Lakes and Ponds

How does REGEN-Blue® pond dye control algae?

What is daylight?

Daylight (or white light) is made up of a series of colours, collectively referred to as a spectrum.

This is known because when a beam of white light is passed through a glass prism; the white light splits into seven visible colours with red shades at one end through to blues and violets at the other.

Filters block colours

When a white light source has a coloured filter placed over the beam the observer will then see the light as a colour, i.e. a green filter shows as green – blue as blue, etc.

It is useful to realize that when white light hits the filter, the other colours are being blocked. The filter is allowing only certain colours of the spectrum through.

Dye blocks the red end of the spectrum

By adding REGEN-Blue® to water, a filter is being created to block colours from the red end of the spectrum getting through to the bottom of your pond or lake.

How does this help?

Photosynthesis needs red light

All plants, surface or submerged use the process of photosynthesis to thrive and grow and the whole process relies on red light to drive it.

By adding a filter to the pond or lake water you are blocking some, or all, of the red light and the process of photosynthesis is interrupted, with the result of little or no further growth.

Calculate the volume of water in the pond:
Width (metres) x Length (m) x Depth (m) x 1,000 = Litres

• Additional sachets can be added to darken the water further
• You cannot overdose.

Wear gloves when handling. Do not open the sachet or touch the powder. Place the soluble sachet in the middle of the pond and let it dissolve.

Maintenance Top Ups:

A general starting guide is 10% of the original dose each month.

REGEN-Blue® Dye Powder Sachets

By supplying REGEN-Blue® dye powder in separate water-soluble sachets it is easy to calculate the number required to dose a lake or pond.

In large lakes, if a boat is being used, simply drop sachets in different areas where they will dissolve releasing the blue dye. By spreading the area, the time taken for Pond Blue dye to fully mix with the water is reduced.

If a boat is unavailable face the water with a breeze coming from behind. Drop a few sachets along the edge and throw the others into the water. The breeze will move the water and the blue powder dye will dissolve and mix in quite freely. Pond Blue will fully mix with all of the water using this method but may take a little longer.

REGEN-Blue® Dye Liquid

If a boat is being used, gently pour the amount required into a wide area. The blue liquid dye rapidly disperses and will fully mix with all the water in the lake.

If a boat is not available pour the desired amount into the water near the bank. To speed up the distribution it is preferable to use the banks of the lake that have a breeze flowing towards the middle.

Regardless of which method is used, the water will look to have more colour in the first few days because it takes a little longer to mix from the top to the bottom.

Avoid ingestion, inhalation, skin and eye contact of the powder. Do not use in or near potable (drinking) water. Wash any contaminated clothing separately.

In its diluted form, Parklink’s Dye is SAFE for all aquatic creatures and for livestock to drink.

Frequently asked questions about pond dyes
The list of REGEN-Blue® pond dye FAQs is forever growing as we add our answers to your questions to help the decision making of our customer’s future purchases. If your question is not below please ask away. We are happy to assist and we will add your question(s) about Dyofix pond dyes to this list.

Will REGEN-Blue® work in all ponds and lakes?
Our pond dyes will create a light filter in all waters. The minimum doses do require at least 1 metre of overall depth, anything less requires more to compensate, for example, a pond at half a metre will need a double dose.
Please note that not all weeds and algae are susceptible to treated water at minimum concentrations.

How long the pond dye last?
There is no definitive answer to this question as strong sunlight and rainfall both have an effect on the dye. The Sun will fade the dye and rainfall will dilute it. We suggest that a monthly top up of 10 to 15% of the original dose should be made in order to keep the dye concentration at its best.

I have fish in my pond, will they be safe?
The dosage recommended is very low and has no effect on fish. The European regulations have a fish test that uses the dyes in concentrations 1000 times greater than our suggested dose without any harmful effects.

My pet drinks from our pond, will it be ok?
Dogs, cats, rabbits… We have been asked this question many times and there appear to be many exotic ‘pets’ as well as the more popular ones. Water treated with REGEN-Blue® dye will not be any different to the way it was before being added, so, if the pets were OK before, they will remain that way. Please be aware of Blue Green Algae:

Our pond is visited by frogs/newts/Insects/invertebrates/dogs/cats/rabbits/insects – will the treated water be safe for them to drink?
The actual dye content in the water is very low and will not be harmful.
An interesting observation:
Please note that a well known brand of energy drink has 65 times more dye per litre than a litre of pond water dosed at the minimum rate!

Does REGEN-Blue® help reduce weed growth as well as algae?
Yes. Rooted weeds at the bottom of the pond require sunlight to grow in exactly the same way as algae. Weeds that have leaves at, or above the surface of the water will be able to benefit from the sunlight, so it is recommended that REGEN-Blue® pond dyes should be applied in early Spring before the weeds start to grow. Prevention is always better than a cure!

The weeds in our lake are growing, is it too late to use REGEN-Blue®?
Some weeds require more light than others to photosynthesise, those requiring a lot of light may not be able to support their own growth even when they have hit the surface. As stated above, try to apply the first dose in spring before growth is established.

What happens if we put too much pond dye in our water?
The water will be a deeper shade, and possibly opaque. Over time, rainfall will dilute the colour to the point where it will all be gone. It can also be diluted by adding more water. If emptying the pond is required, the water should be flushed into soil beds – please avoid letting over-dyed water get into surface drains or streams. Any water getting into a stream or drain will not be harmful, but anyone seeing coloured water flowing by may report this “pollution” to the authorities for investigation.

Does the pond dye stain?
In concentrated form, dyes WILL stain hands and clothing, so it is always recommended that gloves should be worn when handling the products. At recommended dilution rates no staining will occur.
REGEN-Reflect® uses a higher concentration of dye and may result in slight discolouration of surrounding stones and water features.
Spillages of the dye on surrounding areas should be washed with copious amounts of water first and strong sunlight should fade any residue.

Is it safe to swim in water treated with Dyofix pond dyes?
Yes. All Parklink’s Pond products are made using European Food Approved Colours, but give the concentrated dye time to mix into the water before diving in!

Can we use more than the recommended dose?
Yes,  REGEN-Blue® can be overdosed by many hundreds of times. It is sometimes necessary to add more than the minimum dosage, for example, if the weeds have grown and are getting near to the surface, this is normally 2, 3 or 4 times the minimum, but it depends on just how close to the surface the weeds are. There are a few lake owners that want to enhance the look of their lakes and, as with Kew Gardens in 2013, they used 10 times the minimum dose.

I have seen photographs where REGEN-Blue® has been used and this made the water look very blue, why is that?
There can be many reasons, photographs taken as the pond is being dosed, owners deliberately overdosing for effect, even the reflection of a blue sky can make the water look bluer than it actually is. It is almost impossible to capture just how pale the water is once coloured.

How deep in shade will the water be once the pond dye has been applied?
The illustration here shows that the minimum dose is almost imperceptible. Please note that the colours shown are indicative and are not intended to be taken as accurate.

How long does it take for REGEN-Blue® dye to mix into a pond?
This depends on a number of factors. The size of the pond – with a very big pond, it may be difficult to reach the middle (without using a boat). The “stillness” of the water – the more movement of the water, the quicker the pond dye will mix. If re-circulating pumps are used the mixing will take less time. The simple movement of fish helps to distribute the dye.

Will the Dye damage water pumps?
No. The dye is completely soluble and will pass through pumps and filters very easily.

Can REGEN-Blue® be used with other pond dyes?
REGEN-Blue® can be used with other chemicals provided that they are not Chlorine based. Chlorine will attack the dye by bleaching it and rendering it useless.

What do I do with unused REGEN-Blue®dye?
Keep it in a cool, dry place with the lid firmly in place and use it for “topping up” or the following years(s). Stored in this way, REGEN-Blue® has a long shelf life.

• Controls the growth of unsightly algae and weed
• Hides fish from predators such as herons and cats
• Gives a rich depth quality to water
• Creates a beautiful contrast with plants & shrubs
• Cost effective and easy to apply 

Non-toxic, safe and easy to apply

Commercial pond dyes are non-toxic, high-quality, food colours providing a cost-effective method of controlling algae and weeds without affecting the health of fish, wildlife and plants.

Parklink’s commercial pond and lake dyes are supplied in two forms; powder sachets to treat large bodies of water and a liquid solution for smaller fisheries and large ponds.

REGEN-Blue® is the first of our commercial pond dyes for use in large lakes. REGEN-Blue® is the most popular and economical pond dye available. We later introduced REGEN-Reflect® for a twilight effect and now trialling a special dye, Special C, to combat Crassula Helmsii and Chara.

How does REGEN-Reflect® pond dye control algae?

What is daylight?

Daylight (or white light) is made up of a series of colours, collectively referred to as a spectrum.

This is known because when a beam of white light is passed through a glass prism; the white light splits into seven visible colours with red shades at one end through to blues and violets at the other.

Filters block colours

When a white light source has a coloured filter placed over the beam the observer will then see the light as a colour, i.e. a green filter shows as green – blue as blue, etc.

It is useful to realize that when white light hits the filter, the other colours are being blocked. The filter is allowing only certain colours of the spectrum through.

Dye blocks the red end of the spectrum

By adding REGEN-Reflect® to water, a filter is being created to block colours from the red end of the spectrum getting through to the bottom of your pond or lake.

How does this help?

Photosynthesis needs red light

All plants, surface or submerged use the process of photosynthesis to thrive and grow and the whole process relies on red light to drive it.

By adding a filter to the pond or lake water you are blocking some, or all, of the red light and the process of photosynthesis is interrupted, with the result of little or no further growth.

Calculate the volume of water in the pond:
Width (metres) x Length (m) x Depth (m) x 1,000 = Litres

• Additional sachets can be added to darken the water further
• You cannot overdose.

Wear gloves when handling. Do not open the sachet or touch the powder. Place the soluble sachet in the middle of the pond and let it dissolve.

Maintenance Top Ups:

A general starting guide is 10% of the original dose each month.

REGEN-Reflect® Dye Powder Sachets

By supplying REGEN-Reflect® dye powder in separate water-soluble sachets it is easy to calculate the number required to dose a lake or pond.

In large lakes, if a boat is being used, simply drop sachets in different areas where they will dissolve releasing the blue dye. By spreading the area, the time taken for Pond Reflect dye to fully mix with the water is reduced.

If a boat is unavailable face the water with a breeze coming from behind. Drop a few sachets along the edge and throw the others into the water. The breeze will move the water and the blue powder dye will dissolve and mix in quite freely. Pond Reflect will fully mix with all of the water using this method but may take a little longer.

REGEN-Reflect® Dye Liquid

If a boat is being used, gently pour the amount required into a wide area. The blue liquid dye rapidly disperses and will fully mix with all the water in the lake.

If a boat is not available pour the desired amount into the water near the bank. To speed up the distribution it is preferable to use the banks of the lake that have a breeze flowing towards the middle.

Regardless of which method is used, the water will look to have more colour in the first few days because it takes a little longer to mix from the top to the bottom.

Avoid ingestion, inhalation, skin and eye contact of the powder. Do not use in or near potable (drinking) water. Wash any contaminated clothing separately.

In its diluted form, Parklink’s Dye is SAFE for all aquatic creatures and for livestock to drink.

Frequently asked questions about pond dyes
The list of REGEN-Reflect® pond dye FAQs is forever growing as we add our answers to your questions to help the decision making of our customer’s future purchases. If your question is not below please ask away. We are happy to assist and we will add your question(s) about Dyofix pond dyes to this list.

Will REGEN-Reflect® work in all ponds and lakes?
Our pond dyes will create a light filter in all waters. The minimum doses do require at least 1 metre of overall depth, anything less requires more to compensate, for example, a pond at half a metre will need a double dose.
Please note that not all weeds and algae are susceptible to treated water at minimum concentrations.

How long the pond dye last?
There is no definitive answer to this question as strong sunlight and rainfall both have an effect on the dye. The Sun will fade the dye and rainfall will dilute it. We suggest that a monthly top up of 10 to 15% of the original dose should be made in order to keep the dye concentration at its best.

I have fish in my pond, will they be safe?
The dosage recommended is very low and has no effect on fish. The European regulations have a fish test that uses the dyes in concentrations 1000 times greater than our suggested dose without any harmful effects.

My pet drinks from our pond, will it be ok?
Dogs, cats, rabbits… We have been asked this question many times and there appear to be many exotic ‘pets’ as well as the more popular ones. Water treated with REGEN-Reflect® dye will not be any different to the way it was before being added, so, if the pets were OK before, they will remain that way. Please be aware of Blue Green Algae:

Our pond is visited by frogs/newts/Insects/invertebrates/dogs/cats/rabbits/insects – will the treated water be safe for them to drink?
The actual dye content in the water is very low and will not be harmful.
An interesting observation:
Please note that a well known brand of energy drink has 65 times more dye per litre than a litre of pond water dosed at the minimum rate!

Does REGEN-Reflect® help reduce weed growth as well as algae?
Yes. Rooted weeds at the bottom of the pond require sunlight to grow in exactly the same way as algae. Weeds that have leaves at, or above the surface of the water will be able to benefit from the sunlight, so it is recommended that REGEN-Reflect® pond dyes should be applied in early Spring before the weeds start to grow. Prevention is always better than a cure!

The weeds in our lake are growing, is it too late to use REGEN-Reflect®?
Some weeds require more light than others to photosynthesise, those requiring a lot of light may not be able to support their own growth even when they have hit the surface. As stated above, try to apply the first dose in spring before growth is established.

What happens if we put too much pond dye in our water?
The water will be a deeper shade, and possibly opaque. Over time, rainfall will dilute the colour to the point where it will all be gone. It can also be diluted by adding more water. If emptying the pond is required, the water should be flushed into soil beds – please avoid letting over-dyed water get into surface drains or streams. Any water getting into a stream or drain will not be harmful, but anyone seeing coloured water flowing by may report this “pollution” to the authorities for investigation.

Does the pond dye stain?
In concentrated form, dyes WILL stain hands and clothing, so it is always recommended that gloves should be worn when handling the products. At recommended dilution rates no staining will occur.
REGEN-Reflect® uses a higher concentration of dye and may result in slight discolouration of surrounding stones and water features.
Spillages of the dye on surrounding areas should be washed with copious amounts of water first and strong sunlight should fade any residue.

Is it safe to swim in water treated with Dyofix pond dyes?
Yes. All Parklink’s Pond products are made using European Food Approved Colours, but give the concentrated dye time to mix into the water before diving in!

Can we use more than the recommended dose?
Yes,  REGEN-Reflect® can be overdosed by many hundreds of times. It is sometimes necessary to add more than the minimum dosage, for example, if the weeds have grown and are getting near to the surface, this is normally 2, 3 or 4 times the minimum, but it depends on just how close to the surface the weeds are. There are a few lake owners that want to enhance the look of their lakes and, as with Kew Gardens in 2013, they used 10 times the minimum dose.

I have seen photographs where REGEN-Reflect® has been used and this made the water look very blue, why is that?
There can be many reasons, photographs taken as the pond is being dosed, owners deliberately overdosing for effect, even the reflection of a blue sky can make the water look bluer than it actually is. It is almost impossible to capture just how pale the water is once coloured.

How deep in shade will the water be once the pond dye has been applied?
The illustration here shows that the minimum dose is almost imperceptible. Please note that the colours shown are indicative and are not intended to be taken as accurate.

How long does it take for REGEN-Reflect® dye to mix into a pond?
This depends on a number of factors. The size of the pond – with a very big pond, it may be difficult to reach the middle (without using a boat). The “stillness” of the water – the more movement of the water, the quicker the pond dye will mix. If re-circulating pumps are used the mixing will take less time. The simple movement of fish helps to distribute the dye.

Will the Dye damage water pumps?
No. The dye is completely soluble and will pass through pumps and filters very easily.

Can REGEN-Reflect® be used with other pond dyes?
REGEN-Reflect® can be used with other chemicals provided that they are not Chlorine based. Chlorine will attack the dye by bleaching it and rendering it useless.

What do I do with unused REGEN-Reflect®dye?
Keep it in a cool, dry place with the lid firmly in place and use it for “topping up” or the following years(s). Stored in this way, REGEN-Reflect® has a long shelf life.

• Controls the growth of unsightly algae and weed
• Hides fish from predators such as herons and cats
• Gives a rich depth quality to water
• Creates a beautiful contrast with plants & shrubs
• Cost effective and easy to apply 

Non-toxic, safe and easy to apply

Commercial pond dyes are non-toxic, high-quality, food colours providing a cost-effective method of controlling algae and weeds without affecting the health of fish, wildlife and plants.

Parklink’s commercial pond and lake dyes are supplied in two forms; powder sachets to treat large bodies of water and a liquid solution for smaller fisheries and large ponds.

A weak microbial community can be a contributing factor leading to poor water quality and poor clarity. Chemical treatments, washouts, and runoff are all common events that can negatively impact the abundance or activity of microbes in an aquatic environment. Ailing microbes and poor floc-formation can limit the community’s natural capabilities and lead to increased turbidity and nutrient overloading.

REGEN-Clarify^® proprietary formula uses select bacteria cultures and bio-stimulants to enhance biological flocculation. This process creates a microfloc which further removes turbidity from the water column. REGEN-Clarify^® provides a natural way to improve water clarity and quality.

Water bodies have stress from both external and internal sources. Excessive rains or draught combined with the ongoing use of algaecides and herbicides deplete the microbial communities that are fundamental to nutrient removal in water bodies. This imbalance in the ecosystem leads to elevated nutrient issues and can result in excessive aquatic plant growth, continuing algal blooms, and HAB’s (Harmful Algal Blooms).

REGEN-Balance^® was formulated through years of research by obtaining samples from lakes and ponds across the Globe when water temperatures were mild. The natural microbial communities in the samples were analyzed to understand population densities and the specific organisms that are depleted by stresses. This research is how Parklink was able to create a probiotic that supplements natural populations and supports indigenous organisms that are functional and native to that geography. REGEN-Balance^® is more than simple additions of beneficial bacteria. It is a scientifically formulated probiotic that works in harmony with the microbial communities that play key roles in nitrogen and phosphorus uptake. Real science. Real Results.