pond covered in lilly leaves or duckweed is so clear underneath? Simply that plant leaves stop sunlight reaching the algae. It will not grow in the shade. Gardeners are experts in knowing how to utilise sunlight to make plants as good as possible, you just need to think of the pond as a vertical flower bed. If the plants in and above the water thrive the algae will not.
    alex
     
  9. wiseowl

    wiseowl FRIENDLY ADMIN Staff Member

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    My pond has green water I quite like it,its better than black water and it matches its surroundings:heehee:
     
  10. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    @alexsmith the OP only ever posted once and hasn't returned since Sept last year so he isn't around to listen to any advice.
     
  11. WeeTam

    WeeTam Total Gardener

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    Maybe he fell into it whilst trying to vacuum the green bits out? :lunapic 130165696578242 5:
     
    • Funny Funny x 2
    • Linz

      Linz Total Gardener

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      remember my old man having a pond vac.. :loll::roflol:
       
    • Ian Taylor

      Ian Taylor Total Gardener

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      Good pond pump, filter and a decent UV,
      My pond is crystal clear
       
    • burnie

      burnie Super Gardener

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      Even though the op might have left the building, it's a useful subject for debate, alexsmiths answer is perfect for a fish free wildlife pond, but you'll never see your fish, if that's what you want. Ian Taylor has hit the nail on the head for a "fish" pond and somewhere in between will come a garden pond that's got a low density of goldfish. Shade is the key and although you don't want a pond full of leaves, or roots puncturing your pond(liner or other types), shade is helpful.
       
      • Agree Agree x 1
      • CrystalT

        CrystalT Apprentice Gardener

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