Pond Algaecides & Natural Bacteria
Professional grade products for commercial and private pond owners
See our recommended pond bacteria

It seems that whenever we go on-site to do a pond-consultation for someone we inevitably are asked some very common questions. One of the most frustrating aspects many pond owners have is dealing with the water quality issues that arise, sometimes on a yearly basis. The two most common issues we are asked to remedy is algae blooms and smelly green water conditions.

Algae that sticks to pond waterfalls and walls can ruin the esthetic look of a pond and we have found that there are algaecides that can be used that will not harm fish or other plants but will get rid of that sticky hairy mass that sticks to rocks and waterfalls.

We've spent years trying different formulas and seeing what works and what doesn't. Anyone who looks for ways of getting rid of problematic algae in their ponds and reducing the muck and stinky , smelly pond water in their pond knows that there is no easy method or miracle cure. There are hundreds of products out there that all claim to be the best natural bacteria for ponds and many are excellent products but some are watered down or cut with fillers.

The Pond Report recommends, instead of using often harmful copper sulfate, that you look at regular use of the following products. They are excellent at clearing green soupy water and getting rid of that fluorescent green pond water that can be caused by anything as simple as runoff from a nearby field to an overfeeding of fish. Of course having koi, or trout or even those largemouth bass can be a real joy but be cautious of overfeeding. The use of an automated feeder can help, we've seen everything from a 300 pound scatter feeder to a small and quite pretty Koi Cafe to feed fish and these units help by ensuring the correct amount of food, which acts like a fertilizer in a pond, is distributed.

In any sized pond the smelly pond water and pond muck that accumulates is really a pain in the you-know-what! Now I love my in-laws but it seems that sometimes the hairy filamentous algae and green mats of horsehair algae are sometimes like Thanksgiving Dinner with the family of my better half! It never seems to end. But as you've read in our article on the importance of pond aeration and the ways to control algae there are fairly cheap ways to have the best natural pond bacteria.

That's why we're here; we're more than just a pretty face!

To remove filimentous algae, floating algae, bottom algae or horse hair algae
Use these two products together in your pond for a quick and natural solution

There are natural ways for string algae control that involve a few simply applications so you don't have to toss in three bales of barley straw to get your water clear enough to see the bottom no matter what your neighbor says. Use a combination of of natural algaecide and then a beneficial bacteria to clean up the decayed cells that will be left after the algaecide has destroyed the algae. The recipe we have found to be most effective involves two basic ingredients: First, apply the non-hazardous algae killer and then, 72 hours later, begin treating with natural bacteria to consume the dead algae.

Natural Pond Bacteria
Natural ENV - PondKeeper - Dry Natural Bacteria with Barley Straw
Each pail contains 50 soluble pouches of 1/2 pound each of high potency natural, safe, bacteria for ponds. Breaks down organic sludge like leaves, dead plants, fish droppings, fish food, fertilizer and dead algae. Reduces odors. Harmless to fish, animals and turf plants. Apply 6-8 packets (3 to 4 pounds) every 2-4 weeks. **IMPORTANT : Do Not Begin Treatment with PK Pond Keeper within 72 hours of treatment with CleanGreen Pro7

This fast-acting product contains several strains of totally-naturally occurring beneficial bacteria which begin instantly breaking down and digesting waste commonly found in pond environments to naturally keep ponds clean, clear and healthy all year long, while utilizing pulverized barley straw to eliminate the need for bulky barley bales, while still providing the water clarifier benefits of barley straw. After treating your pond with any sort of algaecide it is essential to use a natural bacteria to eliminate the dead algae otherwise it begins to accumulate on the pond floor and decomposes which will, with sunlight, release nutrients that cause green smelly water. Using this safe and natural product will eliminate odors, muck and green water. Safe for fish, pets, people and plants!

WHAT DOES THIS BENEFICIAL BACTERIA DO?
First of all I am often asked about the make-up of this bacteria and w hile most suppliers treat their recipes as if it were the Colonels Secret Recipe for KFC we can say that these organisms have been deemed appropriate and safe for use in ponds and lakes by the United Stated Environmental Protection Agency and the Canadian Environmental Department because of their beneficial and harmless nature.

You can expect the following benefits:

INCREASED GROWTH AND HEALTH OF FISH
This natural bacteria mixture is comprised of healthful organisms that are natural food for aquatic insects. The bacteria multiplies as it feeds on organic sediment, and insects grow and multiply as they feed on the bacteria. Fish then feed on the insects and grow rapidly as insects are one of the best foods for fish.

INCREASED DEPTH
As the bacteria feeds on bottom muck, your pond or lake will deepen, making a better environment for fish, and less opportunity for weeds to grow. Cattails and lilies will not gradually disappear. The beneficial bacteria removes nutrients that many unwanted aquatic weeds are nourished by. Neither cattails nor lilies will gradually disappear by using bacteria, indeed lilies and cattails can provide beauty and add oxygen to a pond and if cattails are a problem as they can be invasive you should do manual removal. Bacteria removes the mucky buildup and this this process is a more economical means of removing organic sediment than dredging and is much more sustainable!.

ALGAE & ODOR REDUCTION
Filamentous algae, also known as "pond scum," forms dense hairlike strands that can form thick floating mats. Its growth begins on submerged objects on the pond bottom. As it grows, the algae gives off oxygen that becomes entrapped in the mat of strands. This gives it buoyancy and causes it to rise to the surface where it frequently covers large areas of the pond. Filamentous algae is often a persistent problem because it reproduces by plant fragments, spores and cell division. Treatment with a beneficial bacteria can solve this problem.

CLEANER SHORELINE
You will begin to see clean sand or gravel on your shoreline where only muck was present before (if sand or gravel is present at the shoreline under the muck.)

CONTENTS IN BENEFICIAL BACTERIA Specialized, preselected, adapted microorganisms, bioorganic catalysts and microbial growth stimulants on an inert carrier. Included species include, but are not necessarily limited to : Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus polymxya, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus amyloliquifaceans. Barley extract is also included in products listed to contain barley straw extracts.

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THIS BENEFICIAL BACTERIA?

These days it seems that there is more and more talk of bacteria and friendly cultures and the beneficial strains of harmless single-celled miracle working creatures that can literally save the world! Of course it's great to know ow that our yogourt is enriched with some sort of bacillus that will sit in our guts and cause a blooming rainbow flora within us! Heck, I'm even hearing that toothpaste full of living bacteria is coming and while I may be somewhat open-minded I still don't know if I want to have creepy crawlies on my electric toothbrush! But my point is this; in the last 15 years I've been a professional pond consultant I've seen some truly dramatic results using our friendly ancestors from the Earth!

By results I mean seeing a eutrophic pond that has gone from a decrepit swamp and a mud infested stinking mess into a vibrant and healthy eco-system. I have literally seen lakes reverse from what looked like an impossible comeback where a bright green, scummy stinky pond returned to her original, or "Oligotrophic", state. No "Oligotrophic State" that is not an unkown State of the Union that we have rarely visited; the Oligotrophic state is a technical term describing a healthy pond which according to the definition are ponds and lakes that are have generally clear water, are fairly deep in relationship to the diameter of the pondand free of weeds or large algae blooms. Though such ponds are beautiful and the crystal waters are desirable, they are often low in nutrients and do not support very large fish populations well. With the proper aeration and bacterial treatment, or what my daughter calls the "vitamin pill for the pond", a properly managed oligotrophic lakes can develop a food chain capable of sustaining large game fish such as trouts and bass species.

Eutrophic lakes, on the other hand, are very high in nutrients and support a large biomass (all the creatures, rooted and footed, living in a lake). They are usually either extremely weedy or subject to frequent algae blooms, or both. Eutrophic lakes often support large fish populations, but are also susceptible to oxygen depletion, which is why we often recommend installing a proper aeration/circulation system in any pond that has reached this stage especially if we are considering the algaecide and bacterial treatment.

Small, shallow, eutrophic lakes are especially vulnerable to experience winterkill which can reduce the number and variety of fish, another reason why an aerator, which allows gassing off and maintains an opening in the ice on a pond is recommended.

Mesotrophic lakes lie between the oligotrophic and eutrophic stages. Fairly absent of any oxygen in late summer, the hypolimnions of such aquatic systems limits the survivabilty of cold water fish and causes annual phosphorus cycling from sediments.

Ok...well that was a bit of a detour down the scientific winding road and I hope your eyes haven't glassed over just yet! We still wanted to describe our natural bacteria choices and why we feel they are the best available.

Our beneficial pond bacteria mixtures (available in both liquid and dry varieties) are a unique formulation of beneficial living microorganisms that actually feed on organic sediment (muck) that builds-up at the bottom of ponds and lakes. Leaves fall, fish poop, and plants and grass fertilizers get into the pond creating an organic load that includes enough chemical and natural nutoirents to turn any pond into a smelly green mess riddled with floating matts of gelitanoius algae!


The natural organisms that are the derivative ingredients of pond bacteria are actually already there found in the woods slowly feeding on dead leaves, bark, weeds and other decomposing matter. You should have thought of harvesting the decaying material in your backyard had you known it was full of something that pond owners would pay for! The key is to boost the natural level of microbes in the pond to out-compete the nutritional needs of the algae.

Basically the favorable strains will literally choke out the unwanted growth becasue they both eat the same nutrients in the muck! So by applying a mixyure that wants to sink into the pond sediments and consume it you can literally eliminate your surface alage...sure it takes time but you should see the pimple behind my ear...that has taken over three weeks of care and it still hasn't disappeared!

If you are lucky enough to live in the country, when you take a stroll through the woods, you unknowingly step on as many as 300 Million of these wee organisms with every size-9 step. Our recommended bacterial products are comprised of healthful and pathogen free organisms that are, at various times in their life cycle, natural food for aquatic insects that hover and nest on the pond. The bacteria multiplies as it feeds on the organic sediment, and frrenzied insects grow at the new buffet-table and multiply as they feed on the bacteria that is literally excstatic at the organic load it has to consume!