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Algae can pose a big problem for lake & pond owners & managers alike. Besides being unsightly, algae can be the source of offending odors and in advanced cases, toxicity. In addition, dead and decaying algae consume valuable Dissolved Oxygen (DO) from the water, depriving the fish and aquatic plants of the oxygen they require for life.
Treating Algae in Lakes and Ponds
Perhaps the biggest water problem that most lake and pond owners must contend with is algae. A number of types of algae grow in lakes and ponds but one of the most noticeable are blue-green algae. In small amounts, blue-green algae do not present much of a problem. It is a food source for a number of organisms and simply a part of the food chain. The trouble is that blue-green algae can bloom. An algal bloom not only smells and looks foul but it can become toxic and a danger to the overal health of a pond.
Why Algae Grow
All types of algae require the same nutrition to survive. Nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus are the essential nutrients. If these nutrients are available in lake or pond water, then algae will begin to grow. To control algae, it is essential to limit the availability of at least one of these elements. It is simply not feasible to eliminate enough Nitrogen or carbon from the water to prevent algal growth. The key to algal control is phosphorus. It is often said that one pound of phosphorus is enough to produce up to five hundred pounds of algae. If one is able to limit the amount of phosphorus that goes into the water, then they should be able to limit the growth of algae.
phosphorus Pollution in Lakes and Ponds
Phosphorus pollution comes from a number of sources. For lakes and ponds, the primary source of phosphorus is likely to be runoff. Phosphorus is an essential part of many fertilizers so if the lake or pond is on a farm, there is a high likelihood that runoff will contain an amount of phosphorus. Sewage is another source of phosphates and while most people would not pump sewage directly into their lake or pond, they do not consider that manure is as useful for fertilizing algae as it is for fertilizing a flower patch. If livestock have access to the lake or pond, there is a good chance that they will be providing it with more than enough phosphorus to create an algal bloom. Other contaminants that can contribute include road dust, paints and thinners, gasoline, motor oil, greases, lawn clippings, soaps, detergents, household chemicals, garbage and septic tanks that are not adequately maintained.
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