Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Algae Identification and Control

I have this type of algae this summer in my pond here in Michigan. I can get rid of it with Copper Sulfate, but it just keeps coming back in a few days. It slows it down, but doesn't seem to kill it. I don't recall seeing this before, I guess it's algae. It looks like foam even when removed from the pond as in this picture. Throughout my pond there are hundreds of little pieces of this also I believe, they kind of remind me of little cyclones floating. Can anyone tell me what this is and how I can rid myself of it??

I have had some of the same thing. mine does not smell and feels like wet felt.

Any ideas if it's even a form of algae?? It is forming in cloud like areas around the edges of my pond, mostly in shallow waters. Definitely bright green like algae.

It's algae... What exact species, I am not sure. If anyone would know, I'll put my money on Bill Cody.

Man it's really growing fast again. Guess I'm going to try some granular copper sulfate as it will sink down to come in direct contact. Did some raking this afternoon and my blisters are back on my hands!! Half done and by the time I go back in the morning I'll probably have to redu some of what I did today. Boy a pool is looking pretty good right now!!

Superficially it looks like Cladophora (coarse wooly algae) which grows well when phosphorus is at higher levels. A local algal professor calls it a phosphorus hog.
I don't suggest you add copper sulfate as granules. That is an improper way to apply it resulting in waste, requiring way more than necessary, and sinking granules does not give efficient distribution of the chemical to effictively kill the vertical growing filaments. Granules on bottom only effectively treat a very small diameter at each granule and only at the basal portion of each filament. Dissolved copper quickly gets chemically bound before reaching any distance above sediment. For effective kill You want even coverage over as much of the entire vertical filament as possible, not just at the bottom. For bottom growth it is best to use: 1. The largest granules you can find (best 1/4"-1/2 nuggets, slowest dissolving), 2. Divide dosage into several applications, thus making less last longer befoer all is disolved. 3. use a fine porus bag or sac holding the CuSO4 with a few larger stones for weight to quickly drag among the algae for maximum distribution of dissolved chemical.

Copper is a heavy metal and stable in the environment. It never goes away or deterioriates in the sediment. Build up of copper can occur over time, sediments get saturated (high accumulation) and over time cause chemical/biological problems in the sediment habitat or biota. Copper is on at least 3 government agency lists as a hazardous chemical. IMO it is not the best chemical to use as a algacide if one is concerned about the overall longterm health of an ecosystem.

I don't think Bill got close enough to his computer screen...do a search for Hydrodictyon, also called water net. Take Bill's suggestion about copper sulfate very seriously. I've seen a lot of ponds acquire some major issues when bombarded with copper sulfate year after year. A nice mixture of Cutrine, Hydrothol 191, and cide kick II will usually kill this plant. Be careful with the Hydrothol.....a little dab will do you. Shawn

The stuff looks kinda neat. You can sure see the net-like structure to it.

Excellent pictures Brian S.!!

May not be the Wooly Mammoth stuff, but Dr. Perca's warning about the copper was worth reading again!

Those are great photos and great advice. Would that algae make nice compost for the garden I wonder, I bet it would.

Shawn,
I have approximately a 1/3 acre pond. What "mixture" of Cutrine, Hydrothol, and Cidekick would you recommend for me?? I have already treated my pond with 40lb of Hydrothol for a pondweed problem about 2 months ago. And have put in 4 gallons of copper sulfate since then. I can get these things chemicals at a local farm store, just curious how much you would recommend. And with the Cutrine and Hydrothol are these liquid or granular?? Thanks for any advice!!

Bill,
Thanks for chiming in and giving your sable advice!!

2cat,
I would have no soil if I put all this on my garden! I'd plant seeds in algae.

Check on replacing the Hydrothol with Aquathol in Shawn's suggestion. Works the same but without the probable negative side effects on the system.