Does baking soda kill algae in ponds? Yes, it does, and also calcium carbonate. Alkaline water chemistry is one of the main reasons why this happens, but there are other triggers as well that will cause your water chemistry to be out of whack.
For example, if you’re using a landscape pond or an alkaline water feature, it can help control the number of fish that will end up in your pond. Some fish species like to prey on the smaller green water creatures that exist in your pond, so the fewer of them you have, the better. This is because smaller fish will compete for food with the bigger predators in the pond, and when they are all killed, you will have fewer unhealthy animals in your pond to feed from.
Alkaline water isn’t the only thing that can cause your pond to have too many algae in it though. Phosphorous can cause this problem, and you probably already know that. If you use a landscape pond that is designed to have more alkaline water in it than you do today, it might just be a matter of changing the environment slightly. Using a fountain or bubbler in the area may just help stir up the alkaline water a bit, and that will kill the algae as well.
You can also try using a weak bleach when you wash off your garden water feature. It won’t completely get rid of it, but it will make cleaning it easier. It will also help to neutralize any of the leftover ingredients that the cleaner leaves behind. If you have a very large pond or feature, you should consider using a power washer with a scrubbing brush attached. It really helps to get the alkalinity level back up, and it won’t take much effort to do.
Finally, if you are wondering does baking soda kill algae in ponds, one of the easiest ways is to simply buy some bicarbonate of soda at your local pool store. It will keep your pond water from getting too acidic. This may seem like a useless item, but it really does have a lot to do with keeping a healthy pond. If you add too much carbon dioxide to the water, it will die. If you add too little, it can be a source of oxygen reduction.
If you want to keep your water at the right pH, adding baking soda to it will help do that. The baking soda will react with the minerals in the water and will form a compound with a negative charge. This will repel all sorts of bugs and algae from sticking to it.
If you still aren’t sure if you need to add this to your pond, try adding about two tablespoons into a shallow dish of water. Leave it for a few minutes, then wash it out with a garden hose. The alkaline water will rinse off the baking soda, leaving your pond back to its normal alkaline level. Adding alkaline water to your pond will not only make it healthier, it will also make it look better. You will notice that your water starts to sparkle when it comes in contact with sunlight.
When you have all of these answers to the question ” Does baking soda kill algae in ponds? “, you know that you have come to the right choice. Algaes in ponds are a common problem, especially those found in more shallow water. By killing them with baking soda, you will be keeping your water from having to be re-chlorinated and making your pond look better for longer. It will also save you money on the expensive chemicals being used for removing the dead algae.