u/CoachCamBailey

I’ve been trying to maintain a healthy pond system for a few months now (in Melbourne if that matters), but I’m stuck with string algae — and it’s eating up my time. Here’s the breakdown:

✅ What I’ve got going:

• Weekly dose of Maintain for Ponds (water quality)
• Barley Straw extract (for natural algae control)
• Progressive plant additions (starting with hardy natives like water lilies)
• Activated charcoal (helps with clarity, but doesn’t touch the algae)
• Tried some gentle Algacides

❌ The problem:
I still spend 3–4 hours every week manually removing string algae from:

• Top pond (main viewing area)
• Wetlands section
• Bottom swimming pond (where I definitely have a lot of it — spent ~1 hour today skimming with a pool net, but it’s still deep in there)

I’ve tried everything I can think of:

• No koi or non-native fish (can’t risk invasive species in Australia!)
• Activated charcoal helps water clarity but doesn’t reduce the algae growth
• Barley Straw + Maintain should be enough, but it’s not budging it

The real kicker:
I’m in Australia, so I can’t add any non-native fish or plants (like koi, goldfish, or fancy tropical stuff). I want solutions that work locally — no imports, no ecological risks.

What’s working for you?
If you’ve got Australian ponds (or similar climates), what’s your simple, non-invasive solution for string algae that doesn’t require adding fish? I’m especially interested in:

• Low-maintenance tricks (I’m short on time!)
• Native plants or light management that actually stops growth
• Anything that works without chemicals (I’m wary of new products)

Thanks so much for the help — this has been a headache! I’d love to hear what’s working for your Aussie ponds. 🌱

(P.S. If this isn’t the right sub, point me to the right one!)