Dear Annie,
Can you recommend a pet-safe way to treat an outdoor water pond/fountain. We have one in our yard but I have been hesitant to add chemicals that may be harmful to the dogs. – Anne, CA
Dear Anne,
I asked my friend Mick for the answer, as he has had many koi pools over the years, and here is what he suggests: “One thing that I have done with my small ponds in the past is throw a bunch of pre-1980 (100% copper) pennies in where there is a lot of water movement. The copper oxidizes and helps to control algae.” He also uses an oxy-based product for periodic “shock” treatments.
