Do you always reach for herbicides or algaecides when you see green bloom in your pond? The green mass is the hard-to-get-rid-of algae mass and most pond owners reach for chemical treatment to do away with this nuisance. Many of the commonly available chemical treatments include Copper Sulphate, Endothall, Diquat or other compounds that may prove harmful to the pond organisms including fish and decorative plants. Repeated use of these treatments may also alter the pH levels of your pond water and hence affect biome of the water body, making it difficult for the aquatic organisms to flourish and thrive.
The new mantra to check the algae growth and other underwater plants or weeds is colouring your pond water in blue. These dyes add shimmer to the water body. Dyes create reflective property in the water surface that acts as a beautiful background for your decorative plants. Blue waters against pink lotus or deep red tropical lily pads immediately charm the spectator. Apart from the benefit of prepping up your pond for a delightful view, pond dyes also inhibit algal growth. Pond dyes reflect away the sunrays (including UV rays) therefore, weeds and algae that flourish near the bottom of the water body are unable to make food and hence die away quickly. Coloured water bodies do not support photosynthesis at deeper levels as a result green algae is unable to survive for long without sunlight and food. While pond dyes hinder sunlight to penetrate deeper inside the pond, they remain completely harmless for floating or emergent plants that grow on the surface of the water.
Pond dyes are easy to apply and immediately give an even colour to the water. Although, dyed water does not stain you or your pets, manufacturers recommend that you wear protective gloves while applying water dyes. Pond dyes are available in liquid as well as the powder form. Powder dyes are thrice as strong as the liquid dyes. Powder water dyes require comparatively lesser quantity to change the colour of your pond. Follow the instructions given on the pack and calculate the amount of powder/liquid needed to dye the volume of water in your pond. You may fill the watering can or a bucket with pond water and dissolve the required amount of dye in it. The mixture could be poured near the pump outlet to allow even distribution throughout the water body. If pump is not installed than pour the mixture across the water surface at different parts of the ponds and using a long stick create ripples or little waves that carry the water dye around the pond for equal distribution throughout. Some manufacturers also offer the colourants in soluble bags that could be simply thrown in the water body and the colour spreads across the surface slowly. Water dyes mix rapidly and evenly to give your pond a natural and beautiful finish.