One of the biggest frustrations of having a backyard garden fish pond is not knowing what to do when the water becomes mucky, green and gross!
Don’t worry, there is a way you can naturally clear the pond water without using harmful chemicals. Keeping pond water clear the natural way is easy, and you’ll be able to enjoy your pond again in no time.
Help! What’s Growing In My Small Garden Pond?
Last summer my little garden pond was overcome with a mossy, weedy growth. The pond water looked green, cloudy and disgusting.
After doing some research about small pond care, I discovered that the green stuff growing in my pond was string algae. Yuck!
Turns out that string algae growth in ponds is a super common problem.
Why You Want To Get Rid Of Pond Algae ASAP
Not only does it look terrible, but algae growth in ponds is bad because it can take over a small pond quickly. When left to grow, pond water algae can eventually starve the fish and plants of necessary oxygen and nutrients.
I was pretty nervous when I first started reading about algae in pond water.
Mainly I was worried that I’d have to use expensive chemicals for clearing my pond water. Plus, those chemicals might kill my fish and plants… or, even worse, it could cause me to have to start over from scratch with my pond.
Needless to say I was thrilled when I discovered that there is a home remedy for pond algae control. As it turns out, clearing out garden pond algae naturally, and keeping pond water clear is easy. Whew!
Barley Straw Clears Garden Pond Algae
How To Clear Pond Water Naturally
It sounds strange, but the answer to natural pond algae control is barley straw.
Not only is barley straw a natural pond algae killer, but it won’t harm your fish or plants – and it’s cheap to buy too.
In fact, I’ve read that barley straw is a more effective pond algae remover, and it works better to clear pond water than expensive chemicals.
Win, win, win, win!
Fish swimming in clear pond water
You can find technical explanations on the internet for why barley straw naturally clears pond water.
But basically, as the barley straw decomposes it releases something similar to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) which will eventually kill pond algae.
Whatever the technical reason is, it works great for treating pond algae!
Barley Straw For Garden Pond Algae Removal
Natural Pond Algae Treatment Use Tips
You can buy barley straw for algae control in ponds at your local garden center, or on the internet. You can also buy barley straw in liquid form, or you can get barley straw pellets.
When I bought my barley straw, it came packed in small bales that were much too large for my pond (pictured above).
The package says that each bale of barley straw will treat 1000 gallons of water.
My small garden pond holds only 90 gallons of water. So I made smaller bundles out of the mesh packaging the barley straw bales came in when I bought them.
I used twine string to tie the opening in the mesh closed, and also to hang the bundle from my pond waterfall.
Making Barley Straw Bundle For Pond
It’s best to put your barley straw bundle in the pond near a fountain or waterfall where the water will flow through it.
Once the straw starts to decompose, the bundle will sink so it’s no longer visible on top of the water.
Keep in mind that controlling algae in ponds using barley straw will take a little longer to than it would with chemicals. It takes a few weeks for the barley straw to begin to decompose and start clearing the pond water.
So, if you want to start seeing clear water faster, there are a few steps you can take now with these easy pond maintenance tips.
Barley Straw Bundle At Bottom Of Garden Pond Waterfall
Easy Tips To Clear Pond Water Faster
- Manually remove algae from fish pond: To speed up your garden pond algae control efforts, start by manually removing as much of the algae from your pond as you can.
Don’t worry this sounds harder than it is.
An inexpensive toilet brush works great for getting rid of algae in a pond. You can remove the algae by scrubbing the sides of your pond with the brush.
Ideally, you would buy a new toilet brush to use specifically for your pond; what would be more disgusting – using an old used toilet brush in your pond, or using your pond brush in your toilet!?
Toilet Brush Works To Remove Algae In Garden Ponds
- Rinse your garden pond filter daily: If you have any type of pond water filter system installed, rinsing the filter daily during this time will also help to remove pond algae faster.
If your pump didn’t come with a filter, I highly recommend you get a universal pond pump filter box. It will make keeping your pond water clear (and general pond maintenance) so much easier!
Or you can make your own DIY pond pump filter box using these super simple step-by-step instructions.
Rinsing garden pond filter helps clear pond water faster
- Use hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to help clear pond water: Another thing that works great for algae control in fish ponds is hydrogen peroxide (and no, it won’t kill your fish!).
I don’t know if there’s a special formula of H2O2 per gallon of water, so I recommend doing some research for your specific pond size.
My small pond is 90 gallons, and I added a 1/2 cup of H2O2 to the water. Pour the H2O2 over the running water of a fountain or waterfall to disperse it.
Using hydrogen peroxide to kill pond algae
Shortly after adding the H2O2 and barley straw to my pond, and following these steps to clear my pond water faster, I started to see results.
In no time, my pond water was crystal clear, and it stayed that way all summer.
Pond Water Is Naturally Clear
How To Keep Pond Water Clear Naturally
Now I put a new barley straw bundle in both of my little garden fish ponds in the spring as part of my regular small pond maintenance schedule.
Since doing this, I’ve been able to avoid algae growth in my ponds, and keep the water clear. One small barley straw bundle lasts all summer.
Another thing I make sure to do as part of my regular fish pond maintenance tasks is to remove the leaves and other debris from my pond. My pond skimmer net makes this task super easy!
Remove Leaves From Garden Pond
Related Post: How To Winterize a Garden Pond
If you’re having problems keeping your pond clear, and algae growth is not the issue (or if you’re not sure what the problem is), then I recommend testing the water.
You can get an inexpensive pond water test kit that is specifically made for testing pond water, and that will help you figure out exactly what type of treatment the water needs.
Using a pond water test kit to maintain a healthy pond
I love my garden ponds again now that I the water is clean. It’s nice to be able to watch my fish swimming around in the crystal clear pond water, feeding on worms and other bugs that fall into the pond.
Plus my ponds are constantly filled with frogs and salamanders too – a wonderful sign of a healthy pond!
Frogs are a sign of a healthy pond
Recommended Reading:
- Backyard Water Gardens
- The Water Gardener’s Bible
- Water Garden Idea Book
- Encyclopedia of Water Garden Plants
More DIY Gardening Projects
- Building Sturdy Tomato Cages
- Easy Homemade Arch Trellis
- Easy DIY Garden Drip Irrigation System
- Eggshells as Organic Pest Control
Products I Recommend
Share your tips for keeping pond water clear naturally, and backyard pond algae control in the comments below.
Shirley Sauls says
Hi Amy, I have really enjoyed reading your site and all the comments. I would like to ask if you have heard any thing about helping clear your pond with building a waterfall that runs down like a small little rock stream going to the pond.i was told that is the natural way to keep your pond clean. My pond has algae terrible ! I can’t see my fish unless the are swimming at the top. Makes me so sad.🙁 I am going to try the barley straw and peroxide also. Please let me know if you have heard of the small rock stream for cleaning a pond. Thank you so much !
Shirley
Amy Andrychowicz says
I haven’t heard of that. I have a waterfall next to my pond. The water is pumped from the bottom of the pond to the top of the waterfall. It trickles down the rocks of the waterfall, and cycles back into the pond. It definitely doesn’t stop the algae growth just by doing that though. Putting a filter on the pump definitely helps, but it’s the barley straw that kills the algae.
Theodore c Young says
Barley straw only kills the string algae. In order to deter the other types of algae make sure 50% of your pond is covered with plants. Too much sun promotes the growth.
Just sayin
Amy Andrychowicz says
Using pond plants to shade the water from the sun is a great idea, thanks for the tip!
Paulette says
Hi I read that you have frogs in your pond. My pond is also about 90 gallons so my goldfish are relatively small maybe 4”. I’ve always loved the idea of having frogs but afraid they would eat the small fish. How big are your fish? Do you have a problem with frogs eating them? Thanks
Amy Andrychowicz says
I also just have goldfish in my pond, and have never had problems with frogs eating them. Since my pond is outside, I would never be able to keep the frogs out anyway, LOL!