Pond
Maintenance Tips
Pond
Problems
Pond Problems
1. Green Water
2. String Algae
Treatments
Chlorine
Bacteria
Enzymes
Pond Tips
Aeration
Build your own Biological Filter
Pond Problems
There are thousands of variables, which affect the ecosystems of pond water. Natural microscopic and organic contaminants increase from our environment, dead plants, insects, uneaten
fish food and waste from pond creatures. Indigenous bacteria (Mother Nature's
natural cleaning agent) cannot be bought off a store shelf but it can be grown naturally under ideal conditions as long as
the environment in your pond is established correctly. Once Mother Nature has
balanced your water, your job then is to enjoy your water creation. The following
will attempt to help you in getting your water balanced; it’s simple once you understand how Mother Nature Works.
Green Water
Biological Filters
Lets start from the beginning troubleshooting your pond to see what’s
going on or what’s missing. The main cause of constant green water is the
lack of a proper Biological Filter (the stomach of your pond). We as humans cannot
sustain life without our stomachs, this is where nutrients are digested and then carried throughout our body. Ponds naturally function in the same manner. Ponds need a proper stomach; a place where natural bacteria
is allowed to grow and digest pond nutrients. In the wild, ponds and lakes are
pristine…these bodies of water are naturally balanced by Mother Nature’s indigenous bacteria that live at the
bottom in what’s called an earth bottom. Manmade ponds are lined
either with plastic or rubber liners, unnatural surfaces where bacteria cannot grow. The bacteria need a home to colonize
and grow in. This home can be provided by a biological-filter. Many think the foam filter on the pump is their biological filter, not so. The purpose of the foam is to
keep debris from damaging the pump - It is not a biological filter.
There are dozens of different biological filters on the market.
Each is designed a little different but they all attempt to perform the same task…providing a stomach for the pond. It is essential that all manmade ponds have some type of biological filtration system. For large bodies of water (2,000 gallons and up) there are systems that skim the water
and then return the water through a biological filter. Others are simpler, either they sit on the bottom drawing water through
them, or others that are canister types sit outside of the pond. Again without
a proper biological filter your pond will never balance and you will have problems all summer long. Most filters are rated by pond water volume in gallons. Check with a local retailer for the proper size
requirement for your ponds.
String Algae (Blanket Weed – Hair Algae)
This particular weed has the ability to grow on rocks, sometimes becoming as long as
three to four feet. A little blanket weed for a pond is natural, they harbor small aquatic life such as, small zooplanktons (Daphnia magna or Cladocerans) and protozoa. These creatures all act as little
vacuums that feed on algae. There are many products that attempt to control blanket
weed. Barley, which I recommend, is less abrasive to aquatic life. Products that release vital oxygen will break down the cell walls of blanket weed and are very good for
cleaning waterfalls. Most algaecides, if overdosing occurs, can kill not only
other aquatic plants but fish as well. Hand cultivation is time consuming but
the most practical of all measures.
Treatment for hybrid string algae
String Algae reproduces so fast in cell reproduction
that the plant becomes immune to many of the relied on treatments. For instance, Penicillin for years was the treatment
offered by physicians to control human viruses; many viruses are now immune to this drug. This seems to be the case
with many chemical treatments in fighting string algae. Plants have an outer barrier to protect themselves.
Enzymes - The benefit of a true bacteria free enzyme product
is that the enzymes have ability to fracture the outside cell wall of the string algae. This process allows treatments
such as herbicides and or algaecides to work more effectively; enabling these treatments to enter the plant(s). *Barley
also works more effectively when bacteria free enzyme treatments are used.
For Best Results: Add enzyme product 24 hours prior
to any string algae treatments.
Treatments
Store shelves are stocked with a wonder of products each touting
a claim of one sort or another, so you need to understand what you are really buying.
Chlorine
Small amounts of chlorine will burn fish gills, either killing them
or stunting their growth. A good de-chlorinator must be used if you are on a
chlorinated water system.
Bacteria
Ponds new or old need to be restarted with fresh bacteria each spring. Bacteria seeds biological filters with new strains of bacteria. Keep this in mind, “last years bacteria will never be as strong or as good as this years bacteria”. Mother Natures Indigenous Bacteria functions at all temperatures. The problem in manmade ponds is over capacity of plants and fish and that they exceed the ability
to keep water clean until water becomes warmer. This is why in the spring it takes longer to naturally balance aquatic water.
Manmade bacteria will not function below 45°F. Even at 50°F manmade
bacteria are sluggish. As water warms, bacteria become more aggressive. Manmade
bacteria becomes idle at 45°F. When the water warms up only half of what idled will come back to life. So if you have a week of 40°F nights and 60°F days, the bacteria you added at the beginning of the week
has long since died off. In the spring it normally takes three to four weeks
of above average weather to have a pond balance itself – be patient. Once
the pond has become balanced a booster dose of bacteria is recommended every three or four weeks.
Pond bacteria are sold under dozens of different names. You must
understand what you are buying. You may purchase a product that promotes bacteria
growth and then you buy a product that claims to clean ponds. In reality you
have actually purchased the same element of “bacteria” twice, just named differently.
Enzymes
Green Water, Cloudy Water
Indigenous bacteria (Mother Nature's natural cleaning agent) have the ability to eat nutrients
that cause algae and green water. However, they will not and cannot eat the actual
algae. This is where our enzymes come into play.
Enzymes feed the Indigenous Bacteria by breaking down organic contaminants such as algae, while balancing pH. There is no other product available that will do what an Enzyme will do. Our unique enzyme blend is a balanced package that kick starts indigenous bacteria to break down contaminants,
which are naturally formed and found in ponds.
Regardless of what type of manmade bacteria you use, our enzyme product will triple the bacteria’s
performance allowing the bacteria to perform more effectively. Enzymes are added
to the pond at the time bacteria is first added and then reapplied throughout the summer.
Pond Tips
In the spring it is a very good idea to do a pond clean out…removing
leaves and old sedimentation that formed over the winter months. Do not stir
the sedimentation that has settled at the bottom of the pond, this matter contains anaerobic (bad) bacteria and other
toxins that are toxic to Koi and Goldfish.
Aeration
Fish need oxygen, as do bacteria. The more oxygen supplied to your
water, the faster it will balance out and become much more easier to maintain.
Build your own Biological filter
This technique is great for smaller ponds as well as larger ones. In earth bottom ponds, the base is the biological filter. In manmade ponds this is
not the case. We are then to rely on the mechanical biological filter, which in many cases cannot handle the true load of
the pond.
Very popular in pond construction is an area that is built as a
bog. This area allows water - full of nutrient rich organics - the ability to be flushed through the bog – another
biological filtration.
100 to 1,000 gallons
Products needed
1 Open cell foam pad that is 1/3 the size of the pond’s bottom
and 3 to 4 inches thick
1 to 3 five-gallon pails of lava rock or laterite or even coral
(make sure the coral is pH neutral)
1 – adequate sized pump
Directions:
In the center of the foam pad cut a circle 2” larger than
the size of the pump. Place foam in the center of the pond, place pump in the
foam cutout circle. Cover the entire foam surface with 2 to 3” of lava
rock. Cover up to the pump but do not bury it. Note: Pre-wash the lava rock before placing on foam.
Purpose:
As the pump pulls in the water it is pulling nutrients through the
foam pad and lava (where bacteria is colonizing and growing). Nutrients will
be absorbed in your new biological filter. Remember to jump start your new biological
filter with bacteria and enzymes otherwise it may take weeks to establish a good colony of bacteria.
Suggested IPS-CareFree Enzymes Inc. Products:
Treatment Size: 100
to 1,000 gallons
Pond and Fountain Protector 16oz – Enzymes
Pond Builder Starter 16oz – Bacteria
Chloramine/Chlorine Destroyer 16oz
Barley Bags
Fountain Oxidizer 16oz
Treatment Size: 2,000
to 50,000 gallons
Pond Protector Concentrate 33.9oz – Enzymes
Pond Builder Starter 16oz – Bacteria
Chloramine/Chlorine Destroyer 33.9oz
Barley Bags
Fountain / Pond Oxidizer 2lbs.
Treatment Size: 50,000
gallons to several Acres
Lake Protector 64oz, 128oz - Enzymes
Lake Builder Booster 4oz, 8oz, 1lb - Bacteria
