What is the green stuff growing on the rocks of my pond's waterfall?

Question

I put a pond in my back yard a little over a month ago, and while the water remains crystal clear, the rocks in the waterfall are turning green and fuzzy. I've searched many sites, but I can't seem to pinpoint the type of algae, or even if it IS algae! My fish are happy and healthy. The waterfall looks horrible. Please help!

Answer 1

Yes, your right ,it's algae.When the weather gets colder it will die off. You can also buy a product called pond block or any type of algae control product that is not harmful to fish. I have a UV light and still get that on the waterfall. I have also seen ponds with moss growing on the rocks of waterfalls ,but it would be to soon for that with your pond.

Answer 2

It is normal. It is probably hair algae.  Nothing wrong with it and it is actually healthy as long as it does not take over.  You might have more problems with pond scum algae or water algae but since your water is clear dont worry.

Answer 3

it can possibly be moss it is fuzzy and green http://www.coolantarctica.com/gallery2/p... /  http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/iris... / moss can look diffrent ways .

Answer 4

It is string algae, and if you have it just growing on your waterfall, you can pull it off every few days, brush or scrape the rocks and it will look fine.

Even with clean, clear water, you may get algae on the rocks as the water evaporates there, and any nitrogen in the water is concentrated, helping the algae to grow. Using chemicals or UV lights will probably not cure the string algae on waterfalls. You can always stop feeding your fish - it won't harm them and it will reduce the level of nitrogen in the water.

Answer 5

It is probably string algae.

Pulling the Strings from Algae

There are several kinds that fall into one or two categories.  Algae Bloom is "green water" and String Algae is algae that you can actually touch.  You can't get rid of both the same way.

String algae is the algae that hangs from rocks in the waterfall, attaches to plants or simply hangs on the surface of the water (then called Blanket Algae).  Do not confuse string algae with the soft, velvety, jelly-like coating that forms on the sides of the pond.  This is good algae.  The fish like to eat it and it contains beneficial bacteria.  When your pond has this kind of algae, generally, it is balanced.

You can kill what's there with a product called AlgaeFix. When the algae returns in about a week go to plan " B ".  Open the link below and read it all.

That's when barley comes into the picture - in the form or barley bales or barley extract.  Basically, barley emits natural enzymes that thwarts the growth of string algae.  Although the directions will say that you can simply throw the bales into the pond we've found that it's more effective if placed where the pond water will run through it and distribute this bacteria.  Barley extract is more expensive but easier to use and faster.

http://www.ponddoc.com/WhatsUpDoc/WaterQ...