Treatments, medications & test kits

See the top of the page for common product specific questions. Scroll down for help with using our treatments.

Products

What do you recommend for treating:

Green Away, is an effective treatment for green water algae. It is important that the pH must be between 6.5 and 8.5. The pH of your pond can be tested using a Blagdon Pond Health Test Kit; incorrect pH can be remedied by using the pH Adjuster range. The pH of pond water has a natural diurnal cycle. This means that the pH of the pond water will be lowest in the morning and highest in the evening. Because of this, we would recommend that the Green Away is administered in the morning.

For guaranteed clear water, add a UVC (Ultraviolet Clarifier) to your filtration system, or purchase a filter with an intergrated UV.

Clean Pond Pods are a quick and easy, 5-in-1 water treatment to tackle the most common pond problems.

Effective against blanketweed/string algae, consumes sludge, makes tap water safe and feeds aquatic plants.

Due to the gentle and natural way Clean Pond Pods work within the pond ecosystem, results will be most effective when used over a consistent period of time and are not an ‘overnight’ solution. Blanketweed reduction should become apparent within a month of starting treatment.

Or,

Pond Balance, is an extremely effective solution for filamentous algae, more commonly known as blanket weed. The product works by making calcium unavailable for use in cell structured growth. The net effect of this is that over the thirty days of the treatment, the blanket weed is literally starved out of existence, initially becoming weaker, falling apart and eventually disintegrating completely.

It is important to identify the calcium source and eliminate it to allow the Pond Balance to work effectively. Excess calcium can be introduced via: brick lined ponds; rocks added to the pond; cement and paved pond edging, tap water from hard water areas etc.

Clear Pond, is an effective treatment for cloudy water. It is important that the pH must be between 6.5 and 8.5. The pH of your pond can be tested using Pond Check; incorrect pH can be remedied by using the pH Adjuster range. The pH of pond water has a natural diurnal cycle. This means that the pH of the pond water will be lowest in the morning and highest in the evening. Because of this, we would recommend that the Clear Pond is administered in the morning.

What pH does the Pond Grenade work in?

All pH’s which would be suitable for pond fish and wildlife.

What temperature does Pond Grenade work in?

All pond water temperatures down to 10 degrees Celsius. Once the water temperature drops below this, the bacteria activity slows down and fish are not feeding, so it is not necessary to dose.

How do I get a more intense blue water colour with Blagdon Blue Pond Colour?

Adjust the dosage to suit your colour preference. Reapply the Blue Pond Colour periodically to maintain a beautiful blue shade as it naturally fades over time.

How long do Clean Pond Pods take to work?

Due to the gentle and natural way Clean Pond Pods work within the pond ecosystem, results will be most effective when used over a consistent period of time and are not an ‘overnight’ solution.

Blanketweed reduction should become apparent within a month of starting treatment. For long-term effectiveness, usage should begin when water temperatures reach 10°C – around April in the UK – and continued monthly until daily temperatures drop below 10°C. This dosing schedule will maintain a clean and healthy pond and reduce filter maintenance throughout the pond season.

Can I put Clean Pond Pods directly into my filter?

Clean Pond Pods work very effectively in the filter which is why we designed Clean Pond Machine specifically to work in conjunction with the pods. If you want to add the pods directly to your own filter, that is possible provided there is room for the pod to move about and dissolve and it would not impact on any of the filter’s functions.

However, Clean Pond Pods have been designed to work in the filter AND/OR directly in the pond. We recommend adding them to a high flow area of the pond such as the base of a waterfall or the outlet/water return of the filter.

Is it safe for pets and wildlife to drink from my pond if I use the Pods?

Yes, Clean Pond Pods are completely safe for pets and wildlife.

EXTRACT OF BARLEY STRAW – why is it not working?

Extract of Barley Straw is a natural product and will not work as quickly as a chemical. As all pond environments are unique, there are also some instances when the natural approach may not be an appropriate one. Sometimes, it is a question of using an alternative product initially, and then continuing with Extract of Barley Straw, once the problem is under control.

BIO START – is it harmful to pond plants?

Since it is a natural product there should be no risk to the plants. However, we have not specifically tested the product on each type of plant. We have never had any reports of any issues and are confident that it would not cause an issue.

CLEAR POND – why is this treatment not working?

For Clear Pond to work the pH must be between 6.5 and 8.5. The pH of your pond can be tested using a Blagdon Pond Health Test Kit, incorrect pH can be remedied by using the pH Adjuster range. The pond may contain unusually large lightweight particles which can easily be stirred up by currents in the pond or by larger fish. Clear Pond works by coagulating small particles and is therefore not intended to overcome this problem. The answer in this case is to install a pond filter. Various models are available from your local aquatic centre.

If neither of the above apply and the initial treatment with Clear Pond only partially cleared the water, it is recommended that a second dose be administered the next day. To reassure you that the product is working, we suggest that you carry out a test by adding two drops of Clear Pond to a milk bottle filled with pond water. After a few hours, you should notice that there is a sediment on the bottom of the bottle and clear water.

DUCKWEED BUSTER – why is it not killing my duckweed?

Duckweed Buster is a liquid formulation containing a selected range of bacteria which have been stabilised and will remain dormant until they are introduced into water which contains dissolved oxygen. It acts as a natural control agent, which preferentially takes up key nutrients which are important in the growth of Duckweed. In this way it very specifically modifies the chemistry of the water in a pond without having a negative effect on the fish and other plants.

Although Duckweed Buster works well under most conditions, it must be remembered that it will not kill existing Duckweed and it is important to remove as much of the existing weed as possible before applying the product.

It is less effective in ponds where there is a substantial build-up of organic matter at the bottom of the pond. Although the Duckweed plants get their nutrients from the water, as these are used up, further nutrients will be released from the bottom mud and silt, where they have been bound up in the organic matter. This makes it very difficult for the selected bacteria in Duckweed Buster to change the water chemistry and thus suppress the growth of the Duckweed. To remove organic matter, we would recommend the use of our Sludge Buster product.

BLANKET WEED BUSTER – how long does it take to clear algae?

As every pond environment is unique and the product is a natural, bacterial product, it is not possible to say how long it will take to clear your pond. However, you can use the product more frequently to “kick-start” the process. You can also try adding the required dose to warm tap water and leaving overnight before putting into the pond. This will encourage the bacteria to incubate and be more effective more quickly. It is important to persevere with treatment as it can take up to 4 weeks to see any impact.

FRESH START – how long do I have to wait before adding the fish?

You can introduce the fish immediately.

GREEN AWAY – why has my water turned red/brown colour after using this?

The most likely reason is that the pH is not between 6.5 and 8.5. Test the pH of the water using a Test Kit and then use a pH Adjuster to bring the pH back into the safe band. You will need to locate the source of the high/low though. If the pH is high, this could be high nutrients or calcium leaking from concrete in or around the pond. If there is any untreated concrete, it needs to be sealed. Nutrients can be used reduced by carrying out a series of partial water changes. If the pH is low then the possible causes are rotting vegetation, inefficient filtration and overstocking.

GREEN AWAY – why is there no difference to my pond after I have used this?

Green Away is an extremely effective product for treating green water algae.
In circumstances when the green water has not cleared after treatment, it could be due to the water chemistry or fine particles.

1. For Green Away to work the pH must be between 6.5 and 8.5. The pH of your pond can be tested using a Blagdon Pond Test Kit, incorrect pH can be remedied by using the pH Adjuster range.

2. The pond may contain unusually large lightweight particles which can easily be stirred up by currents in the pond or by larger fish. Green Away works by coagulating small particles and is therefore not intended to overcome this problem. The answer in this case is to install a pond filter. Various models are available from your local aquatic centre. Green water can also be removed by introducing a UVC to the pond, this uses UV light to kill suspended algae in the water as part of a filtration system.

If neither of the above apply and the initial treatment with Green Away only partially cleared the water, it is recommended that a second dose be administered the next day.
To reassure you that the product is working, we suggest that you carry out a test by adding two drops of Green Away to a glass filled with pond water. After a few hours, you should notice that there is a sediment on the bottom of the bottle and clear water.

SLUDGE BUSTER – how often can it be used?

Sludge Buster can be used fortnightly to maintain low waste levels. It is also ideal for using after any algae control products to break down the dead algae.

POND BALANCE – why has my pond has gone milky after using this?

This is not a problem – it will dissipate over time. This can happen depending on the individual pond’s water chemistry.

POND BALANCE – can I use a larger dose or more often?

You can continue to use every 10 days indefinitely and can use every 5 days if the problem is particularly severe, but we do not recommend the dose be increased.

POND BALANCE – what size is the spoon in the pack?

There is a 10 ml spoon in the pack.

BRILLIANT POND TABLETS – Are they safe for wildlife?

Yes, Brilliant Pond Tablets are perfectly safe for use with fish, wildlife and with plants.

BRILLIANT POND TABLETS – Can I break it and just use half?

Each Brilliant Pond Tablets treats 500 litres of water. It is fine to break the tablet in half to treat a pond of 250 litres or more.

Using Blagdon treatments

I have overdosed my pond, what do I do?

We advise that you conduct the following:

– Water change of 20-30% if possible
– Add extra oxygenation if fish look like they are struggling for air/gasping
– Remove chlorine from tap water with Fresh Start or Wildlife Pond Tapsafe
– Add activated carbon to remove excess treatment

Should I leave my UV light on during treatment?

We would recommend that you turn off your UV light as the UV can affect the effectiveness of the treatment and can cause the active ingredients to break down quicker, leading to an ineffective treatment.

Why do you recommend to remove the carbon from my filter when treating with medication?

Will the treatment harm wildlife or pets that drink from my pond?

We would advise that once a treatment is diluted in the pond it is perfectly safe for domestic animals or wildlife to drink from the pond.

Can I just change the treatment I am using?

If you want to use a new treatment, (either at the end of, or before finishing the course of a previous treatment) we would advise re-adding any carbon removed from the filter before the initial dose. You should then wait 7 days. Again, remove the carbon and then treat with the new treatment, following the instructions for that product.

I have used a pond fish medication, but the problem has not cleared up, can I re-dose?

Yes – you can start a new course of treatment after the initial course is complete and the correct amount of time between treatments has elapsed – we recommend waiting at least 7 days. However, if you have sensitive fish such as Orfe, Tench or Rudd in the pond, you must wait 10 days before re-dosing. We would also suggest using Pond Guardian Tonic Salt to reduce the stress levels of the fish and testing the quality of the water using a Master Test Kit.

Can I use 2 pond fish medications at the same time?

NO – it is not safe to mix fish medications. However, you can use ONE medication with any of our water quality or algae treatments.

Please can I have a list of ingredients?

We are unable to give any information regarding the chemical formulation/ingredients of our products, since this is all commercially sensitive material. However, we would like to reassure you that all our products comply with current regulations and where, legally, we are required to list them, we do so.

My fish are gasping since I added a medication to the pond – what should I do?

The gasping could be a result of the underlying condition, however it is not uncommon for oxygen levels to drop when treating. We advise ensuring filtration and pumps are all working well and that you add an air pump to boost water oxygen.

Can I use treatments in cold weather/in the winter?

Yes, all our fish and water treatments can be used in the colder weather although some may take longer to work as the fish and pond respond more slowly when water temperatures are below 10 degrees. Bacterial treatments like sludge buster will also take longer to give results as the bacteria do not work as quickly at lower temperatures.

Does the medication need to be kept in the fridge?

None of the Blagdon medications needs to be kept in the fridge but they should be kept in a cool, dark place, out of direct sunlight, under 25 degrees but avoid freezing.

Treatments, medications & test kits

Products

What do you recommend for treating:

Using Blagdon treatments

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