H2ORGANIC™ AND ALGAE

ALGAE CONTROL

It is important to understand that algae are not the problem in most ponds, but only a symptom of the true problem. The true problem is that the pond water contains a high level of excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which stimulate algae growth. Also please understand that it will take approximately 30 days of consistent use, for H2Organic to lower these excess nutrients, to the point where they will not stimulate of support algae. Any algae blooms that may occur during this time is not due to lack of performance, but because H2Organic has not yet had a chance to lower excess nutrients.

PLANKTONIC ALGAE VERSES FILAMENTOUS ALGAE

PLANKTONIC ALGAE are often times called microscopic algae. This is because they are invisible to the human eye. The only way to physically see the algae is under a microscope. This is why they get the nick-name microscopic algae! Even though you can not see each individual algae cell, the combination of billions and billions of them give a greenish tint to the water. This is also why it is said that the planktonic algae give a "pea-soup" green look to the water.

DUCKWEED can be distinguished by simply looking to see if the floating mat is made up of small single plants (all appearing like very small clover plants - anywhere from one to two tiny leaves per plant). These small duckweed plants almost always have a tiny half inch root that hangs down from the bottom of each plant as it floats on the surface of the water. As far as scale, each single duckweed plant (all leaves) will usually fit within your small fingernail. These plants grow so close together in a pond, that from a distance they all appear as one huge "mat".

H2Organic will not treat Planktonic algae or Duckweed.
Our bacteria cannot out-compete these types of algae.

FILAMENTOUS ALGAE are easily visible to the human eye, usually floating on the surface of the water. As you should recall, the filamentous algae starts on the bottom the pond, where the sunlight hits. Then if floats to the surface. However, regardless if the filamentous algae are still under the water, or if it has already started floating, it still looks the same. It looks like moss. Filamentous algae gets its name from the fact that if you reach down and grab a handful of it, the pull upward, it stretches into long stringy filaments. Filamentous algae are the ONLY type of algae that forms moss-like filamentous, and floats. There are several different varieties of filamentous algae, but they all look like floating moss. Some are different colors than others. The varieties can range from green, black or red, to a yellowish appearance.

This is the only type of algae H2Organic™ will treat - the Filamentous type!

The very easiest way to distinguish these two types of algae from each other is to use the "grab test". Simply reach down and grab a handful of the algae. If you CAN physically grab it, then it's FILAMENTOUS ALGAE. If you CAN NOT physically grab a handful of it, but the water is green, it's PLANKTONIC ALGAE!

ALGAECIDES ON EXISTING ALGAE

Any existing algae can be sprayed with an EPA approved algaecide, 48 hours prior to starting the H2Organic Program. This will help speed up the overall process of clearing existing algae, plus the dead algae will become a food source for our microbes. If the existing algae are not sprayed prior to starting the H2Organic Program, the algae can remain present for another 1-2 weeks. This happens because H2Organic needs roughly 30 days to lower excess nutrient levels in the pond water. At that point, the algae will no longer be able to gather nutrients from the pond water, so they start utilizing nutrients they have stored inside themselves. These stored nutrients can sustain the algae for another 1-2 weeks.

Even when the algae is sprayed and killed with an algaecide, the algae may re-bloom during the initial 30 day rehab period. Remember, the algae that were sprayed before the H2Organic Program was started, was not the true problem. The high nutrients in the water were. Please remember, regardless if you start the H2Organic Program with existing algae or not, if the nutrient levels are high enough in your water to support an algae bloom, you run the risk of getting one at any time, until they are lowered. Again, should any initial algae bloom or any re-bloom occur after starting the H2Organic Program, it only means the excess nutrients are not yet under control. Just spot treat the problem area with your algaecide (48 hours before your weekly dose of H2Organic is due to be applied), and continue to wait the 30 day rehab period.

The use of algaecides can kill fish and other aquatic life, so why do we recommend using them? The benefits of using an algaecide are explained above. Furthermore, if used only once or twice, the potential for a fish kill is very small. The problems arise with continued use of the algaecide, when it is used consistently through the year, as a complete program by itself. Do not worry about one or two applications, especially in the case of spot treating problem areas.

Although we recommend you use an algaecide, it is not imperative.
It just may take a little longer for results.