Thread: weed identification + removal

hi all,

I've got to the point where I'm not enjoying my pond anymore because of this weed that grows. I spend all my time around the pond trying to remove it. It constantly blocks the bottom drain. I can spend a whole saturday removing it and by the following week the same amount it back.

Firstly I would like to identify it and then want to know if there is any chemical way to safely irradicate or hinder it.

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Must be some, sort of blanket weed. I would be trying Resolve, it even worked for me at half the dose. Everytime you harvest the feed it will put spores into the water and it just becomes a vicious circle.

Looks like java moss, I have this in one of my aquariums, it's very fast growing and gets everywhere. If just one strand is left when clearing it within a couple of weeks it's everywhere again choking out my other plants so a fish friendly way to eradicate this would be of much interest to me also

I've had something like this for several years. It seems to grow below and just above the water line the strands being about 4 inches long. It used to be worse in late winter & spring but this summer it is causing the worst problem during the summer, clogging up the pump & NRV. I have tried both Resolve & Blanket Answer, both to no effect. I am pump fed. What I do is to drop the water level 6 to 9 inches & go round with a hand held scrubbing brush constantly rinsing it in a bucket of water, this slows it down but does not stop it, which is all we can expect with blanket weed..

I would welcome a cure.

How are your water changes?

I've done an approx 10-15% water change weekly via trickle feed since I started the pond. Only had this issue the past few years though

haha! I'm sure it's removing the nitrates but I have low stock and it's choking my BD so now I can only run one pump

yes I think you're right - looks like that for sure. It grows in huge clumps at the bottom of the pon but also attaches to the walls and BD.

I would have thought that, even those it isn't your typical blanket weed. Resolve would starve the weed of Nutrients. As long as your KH is above 2 dgh.

Earlier this year I had the worst outbreak of blanket weed for many years, my normal treatment of Blanket Answer did nothing to clear it. I think it was 118 who recommended I try Resolve which did the trick, but it took a long time. However even Resolve had no effect on this moss like weed. I posted above that I reduce the water level & scrub it off below & above the water line but it does grow on the bottom as well. Regular hoovering helps to keep the bottom clear and goes towards regular water changes.