Eek Algae Problem I Think?

[Spishkey]

i have a small pond up at the new house, its fairly 'new' (was installed about8weeks ago?) and has a small filter and water fountain thing? (it holds about 1000L?) i think theres maybe two small fish in there and lots of plant life...maybe a bit too much! anyhow at the moment we are only at the house on a sunday (are doing renovation work before we move in) now sometime between last sunday and sunday just gone, it seems the power has gone out so no filter or pump has been running on the pond. and its been extremely hot and sunny!!
electric prob still hasnt been sorted so pond is still standing 'still' and has been covered in a thick gooey greenish yellow type algae that has kinda of 'bubbles' in it.
im guessing all bacteria has died in the filter, no doubt the fish may be dead, and the plants have turned yellow/brown??? any idea, once ive got the elec sorted (hopefully by tomorrow evening!!) how i can get rid of this algae goo and can i save the plants? is it worth draining the pond and starting again from the beginning??

 

[BBK1]

Throw some algae killer in and get the filter/pump back up ASAP. Net out all of the algae off the top that you can.

Are you running a UV sterilizer?

 

[Spishkey]

no im not running a uv steriliser.....is it something i need? i was told due to the amount of plant life i would not need one as they would out compete the algae?

 

[BBK1]

I thought the same thing when I first started with ponds. I was battling green water and excessive algae for years before I finally broke down and bought one. Now I never have algae problems (as long as i remember to plug the UV in). They are quite expensive but it will save you a lot of hassle.

The UV kills the algae that is suspended in the water. Algae grows suspended in the water in its first 2 stages. In the third stage it will cling to the walls and everything in the pond and start to grow. If you kill it in stage 1 and 2 with the UV it will keep your algae from growing.


With a pond that small (about 250 gal) you will have a hard time keeping the algae under control without one. Bigger the pond, the easier it is to keep the algae under control.


I suggest buying one. but remember, UV sterilizers are a preventative not a fix. Once the algae is on the sides the UV will not take care of that, you will need to add chemicals or scrub it out.