Controlling Algae in Lakes
It is common to expect algae to pop up inside of lakes, or any body of water for that matter. Not all algae is dangerous, but it can become a problem when the lake begins to become overpopulated. It will become even worse if more hazardous algae species start to invade the lake. Overpopulation and hazardous blue-green algae can become toxic for the lake’s ecosystem. The lake will become too toxic to drink or swim in, and the fish will start to die.
This is why it is important to prevent algal blooms to the best of your ability. One of the best solutions to an algae problem is learning how to control the algae in lakes. Being able to control the algae growth will help bring the ecosystem back to a more healthy state. Fish and plants will once again be able to thrive and the lake will appear more clean. If you need assistance with cleaning up lake algae, the experts at Karina Lakefront Maintenance are able to help.
Here are a few ways you can control algae in lakes.
How to control algae
Implementing biological augmentation
Biological augmentation involves adding natural beneficial microbes, minerals, and enzymes to water. These natural materials will work to enhance the quality of the water. This will help purify the water and reduce the overflow of nutrients that would help algae grow. The minerals and enzymes that are added as a result of biological augmentation work to promote a healthy ecosystem. Nutrients will be diverted away from the algae and go directly to the plant and animal life residing in the lake.
Biological augmentation is completely natural, so you will not have to worry about causing further harm to the lake. The algae will be starved of their main food source, leaving more for the natural lake life. Lakes can get out of balance due to the overloading of nutrients that causes algae to grow. The result of biological augmentation will help restore that balance and keep the ecosystem safe.
Aeration systems
Aeration is one of the best methods for controlling algae and keeping the ecosystem healthy. Aeration is the process of circulating air through water to provide oxygen by respiration. By utilizing aeration, you will be able to provide a lake with the oxygen it needs to maintain the health of the ecosystem.
The oxygen is needed to help break down the excess nutrients in the lake. Aeration systems will help this process in an environmentally friendly manner. It will keep you from having to use chemicals to keep the lake clean while providing an excellent level of balance.
Aeration systems are installed in lakes to increase the amount of diffused oxygen in the lake. As a result, the lake will be provided with beneficial bacteria. This type of bacteria is capable of breaking organic matter down even further. It also strips algae of the excess nutrients that live within the lake. This will keep the ecosystem’s balance healthy while the algae blooms remain controlled.
It is best to run the systems during the night so the lake can receive the highest amount of benefits. Aeration has many benefits when it is implemented correctly, but it will not solve all of your algae problems. One of the only problems with implementing aeration systems is that it can be expensive. The cost of installation, use of energy, and maintenance will be something to take into heavy consideration.
Using chemicals
Another method of controlling the growth of algae in lakes is to use chemical treatments. The chemicals that you will need to treat the water of algae problems are called algaecides. Algaecides are typically created out of copper based compounds. They are used specifically for killing algae and preventing it from growing in the future. The algaecides will have the ability to treat the entire surface of the water. This is necessary if you want to tackle the overpopulation of algae efficiently.
However, you will have to be aware of some of the disadvantages of administering chemicals. They are not the most environmentally friendly method of controlling algae even if they are effective. You should also definitely avoid using algaecide in bigger lakes. Algaecide also has to be administered to the lake carefully and frequently so the algae will stop growing. It might also have a negative impact on the balance of the ecosystem of the lake.
Using ultrasonic waves
You can use ultrasounds that will send out sound frequencies throughout the lake that will be able to control the growth of algae. The sound waves exceed the normal level of human hearing, and they are harmless to use. The ultrasonic waves are capable of forming a sound layer near the surface of the water, right on the top layer. This will cause the algae on the surface of the lake to sink as a result.
The algae will lose its ability to remain buoyant and it will have no choice but to sink. The algae that sinks to the bottom of the lake due to the ultrasonic waves will start to die because they are being deprived of sunlight. Sometimes, you may have to adjust the settings of the ultrasonic frequencies.
The way you adjust them will likely be according to how the algae adapts. Ultrasonic waves have been proven to be one of the most effective methods of controlling algae. However, the sound waves must be capable of covering the entire surface of the lake in order to be effective.
Conclusion
Controlling algae is not the easiest task in the world. However, it is necessary if you want to keep the ecosystem of a lake healthy. An infestation of algae and harmful bacteria can throw the ecosystem out of balance and cause harm to lake life. The water will start to become too toxic to inhabit. As a result, fish and plants will start to die. Using some of these methods may prove to be effective. Weigh the pros and cons of each method to see which one will work the best and implement them before the algae becomes a serious problem.
