Adding pond dye colorant soon after the ice leaves your pond is a common method to make the pond water look more attractive but comes with precautions. Too much pond dye may lead to less photosynthetic oxygen production at the surface water air interface due to less light penetration. [...]
Dissolved organic carbon is an important nutrient source for heterotrophic bacteria cultures and their support staff that exist on the bottom of your pond where all the organic matter accumulates. Organic matter has a high concentration of organic carbon, about 58%. The common sources of DOC in a maturing [...]
The composition of black muck (organic matter) varies a little depending in what part of the country your pond is located. From our research we have learned what is in black muck and the approximate percentages. Cellulose [...]
Black Muck also referred to as organic sediments accumulates on the bottom of the pond but mostly on the sloping side walls. As ponds mature the percentage of black muck increases to the point of becoming a problem. Leaves form deciduous trees, branches, dead plants and expired critters are [...]
These are a couple of scenarios that could happen to your pond that may encourage you to check the dissolved oxygen level rather quickly. You notice most of the fish at the surface during early morning hours trying to get oxygen After a heavy rain storm or after the [...]
Before you consider treating your pond with biological or chemical products it is important to test the water for nutrients and chemical composition. Once you have this benchmark information it will be more effective to make application adjustments according to your goals. How often should you test the water? [...]
Your pond has an aquatic food chain that dependent on the relationship between animals and plants. The food chain is self- sustainable with the help of sunlight and most likely will change as your pond ages or you off-set the balance by adding a product like a chemical. At [...]
Phosphorous(P) is a naturally occurring element that is valuable to the residents of a pond food chain. When phosphorous is limited the productivity of primary consumers and producers is reduced. On the other hand, when phosphorous is too abundant overproduction of aquatic plants and some animals can happen with [...]
When trying to figure out what is causing the algae problem or reduced water clarity in a pond you should try to determine where nutrients like phosphorous, nitrogen or ammonia are coming from before they reach the pond. Sometimes it is obvious like a stream or creek used to [...]
Deciduous trees drop their leaves every year and when these leaves settle to the bottom of your pond a slow release of nutrients occur as they are slowly digested by fungi and microbial bacteria. A healthy young pond or a relatively new pond will have a layer of aerobic [...]