Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations red algae

I noticed today that there seems to be a red colored substance floating on top of my 1 acre pond south of San Antonio. It looks like algae, but I don't know what it is or where it came from. There is no fish kill. Is there any reason to worry? I have it aerated and it is well established (8 years) with bass and perch. Thanks for the help! Tom

Can you post a picture of the stuff; a wide angle and a closeup?

The same thing is happening to my pond it starts green and then it turns red, it happens in the period where the aerator is off, but once it kicks on it vanishes.

Welcome to the PB forum .Can you post a pic or describe your pond situation. It may well be red euglena a type of planktonic algae. Here is are 3 threads on it.

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=13;t=000055#000003

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=001949;p=1

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthread...=true#Post38613


See if you can see the red streak here.

There are other species of algae in other different major groups that have red or reddish algae. However since both Mihalko1 and Ninmaxx are located in the southern US, it is most likely Euglena. Others often not always are more northern in cooler waters. It is risky guessing at algae types without microscopically examining it.

Bill,

I thought I read somewhere that sometimes it's a bacteria in the water. Any truth to that?

That said for some reason a plastic dinghy I have gets a red coating in the bottom when it gets rainwater in it. I haven't seen this anywhere else in the pond.

Bill do you think that since the pond is aerated that the red euglena (opps I mean plankton) should not be a problem ? You are right about guessing at types - not a good idea.

If the algae is primarily due to a surface film when not aerated then the total algal biomass would not be as abundant compared to a bloom that was growing in the entire illuminated surface layer. Higher biomass would lead to higher oxygen demand when the population crashed or died. Aerating/mixing a surface film tends to redistribute the cells throughout the water column and the color is greatly diluted and is usu not as noticable.
Some red algae can be toxic when at higher concentrations esp when growing throughout the entire illuminated zone. It often depends on the speices and if there is a population crash if there will be water quality problems. The species that can form films either have gas vacuoles or flagella (never both) that allow them to concentrate at the surface.

Cecil, I have seen similar red stuff in the bottom of buckets and boats with water that has sit for several days. I have looked at it but I can't remember what it was. I will try to look at it again when I see it this year.

I cannot get pics uploaded, but it sure looks like the same stuff as in the picture you posted. Is the copper solution safe and where can you get it?

Mihalko1

You need to be sure you need to treat it first. Then you have to be very careful because a copper application can cause a DO crash. We have never treated our red plankton as it has not warranted such a drastic action. The one time I killed a bunch of BG was due to a limited CU application to treat a patch of FA when the alkalinity was low - the combo can cause BG gills to be unable to asorbe O2.

So, do I just leave it alone and wait for it to clear? What would be the criteria to be sure it needed to be treated? In reading the threads you posted, I have some of the same symtoms as one of the other pondmisters. A period of very clear water followed by the water turning brown, and now the red bloom on top. I do have a large population of bluegill which I feed every other day (approx. 3 lbs.per feeding). I have also noticed that I have almost no plant life in the water. I have 3 grass carp in the pond and have been thinking of removing 1 or 2 thinking that they have eaten all of the vegetation. Would this be recommended? As of this posting the red stuff is covering about half of my 1 acre pond.

Mihalko1

Can you email me the pic? I will look and post it for you .

Here is a pic of Mihalko1 pond with red plankton.



I would not do anything based on the pic. It looks like most of the pond water is moving well due to wind or other sources. The red bloom looks small and not to thick. I would watch and wait. You could manually disperse it with a paddle or motor if you want.

Mine Covers the entire surface! Should I be worried about this causing a fish kill?

How about a pic and info. I would keep aerating .