I have string algae in my pond. Have had it for at least a couple of months now [water temp 50 degrees F today]. My neighbor was telling me that the reason that I have the string algae it due to high nitrogen and I need to get rid of it right away. :o I wasn't really worried about it. I have been removing it every couple of days or so. I have checked my levels and they are fine. I don't have any leaves in the bottom of the pond or very much sediment for that matter. My pond water is clear except for the algae. Everyone in the pond seems happy. The pond is less than a year old.
What do you guys think? Could the algae be caused from high nitrogen?

tia

I would rather have string algae than green pea soup algae. Yes it is living of of the nitrogen in the water and this is a good way to deplete the nitrogen. It is because of the string algae that your water is clear. I find the best way to remove the excess string algae is a toilet bowl brush. Stick it in and twirl. It will grow back.

I too noticed a lot of string algae. I did not have this problem last because our winter was not that cold and the pond was not as frozen over as it is this year. I have been pulling the algae out too. I have a poll with a soft hook on the end that I have used to get under the frozen sections. I just don't want the fish to get caught in it. But yes, the water is pretty clear, it also shows the build up of leaves at the bottom.. eeeek.

Tiia

I agree, I would rather have the string then pea soup. When I remove it I put it in/on my plants on the outside of the pond. I figure it's got to be good for them.

tia

Tiia, Your algae is growing under the ice? How cold it your water now?

I too have a lot of string algae on the liner and other surfaces right now, more than most years. It does best this time of the year when it's still cold but there's starting to be more sun. I too would rather have it than suspended algae. It will die back once the other plants and algae start growing in another month or so. As long as it's not so horrible that it's trapping animals or clogging pumps, some hair algae is fine. It is filtering the water after all. So, if you have a lot of hair algae, you should read almost no nitrate in the water since it's using it up to grow.