Not only is barley straw a natural pond algae killer, but it won't harm your fish or plants – and it's cheap to buy too. In fact, I've read that barley straw is a more effective pond algae remover, and it works better to clear pond water than expensive chemicals.
In the same way that baking soda can be a spot treatment for black algae, household borax does the same for blue and green algae. Simply use the borax to scrub away algae that's sticking to your pool walls, then use the brush to dislodge it. Follow up by vacuuming up or scooping out the free-floating algae.
Vinegar can also be used to rid of algae. Use a mixture of water and white vinegar to spray down the area and kill the algae. Rinse the surface alga off the concrete with a water hose. Next, pour white vinegar directly on the surface and scrub using a brush.
Bleach is great for killing algae (and other organisms that may lurk in your tanks) and for keeping it from coming back.
Only algaecides can "kill" algae in pool water. However, baking soda can help clear up algae. Use both so you can restore sparkly, clean water!
When added to water containing algae, H2O2 breaks down into water and oxygen, releasing free oxygen radicals in the process. These free oxygen radicals can then react with and destroy the cell walls and membranes of algae cells, causing them to die off.
Hydrogen peroxide is especially effective against green algae and blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). It is heavier than water and sinks to the ground, which is useful if you're dealing with algae near the ground and somewhat of a hindrance if the algae are higher up in the tank.
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.
Combining vinegar, water and baking soda is ideal for targeting the toughest algae stains and mould growth. In a large container, add two parts white vinegar to one part water and stir in three heaped teaspoons of baking soda.
Your Best Weapon Against Algae
Chlorine—yep, your typical sanitizer—is much more effective at killing algae than algaecide is. Even if your water gets cloudy and your walls get slimy, chlorine can still kill it. That's because chlorine oxidizes bacteria and single-celled algae, which means they trade electrons.
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.
Shock Your Pool
Shocking is the process of adding chemicals to your pool to raise chlorine levels and kill bacteria and algae. We recommend using a calcium hypochlorite shock to treat your algae problems.
Apply a mustard algaecide following the label directions. Allow the water to circulate for 24 hours. Use a pool vacuum or backwash the pool again to remove the remaining dead algae. In persistent cases, brush the pool and apply algaecide once more after two to four days.
Some of the known types of fish to eat algae are blennies and tangs, but along with fish there are snails, crabs, and sea urchins who also eat algae. These species are known to eat red slime algae, green film algae, hair algae, diatoms, cyanobacteria, brown film algae, detritus, and microalgae.
Vinegar is acceptable to use for killing algae and cleaning a pond when it is drained. The acidic is good at lifting away the stubborn algae deposits and stains without damaging the liner material. When used in this way in limited amounts, the leftover vinegar residue won't hurt the fish or change the pH of the water.
Sodium Percarbonate is an excellent killer of bacteria, fungi, various viruses and mold, so it can be used as a very effective agent for removing algae and moss.
In the case of blue-green algae: Use 1.5 to a maximum of 2.5 ml of the 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide per gallon of water. In the case of green algae: 20.25 ml to a maximum of 32.5 ml of the 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide per 13 gallons of water.
StoneCare4U Essential Algae Remover is a safe and easy way to remove algae from any 'hard' external surface. Its biodegradable formula can be used on a multitude of outdoor surfaces including paving, walls and roof tiles.
Pressure washing and bleach aren't the best options for cleaning green and black algae. Even if you try to remove the algae, it can easily grow back because these cleaning methods don't effectively attack the full growth. Meaning there are traces of algae left behind, and it can quickly come back.
Hydrogen peroxide, used as a household disinfectant and cleaning agent, kills algae. Hydrogen peroxide does not differentiate between algae and other organic items like plant roots, so it must be used with care to avoid killing desired plants.
Hardware stores and home centers sell products designed to kill moss and algae, but you can save money by using inexpensive chlorine bleach or a non-creamy hand dishwashing detergent, such as Dawn.
Put a few drops of dish soap into a bucket of warm water. Swirl your fingers around till the water lathers. Dip a brush into the water, then scrub algae-covered spots on your furniture. It will help remove most algae, especially in the early infestation stage.
Q Here in the Pacific Northwest, one solution I have found effective in the removal of algae from our brick patio is to spray the surface with apple cider vinegar. I use a pump sprayer early in the spring on a dry day, and it lasts the entire year. The vinegar smells for a short time, but leaves nothing to wash off.