Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Balance of plants in the environment Algae Bloom - Good or Bad?

While observing the pond conditions with the drone this afternoon there has been a dramatic change from a week ago.

Pond temperature is 85 from 1-5 feet.

I will measure with a Secchi disc as soon as the conditions improve. Approximate visibility from past experience is 2 feet. We had a strong South wind today and I was receiving high wind warnings while flying the drone to take pictures.

Is this good or bad and is there anything I can or need to do?

Today
North end


South end

If visibility (clarity) with a secchi disc is less than 12", I'd think really hard about treating part of it with a liquid algaecide. Do you have aeration in the pond? .

I agree with esshup. It appears the bloom material is floating. It is probably good to trim the bloom by treating part of it each time. Be aware when killing part of it and it dies and sinks it does not remove any of the nutrients that caused it to grow. Recycled nutrients from algae decay will eventually be redissolved into the water column to feed the next bloom. To reduce nutrients I would be creative or imaginative and figure out a way to remove or suck out the surface film. This removes the source of the problem and the surface film problem plus there will be no dissolved oxygen sag when the dead algae decomposes. A win, win, win to the pond ecosystem. .

Thanks guys, you are correct, it's floating. It appears to be Planktonic algae, I suspect it's from all the recent rains and runoff.

No aeration yet. Have estimates for aeration and electricity. Together it's about 20K so not in the budget at this time.

I have a bloom throughout the pond now.

It's supposed to be in the upper 90's with 8-30 MPH winds for at least the next week. Some chances for rain. Water temps are 85 F. Secchi disc visibility is now at 10 inches.
Anything I can or should be testing for to know what to do or watch for?

I have some Cutrine plus liquid that I plan to use on about 1/3 of the pond in the morning.

I also have blue dye to use but not sure if that would be helpful as I know I don't want to kill all of it at once.,.

I haven't noticed any bad effects from heavy algae blooms during the hottest summer days in my pond. I suspect it keeps the 02 levels high.

I’ve got some red or orange algae floating on the pond. Any idea if it’s harmful like the blue green? I’ll get a pic. But we want to swim, and I’m not sure about this orange algae.
Thx

Only way I know to tell is to have it tested. Some types can be harmful to humans.

Perhaps one of the experts will respond and let you know if there is another way to tell.

My bloom is slowly dying now, I ended up not treating it. I checked Dissolved Oxygen each morning before daylight and it never dropped below 6.5.
Secchi disc visibility is up to 25 inches now.

Well, a breeze picked up and blew it all against the dam. So we have been in the water all day yesterday and today. Water cooled off with the recent rain and marginally cooler temps. Now the little girls want it warmer. Ha!

Our water has cleared and cooled significantly. The orange algae didn’t get any worse, and possibly even a little less as our five day stay continued.

I did get the size of the dock doubled. Went from (2) of the 4x10 sections bolted together, to (4) of the 4x10 sections bolted together. I can’t get a pic to upload. Hopefully later. The fellow at the dock company (sold by Menards) told me not to put four sections together. I’m hoping it will work out. I switched the planking across the top to 1x6s 16’ long. That certainly seems to strengthen the structure.[img]https://hosting.photobucket.com/ddb...0eaf2f7-f203-4510-acdc-8d1fda921b77.heic[/img]