Carolina AlgaeControl, LLC is your Charleston based pond management consultant for eco-friendly pond and water management solutions. We specialize in the latest ultrasound algae control devices, partnered with sound pond management strategies that utilize the power of Mother Nature.   We are here to help you understand the dynamics of effective pond management and to provide you any piece of the formula your environment may be in need of.  

The life cycle of a pond can be broken down into two basic stages. When a pond is newly built the nutrient load is low resulting in minimum weed and algae growth. Over time organic matter from plants, birds, grass clippings, and leaves from trees begin to accumulate in your pond. Decomposition of the organic matter begins to build up as sludge on the bottom of your pond.

Generally your pond will begin to enter its second stage between years three and five as aquatic weeds, grasses, and other plant life such as cattails begin to be prevalent. Algae blooms can appear practically overnight as the total nutrient load is now too great. An additional overload of nutrients are entering your pond from all types of fertilizers used on lawns, or from nearby golf courses and farms, or from excess phosphates entering your pond from the incoming water source.

This was a time when chemical products typically were the only solution to remove the nuisance algae blooms or pervasive weeds. A chemical application is only a short term fix and unfortunately drops the oxygen levels in a pond very quickly and dramatically – basically choking your fish and plants. Chemicals typically also kill the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria a healthy pond needs to consume the nutrient load. Chemicals have a residual effect and can be active in your water for as long as 30-90 days. If there is a consistent flow through your pond, the chemicals you applied could flow out of the pond sooner than you intended into a preserved estuary, a natural marsh, or into our shared streams, lakes or rivers.

Implement a healthy ecological “green” pond management plan early in your pond’s life to avoid the difficulties one would experience with age. If your pond has reached a difficult stage, you can correct your issues in an environmentally friendly way. One must take the steps to allow Mother Nature to do her job – but bear in mind your pond did not get in bad condition overnight – and an ecological green approach is slower to bring it back into balance. If you would like to eliminate chemicals from any pond management plan, take this 3 pronged approach to work in combination with Mother Nature.

1. Install an aeration system to keep a consistent level of oxygen throughout your pond. Bottom aeration, surface aeration, or an aerating fountain will keep the necessary oxygen levels throughout your pond and for fish to have healthy respiratory systems.
2. An aeration system de-stratifies your pond by turning over the entire water column and cooling the water. A stratified stagnant body of water is hot on the surface and forms layers with the coolest temperature on the bottom. The hot surface promotes algae blooms.
3. Utilize a pond dye to shade your pond from intense UV rays and lower the overall temperature of the pond. Shallow ponds especially fall victim to algae blooms when the waters surface temperature is high. Pond dyes are available in blue or black.
4. Install an ultrasound algae control transducer to kill the majority of algae types that are prone to bloom in your pond. Ultrasound for algae control is a state of the art technology and is quickly emerging as a sound and reliable solution. Ultrasound also is effective in stimulating the transfer of nutrients in and out of bacteria cells which will increase the rate in which decomposition happens and even reduce sludge levels in the pond.
5. Add beneficial bacteria to your pond to consume the nutrients and consume suspended solids in the pond. Bear in mind that bacteria breathe oxygen. Adding beneficial bacteria to a pond must be coupled with aeration to provide proper oxygen levels for the bacteria to consume.
6. Stocking various breeds of fish in your pond will provide the answer to excessive aquatic weeds or algae as the breeds are known to eat weeds and algae as their main source of food.
7. Allow for a natural plant life buffer to surround your pond which will slow down the nutrient load entering your pond from rain and run off. If you do mow your lawn up to the edge of the pond, try to mow so that the glass clippings are collected in a bag or blown away from the ponds edge so they do not enter the pond.