Blanket Weed

JimmyB

JimmyB

Now retired - trains and fishing
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As many of you will know a few months ago I have created a small water feature in Tumble Down Falls, consisting of a small pool, waterfall and stream. My issue is blanket weed growth, initially I pulled it out, but as expected it just continued to grow, so I bought some "wildlife friendly" blanket weed specific "control", having followed the instructions over the last two months I find that this has not really helped, it hasn't even stemmed the growth. So I am after recommendations to add to my feature to kill of the weed, though something that will not leave the water permanently damaging to animal life.
 
Thereare certain breeds of fish that'll eat blanket weed.

I goggled this....

pondwiki.com

6 Best Blanket Weed Eating Fish - Pond Wiki

Blanket weed is a filamentous Algae. It is common in garden ponds and lakes. There are a number of fish that eats Blanket weeds in pond. You can stock the
pondwiki.com pondwiki.com
 
JimmyB said:
As many of you will know a few months ago I have created a small water feature in Tumble Down Falls, consisting of a small pool, waterfall and stream. My issue is blanket weed growth, initially I pulled it out, but as expected it just continued to grow, so I bought some "wildlife friendly" blanket weed specific "control", having followed the instructions over the last two months I find that this has not really helped, it hasn't even stemmed the growth. So I am after recommendations to add to my feature to kill of the weed, though something that will not leave the water permanently damaging to animal life.
Click to expand...
This isn't anything to do with you lying in bed on Mondays and Fridays is it ? :emo: :emo:
 
Blanket weed is a real pain, predominantly cause by sunlight. Lillies and shaded area to a pond will cut it down a lot. But knowing your line I am not sure that those solutions will help a lot and I suspect you are also getting quite a bit on the water falls? Try some lilies in the main pond and just live with it on the waterfall, removing any in the pond with a length of bamboo pole.
 
So, nothing to do with late mornings on a Monday and Friday, the fish solution would be the best, but the water feature isn't really big enough to sustain fish and certainly not duck. Currently a pole (big stick before an east European jokes) is what I have found most effective, a water additive that works would be the best solution.
 
JimmyB said:
So, nothing to do with late mornings on a Monday and Friday, the fish solution would be the best, but the water feature isn't really big enough to sustain fish and certainly not duck. Currently a pole (big stick before an east European jokes) is what I have found most effective, a water additive that works would be the best solution.
Click to expand...
Water additives are good and eco-friendly, the best thing though is a pump/UV light/filter recycling setup, higher outlay but it definitely does work. Ducks don't eat this kind of algae and for heavens sakes do not put grass carp in there! Go on, ask how I know :oops:
 
Ah, got it. So this thread is not actually about a blanket that got weed on. I was going to suggest a 40C wash with extra fabric conditioner.

David
 
pugwash said:
Water additives are good and eco-friendly, the best thing though is a pump/UV light/filter recycling setup, higher outlay but it definitely does work. Ducks don't eat this kind of algae and for heavens sakes do not put grass carp in there! Go on, ask how I know :oops:
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Yes, trying to think where we had to use UV filters on water :think::think:

Ah yes, office fresh water drinking machines :nerd::nerd:
 
JimmyB said:
So, nothing to do with late mornings on a Monday and Friday, the fish solution would be the best, but the water feature isn't really big enough to sustain fish and certainly not duck. Currently a pole (big stick before an east European jokes) is what I have found most effective, a water additive that works would be the best solution.
Click to expand...
Oh forgot another option, some kind of I think Barley Straw is supposed to work. Sundry additives and UV did not work on the Ruschbahn, but as you can see it was a big pond.
 
pugwash said:
Water additives are good and eco-friendly, the best thing though is a pump/UV light/filter recycling setup, higher outlay but it definitely does work. Ducks don't eat this kind of algae and for heavens sakes do not put grass carp in there! Go on, ask how I know :oops:
Click to expand...
Yep, got all that paid a lot for the pump filter and UV, but does not stop blanket week growth is the stream flow, only water born algae.
 
Look on the bright side, it does show your pond is healthy, plenty of creatures love it so don't despair
 
dunnyrail said:
Oh forgot another option, some kind of I think Barley Straw is supposed to work. Sundry additives and UV did not work on the Ruschbahn, but as you can see it was a big pond.
Click to expand...
Err, mine was 6m x 5m x 1.8m I think that counts as pretty big. Put big railings around to stop herons and cretins getting in ( the herons failed but 2 cretins managed it, I had to get the keys to drag them out as the pond liner was too slippery). Two pumps, one relatively small one for the stream and one huge one (€300) for the filter. The UV lamps had to be replaced every couple of years. The whole lot was so big it had to made especially and even the liner at 1.5mm thick was more than usual and took two guys to carry in draped over a wheelie bin! All the stuff came from Oase, really good quality and service!

www.oase-livingwater.com

Outside

OASE products for garden, terrace, balcony. Water worlds from decorative- garden- to swimming- and koi pond. And: decoration, pumps, filters and accessories
www.oase-livingwater.com www.oase-livingwater.com
 
pugwash said:
Err, mine was 6m x 5m x 1.8m I think that counts as pretty big. Put big railings around to stop herons and cretins getting in ( the herons failed but 2 cretins managed it, I had to get the keys to drag them out as the pond liner was too slippery). Two pumps, one relatively small one for the stream and one huge one (€300) for the filter. The UV lamps had to be replaced every couple of years. The whole lot was so big it had to made especially and even the liner at 1.5mm thick was more than usual and took two guys to carry in draped over a wheelie bin! All the stuff came from Oase, really good quality and service!

www.oase-livingwater.com

Outside

OASE products for garden, terrace, balcony. Water worlds from decorative- garden- to swimming- and koi pond. And: decoration, pumps, filters and accessories
www.oase-livingwater.com www.oase-livingwater.com
Click to expand...
we were quite a bit longer than that, probably 40-45ft but a bit narrower say around 10ft, depth about the same in a middle trench but shallowing to the far end by and beyond bridge and right side. Took roughly 24 hours to fill and duck was on it before even filled, you can see hose pipe still pouring water in at the left.
 
Two things I will add, sorry if within this conversation they have already been mentioned.

When buying new aquatic plants be sure to thoroughly rinse the root system before adding to the water in order to not introduce unwanted organisms. That is a really good wash due to the second point.

There are different blanket weeds but removing the filament type by scooping it out can stimulate the organism to release spores so the main plant goes but the possibility of thousands more is there.

Paul
 
The cause is often nutrients in the water, e.g. from fertilisers used in the garden. I've found extract of barley straw works well, but you have to clear as much of the weed out of the pond before the first treatment. You can't overdose with the stuff, so be generous when mixing.
 
We use barley water in our pond/water feature and it has worked pretty well.
 
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