Filamentous algae are among the most difficult types of algal blooms to control without a structured scientific approach.
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Filamentous algae
Identify the source of the filaments
and permanently stop their spread
What you see
This phenomenon is clearly distinct from green water (phytoplankton):
- You may notice green or brown strands that look like wet wool, hair, or tightly packed cotton.
- First, they cover the bottom, rocks, and banks (benthic stage), then form dense floating clusters that drift with the wind.
- The water between the filaments often remains crystal-clear, unlike microscopic blooms, which cloud the entire volume.
- The clumps feel solid to the touch. They stick to your fingers, are rough, and don’t crumble like mud.
What this means
These structures are macroscopic multicellular algae (Cladophora, Spirogyra, or Mougeotia types). They function differently from aquatic plants: they do not have true roots but holdfasts that attach to any solid support.
Their explosion indicates the convergence of three factors (the "Filamentous Triad"):
- Water that is too clear: Light penetrates to the bottom, allowing photosynthesis from the substrate.
- A fertile sediment: The bottom is rich in phosphorus, offering a direct nutrient reservoir.
- The Photosynthetic Elevator: During their growth, algae produce pure oxygen. These gas bubbles remain trapped in the tangle of filaments, acting as natural floats that pull the algae from the bottom to bring it to the surface.
This profile is typical of artificial water bodies, ornamental ponds, and aging, nutrient-rich ecosystems.
Why act now?
Beyond their unsightly appearance, filamentous algae pose a major technical and biological risk:
- Obstruction of Facilities: This is the number 1 enemy of the technique. Solid fibers clog pumps in a few hours, saturate filters, block strainers, and can burn out irrigation motors.
- Biological Asphyxiation: Surface mats create an opaque screen that deprives noble flora of light. Furthermore, their dense mesh acts like a net that traps fry and small fauna.
- Massive Organic Pollution: These algae have a short life cycle. When they die and sink, their decomposition consumes a huge amount of oxygen (risk of anoxia) and turns into mud, accelerating the silting up of the site.
- Exponential Propagation: This is the greatest danger. Each fragment of algae is a potential cutting capable of recreating an entire colony. An invasion can double in size in two weeks.
The TASO Solution
Limit nutrients available to algae and disrupt algal growth by breaking down the filaments
Manual or mechanical removal is often a strategic mistake. By breaking the filaments, you scatter thousands of fragments that will recolonize the environment even more aggressively. Our approach is scientific: we cut off their food supply and disrupt their buoyancy.
Products
& Related Solutions
To get rid of string algae without using chemicals:
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Each protocol is tailored to the initial assessment, the characteristics of the body of water, and its intended uses.
