Specialists in Water Management for Landscapes, Fisheries, Leisure and Conservation
|
Algae Control |
Our Maintenance Division is heavily involved with the control of algae. These instances range from regular contracts to one off visits, all depending on the severity of the outbreak. Control measures are varied and can be one of the following.
Manual Removal
Our team can attend on site, often at the shortest of notice, and manually remove blanket weed. in the past we have been asked at the last minute to attend emergency blanket weed removals. An example of this is when our Maintenance team, on the morning of the Hampton Court flower show, removed an unexpected algal bloom from the Long Canal. There was to be a rowing demonstration on the Long Canal to start the show. When staff noticed the problem, they phoned Kingcombe Aquacare who were able to travel to site, remove the weed and leave before the show started.
Barley Straw Application
When applied correctly and renewed on an anual basis, barley straw is an extremely effective means of inhibiting the growth of algae. The exact biology involved with the interaction between the straw and algae is not fully known. We know enough to understand that barley straw, which is rich in lignin, releases a leachate when it rots. The leachate has a chemical composition similar to that of hydrogen peroxide which effectively inhibits the growth of algae. It will not kill algae that is already present but will slow any new growth. Each year our maintenance team installs around 600 bales around the country. The majority of these are for repeat applications on regular contracts.
We also supply a liquid barley straw concentrate. It is packaged in 25l containers and applied on a weekly basis. Clients who have already used this product have been very impressed with the results. We believe it would particularly suit water features where the installation of barley straw is not practical (such as a garden pond or a water feature where asethetics are of the highest importance.
Chemical Treatment
Kingcombe Aquacare have installed various chemical treatment units. These include bromine and chlorine dosing systems. Esentially these are for water sterilisation and concequently are an effective means of controlling algae. Obviously these schemes are not the answer if your water feature contains fish or plants.
Ultrasonic Transponders
Another alternative to the above methods is the ultrasonic transponder. These unobtrusive devices are suspended from a float in the marginal area of a pond. They emit ultrasonic waves at a specified frequency which shatters the vacuole in the unicellular algae. Harmless to fish, invertebrates and higher macrophyte plants, our range of "Aquasonics" can provide the answer to your algae problems. There are different models with ranges of up to 200 metres. Larger bodies of water can be fitted with gangs as long as there is a power source available for each unit. They use a very small amount of power, similar to that of a light bulb. If you require an information sheet on this product please contact our office.