Whether you've just added a new pond or are lucky enough to already have one in your yard, you know how pleasant it can be. From keeping beautiful fish or tasty ones to catch, to growing aquatic plants, to just having a small piece of nature to enjoy, your options are endless. But natural occurrences, like debris that's been washed into the water or algae growth, can leave your pond looking and smelling less than fresh. When pond scum or debris has your water turning brown or green, its time to give pond dye a try. If you're like many other pond owners, you may have heard myths about using dye in your pond. That's why we're here to tell you why they're false, and about the many benefits of using dye. Keep reading to learn more, and to hear about a few other ways that you can keep your pond looking and smelling great.
A Prettier Look
Ponds, like any body of water, are constantly affected and altered by the environment around them. Unless your pond has a concrete or tiled bottom and sides, it likely has grasses, dirt, rocks, and debris like tree branches or garbage collected on the bottom. Even a concrete pond will collect debris, such as leaves falling from trees or dirt kicked up around the edges. Ponds also collect debris from runoff caused by rain. All of these factors can affect the color of your pond, leaving it brown, green, or something in between. Pond dye can fix this. Regardless of any debris, runoff, or other materials, pond dye will keep your pond water a clean, pleasant color. You can even choose from a variety of shades, like blue or a cleaner-looking shade of green.
Helps Control Algae Growth
Another natural growth that can cause your water to turn a sickly color is algae. Many people wrongly assume that algae are a plant that grows on the surface of the water. But in fact,
algae are microorganisms that have the ability to perform photosynthesis. Seaweed is actually a type of algae. Algae that forms on the surfaces of ponds and lakes are more commonly referred to as pond scum. While pond scum is a natural occurrence, it's usually considered a nuisance when it starts growing in backyard ponds or decorative water features. Pond scum coats the surface, making it impossible to see the water or the fish swimming beneath the surface. Pond scum is a sickly green color that is unsightly in a decorative pond. Pond scum can also come with a very unpleasant smell. If left unchecked, the smell can be enough to force you out of your backyard and away from your pond until a solution is found. Pond scum growing in ponds in public areas or in housing or apartment developments has even been known to cause an outrage from residents. The last thing you want to do is allow pond scum to force you out of your own yard. After all, a pond should be a place to relax and enjoy the peacefulness of nature.
Getting Rid of Pond Scum
Luckily, pond dye offers a simple solution. The right pond dye formula will help to reduce the growth of algae, or pond scum, in your pond. Regular applications of dye can go a long way towards stopping the stink. Another way to cut down on the growth of pond scum is to keep your water moving. Algae can only grow in stagnant water.
Adding a fountain or aerator, in addition to using pond dye, will reduce algae blooms.
Won't Hurt Your Plants, Fish, or Other Wildlife
Many pond owners worry that enjoying a pleasant color in your pond by using pond dye will hurt the health of anything living in the water. Whether you enjoy keeping beautiful koi fish, stocking your lake with your favorite catch, or you grow lily pads or other aquatic plants, the last thing you want to do is kill them off. But if you choose the right pond dye, you won't have to worry about it hurting anything living in your pond. Another common question is whether or not dye will affect the color of any plants or fish living in your pond. After all, as many young children learn in science class, adding food dye to water and placing a cut flower in the water will
change the color of the flower's petals. But this reaction only occurs when stems are cut. Any plants growing in your pond will have their roots intact. The dye won't affect their color or the color of your fish.
Nontoxic
In addition to not harming any plants or fish living in your pond, dye won't hurt any humans that come in contact with it either. As long as you use the dye in the correct amounts and follow the manufacturer's directions, the dye will be completely harmless to people. This means that you can continue to enjoy swimming or water sports in your pond, without worrying about getting a rash or falling ill as a result of the dye.
Using Pond Dye and Other Tactics to Reduce Algae
Pond dye is a great way to reduce algae growth and enjoy a prettier pond, without hurting any plants or fish living in the water. You can also use dye with the ease of mind that it won't hurt you or anyone else who decides to take a dip in your pond or enjoy their favorite water sport there. But while the dye is always a great choice, if you want to make sure that pond scum won't make an appearance in your water, its best to take more than one precaution. Aeration and fountains are one great option. Keeping the water in your pond moving will help prevent algae from growing. Another great option is
algaecide for ponds. These chemicals help halt the growth of algae, without harming your pond's inhabitants or visitors. To find the right algaecide for your pond, click here to shop our selection.
