British Pounds
Blanketweed is a common occurrence in the pond and is very unsightly. Its hair like qualities makes it very obtrusive and hard to manage. When attempting to take a handful from the pond it can seem like it’s never ending as you struggle to separate it from the plants. It also has a tendency to cling onto the sides of both pond liners, and waterfalls as well as plastic and fibreglass ponds.
What is blanketweed and what is the best way to combat it?
Blanketweed is a type of algae which is sometimes also referred to as hair algae or string algae. It is very quick to spread and therefore getting on top of it when it first appears can be vital. Not only is it unattractive but, if left untreated, it will become a hazard to plants and fish. Fortunately, there are a number of different solutions on the market...
Firstly, let’s take a look at the cloverleaf blanket answer which is a combined enzymes and minerals blend. It comes in 5 variety of sizes (200g, 800g, 2kg, 4 kg and the newly introduced 10kg bucket). Depending on which size pack you go for you can treat any pond up to 125'000 litres. The best way to add this treatment is to mix the formula with water in a watering can and evenly pour it around the pond. It is suggested that best results will be obtained when using above 10° degrees. As with the majority of treatments these days cloverleaf's blanket answer is harmless towards fish and plants and will not affect your biological filters good bacteria. Unlike some water treatments there is no need to switch of your UV unit while treating.
For a number of years now World Of Water have produced their own barley straw bales for blanketweed, not only is it fantastic value, it’s also completely natural and comes with infused lavender which significantly improves results. Each bale treats 500 gallons of water and should be replaced every 8 weeks and, as its completely natural, you cannot over dose which means you can add 2 bales for really bad blanket weed problems. They are also effective against green water. Barley Straw is very much a love it or hate it treatment; many customers use them year after year with great success, while others find better success with less organic treatments. Again there is no need to turn off your UV.
The well known pond food company Nishikoi produce a range of treatments and two of their best are Goodbye Blanketweed and Clearwaters.
Goodbye Blanketweed has been tried and tested for many years now and one of the most trusted within the aquatic industry. 2 pack sizes are available. The eco pack, which contains 6 sachets, and the bulk value pack, which has 32. Each sachet of Goodbye Blanketweed will treat ponds up to 1000 gallons / 4500 Litres and contains a unique bio formula that is both harmless to plants and fish. It is recommend to use 1 sachet per week depending on the volume of water within the pond.
Clearwaters was awarded a 'Which Best Buy' and contains cultivated beneficial bacteria that cleans your pond in a natural way and is highly effective against blanketweed.
Finally, lets take a look at Tetra's Algofin which comes in both a 250ml and 1 litre bottle. The 250ml bottle is sufficient to treat 5000l of pond water. As usual Algofin is safe for fish and plants but is an absolute no no for your wildlife pond. When using Tetra's Algofin UV bulbs must be turned off.
It is worth remembering that, when using either barley straw bales or sachets or blanketweed treatment, they will both work more efficiently if placed near moving water. This is so that the ingredients get push around the pond more evenly. If possible, it may be an idea to place them directly into a filter box.
As with all treatments and medications it is very, very important to read the instructions before hand and each pond should be inspected thoroughly on a one to one basis, please note that all the information that has been written throughout is as a guide only.