Coal Ash Concrete Blocks for Reduction of Algal Growth and Ammonia Toxicity

Algal blooms have been a major problem in water systems due to the nuisance, toxicity and water quality deterioration. Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are present in pond mostly during the summer period. These organisms may impair the environment in various ways such as deoxygenation by decomposing in the water becoming potentially toxic to fish. Fertilizers are added to fish ponds to increase the production of fish and could accelerate the development of cyanobacteria. Reduction of cyanobacteria present in a pond was achieved by increasing the nitrogen to phosphorus ratio to 5 or more [1].