Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Blue Green Algae in Oakwood, TX

I'm posting these algae pics for Pat W. in Oakwood, TX. Pat indicated that the stuff is foul smelling. Any ideas guys?

The algae color is a very good indication that it is a bluegreen algae. As many bluegreen algae die they turn the color of that in your pictures thus name bluegreen algae now called Cyanobacteria. Cyan: is the color halfway between blue and green on the color wheel. the The foul odor is another indication it is a bluegreen.

Very bad news. As it dies, it gives off toxins that are bad for both fish and humans. Cyanobacteria have even been linked with brain plaques similar to Alzheimer's.

Get rid of it ASAP, and don't swim or eat fish from that area until it is clear again.

What is the best step to rid of this stuff?

Raking it out

In 5 acre pond that's a lot of raking Rainman. Will hydrated lime sprayed on it get it?

Yes, it will, but there could be a risk of it getting some fish also. Applying Alum to offset the pH shock that hammers the algae cells would not only neutralize the Hydrated Lime, it will bind phosphorus to greatly reduce new/continuing algae growth.

Adding more Tilapia might also be worthwhile in getting a handle on it.

Will tilapia eat the blue green?

Yes. I believe Bill Cody has also verified this is on their menu.

Thanks for the info.... Will plop some in Tuesday. The ones available here are the Mozambique variety. They be ok?

How many pounds of them would be effective?

That comes as a surprise to me, given that the blue-green stuff is toxic.

Does that mean the TP should not be eaten? How about LMB that eat the TP?

The toxins/offtastes do not affect the flesh. All info I have ever read is that foods and algae that harm other fish or cause the meat to have an off flavor (like catfish) is not found to affect the flavor of tilapia flesh (unless the meat becomes tainted from intestinal fluids)

Going tomorrow to get tilapias- we will see ifn they eat blue green algae

Heck, Tilapia is so tasteless it needs something to give it flavor!

Mmmm....... Algae!

PatW, any update on Tilapia eating the B/G algae?

Bill these are the only pix I have right now

Eeew! Looks like a hot spring! Would love to see a sample of that under a microscope.

That blueish green algae in sheets is dying and likely a Cyanobacteria probably Lynbya, Oscillatoria or Phormidium. When many of the bluegreen algae dye the chlorophyll breaks down and reveals the bluegreen color sort of like tree leaves in the fall.

Will it go away when it cools down or am I going to have to nuke it?

Parts that are now bluegreen, as evidence of dying, should breakup and sink either from wave action or a rain shower. If you would spray it with a garden hose it will likely break up and sink. Wave action from a jet ski should break it up and it would sink. The other thing that would breakup and chop that floating algae is a water circulator. Kasko is a common provider.

Have had 5" rain and has been cooler hopefully it will go away on its own

A few weeks ago, chunks started appearing on my pond, quarter to half-dollar size, not a continuous sheet. Over time there got to be more and more of them and when the wind blows they pile up. Some drone footage from yesterday shows that at present there is more of a sheet with the chunks embedded in it than it would appear from ground level. The pond is 5 years old and I've never seen any of this before. Makes me wonder what is different now. This summer has been incredibly hot for the longest stretch is the only thing I can think of. We've had plenty of rain to keep the pond topped. We had 5.2" of rain the other day which drove it all down but it just all popped back up again after a couple of days.

What do most people actually do about blue green algae? I would guess nothing, and hope for the best? Some of the solutions don't sound too appealing if there's a possibility that it is eventually going to resolve itself, maybe with fall just around the corner? Is the stuff on the surface actually dead already, with living algae down deeper? I know the stuff can be toxic but has anybody on the forum actually had a fish kill from a blue green algae event? I see little fish swimming right amongst the stuff to seemly no ill effect.