Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Pond vacuum to get floating weeds and algae?

Hi all,

I'm trying to net and collect some floating weeds and algae, and after a few days and no end in sight (doesn't even look like I put a dent in it!) I'm starting to look for other solutions. I've attached a photo of what I'm dealing with.

Anyone have any experience w/ pond vacuums? I can get a Oase pond vacuum pretty cheap on ebay, and was wondering if anyone has tried it?

I fully expect that I'd have to move the vacuum around the pond etc. but hopefully it will be easier then netting everything.

Thanks for your input and greetings from Britain :-)

How big is the pond, and what is the bottom of the pond constructed from? (clay, concrete, or a liner)

One of the local municipal reservoirs is using a trash pump to remove floating algae that is concentrated into the corners.

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies.

Pond size is 1+ acre and deepest bit is about 2 to 3 meters

I'm not sure about the bottom unfortunately.

Cheers

With a pond that big, I doubt that the vaccum you are looking at will be worth it. From the picture, it looks like a lot of the algae is under the surface.

Doesn't some of that look like chara? Looks like some of what I got in my pond! If it is Chara best to to knock it down is Cutrine Plus pellets! That stuff works if you can afford it. The problem with Chara if thats what some of that is, is it can get even worse if you try to pull it out and the spore fall off and reseed into the pond.... It's something that is always going to be around in shallow ponds to some degree. I kept mine more at bay this year with some Aquashade I put in the pond in May. I only did it once and it got me through the main summer but mine is starting to come back now too.

RC

Are there fish in your pond, stlum?

Pretty setting!

Hi all,

Thanks so much for the replies.

Rainman, no fish. I had to have it emptied (gov't regulations for some work I had to do), and I missed the restocking season over the summer. I should be getting fish in the next month or 2.

RC51 - don't know if its Chara. Is there an easy way to tell? I could net some and take some photos.

esshup - Yeah, w/ a pond vac, I was thinking that it wouldn't be stationary...I could move it around to various points around the lake.

Thanks!

Well floating stringy stuff is one thing, but do a search for Chara online and see what it looks like then pull some of yours. Chara looks somewhat like a weed but it really is an algae. It's kinda crunchy and has a high musk smell to it. If you take a pic I am sure someone out here would be able to tell you for sure what it is and options for you to get rid of it. From your pics it almost looks like you have a floating type and some Chara but it's hard to tell.

RC