See green film or “paint” on your pond? Don’t guess—know if it’s toxic.
Get a FREE Cyanobacteria Screening from Natural Waterscapes. Send a sample, get lab-reviewed results—and start safe prevention today.
Cyanobacteria can produce harmful toxins—and you can’t confirm it by sight alone.
- Some blooms look like green paint, film, or jelly-like blobs—but a microscope is required to confirm cyanobacteria.
- Dried shoreline scums can retain toxins (e.g., microcystin) and re-dissolve back into the water later.
- Toxins can be released when cells die; always handle suspected blooms with care and follow PPE guidance.
Quick visual check: flag suspicious growth
These cues help you decide to submit a sample. (Confirmation still requires microscopy.)
“Green paint” slicks / powdery film (surface)
Forms floating surface scums that look like green paint or powder; common in warm, nutrient-rich, calm water and often accumulates along leeward shores.
Dark benthic mats / hair-like strands
Grows as dark, slimy bottom mats with long, hair-like strands; mats can gas-lift, detach, and drift to the surface or collect along shorelines after wind.
Jelly-like green blobs
Appears as gelatinous green blobs or cushions in shallow, calm areas; colonies feel jelly-like and can expand rapidly after rains or nutrient pulses.
Dense, tough bottom mats (often very dark)
Develops dense, tough, fibrous bottom mats that are dark green to black; clumps may tear loose, float, and collect in coves or along windward shores.
How the FREE screening works
While you wait: safe prevention plan
- Keep people and pets away from suspect water and shorelines.
- Run or install aeration to boost oxygen and circulation.
- Shade the water with pond dye to limit sunlight that fuels growth.
- Cut phosphorus—bind phosphate now to remove a key algae food source.
- Add beneficial bacteria to digest organics and consume excess nutrients.
- Document it—photos, wind and weather notes help tailor your treatment plan.
Phosphate Binder (MetaFloc)
Biological clarifier and phosphorus binder that improves water clarity and permanently binds phosphorus; safe for fish and wildlife.
Shop Phosphate BinderBeneficial Bacteria
Reduces nutrients (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate) and odors—works best with aeration.
Shop BacteriaAeration (Bottom or Surface)
Increases dissolved oxygen and circulation; helps limit nutrient release from muck.
See AeratorsNeed an answer today?
Cyanotoxin Test Kit (microcystin + anatoxin) gives results in ~30 minutes.
Test for ToxinsWhat your results unlock
Confirmed cyanobacteria? We’ll prioritize nutrient control and aeration, maintain dye, and if advised, apply an appropriate algaecide—then bind released nutrients to prevent rebound.
Not cyanobacteria? Keep up prevention (aeration + dye + bacteria + phosphate binder) and monitor runoff, muck, and waterfowl inputs.