Phosphate Binders
Phosphorous Feeds Algae - Stop It With This!
A good beneficial bacteria will target all the various kinds of nutrients that feed unwanted growth and it will work much of the time to help clean a pond up.
But sometimes these good microbes simply may not be enough to reduce the phosphate levels down low enough.
When you have a stubborn algae bloom that you can't seem to bring into line, then consider checking the phosphorus level in your pond. Even low levels can stimulate algae growth.
Here’s a breakdown of phosphorus levels and their impact on algal growth:
| Total Phosphorus |
Algal Growth Potential |
|---|---|
| <10 ppb (0.01 mg/L) | Oligotrophic: Very low risk of algal blooms |
| 10–30 ppb | Mesotrophic: Moderate risk of algae growth |
| >30–100 ppb | Eutrophic: High likelihood of algal blooms |
| >100 ppb | Hypereutrophic: Strong, persistent algal blooms likely |
So if you test the phosphorus level and it's above 30 ppb, you may want to consider using a binder to essentially cut off algaes ability to utilize this nutrient for further growth.
There are a number of products traditionally used for phosphorus binding. Alum (aluminum sulfate) is one that dates back many years. Various forms of clay or mineral combinations are used as well. Each comes with various pros and cons. Some may be risky to use with fish, others are expensive, and others may not be quite as effective.
We decided to go with something that was a bit different than all of the above.
The product is called MetaFloc, and it uses a proprietary blend of microbes (some of our favorite things) and natural binders that have the affordability of a liquid alum, with a better safety profile than alum, coupled with very good effectiveness.
