How to Remove Lake Algae Without Harming Fish.It is important to maintain lakes by cleaning up the excess algae. Algae attaches itself to rocks, plants, and even to the water’s surface and an overflow of algae can be detrimental to the lake’s environment. An excessive amount of string algae has the ability to reduce oxygen levels in the lake. You will know that a lake has algae problems when the water smells bad, or when the animal life is suffering or dying in the lake. If you see signs like that, you will want to clean up the lake as fast as possible.
However, you will also want to clean the water without harming the fish inside. Karina Lakefront Maintenance has the experts to help clean up lake algae to keep your lake healthy. Fish are an important part of a lake’s ecosystem and they can also be hurt by an excessive amount of algae and they will need to be protected from the effects of the algae while also keeping them out of harm’s way while you are cleaning.
Here are a few simple ways you can go about removing algae without harming the fish.
Getting rid of algae without harming fish
Identifying an algae problem
Not all algae is bad algae. In fact, it can be healthy for a pond to have a decent amount of algae. The problem begins when the algae starts to build up and cause problems. Regular algae can clump together and form thick mats of tangled algae. Too much algae can greatly reduce the amount of oxygen that the lake receives. You will want to remove the excess amount before it becomes too big of a problem. That way, you can spare some of the waterfowl from its harmful effects.
There are many ways that you can identify whether a pond has an algae problem or not. Blue-green algae is one of the most problematic forms of algae that can form within lakes. Blue-green actually is actually a form of bacteria that can harm the ecosystem of the lake and cause fish to die and they can even make you or your pet sick if you get exposed too heavily. One of the most telling signs is the smell of the water. If the water is emitting a foul odor, you may want to address the algae problem as soon as possible.
Addressing blue-green algae problems
If blue-green algae does end up becoming a problem, there are a few solutions that can help you remove it. First, you will want to start removing as much algae as you possibly can by hand or rake. However, you may want to invest in a high quality algaecide depending on how big the lake is. You will want to learn how to administer the algaecide properly so you can prevent harm to the fish.
Next, you will want to add some plants to the lake as a natural solution of preventing the build-up of harmful bacteria. An aeration system will also help to prevent further invasion. After that, you will have a much easier time maintaining your pond.
Raking and removing algae and debris
It is possible to remove excess algae with a garden rake. You will have to be as cautious as possible when you are doing this so you do not do any damage to the pond liner or fish. You should do this every so often so the algae does not start to build up excessively over time. You may not be able to remove a lot of the algae from the pond this way, but it is a good start at the very least. This method will allow you to remove the algae that has clumped and matted together.
Debris can also become a bit of a problem within a lake’s ecosystem. In fact, debris might contribute to the algae problem and cause more problems for the fish in the lake. You may simply be able to remove the debris carefully with a pond vacuum. By doing this, you will cause little to no harm to the fish living in the lake. Additionally, they will have a cleaner space to swim in. A clean lake is a healthy lake, after all. This means healthy fish and an overall healthy ecosystem.
Solutions for algae prevention
A good amount of algae is healthy for a lake’s ecosystem. However, you may want to find methods of controlling the level of algae in the lake so it does not get out of hand. To stop algae problems from occurring, you must work to stop them before they even begin. Preventing algae from building up excessively is a good way to ensure that the lake will be protected from harmful algae. You will especially want to prevent the buildup of blue-green algae before it starts invading the lake.
Blue-green algae will become a problem when the lake is exposed to an excessive amount of nutrients. These nutrients can come from many sources such as debris, rain run-off, and many more places. There are many preventative measures you can carry out to prevent the nutrients from building up within the lake. You can control the nutrients at their sources or control the inside and outside contributing factors. You can take care of the plants in and around the lake and prevent your pets from going around the lake to use the bathroom.
Lawn-care products can also cause a negative impact on the lake. You will want to avoid overusing them anywhere near the lake to prevent further harm. Another good measure is to make sure you are not overfeeding the fish in the lake. Any controllable source of nutrients is something you should keep an eye on if you want to keep the lake clean and healthy.
Conclusion
A healthy lake will lead to an overall healthy ecosystem and fish are an important part of a lake’s ecosystem. Therefore, you should work hard to avoid harming them while cleaning the lake. Maintaining a lake may be difficult, but keeping the ecosystem clean is worth the effort. Keep a healthy balance of algae and monitor the lake frequently to make sure it stays clean.
