In order to turn green pond water clear, begin by installing an aerator to your pond to accelerate algae death. Then, wipe out algae growth with a fish-safe, plant-safe algae killer. Next, filter your pond water to clear out debris and prevent warm temperatures where algae thrives. It’s also important to add beneficial bacteria to your pond water to slow down algae growth. Finally, provide some shade for your pond with aquatic plants or shade cloths. By reducing sunlight on your pond, you will help to prevent murky green water.
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5 Steps to Clear Green Pond Water
If your backyard pond has turned into a giant pool of green water that you cannot see-through, it’s time to take steps to clean the water. Removing excess algae growth will help improve the health of fish and plants in your pond. Here are the steps to clear your pond water quickly and prevent it from turning green again.
Add a Pond Aerator
It is essential to install an aerator in your pond if you want to turn green water clear. The reasons you should install this excellent aerator in your pond today are:
- Aeration encourages beneficial bacteria growth that reduces algae populations.
- You boost the effectiveness of other algae-killing tactics if your pond water is aerated.
- Extra oxygen provided by aeration protects your fish and plants from harm during the following pond-clearing steps.
In order to clear your green garden pond faster, it’s essential to make aeration your top priority. The increased oxygen level provided by aeration will increase the health of your fish, aquatic plants, and good bacteria. This helps to battle algae naturally and quickly.
Kill Algae Without Harming Fish and Plants
Once your pond is properly aerated, use a fish-safe, plant-safe algaecide to kill off the green algae growing in your pond. The best algaecides work by lowering the oxygen levels in your pond, which will cause algae to die off within days. A good algaecide works like a miracle, transforming a pea soup pond into crystal-clear water in under a week.
- Add this algaecide to aerated pond water to kill algae without harming fish and plants.
- Algaecide works by reducing oxygen levels in water, killing algae within 1 week in most ponds.
- Install an aerator before using algaecide to protect fish and plants from harm.
If you have fish or aquatic plants in your pond, it’s essential to have an aerator installed in your pond before you use an algaecide. A small dip in oxygen kills algae, but a large decrease in oxygen content caused by adding algaecide to your pond without aeration can kill fish and plants. So, it’s essential to complete the first step on this list before adding algaecide.
Filter Your Pond Water
A good pond filter is essential to keep your pond free of green water algae. It removes debris and discourages future algal growth. By installing a filter in your pond, you will cleanse the water of algae and fish waste, turning murky water clear in just a few days.
- Install this filter in your pond to clean algae from the water.
- Filters capture algae and pass clean water through.
- Pond filters can turn green water clear in just a few days.
- Filtering debris from water keeps water temperatures cooler, which inhibits algae growth.
Filtering particles and debris from your water is essential for preventing your pond from turning green again. Pond water with a lot of particles absorbs more heat from sunlight, which raises the water temperature. Algae thrives in warm water, so the hotter the water gets the greener your pond becomes. By filtering your water to keep it clear, you help keep the water cool. This in turn makes it less likely for green algae to grow in your pond.
Add Beneficial Bacteria
Create a self-sustaining clear water pond by adding good bacteria to the water. It may seem strange that bacteria makes your pond cleaner, but beneficial pond bacteria does just that. The right bacteria competes with algae for the same oxygen resources. So, as bacteria thrives, algae dies. This prevents your pond from turning green again.
- Add this beneficial bacteria to your pond to turn green water clear.
- Beneficial pond bacteria competes with algae, killing off the green algae.
- Adding healthy bacteria keeps your pond from turning green again after filtering and treating the water.
You can purchase beneficial pond bacteria from several sources. Choose a well-reviewed product that gets results from real customers. Adding the proper bacteria to your pond reduces algal bloom and leads to healthier fish and plants.
Provide Shade For Your Pond
Algae thrives when your pond receives uninterrupted sunlight. This algae growth then turns your pond water green and murky. So, you can help reduce algae growth and prevent algae from returning if you add shade to your pond. The best way to do this is by planting aquatic plants or water-loving trees at the edge of your pond. However, you can use sun shades or an outdoor umbrella if you prefer.
- Algae thrives in ponds that receive full sun throughout the day.
- By adding shade, you reduce algae growth and keep the water clear.
- Research aquatic plants and trees native to your area. Plant them along the edge of your pond to add shade.
Because waterside plants provide shade, they also give your fish a place to hide in the shadows. This can provide a benefit if you live in an area where predatory birds attempt to raid your fish pond. So, plants will help keep your pond clear without putting your aquatic animals at risk.
Why Does Your Pond Have So Much Algae?
Excessive algae that turns ponds green is typically caused by too much sunlight, high phosphate levels from fertilizer runoff, high temperatures, and a lack of beneficial pond bacteria. Any one of these factors can contribute to a murky pond, but several together can cause your pond to become green and sludgy.
- High temperatures caused by debris in the water and/or excessive sunlight.
- Nearby runoff from property treated with phosphorus fertilizer.
- Not enough good bacteria in the pond.Â
Your pond will become hotter as the water becomes murkier with plant debris, fish waste, and dead algae. These particles cause the water to absorb more heat from sunlight, resulting in an algal bloom. So, filtering your water helps reduce algae levels. Similarly, high levels of phosphate from fertilizer cause a boom in algae populations. Consider pausing any use of high-phosphate fertilizer if you’re trying to clear a green pond.
What Naturally Kills Algae in Ponds?
Barley straw is one of the best natural tools to clear a pond that is overtaken by algae. The acidic compounds released by decomposing barley straw naturally kill algae. This is because one compound released by barley straw is similar to hydrogen peroxide, which kills algae quickly.
- Barley straw is the best natural tool for clearing harmful algae out of ponds.
- Use 1 bale of this barley straw per-1,000 gallons of water in your pond.
- Place the straw in a mesh bag and allow it to float on the pond surface.
- As the barley straw breaks down in water, it releases compounds that naturally kill algae.
To use barley straw to clear your pond, simply use 1 bale of barley straw per-1,000 gallons of water. You can place the bale in a mesh bag. Then, just let the barley straw float on the surface. As it breaks down in the water, the straw will kill algae. It may take a few months, but barley straw will turn your pond water clear.
How Do You Clear a Green Fish Pond?
In order to turn green pond water clear quickly, you should:
- Install a pond aerator.
- Treat the water with an animal and plant-safe algaecide.
- Add a filter to your pond, to prevent murky water.
- Treat your pond with algae-fighting bacteria.
- Provide shade for your pond with plants or other shade covers.
- Consider placing barley straw bales in your pond to kill algae growth naturally.
These simple steps will create the perfect conditions for a clear pond. By aerating your pond, filtering the water, and treating it with algaecide, you can clear a green pond in just a couple of days. Then, by adding beneficial bacteria and providing shade, you prevent algae from returning.
