Pond Algaecides

Pond algaecides, as the name implies are chemicals that are designed to kill most algae blooms quickly.

Historically most algaecide products have contained some form of copper or copper sulphate, in fact you may have heard that algae can be treated with the latter. However straight copper sulphate is no longer the preferred method of algae control and in fact, has a number of drawbacks to it's use.

With persistent use over time, copper can actually build up at the bottom of a pond and become toxic to beneficial bacteria, which is natures way of keeping the pond clean and more in balance. Without this, algae has a fairly free run of things and can grow well due to a continuing build up of organics at the bottom. Concerns are now being raised about the potential toxicity of copper residues and some municipalities in the U.S. are now banning the use of copper sulphate.

In our treatment of ponds, we have never used copper sulphate or similar products such as Cutrine and Cutrine Plus. Instead we have focused on what we believe are safer alternatives, only one of which uses copper at all, and in comparison much less of the product is needed in terms of dosage to work, so there is less "contamination" from copper build up.

We prefer algaecides that can be used for spot control and maintenance without impeding ongoing bacterial work. In a general sense, most algaecides now come in several formulas. One group is a contact algaecide that uses specially formulated peroxide to damage the algae membrane. These dissipate quickly and leave no residue at all. Algae-Off is our favorite. EarthTec is a copper based algaecide but it is very different than most on the market. It does not come with some of the same negative aspects of a traditional copper treatment. And finally, Algae Fix is a well known product for small ponds that is safe when used as directed. As it's absorbed by the algae cell, it will weaken the membrane causing it to rupture and die.

Each of these have their pluses and drawbacks and you can learn more about each one by clicking on the appropriate link. All in all though, they are some of the safest and fastest acting algae control products currently on the market.

Pond Algaecide Products