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The Importance of Removing Nitrates from Ponds

09.01.2010 | Author: laradavidson | Posted in Environmental | No Comments »

Most pond hobbyists tend to just stick to the end results of the nitrification process done by unpredictable beneficial bacteria. They focus too much on the eradication of ammonia and nitrites in the pond. Because of this, the production of nitrite elements is disregarded in most cases. It is important to know that unwarranted amounts of nitrates can essentially be a cause of a few fish illnesses.

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Six Things Needed to Maintain a Pond

09.01.2010 | Author: laradavidson | Posted in Environmental | No Comments »

The benefits that a garden pond gives to its owner depend on many things. Examples are the things that depend on the water or the added features you put in it. However, the most important thing for you to do is to maintain the cleanness and natural state of the whole water feature. The ways on how you could apply care to your pond vary chemically, mechanically or biologically. These processes can be combined depending on your technique on how to fully meet the needs of the plants and other aquatic living things in your pond.

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Why Use Pond Dye?

09.01.2010 | Author: laradavidson | Posted in Environmental | No Comments »

Pond dye has been used by pond hobbyists for many years now. The benefits they offer do not stop at the aesthetic value they add to the water feature. Pond dyes are actually capable of doing the job of other chemicals use in a pond. It can even replace algaecides for that matter.

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Keys to Lake Maintenance

09.01.2010 | Author: laradavidson | Posted in Environmental | No Comments »

A lake is a natural or a synthetic water formation surrounded by land. The water, which is either salt or fresh, contains some organic substances which make the lake different from other water systems. This body of water is not connected to any water systems and is much deeper than a pond. To understand how a lake is maintained properly, it is important to know what processes are going on in the lake. There is no need to be a limnologist—a person who studies lakes, to be able to maintain a lake properly though it is necessary to have a bit of awareness regarding lake dynamics.

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Getting to Know Phosphates in Pond Water

09.01.2010 | Author: laradavidson | Posted in Environmental | No Comments »

Although not widely known, phosphates are actually present in every aquarium and water pond out there. Every owner of either of the water features mentioned should be aware that if the water system is not properly maintained, the chance for phosphate levels to raise can get higher thus contributing to the rapid development of algae.

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Reasons Why Ponds Get Murky

08.13.2010 | Author: laradavidson | Posted in Environmental | No Comments »
Wouldn’t it be nice to look at a pond, where you can watch several fish swimming here and there, water lilies blooming and clear water flowing? Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Maintaining a pond can be a little laborious too. It is very difficult especially on keeping your pond water clean.  There are a lot of reasons why pond water get murky. It is really surprising to know the reasons behind it.
The most common cause of the murkiness of the water is due to too much algae present in your pond. It is a common knowledge that algae can be a nuisance not only in your aquariums, but most especially in your ponds. When you notice that your water is turning green, it means that there is an excessive amount of unicellular algae in your pond. Some of these algae float to the surface of the water and blooms. Others will just merely remain suspended in the water column that will cause the pond water to look dark.
Another reason of the murkiness of the water can be due to overpopulation of the fish in your pond.  If your pond has a lot of fish in it, it is very conducive for algae problems we have to remember that excess waste from the fish will stimulate more algae growth. According to some research, non-aerated ponds should only have 12-inch fish per ten square feet of surface area. When it comes to aerated ponds, it should only have 12-inch fish per 2-3 square feet. This will give the fish enough space to move in and to grow in.
Another reason of the murkiness of the water is because of too much fertilizer leeching in from the lawn or nearby plants can sometimes add up to the pond’s nitrogen content. We should therefore be wary when putting fertilizers in your plant, especially if it is near your pond.  Using traditional fertilizer mixes will increase the algae growth, so it will be for the best if we can use a type of soil that is designed for potting aquatic plants when adding them to your pond. Still, if you can avoid the mixing of pond water and soil, do so.
Too much sunshine can also be a problem in maintaining the clarity of your pond water. Sunshine can do good things with your plants, but not with pond. Too much sunlight in your pond can also elevate the growth rate of the algae in your pond. For the best solution to this problem, before starting your pond, you have to strategically place your pond near buildings and fences which can cast a shadow over your pond.
You also have to consider the water that you use when you refill your pond. We are very much aware that we use chemicals to sterilize our water, but we have to take note that these chemicals can also increase the rate of algae bloom. Also, you have to make sure that you remove the decaying plants in your ponds, for this will also contribute in algae bloom.
It takes several months before our new pond stabilizes its ecological state. It is therefore usual for the water to be murky in the first few months. The worst thing you’ll do is to empty, clean and refill your pond time to time. You have to be vigilant first as the new organisms in your pond adapt to one another.

Wouldn’t it be nice to look at a pond, where you can watch several fish swimming here and there, water lilies blooming and clear water flowing? Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Maintaining a pond can be a little laborious too. It is very difficult especially on keeping your pond water clean.  There are a lot of reasons why pond water get murky. It is really surprising to know the reasons behind it.

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Nitrates—The Root Cause of Blanket Weeds

08.13.2010 | Author: laradavidson | Posted in Environmental | No Comments »
Many pond keepers tend to focus on the elimination of nitrites which cause ammonia to build up in the pond. The blame couldn’t be put to them since ammonia is detrimental to the life in the pond. Nevertheless, one thing that they seem to overlook is the nitrate content that is left by the ammonia and nitrite elimination process. Although widely known to be undisruptive to the fish in the pond, new studies show that this compound can be associated with a few fish diseases.
Normally, nitrates serve as food for the plants in the pond. They feed al sorts of aquatic plants including the unwanted ones. Algae and blanket weed are among them. These superfluous pond plants grow and develop the most in ponds where their needs are abundant. Aside from the excessive nitrates, they also depend on the sunlight and the heat that the pond gets. Blanket weeds in particular, do not react of UV filters so they cause more problems than algae do. The only acceptable and most viable option is to reduce the nitrate content of the pond water.
Most people who are inclined to pond keeping are familiar with the nitrification process—the conversion of ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate. This is far the main cause of high nitrate contamination in most ponds. Because of the disadvantages of nitrates in the pond, the process of denitrification has been created. It is the opposite of nitrification— hence the name. Some bacteria kinds can actually eliminate the nitrates that thrive in the water, making blanket weeds hungry for food.
The denitrification process is easier said than done. It involves two steps to be able to work. The first step includes the reverting of the work that the nitrobacteria have done in the pond converting nitrates back to nitrites. The next step includes the conversion of nitrites into three various gases which are nitric oxide, nitrous oxide and nitrogen gas.
The process of denitrification is too good to be implemented properly. It isn’t practical to put up a denitrifying filter that would be large enough for the whole pond. A stable organic carbon source would also be necessary which indicates that the solid mire material could be kept in the filter.
The best and most recommended way of dealing with blanket weed is to do a regular water change. Unchanged and stagnant pond water is definitely a good breeding ground for blanket weed and other algae-like plants. Another way is the use of vegetable filter which is a natural technique of nitrate consumption. Most plants depend on nitrates for food that is why this is more than effective.
If you have a fish pond, particularly a koi pond, they might eat up the vegetable filter that you have installed. This is why you should be extra careful with the plants that you will use. Also, as much as possible, try to use little soil for the vegetables. You don’t want too much soil to settle in the water.

Many pond keepers tend to focus on the elimination of nitrites which cause ammonia to build up in the pond. The blame couldn’t be put to them since ammonia is detrimental to the life in the pond. Nevertheless, one thing that they seem to overlook is the nitrate content that is left by the ammonia and nitrite elimination process. Although widely known to be undisruptive to the fish in the pond, new studies show that this compound can be associated with a few fish diseases.

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Getting to Know Blanket Weed

08.13.2010 | Author: laradavidson | Posted in Environmental | No Comments »
People who are garden pond enthusiasts never miss to face blanket weed predicament. Blanket weed neither grow anywhere in the pond nor at any situation. It usually flourishes in ponds where there is much life. Koi ponds are a perfect home for blanket weed especially if it is not well-maintained.
There are three key factors that enable blanket weed to thrive in the koi pond. These key factors will be of great help for those who have been thinking about the problems that blanket weed gives.
A primary issue which causes blanket weed to multiply in fish ponds is the clearness of the water. Koi are usually farmed and raised in mud ponds which are characterized by their misty water. Although mud ponds are obviously rich with nutrients that will for sure make blanket weed flourish even more, blanket weed actually doesn’t bother this kind of pond that much. Since the pond is shaded by the suspended clay and single-celled algae blooms in the water, blanket weed doesn’t have a chance to stand against the turbid condition of the water. In filtered koi ponds however, the suspended organisms that make the water gloomy are cleaned leaving the water feature clear and exposed to sunlight. The chance for blanket weed to prosper becomes higher.
The tap water that we use to fill our fish ponds is readily rich in nitrate and phosphates. These nutrients feed the algae in the water as they continuously develop. Some of the nutrients can come from the dirt and fish wastes excreted in the pond.
The use of UVCs has been deemed necessary when it comes to eliminating algae in the pond. On the other hand, it causes the imbalance to prevail in the whole water feature. If all the algae diminish, the nutrients will continue to mount up since there are no algae to feed. This is when blanket weed takes its place in the pond. The unconsumed nutrients serve as the food for the squatters of the water system. Unfortunately UVCs do not have an effect on blanket weed growth.
Blanket weed flourishes the most in the summer. This is because of the heat of the season. The warmer the water, the more suitable it is for algae and blanket weed to multiply. They prefer to conquer the shallower areas in the pond like cascades and waterfalls. The only time these parasites do not develop is in the winter because of the cold temperature which is not suitable to any life forms on earth. But, this is not an excuse to not do anything to the pond’s blanket weed since they grow back in the spring.
The question, “How can blanket weed growth be prevented?” has been very puzzling for some. The use of algaecides is just another option which should be chosen last. The most important thing a pond owner must do to prevent blanket weed from growing is to reduce the amount of the three key factors mentioned above. If this is done, the problems that blanket weed can give will surely be lessened if not totally eliminated.

People who are garden pond enthusiasts never miss to face blanket weed predicament. Blanket weed neither grow anywhere in the pond nor at any situation. It usually flourishes in ponds where there is much life. Koi ponds are a perfect home for blanket weed especially if it is not well-maintained.

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Amount of Dissolved Oxygen for Fish

08.13.2010 | Author: laradavidson | Posted in Environmental | No Comments »
We breathe inhale and exhale around 15 to 25 times per minute without even commanding ourselves to do so.  When we do some exercise, our breathing rates increases dramatically, without again, our consent to do so. We are doing it involuntarily and readily. We should thank our lungs for making it possible for us to breathe, and also our mother nature, for giving us the air that we breathe. What about the organisms without lungs? Let’s say, fish? Well, fish has a different way of breathing. Since lungs cannot function well in water, they managed to develop their very own breathing organ which is the gills.
The air that terrestrial animal breathe is made up of 21 percent oxygen. Oxygen is a very important element that keeps all the organisms alive, even those who doesn’t have lungs.  Fish need oxygen too; however, since they don’t have lungs and they don’t breathe air, they take up oxygen from the water. Dissolved oxygen is what we call the oxygen in the water that is readily available for the fish. With the use of their gills, they take oxygen from the water just as we take oxygen from the air. Under the water,  we can say that oxygen is considered rare and a very precious resource. Even if we said earlier that air is 21 percent oxygen, it’s very different with water.  Water has only a very minute amount of dissolved oxygen. The ideal amount of dissolved oxygen in the water should be at least five pars per million (ppm) (5/1,000,000). When the amount of the dissolved oxygen became lesser than five parts per million, the fish becomes stressed and uncomfortable.  Majority of the fish will begin to suffocate and will start dying when the oxygen is two parts per million or even lower.  We can therefore say that fish really depends on dissolved oxygen for survival. So it is very important to know what dissolved oxygen is. It is also advisable not to pollute our water because it lessen the amount of dissolved oxygen that is needed by the fish.  We should always remember to keep our rivers and streams clean so the fish can have a better life underwater.
To make it easier for nature to produce dissolved oxygen,  we have to help stabilize the water’s different physical factors. Like the temperature, the lower the temperature is, the greater is the amount of oxygen that can be dissolved. We should remember that the higher the the dissolved oxygen is, the better for the fish, that is, if it is not over the water saturation point. So to make it easier, they computed the amount of dissolved oxygen needed or required for different temperature for fish. For water with .5 degrees Celsius, the maximum amount of dissolved oxygen should be 12.8 milligram per liter and the minimum should be 9.1 milligram per liter. For water with the temperature of 10 degrees Celsius, the maximum available dissolved oxygen should be 11.3 milligram per liter and minimum of 8.8 milligram  per liter. For 15 degrees Celsius, the maximum amount of dissolved oxygen should be 10.2 milligram per liter and the minimum should e 8.3 milligram per liter.  If the water is 20 degrees Celsius, the maximum amount of  dissolved oxygen should be 9.2 milligram per liter and the minimum should be 7.8 milligram per liter. If the temperature becomes 25 degrees Celsius, the maximum dissolved oxygen in the water should be 8.2 milligram per liter and the minimum should be 7.5 m milligram per liter. If the temperature reaches 30 degrees Celsius, the maximum amount of oxygen should be 7.4 milligram per liter and the minimum should be 6.9 milligram per liter. If these amounts are successfully obtained, the fish can live happily and comfortably in the water! They will have enough oxygen to breathe. They can survive.

We breathe inhale and exhale around 15 to 25 times per minute without even commanding ourselves to do so.  When we do some exercise, our breathing rates increases dramatically, without again, our consent to do so. We are doing it involuntarily and readily. We should thank our lungs for making it possible for us to breathe, and also our mother nature, for giving us the air that we breathe. What about the organisms without lungs? Let’s say, fish? Well, fish has a different way of breathing. Since lungs cannot function well in water, they managed to develop their very own breathing organ which is the gills.

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How to Install Pond Filters

08.12.2010 | Author: laradavidson | Posted in Environmental | No Comments »
A water feature has made its way to the garden world. Most landscape designs these days have either a fish pond or a water garden feature that gives accent to the whole landscape. Any water feature added to the garden adds to the aesthetic pleasure the whole garden has for those who see it. And of course, anything in the garden requires maintenance, most especially the garden pond. The most important requirement to keep the pond clean is a pond filter which costs a bit more than what people expected. Because of this, many garden keepers just drop the idea of having a pond in their garden. However, pond pumps and pond filters can actually have much more affordable alternatives like the homemade ones. As long as you know the ins and outs of pond filtration system, you sure are good to go.
Primarily, a pond filter’s job is to keep the whole pond healthy for the creatures that depend on it. Plants and fish indeed require much care and a healthy dwelling place. A pond filter that is purchased in the market usually removes the environmental pollutants in a physical way. But a homemade pond filter does the opposite. It works as a biological foundation for the beneficial bacteria which convert the nitrates, nitrates and ammonia in the pond into much more functional forms for the plants and fish.
A homemade pond filter will need a large plastic container or grow pot for at least 3-4 gallon in size, mesh bags, big rocks with large surface area and a submersible pond pump. The larger the container and the pond, the more lava rocks you will need. Since the rocks are purchased full of dirt, it is necessary to wash them first, as well as the other supplies that you will use for the pond filter. Once all the materials are ready for use, you can begin the construction of a homemade pond filter.
First up is to put the cleaned lava rocks in the mesh bags. Be sure that the mesh bags will not be torn once filled with the rocks. It’s essential to know that these rocks will get heavier after they have deposited the wastes and accumulated bacteria in the pond. Therefore the weight of the rocks in the mesh bags should allow it to be easily lifted up. Consequently, three to four mesh bags could be used for the lava rocks.
The pond pump is needed in order to have a good homemade pond filter. The pump must be put at the bottom of the container where you will put the pond filter. This will allow the easy adjustment of the attached tubing and electrical cord as they stick out of the container. After positioning the pump and the tubing, slowly place the mesh bags containing the lava rocks on top of the pump.
Your homemade pond filter should be put in the water and the pump turned on. The rock layers act as the main filtration of the pond. If however, you are too busy and have no time for this process a mechanical pond filter would be perfect for you and your pond.

A water feature has made its way to the garden world. Most landscape designs these days have either a fish pond or a water garden feature that gives accent to the whole landscape. Any water feature added to the garden adds to the aesthetic pleasure the whole garden has for those who see it. And of course, anything in the garden requires maintenance, most especially the garden pond. The most important requirement to keep the pond clean is a pond filter which costs a bit more than what people expected. Because of this, many garden keepers just drop the idea of having a pond in their garden. However, pond pumps and pond filters can actually have much more affordable alternatives like the homemade ones. As long as you know the ins and outs of pond filtration system, you sure are good to go.

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