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#185078 Feb 23rd, 2008 at 12:12 PM
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Last Summer was the first time that my pond developed the dreaded blanket weed. I thought that the Winter months might have killed it off, but it still seems to be growing.
I keep pulling up as much as possible, but it almost looks the same the next day.
All help of suggestions will be greatly appreciated...Thank you.


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glenda #185105 Feb 23rd, 2008 at 02:05 PM
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Hmm.. what is blanket weed?? Can you post pictures... ? Could you try some kind of algacide??

Pinkhorseofcourse #185337 Feb 23rd, 2008 at 10:16 PM
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I am not sure what that is. Is it like string algae? If it is, get a round toilet brush a roll in back and forth around the sides of the pond, it gets alot of that off.


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faerywatcher #185573 Feb 24th, 2008 at 03:25 PM
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Oh that is a good idea.. but I have a feeling she needs to kill it off.. not just remove what is there.. am I right glenda?

Pinkhorseofcourse #185732 Feb 25th, 2008 at 04:06 AM
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Yes I have tried the toilet brush methord, it works, but I need to kill it off.
Yes I believe string algae is another name for it.


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glenda #185866 Feb 25th, 2008 at 09:55 AM
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Well, would an algaecide work??

Pinkhorseofcourse #185914 Feb 25th, 2008 at 11:38 AM
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I dont know. An algaecide may harm the fish in the pond.


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glenda #185930 Feb 25th, 2008 at 12:34 PM
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Ohhh I didn't realize you had fish in the pond. Is there any way you could put the fishies somewhere else for a bit of time? Treat the pond, wait the recommended time before adding fishies back to the pond? I don't know what else to try really.. I know that algae once it gets it's grip is hard to get rid of. Keep us posted.

Pinkhorseofcourse #186122 Feb 25th, 2008 at 06:36 PM
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there are algeacides that are safe for fish. check at your aquarium store. i won't use them though. i fight it the hard way.

#186134 Feb 25th, 2008 at 06:44 PM
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I have some that are safe for fish, just not shelled things like snails.

BUT, I gotta tell you---I used the stuff and it didn't even work at all...Didn't dent the algae even a little bit.

I really should get a good scrubber and clean the liner some.

I really, really need to make an Adams filter this year.

#186230 Feb 25th, 2008 at 09:25 PM
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I never had to use it but I read that Barley Straw Bale works good to keep down algae and keeps the water clear.


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cinta #186883 Feb 28th, 2008 at 04:09 PM
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Yeah, I have also heard that Cinta.. I have a feeling I am going to be in this predicament this year. :( My pond is in full sun all day. Last year it was very dark and cloudy.. with algae too.. my husband was filling it and accidentally left the hose in it.. and it over flowed for hours.. we went away.. lol But after that it was really clear!! hahaha haha Maybe I will just try that again this year.

Pinkhorseofcourse #190861 Mar 10th, 2008 at 12:28 PM
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I have done the research now and here are the facts:

Blanket/string weed grows and feeds on calcium in the water, so it is difficult to get rid of, pulling at it breaks off the weed, but tiny fragments of it float in the water then it grows again.
There is a plug in device called electronic blanket weed controller. This unit is plugged into a socket, it has two sensors coming out of the box that you wind around the hose that feeds water into the pond, these sensors omit an eletrical current that disrupts the formation of calcium, therefore the weed breaks down and can no longer grow in the pond.
I bought one and IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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glenda #191341 Mar 11th, 2008 at 10:57 PM
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Oh congrats!!! thumbup Glad you were able to fix your problem!

Last edited by Pinkhorseofcourse; Mar 11th, 2008 at 11:00 PM.
Pinkhorseofcourse #194654 Mar 22nd, 2008 at 05:40 AM
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Hi Glenda! I'm new here but I can tell you, that stuff is a very hard plant to beat. Cleaning the liner is just a band aid,it "will" come back. The electric thing sounds good. never herd of it though.I have tried about everything out there. I always come back to a product called Algefix. It does not harm anything else in my 3 ponds. I follow the label to the letter and my ponds are prety much string free all summer.Hope this helps. Never wanted to do the chemical thing. This one works.


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waterwise #194826 Mar 22nd, 2008 at 04:24 PM
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glenda does it hurt the fish? that's my concern.

#194853 Mar 22nd, 2008 at 05:18 PM
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No it is fish friendly, It is also frog friendly too. I have never had frogs sporn in the pond before, but this year its full of it!!!!!!!I am hoping that the fish wont eat the tadpoles.


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glenda #194858 Mar 22nd, 2008 at 05:27 PM
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they'll probably eat a few, but you don't want them all to survive anyway! lol thanks for the info. if i get overrun, i'll have to check it out.

#194960 Mar 23rd, 2008 at 04:58 AM
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Youre welcome Jiffy.


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glenda #195357 Mar 24th, 2008 at 05:46 AM
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Hi all, if you follow the directions algefix if safe, safe, safe. My water is crystal clear, now i need to decide hows the best way to get all that muck I can see! out of bottom, Hummmmmm. There is just no easy way.


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waterwise #195563 Mar 24th, 2008 at 07:30 PM
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well, if you have snails or plants, you probably don't want the muck totally gone. remember it is a pond, not a pool.

that said, i use either a shopvac or a siphon to get the muck off the bottom of mine. i just don't get it all because of the snails and my algae eater likes to "bed down" in it.

#195622 Mar 25th, 2008 at 05:31 AM
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Never used a shopvac. Do they do pretty good? Im talkin a lot of muck. this pond has a die off every 3 to 5 years. Fish are good one day and dead the next. Cant figure the cause. The other two have never done this. strange! So before I restock it i need to clean and disinfect it i suppose. Got big snails no algae eaters though to cold here.


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waterwise #197050 Mar 30th, 2008 at 02:56 AM
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Man, my pond is a mess!! I have algae big time. I don't know what I am going to do yet. why I have 3 fish in it and a water lily from last year that I hope made it thru the winter.

Jiffy, you have an algae eater in your pond? Like one you would put in an aquarium? I have considered that, sort of.. more on the joking side. The only bad thing is, I wouldn't be able to over winter it.. unless I brought it in. Would you suggest I get one/or 20? hehe neener

Pinkhorseofcourse #197121 Mar 30th, 2008 at 08:27 AM
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i do. he made it through last year. i haven't verified he's still there, but i'm betting he is.

#197522 Mar 31st, 2008 at 01:50 AM
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Oh that is cool! I wonder how warm the water has to be before you can put them in.. I will buy a couple/few WalMart.

Pinkhorseofcourse #197803 Mar 31st, 2008 at 07:25 PM
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There are not snail nor algae eaters enough to get all this muck out. waters to cold to get in there as yet.46 burrrrrr


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waterwise #197845 Mar 31st, 2008 at 08:39 PM
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Well yeah, I would have to have A LOT of algae eaters.. :LOL: But I figure 1 or 2 wouldn't hurt. :wink: I need to buy a new net.. I am going shopping tomorrow.. so I will take before and after pics of my mucky mess. I also need to buy a pond thermometer.

Pinkhorseofcourse #197946 Apr 1st, 2008 at 06:17 AM
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The strange thing is the water is crystal clear. So you can see all the muck in the bottom.Hummmmmmm, There are big snails and a few blunt nose minnows in the mess somewhere. pond thermometer say 43 today. got the filters and uv set up going over the weekend.


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waterwise #198284 Apr 1st, 2008 at 08:52 PM
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Same here waterwise.. the water is gorgeous.. all sparkly and clear. But the masses of green gunk.. EW!

Pinkhorseofcourse #198322 Apr 1st, 2008 at 11:46 PM
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guess ill wait and do a gunk clean when the water warms a bit. dont have a shop vac big enough to do this job. Got no blanket weed. That would be to much.I guess there is no easy answer for this problem. I use the muck buster last fall ????? cant see it helped.


Be careful of those that say they are you friend.
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glenda #198647 Apr 3rd, 2008 at 06:37 AM
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Originally Posted by glenda
I have done the research now and here are the facts:

Blanket/string weed grows and feeds on calcium in the water, so it is difficult to get rid of, pulling at it breaks off the weed, but tiny fragments of it float in the water then it grows again.
There is a plug in device called electronic blanket weed controller. This unit is plugged into a socket, it has two sensors coming out of the box that you wind around the hose that feeds water into the pond, these sensors omit an eletrical current that disrupts the formation of calcium, therefore the weed breaks down and can no longer grow in the pond.
I bought one and IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Glenda, is this safe for ponds with fish and plants? Where do you find one?

Thanks




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Annell #198796 Apr 3rd, 2008 at 07:03 PM
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annell, i asked that same question and she said yes.

#198801 Apr 3rd, 2008 at 07:14 PM
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Thanks Jiffymouse,

I searched for them on the internet but the only ones I could find were in the UK. I was wondering if anyone knew if they made them in the USA? I sure would like to have one.




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Please Spay/Neuter your Pets.
Annell #198814 Apr 3rd, 2008 at 07:32 PM
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me too, but i haven't seen them. we'll just have to keep looking!

#198818 Apr 3rd, 2008 at 07:42 PM
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Guess so, I told my husband I was going to order one and he pointed out to me that they do not use the same electrical currant that we do so it would be useless for me to order one.
If I find one in the US, I will let you know.




A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.
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Please Spay/Neuter your Pets.
Annell #198825 Apr 3rd, 2008 at 08:12 PM
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OH wonderful! We find something that works, and we can't get it here. *sigh*

Pinkhorseofcourse #198854 Apr 4th, 2008 at 06:22 AM
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wouldn't ya know it.


Be careful of those that say they are you friend.
Friendship and Trust must be earned, Saying it is only part of the truth.
waterwise #198872 Apr 4th, 2008 at 08:14 AM
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It is very frustrating to say the least.




A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.
Mark Twain


Please Spay/Neuter your Pets.
Annell #198988 Apr 5th, 2008 at 06:20 AM
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Guess thats why I keep going back to algefix. Just cant find anything else that works. would if I cold dont care for chemicals to much. Keep looking


Be careful of those that say they are you friend.
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waterwise #203735 Apr 22nd, 2008 at 08:56 PM
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Just an update.. we cheated. notme We took the old liner out and replaced it!! We had lots left from when we first did the pond last year.. Hubby made the pond a little bigger, not much, just leveled some places off.. but it is nice and clean.. and all 3 of my fish made it thru the winter and I gave them their first official meal today. clap Now to get more mulch and some flowers for around it!!

My coreopsis and Daylilly is coming up. And I have daffodils, a pink tulip and a purple hyacinth by the pond as well.. so it is finally starting to look like spring. shots

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