Pond Filtration, Pond Maintenance, Ponds
Bacteria are microscopic unicellular organisms, typically spherical, rod-like, or spiral and threadlike in shape, often clumped into colonies. Some bacteria cause disease, while others perform an essential role in nature in recycling of materials.
For example, bacteria aids in the recycling of decomposed organic matter into a form available for reuse by plants. Some forms of bacteria are used to stabilize organic wastes in wastewater treatment plants, oil spills, or other pollutants.
Bacteria is very important in the function of your pond ecosystem. There are countless types of bacteria, something for every function. Bacteria work together to form a giant recycling plant by taking waste and dead material and converting it back into usable nutrients in the food chain.
Bacteria prefer to be anchored to a substance like rocks or gravel, and are found in largest quantities in the mist of decomposing leaves. Putting rocks and gravel in a pond significantly reduces the amount of muck buildup in the bottom of the pond. This is because rocks and gravel provide many places for bacteria to call “home”, much more than a bare liner. More bacteria means more capacity to break down fish waste and plant debris, which leads to better water quality.
The type of bacteria we recommend using in our pond systems is a safe, non-toxic combination of specially blended bacteria and enzymes. It is designed to assist in controlling water quality and is similar to the bacteria naturally present in oceans, rivers, streams, and lakes in that it assists in completely breaking down dead organic matter thereby minimizing the release of nutrients and toxins into the water. It is recommended that this special mix of bacteria be introduced into a newly established water garden and continued thereafter in two to three week intervals.
Pond Construction, Pond Maintenance, Ponds
For thousands of years, creative architects have employed formal ponds to provide focus, noise abatement, and evaporative cooling in both public and private gardens.
Although formal ponds were traditionally built of stone, today they can also be built with brick, concrete, or pressure treated wood. A raised perimeter wall can highlight the attractive structural materials and offer visitors a place to sit by the water; a flush edge is easier to build and will make the garden feel more spacious. Simple rectangular shapes with vertical side walls are recommended for ease of waterproofing, but other shapes are possible.
Fish and plants are optional, but a fountain is a virtual necessity. A depth of 10″ to 24″ is sufficient.
Formal ponds can match a more formal architectural design but can be difficult to maintain and expensive to build. Their pumps can clog easily and there is no biological or mechanical filtration. Also, if built from concrete, it can crack.
Pond Filtration, Pond Maintenance, Pond Plants, Ponds
Aquatic algae, (thought of by many as pond scum) are microscopic plants that grow in sunlit water that contains phosphates, nitrates, and other nutrients. Algae, like all aquatic plants, add oxygen to the water and are important in the fish food chain. They share many characteristics with plants, although they lack true stems, roots, and do not flower. Common algae that forms in ponds include planktonic algae (green water algae) and filamentous algae (string algae).
Algae is actually important and beneficial to a pond or water garden. It is part of the eco-system we want to establish in the ponds because it helps in maintaining good water quality. If the pond filtration and circulation system are properly designed, the nutrients and toxins can be controlled, there by controlling algae growth. The perceived algae problem begins when algae grow in abundance, but this condition is really a symptom or an indicator of excessive nutrients and or toxins in the pond water.
Excess nutrients are typically caused from feeding the fish too much, too often, or both. In addition, leaves, grass, or other organic material find their way into the pond, settle to the bottom and begin decaying and releasing nutrients into the water.
Excess toxins are typically generated directly from fish and decomposing matter. When fish breath they release ammonia into the water form their gills. If the pond is overstocked, either by too many fish or too large of fish, you may find the water looks like pea soup. In addition, decomposing organic material such as fish waste, leaves, sticks, grass, etc., can generate toxins.
As a general rule, if you are experiencing an algae problem, adding more of the ‘right kind’ of filtration will help you reduce and manage the amount of algae in your pond.
This includes:
- Plants, such as lilies, shade the pond and reduce the amount of sunlight available for algae growth.
- Fish, especially koi, will eat a tremendous amount of algae.
- Rocks and gravel provide surface areas for bacteria to colonize in and between the rocks, which is like having an additional biological filter in the pond.
- Skimmers act as a mechanical filter by removing leaves and other debris from the surface of the pond before they can sink to the bottom and decompose and then turn into either nutrients or toxins.
- Biological Filters provide an area for bacteria and enzymes to colonize which consume nutrients and help break down organic debris and fish waste that would otherwise contribute to water quality problems.
Algae is a part of nature just like the other parts of the eco-system. The main goal in keeping clean water is not to attempt to completely rid your pond of algae, but to keep it in balance with nature.
Pond Maintenance, Pond Plants, Ponds
This is one of the biggest myths surrounding water gardening today. Most books say a pond needs a minimum of 4-6 hours of sunlight a day for aquatic plants to live. They discourage building a pond in a shady area.
The truth is that aquatic plants do bloom more and flourish better in high sunlight conditions. This is not debatable. What is debatable is how well aquatic plants can do in low light conditions.
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Pond Construction, Pond Maintenance, Ponds
Obviously water is a magnet for wind-blown debris. Placing a pond beneath a tree only adds to the debris falling into the water. But this is why skimmers were invented!
Skimmers are made to handle foliage falling into a pond. Leaves that drop into the pond in late fall do not, because of the sheer numbers, all make it into the skimmer. As long as most of the debris is collected for you, surrounding trees do not prevent you from having a successful pond.
People also worry that tree roots will penetrate a pond’s liner and cause a leak and drastically disturbing a tree’s root structure can damage or even kill some trees. Yes it’s true that a tree root is powerful enough to buckle a driveway or crack a sidewalk, yet they do not pierce a rubber liner. The reason for this is simple. A tree root is programmed to hone in on moisture. A pond has lots of water but (fortunately for the pond owners), a tree doesn’t know that. Roots simply traverse the surrounding soil beneath a pond instead of going through a watertight barrier.
Ideally, the best idea is to build the pond outside a tree’s drip zone. A pond is usually 2 ft. deep and if it’s located near a tree, you will most likely encounter roots from the tree that, if removed, can severely harm the tree. Not to mention the additional labor in digging out all the roots. For most trees, removing some of their roots and putting a pond over the top of them is not going to kill them but you should always take into consideration the type of tree you’re working with. For example, a silver maple is a lot more adaptable than a 100 year old oak.
A naturally wooded lot does pose some design problems, however the aesthetic advantages that surrounding trees add to the setting of the pond make them advantageous to the overall look of the pond.
Our experienced design consultants will be able to answer any questions or concerns you may have about building a pond near an existing tree. Contact us today to request your Design Consultation.
Pond Maintenance, Pond Plants, Ponds
Aquatic plants, while providing the obvious aesthetic appeal to the water garden also serve the important role of helping to maintain the overall health and appearance of your pond.
Pond plants help purify the water by reducing nutrients, filtering out sediments, breaking down toxic compounds, and digesting unwanted substances.
Planting a diversity of species in the pond will ensure balanced filtration. Plants such as Cattails have short roots extending only 6-12 inches, where as Bulrushes can extend up to 36 inches allowing each to grab nutrients from different regions.
Rooted aquatic plants also help promote healthy bacteria populations. Without beneficial bacteria, nitrogen levels in the pond would become elevated, causing health problems in fish, diminished water quality, and promoting excess algae.
Certain plants, such as water hyacinth, are more capable than others at removing large amounts of algae-causing nutrients. Some waste water treatment facilities in warmer climates have even been designed specifically to use hyacinths.
Aquatic plants’ significance in filtration, their ability to provide better water quality, reduce maintenance and balance the ecosystem, all the while helping to create a more natural looking environment, are all reasons for you to consider the importance of aquatic plants for your pond.
