How can I eliminate the smell in my pond quickly?
I have an 850 gallon pond. It’s new as of last year and we’ve been fighting a battle against string algae all summer. We’ve been using AlgaeFix for the last couple weeks and it’s been helping a bit, but I’m still fishing algae out by hand. We’re having a BBQ this Saturday and I’d really like to do something about the smell since the pond is right next to the deck. Anything I can do as a quick fix so my guests aren’t overcome with the smell of pond/algae?
Forgot to mention I have fish & plants. So chlorine isn’t an option.
July 28th, 2010 at 6:53 am
give the algae/fix another day………buy you some citronilla candles and place them around…..Hope the bar-b-q- smell helps…….
July 28th, 2010 at 7:50 am
clorinate? or try baking soda.
July 28th, 2010 at 8:41 am
If you have clumped alge you will need a filter most likely,
I have a small pond and this works, get some of that shock and swim swimming pool additive and dose the heck out of it. It will clear up in nothing flat.
If you have fish, or aquatic plants though this probably will not be good for them
July 28th, 2010 at 8:53 am
The smell comes from toxic ammonia which is very detrimental to fishes. you should try manually removing the algae with a brush and after that change 3/4 of the water with tap water, You havnt mentioned if your pond has fishes or dont. But as I said the cause is ammonia and that is why algae grows very fast.
You would need a filtration system that would eventually clean your pond in the long run. This is very important as this kills unwanted ammonia.
July 28th, 2010 at 9:03 am
Let’s tackle the odor problem first. First check your pond filter and clean as necessary. If you don’t have pond filter you might want to considers retrofitting your pond with one after the BBQ. If the filter is clean then there are still a number of ways to solve your odor problems the problem is availability of materials. You can use barley straw, DePhos™, and activated carbon all are plant and fish friendly. Activated carbon is probably the most available and the quickest fix. You can get these at almost all garden centers now but it’s better to get it from one that specializes in ponds. A combination of all three should significantly reduce the odor problem to a minimum.
Moving forward, I find the most practical long term solution is to plant fragrant flowers around the guest area that will diffuse any bad pond odor.
Horticulture student.
July 28th, 2010 at 9:42 am
The string algae is growing for a reason you know – it means there are too many nutrient in your pond’s water. That will cause the String algae to grow.
When you put in an algacide – AlgaeFix – it actually kills all algae, string algae, plus free floating algae and also the good algae you have on the sides and bottom of your pond.
So when you kill Algae – when it rots, it will produce Ammonia – hence the “smelly” odor coming from your pond.
To help with the “odor” –
1. Stop using all chemicals – they kill the good stuff with the bad stuff. They’ll cause an imbalance in your pond’s biofiltration system. A very bad imbalance. You don’t want that to occur.
2. Change your pond’s water. Change at least 25% – and if you’re on a chlorinated water system – remember to dechlorinate it before adding it to your pond.
3. Check all your plants in your pond. Check them and pinch off any dead leaves or dead roots. You do not want any decaying matter in your pond. None.
4. If you have the time, vacuum the bottom of your pond – bring up all the sludge, etc that may be down there. Be carefull not to stir up the sediment – you just want to vacuum it up. Not stir it up into the water.
5. Keep running your pump and waterfall 24 hours a day. Never turn it off during the summer months.
6. Any string algae you get, pull it out by hand – using sticks to twirl it onto like pasta. If you’re getting too much – you may be overfeeding your fish. So cut down on how much you feed your babies. Remember that Algae feed on nutrients that are present in the water. So the more nutrients, the more algae. If you have a balanced pond – you won’t get more algae.
7. Like other’s have said – put some Citronella candles around the pond to lessen the pond’s scent at your barbecue. Put some so their glow will be reflected in the pond and onto people looking down from the deck.
last – good luck – and watch those extra nutrients!!
Ken
July 28th, 2010 at 10:36 am
I also have an 850 gallon pond. Well, it’s 800 gallons, actually. I have also used AlgaeFix. It didn’t work. Although I can’t give you a quick pond fix for string algae (there isn’t one), I can recommend the following as a fellow pond owner.
Ponds need an ecosystem. Your pond needs (and already has some of these):
1. Fish. Fish eat algae.
2. Plants. Plants provide oxygen and shade. Algae dislikes shade.
3. Sun/shade. Six hours of sun daily for your plants. The rest in shade to fight algae and keep the water cool.
4. Aeration. A pump with a waterfall, sprayer, fountain, bubbler. Keeps water oxygenated and moving. I have a powerful 1350 GPH pump.
5. Filtration. To trap string algae, I use an additional biofilter at the top of my little waterfall. A biofilter is simply a big tub with foam blocks.
6. What Worked For Me: Beneficial bacteria/enzymes. Available in liquid, tablet, or powder form. This bacteria “eats” pond wastes, fights odor, fights algae, and keeps your water clear. The bacteria is added to the pond and establishes itself; you simply need to add a little more monthly. Bacteria is best added when the water is fresh.
All healthy pond systems have some algae and a slight smell. Mine has algae on the sides and the bottom, but not string algae.
You may, and I am terribly sorry about this, have to muck out your pond and add fresh water. I had to do this numerous times before I started using beneficial bacteria (I get mine in tablet form at Lowe’s–PondZyme).
Sometimes an ecosystem will break down due to excessive rain or humidity and you have to drain out, scrub, and refill the pond out anyway. It’s part of being a pond owner.