i find the best way to get rid of the dreaded algae is to fit a decent UV clarifier to the filter kit - worked a treat on mine!!

P.S. If your Wife is anything like mine she WILL notice - she could be half way around the world, and she'll call you up and ask what you've done to it - they have POWERS!!

yours is just a bit bigger than mine,,and i got rid of my algae by using barley bale,,and duckweed floating,,very nice now,i also have a uv which does help a lot.

I do have a uv it`s part of my main filter, perhaps it`s not big enough. The main thrust of my post was really how can you possibly keep your surface area, its like painting the Forth bridge it just goes on and on.

Hi

I have a UV as well. You probably know about this, but the UV bulb only lasts 12 months if on constantly. I have also found out this year that if they get wet their performance can also become useless. Have you replaced the bulb or checked it is working? the barley straw also really helps if applied in its optimuym conditions.

When you say algea what type, blanket weed or pea soup type?
Mark

At best they last 12 months, you might get two full summers use out of one if your lucky, but most need replacing before the end of the second summer.

I'm a bit confused about what you're trying to achieve... it sounds like you don't want more surface area, you just want more of your existing surface area to be NOT covered by plants. Is that it?

Covering at least half of your surface area with plants works against algae, because you are cutting the amount of sunlight that reaches the algae and allows it to grow. And th eplants will use up nutrients that would otherwise feed algae. But if your filtering and/or UV is efficient enough, then you may not need so much plant cover, or any plant cover at all.

So, rather than increasing the size of your pond, you may only need a better filter or some barley straw, and even that may not be necessary...

How old is your pond? If you've had problems before with algae, then depending on the age of the pond perhaps it just hadn't "matured" and achieved a natural "balance". Maybe it doesn't need so much plant cover now? If you previously planted with compost or soil, then the nutrients from that could feed MASSIVE amounts of algae, and it could take anything up to a year or two to settle down afterwards!

And bear in mind that increasing the size of your pond is likely to require a better filter, UV and pump regardless!

So, you could try reducing the plant cover and see what happens... If you get blanket weed algae, try some barley straw (takes a while to get going, it's not an instant effect). If you get green water algae, try a bigger filter and UV. If that doesn't work, then go ahead and try enlarging the pond - you'll already have the new filter, just add a more powerful pump.

Unless you want a bigger pond anyway (and who doesn't?!)... In which case ignore everything I just said! :-D

hi
deesee.
UVC 4 green pond/ALGAE.
Barley 4 string ALGAE.

Coverage of your surface will help.
(GREEN HOUSE DON,T GET RID OF RESAULTS IN FRYING PAN HEAD PAIN).

1 thats in no books ive ever read anyway.

----------David--------------fishmaduk-----------------

Thanks for all your replies guys and gals, the algea is a real problem, but the pond is only 3mths old, so i guess i shall have to be patient. The pond surface area/plants was my idea of a joke in that doing as you are supposed to do you end up constantly increasing one which in turn means you have to increase the other infinitum, thus having to remove the greenhouse etc etc , well it amused me, i must have a weird sense of humour. The uv and the filter were for the origanol, or is it origonal or even something else, pond and may be to small, or is that smorl, or even smorel, whatever.

Hi Deesee,

If it's any consolation I had the same problem with algae but it appears it's starting to sort itself out (just posted on the subject) so maybe it's just a matter of time for you too. having siad that, it was only pea soup alge I had not string/blanket weed....
Aitch