Pond Diary -- August 15, 2009

__
August 15: Seven days since the frog hunt with no rain and hot summer days (85 to 90 degrees). The Algae has proliferated, green at the surface and great mushroom clouds of brown under the surface. There are also hundred of minnows, maybe shiners? or maybe they came in from the creek overflows. These days I'm not mucking but I am skimming the algae a little section each day. I'm not sure if the pond is "healthier" with or without the algae. I'm going to check Google.

"There are over 17.400 different species of algae. Most water gardens or ponds are plagued by either -

1. Plankton Algae - aka suspended algae, green water, pea soup or single cell algae.

2. Filamentous Algae - aka string algae, blanket weed, hair algae or pond scum.

Not all algae is harmful or unwanted. The short velvet type that clings to rocks and the sides of the pond is beneficial. This type of algae provides oxygen during the day, fish nibble on it, and it uses nutrients from the water. It also provides a natural look to the pond."

Try Wikipedia for a good scientific description of algae. I learned there's an industry for algae control and considerable controversy about algae as food. Looks to me like we have "green algae" which doesn't narrow it down too much and that our pond is rich with nutrients.

Back to Pond Diary -- August Frog Hunt
On to Pond Diary -- November 26