Cardboard Looking Algae??

[saycheessee]

Can anyone tell me why the algae on the rocks in my pond looks like cardboard?  It's as hard as a rock and I haven't ever seen it this thick before.  Just on the rocks.  I know I lost my fish last week... but I thought that was from using the Microbe-Lift Algaway or could it have been something else (like this thick **S algae  ???   Has anyone else ever had algae this thick? Ok I may be second guessing myself on the reason my fish died... but what causes the algae to be that thick??

[karen J]

That's cool. 

All I know is that I get different kinds of algae depending on the year. This year it's a thick kind, like shag carpeting. It's very soft and easy to walk on. Last year, it was fuzz.

[Ky Kim]

Kind of looks like alligator skin.......

Kim

[Monica]

I think it looks cool

[saycheessee]

Kind of looks like alligator skin.......

Kim

It kinda feels like aligator skin too.    your have to take your fingernail to scrape it for it to tear.  it you just rub a spot where it's not thin... you just rub... you have to scrap it off.

[perplexed ponder]

can you take some pics wihtout the water running?
When you kille doff the algae did you clean it all out of the pond?
The crud dies off but you  have to remove it. the decaying matter could have killed your fish if it was left in the pond. you may be getting the dead stuff sticking to the surfaces and new stuff growing around it kind of like glue.

[saycheessee]

I used a muck vac and got all that I could out of the pond when I put the first dose into the pond.  Took about 2 months and it started turning my water green again.  That's when I added a second dose and it killed my fish.  I haven't touched it this time.  I put it in the last time (when it killed my fish) and it has not cleared my pond up.  Still dark green.  Where my pond is located... it is in direct sunlight about 12 hours a day. ( from sunrise to sunset)  The pond is 3 feet deep almost the entire pond (one end goes from 1 foot to 3 foot sloping and then the rest is 3) The weir on my pond is the 6 in' weir.  Is this big enough for my pond or should I have gotten the bigger one.

[miguynmkoi]

I have something similar on my flagstone falls.  When I scrap the algea off it pulls some of the stone layers with it 

[Ky Kim]

Sorry I couldn't resist messing with your pic.  But I think I found the type of algae in your falls.  Its Ms. Algae the Alligator lurking in there, she's just sticking her head out and drooling over your beautiful pond. 

What ever it is, I hope it don't stay and you find a solution soon.

Please don't get mad that I did this, just thought it would be cute and fun.

Kim

[Daisy]

  Kim 

Thats cute! 

[miguynmkoi]

  Kim, looks for real.  A great look, wouldn't you say cheese? 

[saycheessee]

.... That is so cute!!  Maybe I'll put it as a screen saver and tell my nephews that my pond has an alligator in it so they will stay away and not want to put their feet in it all the time.
 

[sheepie]

  that is cute 

Wonder if it would keep the kids out of the pond   

[lindaky]

I have the same stuff on my waterfall. My water has been green all spring because I had to shut down the waterfall this winter when it froze and water was running out of the pond. My fish are doing great and the pond has finally cleared up with lots of filter cleanings and quilt batting. This is the first year I've had this weird looking stuff growing but it doesn't seem to be hurting anything. Must be a KY thing. Maybe due to our strange weather this year.

Sorry about your fish. I have finally learned the only way to get rid of green water safely is patience and quilt batting.

[Bartman]

I get the same type every year in the water fall.  Since it doesn't produce string algae I just leave it as I think it probably is filtering out a number of nutriants.  I think I even have a photo of it on my site.  Occassionally it starts to overgrow a bit on the waterfall lip and that I remove.

Bart

[Ky Kim]

Glad you liked it, I was worried.  It might just work with your nephews.

Its a shame you don't have one of those teeth like from a souvenir shop of a tooth.  Then you could tell them that you found this out there while cleaning up the pond.  I could just see their faces.

Kim

[saycheessee]

UV came today!!      Can't wait to get home to get this baby in!!  Everyone cross your fingers that this works!

[LeeAnne151]

UVs work on suspended algae not algae growing on rocks.

 Algae growing on rocks is normal and helps keep the water clear. Just scrub it off if it bothers you. I almost never complain about string algae because my water is crystal clear. I just twirl it out with a brush or a stick.

sorry that you lost your fish, it is common when using chemicals to kill algae but no garden center or pond store will tell you that.

[saycheessee]

Yep... I got it for my green water... what I used the chemical for that killed my fish.  Would have spent less money if I had just bought it in the first placed.