Algae control in a small fountain and pond!   8/23/06
To whom it may concern: I have a six tiered water fall
<A bunch of tiers>
terminating an a approximately 75 gallon pond. I am experiencing a problem in controlling the alga formation on the bottom of the water fall and walls of the pond. My
question to you would be, what copper compound would be suggested and in what concentration on a per gallon of water capacity? Thank you very much
Dave Dillon, Topock, Az
<Mmm... copper is not easily dosed in most ponds... and am hesitant to encourage its use here... w/o knowing the livestock you intend to keep... In this small volume of water, if you did not have live plants present, I might use Jungle Pond Blocks (active ingredient Diuron, Di-Methyl Urea Calcinate)... Do you have data re the make up of the water? Is this feature shaded at all? Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/PondSubWebIndex/pdalgcontrol.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Copper fountain/water-effect algicide use  - 03/27/06
Dear Sir,
I wonder if you can kindly help me.
I have recently purchased a small indoor waterfall, and I wish to prohibit algae growth. Please see link below.
The unit has a solid copper base, which contains the water - someone has
told me that the copper is a good agent to eradicate algae.
Could you tell me if this is true, or, do I need to take other precautionary measures ?
I would greatly appreciate your advice,
Thanks
Steve Davies
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00015D7JU/qid=1143500993/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-0412159-4974247?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=A200W35O5U03O&s=home-garden&v=glance&n=1055398
<Mmm... I would not use a copper-based algicide here... nor the conventional halogen-based chlorine, bromine... too likely to stain, ultimately corrode the unit itself. You might look for Simazine-based "aquarium" algicides (e.g. Algi-gon) or Jungle Pond Blocks (Di-methyl urea calcinate) or equivalent... Whatever you use, I would take care to not have the water splash on, or incidentally be poured on living plant material... and I would frequently (twice a month or so), dump completely and re-fill the unit with
new water. Bob Fenner>

Re: Advice please  - 03/27/06
Hi Bob,
Thanks a lot - that is very kind of you.
However, the water containing tray of the waterfall is itself made of copper
- I was wondering if that would be sufficient to prevent the algae.
<Mmm... depending on the water quality, principally pH and alkalinity, very
likely so... Turns out that copper is much more soluble in lower pH and alkaline water...>
I do not understand the chemical make up of these things - would Fountec be suitable ?
<Not familiar with this>
The unit has no live plants - it is only a small decorative unit , with a copper base, water pump, and slate backdrop.
I greatly appreciate your time,
Thanks
Steve
<I do think you'll be fine in any/all cases here... not hard to maintain.
BobF>