Algicides. Interpreting the label
Nuisance algae will usually take one of two forms; green water
and filamentous algae known as blanketweed. Ponds are rarely
algae-free as these two forms of algae appear to work in partnership
to curse koi ponds. For example, if a pond has benefited from a UVc,
clearing it of green water,
then blanketweed will proliferate, thriving in the clear sunlit pond
water enriched with nutrients.
If however, a pond suffers from green water, then there is little
chance of blanketweed troubling the same pond.
And then there are those few unfortunate ponds that appear to
suffer from both forms of nuisance algae at the same time.
The majority of koi ponds will fall into the first category,
where crystal clear water, courtesy of a UVc is prone to being
choked with unsightly fronds of hair-like blanketweed. Having
cracked the green water problem with a UVc, the koi keeper's final
assault on blanketweed may well involve a variety of treatments that
are added to the water to solve the problem.
Blanc-Kit Excel is specially formulated to create a pond
environment resistant to blanket weed without the use of harsh
chemicals
When comparing the different chemical blanketweed treatments, it
can be useful to be able to interpret the label to see if a
particular product will do what you want it to.
Checklist of what to look out for on a label of a chemical
treatment for blanketweed.
- Description of the product
- Volume of pond water treated
- Course of treatment
- Warnings or precautions
- Price
Description of the product
Scanning across labels of different products for blanketweed,
various claims are used such as 'controls', 'clears', 'deals with',
'reduces' and 'kills'. A product that controls does just that, it
reduces and inhibits growth. That may be different from a treatment
that 'prevents' blanketweed from growing.
Such a product does not claim to eradicate it completely, in fact
there appears only to be one product that kills blanketweed and
that is the product 'Blanc-kit'.
This pond treatment contains a herbicide that will definitely
kill blanketweed.
How do the other products work?
Blanketweed treatments that 'control' or 'deal with' blanketweed
growth may use a combination of dyes that turn the water blue, thus
shading algae from its valuable sunlight thereby reducing its
growth. The longer the dye is in the water, the longer the
blanketweed is starved of light. Other blanketweed and algae
controls use additives that lock up the nutrients that algae require
to grow. Again, these products do not kill blanketweed, they
control, reduce or deal with its growth.
Volume Treated.
The label of a treatment will specify the volume of pond water
that it will treat (in litres and gallons) and this can be used to
determine how many treatments you may get out of each pack.
Course of treatment.
Some products state 'regular' use while others are more specific
with 'monthly' doses or applications 'every 4 months' recommended.
This should determine the size of bottle or pack required, as some
products require regular dosing while others may last for 4 months
Warnings or precautions
Warnings or precautions on packs are for the benefit of you and
your koi. Some products state 'has no detrimental effect on fish and
plant life' others state 'harmless to all fish', but may turn your
water blue.
The only aquatic herbicide on the market (Blanc-kit) is 'safe to
use in ponds containing fish, emerged plants such as reeds and
rushes' but may suppress or damage certain desirable plants such as
water lilies.
Blanc-Kit Excel is specially formulated to create a pond
environment resistant to blanket weed without the use of harsh
chemicals
However, if your koi pond is completely plant-free, then it can
be used without any worries.
Price.
Price is an important consideration when comparing the products'
claims and the volumes of water they will treat. Is an algae killer
that treats 1500 gallons better value than a similarly priced
blanketweed controller that treats 3000 gallons? The decision is
yours. water pond treatment algae koi controls label growth "green
water" Price precautions Warnings UVc plants fish |
