Duck Weed

[paddywak]

For the first time in nearly 20yrs my pond is covered in the stuff,I've tried scooping it out with a net but you can never get it all and before you know it it's all over again. Can any body recommend a good way of getting rid off it for good?

[jules77]

We have a pump that has an ultra violet light in which the water passes through. If we turn it off or dont replace the light every 6 months, the weed comes back again, so it works for us, and the pond is in full sun.

[paddywak]

I've already got a similar set up, and been trouble free for years, then all of a sudden the stuff appeared at the back end of last year, thanks for replying

[woofgang]

I tend to just scoop out as much as I can to stop it covering the whole pond. Actually I find it a boon in keeping the water healthy for the fish, and the thread algae down until the rest of the water plants kick in and have acrtually re seeded my pond when I lost it all one winter. My bigger goldfish also take the occasional nibble and it hold the eggs well and seems to give the babies something to nibble on

[paddywak]

I've just had an hour in the garden, including a scooping session and I've got most of it out still we'll just have to wait and see, any way thanks again for your input

[hammerman]

There is no answer to duckweed im afraid. I had it in my goldfish pond and i ended up stripping the lot out, buying a new liner and putting new plants and fish in from a duckweed free scource.

Scooping it out daily will do the trick but you end up getting paranoid that you've left a bit in there....and you usually have.

There's reports that grass carp might eat it but again, not reliable enough and UV's wont touch it..

Strangely enough, i had it in my tropical tank and my Congo tetras devoured it within 2 days....Tinfoil barbs apparently do the same. maybe you could borrow a few large Tinfoils during the warm weather then return them !!!!!!!

[paddywak]

You're right about the paranoia hammerman, no matter how much you get out there always seems to be as much the next day. The annoying thing is that I've not put anything new in the pond for several years so I suspect its been "Imported" by a passing bird or frog. I hope it doesn't come to starting again, it seemed to take for ever to get it how we wanted