The prime competitor to algae is simply other plants. All pants consume nitrogen and phosphorus and iron. So, if there are abundant live plants in a system, what's an algae to eat?

"Hey the plants are hogging up all the nitrogen!" (they whine bitterly)

So if there's a handy way to put plants in the water column, DO IT. Some people simply put the plants in the pond. If you put enough in, the Koi pick on them a little, get used to them and then cohabit.

Other people net off a section of the pond and put plants in there. That's how we set up Jimmy Carter's pond (yes I officially care for his pond and have met him and Rosalyn) at the Carter Center in Atlanta and we just netted an area and loaded it with Hyacinths and Lettuce in the Summer and then Anachris in the Fall. (Year round nitrogen reduction)

Some people make an entirely separate vat of plants and move some water through at all times. This is much the same as bogging plants, as well.

Finally, I made some floating crates pictured above. The crate material are polyethylene floor grates for slaughter houses and such; cable tied together in the form of boxes they float and the plants are in there. Click the image above for the larger verson for study.

---

Please fill your contact information Email   * Select Mail Lists for subscribe :  Dr Johnson's Wet Pets, Family Pets and Stuff For Vets List  - Newsletter opt in list for notices of interest to pond, pet and vet people.
Koi Beginner Once you've leapfrogged through this tutorial you will have a solid, working concept of the Koi hobby and what it's all about. This is done just about exclusively with video and very little written material.	DrJohnson.com More than koi health, this site spans all things animal, by a real veterinarian who shoots you straight.	Fishdoc.co.uk By Frank Prince-Iles. A UK authority who put this site together some time ago and which is still relied upon as a major source of good Koi and pond fish information
	PondCrisis.com If you have a koi, pond or fish problem, this site takes you through twenty easy questions and at the end you know what you need to fix in your pond to create restored Koi health.