Algae and Pond Maintenance
aAlgae and Pond Maintenance
Algae thrive during the spring season and the dog days of summer. Algae can be
revealed in several shapes and pigments. Green algae are the most typical kind
of pond algae. They are ancient plants similarly analogous to fungi. They don’t
have any real leaves, stems, or roots. They multiply by way of spores, by cells
dividing, or by breaking down into fragments. Algae require light from the sun
to grow and flourish from a superabundant supply of vitamins and minerals in the
water.
Planktonic algae are tiny and almost undetectable plants, typically dangling
from the topmost feet of water. I used to swim in the ponds at my grandparents
campsite and my mother would have a fit and insist that I take a bath when I got
out. I could never understand why, I thought I was super clean. When I was older
I went back to the same ponds and understood exactly why my mother made me
bathe. The algae in the ponds gave it a vivid green appearance. Large numbers of
fish can perish on account of not getting enough oxygen. A few varieties have
been discovered to be poisonous to farm animals and animals in the wild.
If you look at the top of the water you will notice green colored masses. This
kind of algae normally starts its threadlike, filamentous, development adjacent
to the borders or base of the pond and will sooner or later usurp the whole
bottom. The filaments are created from cells fastened end to end giving it the
illusion of threads. Some of the most widely known types of algae are Pithophora
or Filamentous and Spirogyra.
Spirogyra is a threadlike form of algae and can be encountered in virtually all
ponds and ditches. Chloroplasts in this algae are spiral structures, hence the
origin of the name. It reproduces at a speedy rate and could possibly grow
throughout the whole pond, smothering it.
Pithophora is filamentous algae that is a deep shade of green and is typically
called cotton ball or horsehair algae. It normally cultivates in unrefined
clusters of interwoven filaments looking like little globes of cotton. An over
abundant amount of branches are seen in single pieces of filament. Maturation is
extremely fast on account of cells reproducing.
The next type of algae is Macro Algae and bares resemblance to a plant
blossoming with flowers because this algae appears to be grounded when they are
really only fastened to the surface area. As with Spirogyra and Pithophora, this
too is generates at a fast rate.
The last type of algae this article will touch upon is Chara. It is referred to
as musk grass on account of its stagnant garlicky aroma. Chara, being comprised
of many cells, is also green and is a lot of times mistaken as underwater plants
baring flowers. It is affixed to the bottom but is not grounded. Chara normally
exhibits black balls referred to as sporangia that can be seen throughout the
regeneration stage.
Most algae infestation can be controlled by applying copper based type product
to the area either in a granular form for spot treatment or a liquid form for
larger areas. Bacterial products are generally used as a sludge digester,
restoring the natural balance to an aquatic environment after harsh chemicals
are used for algae removal.
By: Bradley Skierkowski