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Algae
Question 1: What can be done to either protect against or fight increased algae infestation?
There are many causes for algae infestation. For example an excessive nutrient offering caused by overfeeding or by leaves sinking to the bottom of the pond.
Additional causes include unfavourable weather, unfavourable pond location (too much sunlight) or too many fish.
Simply contact you local OASE Fachhändler . He will test your water and will recommend a suitable filtration system or will offer advice in using an OASE ant-algae product from the OASE aqua activ product line.
Question 2: What “natural methods” are available to guard against increased algae infestation?
Adequate number of pond plants (at least 1/3 of the pond surface) and added pond bacteria help to regulate excessive nutrients.
Question 3: What is the easiest way to lower/regulate the pH value of a pond?
One of the reasons for excessive pH value can be the expelling of carbon dioxide through intensive aeration and waterfalls. Minimizing the water flow through the waterfall, and rearranging the pumps could help.
Likewise all types of concrete blocks and sand-lime brick have an effect that increases pH value. A change could contribute to regulating. Another tip: Garden pond peat helps reduce excessive pH values.
Your OASE Fachhändler will be happy to advise you on additional measures, and with pH MINUS, offers a quickly effective means to lower pH value.
Question 4: What is a good and convenient remedy for string algae?
OASE aqua activ Pond Protect, which is available from your OASE dealer is a quickly effective remedy.
The OASE aqua activ Pond Protect is purely biological, free of herbicides, and completely removes stringy and slimy algae. However for optimal efficiency the water temperature must be above 10 ° and the water must have adequate oxygen content.
You can find a dealer in your area with our Händler-Suche. Look for the additional designation “OASE aqua activ Partner”.
Additional measures include simply fishing the algae out, or using grass carp to graze on it. By the way: As opposed to suspended algae, string algae is an indicator of “healthy water”.
Question 5: Do UV bulbs really help against algae infestation; what if the pond gets a lot of sunlight?
Yes, however only against suspended algae that makes the water murky; they do not help against string algae. Concerning sunlight, the OASE dealer has information materials available on this topic.
A UV bulb by itself is only of little help as it only flocculates the algae. There must be a filter downstream from the UV bulb that filters out these clumps of algae. You will find the suitable filter in the OASE product offerings.
Question 6: Is OASE Algae Stop harmful to animals, plants or stone?
Algae Stop should not be used if you have fish and plants. It can only be used in fountains – without fish and plants.
Question 7: How can I test the water quality myself at home?
We recommend the OASE Water Test Set, you can use it to easily determine the following values at your home:
- Carbonate hardness,
- pH value,
- Hardness level and
- Nitrite content.
It is available from the OASE Fachhändler in your area.
Also your dealer can test a water sample at any time: You can identify dealers with this capability by the “OASE aqua activ Partner” logo.
Question 8: How long is OASE aqua activ Pond Protect (Surface protection against string algae) effective, and what is the prescribed temperature?
OASE aqua activ Pond Protect reaches its optimal level of efficiency at a water temperature of approximately 10 –12 degrees.
It is effective for app. 6 – 8 weeks.
Question 9: My fish eat OASE aqua active Pond Protect. Is this dangerous and what can I do to prevent it?
When OASE aqua active Pond Protect is added to the pond, as described in the instructions, it is possible that the fish (particularly carp) mistake the material floating on the surface for fish food and swallow it. However the fish quickly realizes its mistake and spits the product out.
The material that floats on the surface is comprised of minerals and is not toxic.
However if you would like to prevent the unsightly impression of this material floating on the surface for several hours, then we recommend putting the product in the filter. Also putting the product in a net or an old nylon stocking and then placing the net or stocking in moving water (a watercourse for example) has proven to be very effective.
Question 10: After using OASE aqua active Pond Protect is nitrite/ammonia present in the pond, and/or does the pond develop an unpleasant odour?
Using OASE aqua active Pond Protect kills off the algae en masse. This process can pull a lot of oxygen and thus weaken the performance of a filtration system.
At the same time the rotting processes of the dying material produce increased ammonia and nitrite. In very rare cases this can result in a disturbance of the balance and the pond threatens to “tip”.
To avoid this situation we recommend removing a major portion of the string algae prior to treatment. Moreover dead matter should be removed with a sludge vacuum or net during the treatment. (This is also in the instructions!)
However if in spite of this, ammonia and/or nitrite are present, then you should if possible
• Remove the OASE aqua active Pond Protect,
• Run the filter and turn off the UVC clarifier,
• Remove dead string algae from the pond,
• Add a double dose of starter to the pond,
• Replacing a portion of the pond water with tap water is also helpful.
After these measures, within 3 days ammonia should no longer be present. Within a week the nitrite value should return to a level of app 0.2 mg per liter.
Question 11: Why doesn’t OASE aqua activ Crystal Clear Instant Clarifier work for me?
OASE aqua active Crystal Clear Instant Clarifier kills off all suspended algae. However you are dealing here with an “intelligent” product.
Using algaecides produces a massive dying-off of suspended algae which can result in a change of the pH value. This is prevent through the buffering effect of the carbonate hardness. Ideally this should be at least 5° dH.
If carbonate hardness is present in a pond then OASE aqua activ Crystal Clear Instant Clarifier does not work in order to prevent a jump in pH value. (Even a pH value change of 1° per day can cause significant damage, such as killing fish)
Consequently you should also always verify the carbonate hardness prior to using OASE aqua activ Crystal Clear Instant Clarifier. If the carbonate hardness is too low, them please increase it with OASE aqua activ Hardness Plus.
By the way, this can also be done afterwards. This means that the OASE aqua activ Crystal Clear Instant Clarifier that has already been introduced will also be effective several hours later when the carbonate hardness level starts to increase.
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