Algae in the pond is a problem, especially in small ponds, and can even lead to the death of plants and creatures in the water. Find out more about the use of glass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) against algae in the pond here.
Do grass carp help against algae in the pond?
Grass carp (White Amur) arenot well suited to combat algae in the pond. Only the young animals eat fine types of algae such as filamentous algae. Adult animals also attack many other plants such as water lilies or reeds and are therefore more likely to cause damage.
Do grass carp even promote algae growth in the pond?
If grass carp have enough space, they can grow up to 150 centimeters in size. This means they can also outperform a koi. The bigger they get, the more they have to eat. Basically, these fish should only be used in very large ponds.
Theexcretionsalso grow accordingly andpollute the water This in turn promotes even the growth of the algae, as more nutrients are available to them.
Which animals help better than grass carp against algae in the pond?
The following fish, which eat algae, can be used in the pond for natural algae control:
- Pennant carp (Myxocyprinus asiaticus) grow up to 60 centimeters in size and are particularly peaceful algae eaters.
- Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitirix) are also peaceful, but also grow large and love the floating algae.
In small ponds, molluscs and crustaceans are particularly suitable, for example the pointed mud snail (Lymnaea stagnalis), pond mussel (Anodonta cygnea) or the European freshwater shrimp (Atyaephyra desmaresti).
How to fight algae without grass carp?
When there is excess nutrients and warmth, filamentous algae often appear. You can simply fish these out of the water with a stick like spaghetti and dispose of them in the compost. Another way to get rid of algae in the pond is to change the pH of the water. Algae cannot tolerate acidic water and will die. ByLowering the pH value you can reduce algae growth accordingly. To do this, you can fill a jute bag with untreated peat and hang it in the water.
How do I prevent algae in the pond without grass carp?
With the rightplantingin the pond you can prevent an algae plague. Nutrients are removed from the algae using underwater plants (milfoil, pondweed) and free-floating plants (water nut, frogbit). Filling the pond with rainwater also ensures a natural balance of nutrients. This can prevent excessive algae growth. If you top up evaporated pond water with tap water, this can lead to a nutrient imbalance. Last but not least, water movements such as water features or streams help. Algae like still waters and spread more poorly in moving water.
Tip
Algae in water is not bad in itself
Algae can also be found in he althy waters. If the algae get out of hand and hinder fish, pond creatures and plants, you should do something about it. Small ponds are particularly at risk. They heat up particularly quickly, which promotes algae growth.
