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New Barrel pond stringy web-like weed?

Ann85Ann85 Posts: 61
edited July 2020 in Wildlife gardening
We have setup a wildlife pond in a half barrel. It has been setup for a week and a bit. Rain water from a water butt used. Native plants bought online, now in bags with gravel on the aqua soil. It is not in the sunniest spot (morning and late afternoon - about half the day). What could the stringy, green, weblike stuff which is now on the Hornwort, Creeping Jenny, edges of the bags etc? If I move a plant I can see it and it’s quite strong! Any ideas appreciated. Anna
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  • Ann85Ann85 Posts: 61
    edited July 2020
    The little solar fountain is only on when in full sun. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,358
    It's just algae. Perfectly normal in a new pond  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Ann85Ann85 Posts: 61
    edited July 2020
    Fairygirl said:
    It's just algae. Perfectly normal in a new pond  :)
    Thanks for this - will it take over? Or just a phase? Thanks! 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,143
    edited July 2020
    Hi Anna
    It's a type of algae called blanketweed and will appear in new ponds.
    Given your pond is quite small, I'd just run my fingers through it and gently pull it out and off the plants.
    It will disappear of its own accord as the pond settles and your plants get going.
    It's nothing to worry about.

    PS- always try and use rainwater to top your pond up. The minerals in tap water will encourage more algae.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,358
    You can just pull it out, or there are over the counter treatments. You can also chuck in watercress which  feeds on the nutrients that the algae likes too.
    Once the pond settles a bit, it becomes less of a problem though. It won't harm anything in there.

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,143
    Another thought - You'll probably notice the sides of your pond get covered with a green fur - that's also a type of algae.
    If you can get a few pond snails, they'll keep the sides of the pond clean and they'll multiply quickly too.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    You can compost the blanket weed.  Its scientific name is Spirogyra, because of its helical chloroplasts.  You'd need a microscope to see them.
  • Ann85Ann85 Posts: 61
    Not sure if this will update you, thank you pond-knowledgable people! Algae seems to be stopping - I did take out some. Now a new development, plants under the water seem to have been eaten? But all we can see is mosquito wrigglers? Any ideas what would eat away the leaves to nothing? And put holes in other leaves? Thanks for any help! 
  • Ann85Ann85 Posts: 61
    I can only see these creatures on the creeping Jenny although these does also seem to be an equally tiny slug-type creature? Could they be responsible? 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,143
    They look like little ramshorn snails.
    I have them in my pond as well as pond snails.
    I've not known either to eat any foliage, but they do a really good job of keeping the sides of the pond clean and plant leaves algae-free

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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