Algae Control Safe for Bees?

[romduck]

I put a new fountain in the garden approx. 25 gallons and it looks great.  :)

Unexpectedly, the bees LOVE it.  :-\

Not a big deal, but I'm already having a tremendous algae problem.  :-x

Since I cannot move the fountain, all suggestions are for various additives from bleach (no) to cider vinegar (maybe) to commercial preparations (I dunno)  :?

Has anyone had experience with algaecides and bee water sources? I definitely don't mind them USING it as a water sources, but I have to do SOMETHING about the algae to at least reduce it.  :(

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[John Pfaff]

Try a chinese algae eater. They are a little fish about 4" long and will clear inches long algae from a 55 gallon tank in about 2 weeks so that it is impossible to tell there was any algae earlier. Problem is they starve to death in about three months, but only cost 3 - 4 dollars each.

[Haddon]

I was told this once before and made me think bees love swimming pools and we don't see a massive bee die offs near them and they are highly chlorinated. Bleach might not be that bad.

When I was a kid I lived with my father lets just say we didn't clean much. We had a old fish tank in the corner it still had water in it we had turn off the pump because we thought all the fish were dead. We then moved in with my grandfather leaving the tank with water still sitting there well we were with him 3 years till he died went back to clean up and there was one lone algae eater still alive thing was 6 to 8 inches long tank was pretty clean.

[Kathyp]

cheep feeder gold fish will do also. 

[Danger Brown]

I'm not an algae control expert, but used to manage a pet store so know something about fish.

You'll need many of the algae eaters to get the job done. I don't think it'll be cost effective. Plus I assume in CT you'll be emptying the fountain for winter.

Maybe the feeder goldfish, but I'd get about 50-60 of them. Then at winter time, you can get rid of them on craigslist easily (free section).

Personally, I think the fish aren't likely to fix the problem. But they might have been able to prevent the problem. So maybe try bleach then add fish many days later after the bleach dissipates.

[Kathyp]

you are having an algee problem in moving water?  not moss?

[CapnChkn]

Goldfish wont keep the algae out of any water source.  I have been buying feeders and putting them in my ponds for years.  Usually the feeders will die at a rate of 95%.  The ones that survive sometimes get eaten or die from overheating, Ammonia, and mismanagement.

String algae (Spirogyra), grows in any conditions and is usually too hard for the goldfishes mouths.  The more polluted the more it grows.  I found that using Barley straw can help to deter the growth of that.  It has to be put in a mesh bag like you get onions in, and float close to the surface with a bottle.  I suppose since this is in a fountain you would get plenty of oxygen in the water to help it decompose.

It won't get rid of it.  I helps to manage it.  You might settle on using chemical control.