Algae Corner: SePRO Solutions for Algae Control

SePRO has a solution for every algae control need, from planktonic blooms, to filamentous mat formers, to macroalgae growing up from the bottom of the water. Today we're going to cover some of those products and how they may fit in your approach to algae management and control.

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Algae Corner: This "Horsehair" Species Can Make Your Pond Unusable
Today we'll be talking about Pithophora: how to identify it, why it's so difficult to control, and examples of success in managing it.

Algae Corner: My Wife Hates This "Blue-Green Godzilla" Algae!
Lyngbya's thick, dark mats are incredibly tough to control. Today we'll cover the many toxins it can produce, the smell (the reason my wife hates it!), and how SePRO can help control this nuisance species. Also known as Microseira, we have many industry-leading technologies to eliminate Lyngbya from your lake or pond.

Algae Corner: What are these Alien Brains?
Today we'll be talking about a colonial, filter-feeding invertebrate animal that can be a sign of good water quality!

Algae Corner: "What Is It?" - The Botulism Bird Killer, Cladophora
If you've seen cottony, filamentous, green algae forming dense mats in your pond, it may be cladophora. We'll show you how to identify it, why it can be so deadly to birds, and what can be done to eliminate it.

Algae Corner Fan Letter: How Come I Keep Getting Algae?
Algae can be very stubborn and difficult to control over the long term. In today's episode, we'll investigate the methods they use to survive and thrive, and how to address the underlying cause.

Algae Corner: "What Is It?" - Chara / Muskgrass
On this episode of "Algae Corner," we're talking about the muskgrass called Chara. One of the best diagnostic clues is its smell - commonly described as garlicky or skunk-like.

SePRO has a solution for every algae control and water quality enhancement need, from planktonic blooms, to filamentous mat formers, to macroalgae growing up from the bottom of the water. So how do you know which solution is right for you? Well, certainly starting with what type of algae you have and characterizing that type of nuisance algae is a good place to start.

 

Identifying Algae Type

The first group of algae I want to talk about today is the filamentous mat formers. There are thousands of different types of algae out there but the mat formers are one of the most common types of nuisance algae you may deal with. These can be all kinds of different colors, from green to brown to black. They can form surface mats or grow on mats across the bottom.

 

The next type of algae are the planktonic forms. These can give a discoloration to the water, either brown, green, red, or blue. These can also pop up and form scums on the surface. These are the types that may be toxic and certainly could have a negative taste or odor associated with them.

 

The last group of algae I want to talk about is macroalgae. Now these look like macrophytes; they look like they're growing from the bottom of the water body, and indeed they are. But they don't have true roots, like most other aquatic plants. They have rhizoids that anchor them. The common types here are chara and nitella. Chara is known as muskgrass, and sort of smells like a skunk or garlic. It has whorls of branchlets around it.

So in general, there are three broad groups of algae we can consider when deciding on a solution. Those are the filamentous mat formers, the planktonic or scum formers and those plant-like macroalgae.

 

Issues Associated with Algae

Algae can cause many issues within a water resource if not managed. Not only can it look bad and smell bad, it can actually be harmful. There are some types of algae that produce toxins that can impact fish and wildlife, and even humans associated with the water.

Some algae can clog up irrigation intakes. Many people don't like to swim in those thick mats that tickle your toes, and it's hard to get a fishing lure through some of those thick mats as well. So there are a lot of negative issues associated with algae. If you decide you need to manage or want to manage that algae, we’ll cover some options today.

 

Comprehensive Management Portfolio

SePRO Corporation has the most complete portfolio of algae solutions to meet your control objectives. What we’ll cover today is a brief overview of a number of SePRO products and how they may fit into your algae management program.

 
The first one I want to talk about is Captain XTR. Hands-down, Captain XTR is the best broad-spectrum algaecide on the market today. It has a strong chelating agent, so as a copper-based algaecide the copper will be more available to the algae. It stays in the water column longer but also has a unique surfactant package built right in. There are different surfactants and emulsifiers in there to help penetrate those stubborn mats and nuisance types of algae.
So if you're looking for a go-to solution for tough algae, something for a quick knockdown, or if you have some sort of nasty infestation and you're not sure where to start, I'd go right to Captain XTR. It's the go-to product for tough-to-control algae and can give you broad-spectrum control of many different algal types.

 

 
The next product I want to talk about is Komeen Crystal. Komeen Crystal is a highly loaded, chelated copper formulation. This product goes right to the bottom, often right to the origination of nuisance algae issues.
Some of those nuisance mat forming algae or benthic macroalgae are growing up from the bottom, and Komeen Crystal delivers that product right where they need to be to target bottom-growing algae. It’s very effective on pithophora, chara, and nitella macroalgae growing up from the bottom, for example.

 

 
If you’re looking for a non-copper alternative, PAK 27 is a great choice.
It's OMRI (Organic Materials Research Institute) listed, which means it can be used in organic farming.

It is also NSF certified for use in drinking water. PAK 27 is a great solution for use around sensitive fish like trout and koi, and it can be used to selectively control nuisance blue green algae in water resources.

 

 
I’m going to group the next two together, and those products are SeClear and SeClear G. These are the only EPA approved combination algaecides and water quality enhancers, meaning they both directly control nuisance algae and can take out some nutrients like phosphorus with each application.
So you aren’t just controlling algae, you’re breaking the cycle using SeClear or its granular formulation, SeClear G.

 

Summary

To wrap it all up, be sure to keep a close eye on your system. No matter what type of water you have, you could certainly have nuisance types of algae. Start early in your monitoring and management program, and try to get ahead of the algae before it achieves thick, nuisance levels.

Use SeClear early, on a routine program approach to keep those levels from getting out of hand. However, if you come back and it's re-grown or you come to a site and it's already achieved nuisance levels, go right to Captain XTR. If you’re dealing with bottom-dwelling benthic macroalgae, Komeen Crystal is a great product for that. And if you have a sensitive site with fish like trout and koi, PAK 27 would be a good option to start with for your algal management in those systems.

So whether you're being proactive or reactive, or how big or small your water body is, or what type of algae you have, SePRO has a solution to meet your algal management needs.