Dyeing to make a change to your pond

Textile dye manufacturer Town End (Leeds) plc has developed environmentally-friendly Dyofix – dyes for ponds and lakes to eliminate the build-up of algae and submerged weeds and improve the quality of water.

When the blue and black dyes are added, the subtle change in colour filters the UV rays that fuel the build-up of green algae, meaning that underwater weeds are denied their essential life source (light) and sink to the bottom of the pond.

As well as turning water pea green, algae, though vital for marine life all over the world, can be harmful to fish and other wildlife, and creates unsightly scum, the bane of any gardener with even a small pond.

When resources are plentiful, algae reproduce in record numbers, eating up larger and larger amounts of the resources available. Algal blooms can lead to overproduction, which will kill other marine life, both plants and fish.

"The very same dye types we manufacture for textiles and fabrics can be used completely safely in the countryside as they are based on organic food dyes that have been tested to the highest levels," said Peter Watson, production director at Town End.

"We started supplying Kew Gardens initially, but we have since developed a range of products that can be tailored to individual requirements of country estates, commercial fishing lakes, municipal parks, golf clubs and private gardens."

To treat a typical pond the size of a room with Dyofix costs less than 20; to treat a larger area of water the size of a football pitch costs in the region of 100.

Once applied, the product should last for several months.

YP MAG 5/6/10