The nutrients must go somewhere. They will go either into weeds or algae blooms. Algae blooms shade the water so weeds cannot grow. If the problem is excessive weed growth, the weeds take up the plant nutrients in the water so the algae blooms cannot appear. Lakes naturally shift every few years from weeds to algae blooms or from algae blooms to weeds. It all depends on what becomes established first in the season.

As you know, algaecides remove algae. Several references indicate that both excessive copper algaecides and alum can kill fish and other aquatic animals or interfere with reproduction in fish. Copper compounds can kill beneficial bacteria in the lakes that want to feed on bottom organic muck. Alum can leave an aluminum hydroxide flocculent on the bottom that interferes with both fish reproduction and with beneficial bacteria and insects that feed on lake muck and pond muck (muck). Copper compounds can destroy water quality. As the dead algae decompose they not only release phosphorus and nitrogen, they also consume oxygen. Lack of oxygen causes a release of massive amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen from the sediment into the water. Reducing oxygen often causes fish kills. Algaecides do nothing to improve the health and growth of fish, nothing to reduce bottom organic sediment. Copper compounds also add a new toxic sediment to the bottom, copper carbonate, which also interferes with bacterial decomposition of sediments and interferes with fish reproduction.

If you control algae blooms in a lake without eliminating the cause, the plant nutrients are still in the water. The algae bloom will quickly return, unless lake or pond weeds quickly take up the nutrients before the algae grow again. Then you have a lake or pond full of weeds.

Natural algae bloom control is a result of nutrient reductions. The CLEAN-FLO Continuous Laminar Flow Inversion and Oxygenation System, in combination with our beneficial bacteria, C-FLO-6 or C-FLO-6F and Clean & Clear enzymes, will give algae control by reducing carbon dioxide and available nutrients to such low levels that the algae removal occurs.

CASE STUDY: Cyanobacteria in reservoirs and lakes (Controlling Blue Green Algae Blooms).

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C-FLO-6 C-FLO-6 feeds on non-living organic matter and is particularly effective on reducing nutrients that are food for PLANKTONIC (suspended) algae bloom.

C-FLO-6F C-FLO-6F feeds on non-living organic matter and is particularly effective in reducing nutrients that are food for FILAMENTOUS algae (looks like green hair or moss and usually grows on weeds or rocks) and cyanobacteria.

Lake Cleanser Special was developed by CLEAN-FLO and has been found to be particularly effective in limiting phosphorus that is food for BLUE-GREEN algae (foul smelling green scum on the surface of lakes and ponds), FILAMENTOUS algae (looks like green hair or moss and usually grows on weeds or rocks), DUCKWEED (looks like tiny three-leaf clover on the surface), cyanobacteria and WATERMEAL (looks like green corn meal on the surface of lakes and ponds).

Lake Care was developed with the purpose of neutralizing the electrostatic charges in water and has been found particularly effective in neutralizing those charges that are utilized by submerged weeds and green PLANKTONIC algae (that green cast to the water).

Clean & Clear^TM CONCENTRATED ENZYMES is a special blend of non-toxic vegetable enzymes from nature that acts as a catalyst to biodegrade non-living organic matter and reduces available nutrients in the water, thus improving water quality.

Lake Cleanser III was developed to remove or lock up phosphates and suspended particles from all types of water bodies.

Iron Filings Bind phosphorus in lakes / ponds with a short retention time.

Minnow Traps Enable zooplankton to feed on algae.

Improve lake fishing and improve water chemistry using natural lake processes. When is the best time to start?