It is important to thoroughly wipe down the tray and water surface during cleaning to start with a fresh, clean fountain. If after following the above suggestions a water features still experiences algae growth, one drop of bleach for every three gallons of water your water feature holds can be added to the tray.
Make sure you only use regular-bleach. Do not use bleach with fragrance or thickened no-splash bleach, which will cause the water in the fountain to foam. For ongoing use, try 1/4 teaspoon Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach added to 1/3 gallon of water (5 + 1/3 cups) of water.
Bleach can corrode the concrete in a water fountain, and may also stain it, so it isn't a good "quick fix" despite what you may read online. Also, if there are any pets or animals around, using bleach will make the water unsafe for their consumption and could potentially cause them serious harm.
Algae can damage the fountain surface and can clog the pump causing it to overheat and burn out. Never use chlorine or bleach as an algaecide or cleaner.
If you have a problem with algae, you can use bleach to kill it all. The ratio should be one-quarter teaspoon for each gallon in your tank. Bleach is great for killing algae (and other organisms that may lurk in your tanks) and for keeping it from coming back.
TIP 5: USE BLEACH OR VINEGAR
Oxidized bleach immediately starts to kill algae cells once it comes into contact with it. Bleach, however, should not be your first option, especially if the area you plan to rid of algae is near plants or grass.
You can use a bleach and water solution made with Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach for cleaning algae and mold from exterior sealed non-porous surfaces like stucco and painted wood, siding, tile, brick and patio stone. In some cases, bleach and water are all that's needed to clean away mold and algae.
If your fountain doesn't have any water plants, you can always add a small amount of chlorine to your fountain. We'd only recommend using one to two tablespoons, every two to three weeks during summer and the warmer spring weeks of the year. Ensure your pump is turned off when adding the chlorine.
Cleaning the Fountain
In most cases, a mild dish detergent and warm water will remove the algae. Just use a sponge and scrub away at it. Never use an abrasive cleaning tool. Even stone or other durable materials can be dulled and scratched by steel wool or hard brushes.
Cleaning an outdoor water fountain covered with algae may take some muscle, but it won't take harsh chemical cleaners. All you need to remove algae from your fountain is white vinegar. Soak the algae with vinegar, let it sit for five minutes, then scrub it away.
Keeping water clear
While the combination of sun, pollen or dust and water will inevitably result in some algae formation in your fountain or birdbath, simply adding one tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide per gallon of water every week or so will allow you to maintain clear and sparkling water throughout the year.
Vinegar does not hurt your fountain pump! There is nothing left to worry about if you decide to use vinegar.
Add Vinegar To Your Fountain
It's true that vinegar has a somewhat pungent odor, but this odor will quickly dissipate, leaving your fountain fresh and clean. To quickly clean and freshen your indoor water fountain, add a cup or two of filtered white apple cider vinegar.
Mix 1 cup (240 mL) of bleach in 1 gallon of water. Wash surfaces with the bleach mixture. If surfaces are rough, scrub them with a stiff brush. Rinse surfaces with clean water.
Add plants or fish. Plants will filter the sun, and fish will eat algae. Or use an algaecide or products made from barley. Clean the fountain every one to three months to remove waste materials and algae-friendly nutrients.
But as it turns out, copper pennies do a pretty good job of keeping algae away for a few days! Pennies made before 1982 contain copper and according to Google, “copper kills algae by binding to it, which damages the algae cells, causing them to leak and die.” I tossed in 10 pennies and waited for the results.
Barley straw is a natural way to fight algae. On contact with water, the straw starts to break down, and as it does so it releases peroxides into the water which combat algae. Available in mini bales, or as a concentrated extract of barley straw liquid, it's a natural way of chemically fighting algae.
Use chlorine only if needed
Fountain pumps aren't designed to work with concentrated levels of chlorine, but if an algae bloom won't die down, add 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach for every 5 gallons of water, and run the pump overnight so it circulates long enough to disinfect the entire system.
Fountec should be added to your disappearing fountain, statuary fountain, or birdbath once a week to achieve the best results. It is safe for dogs, cats, birds, and other mammals to drink from and won't damage your pump like chlorine or bleach.
EasyCare FounTec Algaecide and Clarifier
To keep your water garden or fountain free of green algae and stinging mosquitoes, the powerful EasyCare FounTec Algaecide and Clarifier is an excellent product and it comes at a very affordable price.
Then, the plant is placed in the water/bleach mixture. For handling the plant, we recommend using tweezers, to prevent skin contact with the mixture. After a while (ca. 5 to 15 min) the algae will get noticably brighter.
Bleach kills algae and prevents it from growing. The appropriate amount is ¼ teaspoon for every gallon of stored water. Chlorine will also kill algae and keep your water safe for drinking or irrigation purposes. Only a small amount is needed: 4 parts chlorine for every 1,000,000 parts water.
Using bleach on algae requires brisk scrubbing and rinsing. This is not only time consuming, but it can increase the wear and tear on your roof. Pressure washing and bleach aren't the best options for cleaning green and black algae.