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How do you deal with algae in a garden pond (w/ plants and fish)?

Public Comments

1. I'm pretty sure there are these pellets you can buy and put in the water to keep the algae down... Also, you might consider algae eaters, like snails and hermit crabs, and sucker fish!
2. I have a pond with various plants (water lilies and lots of marginals, like blue flags, red lobelias, cannas, curly reeds, etc.) and about 18 goldfish of varying sizes. I have used a liquid additive called AlgaeFix with no harm to the plants or the fish. I did this when I got the dreaded "green water" that makes the pond look like a massive pot of split pea soup, and I have also had to resort to it for a nasty invasion of "hair or string algae." Generally speaking, though, I prefer to use biological and ecologically correct methods. I have an out of the pond pump that has a UV bulb in it, which - at least in theory - zaps the algae. I also have a pump in the bottom of the pond that powers a little fountain. I put barley straw pads or barley straw pellets in between the filter pads in that pump, and so far this year, things are looking nice and clear. Barley straw is reputed to suppress the growth of algae, and the pads and pellets do seem to be doing the trick. I have found these at my local hardware store in the garden pond supply section. You can also put the barley straw pellets into a mesh bag and put them directly into the pond; they come with the bag and directions. I do add BioBoost and BioSludge treatment every week to keep the good bacteria at healthy levels and to treat the sludge so the pumps can filter it.