- 1) What indicator first alerts pond owners to fact that their
pond has become unbalanced?
- In most cases when treating lakes, ponds,
and reservoirs the first symptom of a nutritionally unbalanced water body
is an overgrowth of algae. Algae grows in response to a suitable temperature
range, excess nutrients in the water and sufficient sunlight to allow growth
to take place.
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- A nutritionally balanced pond, with clean
sparkling water, supports a small amount of healthy algae growth, which
provides shade and a food source for some species of fish, has clean, odor-free
water with adequate oxygen to support aquatic plants, fish and other aquatic
species. An ecologically balanced pond provides healthful drinking water
for wildlife and is attractive for swimming and other recreational uses.
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- A polluted pond is evidenced by darkened
water, ammonia and sulfur odors, large overgrowths of algae, which can
grow to several inches above the surface of the water and trail several
feet below the surface, giving the appearance of carpeting. Polluted water
can appear so very deeply green that it resembles pea soup. Pollution
sources include fecal matter and urine from fish, geese and other fowl,
fertilizer runoff from agricultural fields, golf courses and manicured
home lawns, and various chemicals found in industrial runoff.
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- As a polluted pond gets more and more unbalanced,
the high level of nutrients (known as Biological Oxygen Demand)
robs the pond of oxygen, suffocating the fish and higher life-forms. The
water becomes septic, with black looking water and overwhelming odors of
mercaptans, sulfides, amines and ammonia. Surrounding soil may also become
blackened as sulfurous bacteria and other anaerobic strains of bacteria
take over the pond.
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- Applying the appropriate Alken Clear-Flo
formula can restore balance to the water, alleviating septic conditions.
Aeration can be supplied by improving water flow, adding a waterfall or
by various mechanical aerations systems including electric, diesel, and
wind driven. Costs vary from inexpensive portable models to more expensive
systems which include underwater piping. Alken Clear-Flo
1000 line formulas will not only clean the water, but will provide feed
for rotifers and other lower life forms that in turn provide feed for fish.
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- 2) Controlling Algae by Reducing Sunlight
- Sunlight
entering the water can be adjusted by a constant addition of the EPA registered
dye AquaShade. This dye can offer decorative color and stabilize
the temperature by screening out some of the orange, yellow and red rays
of the sun. If the water is deficient in shade from the sun, this dye can
partially substitute for good plant cover, although the natural approach
is better. To our knowledge, AquaShade is the only dye proven
to actually slow down the growth of algae, by limiting the sunlight necessary
for plant growth, but it does not eliminate the real culprits behind algae
growth, excess nutrients in the water caused by fecal and urine discharges
from fish, ducks, migratory fowl, mixed with fertilizer run-off. Waste
degrading bacteria in Alken Clear-Flo 1000 line products
can decrease the food source available to algae, in a process known as
competitive exclusion.
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- Fortunately, for those who like the decorative
effect of blue dye, Alken Clear-Flo® is
compatible with AquaShade and most decorative aquatic dyes.
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- 3) Chemicals and Biocides to Control Algae
- EPA registered herbicidal chemicals, such
as copper sulfate, are often used to control algae. While a temporary elimination
of algal bloom does usually occur, this product frequently fails and algae
returns immediately after treatment is discontinued. Due to the toxicity
of copper sulfate, a holding period of 30 days or longer is often required
before discharging any of the water treated with this product. An
environmentally sound alternative should always first be considered.
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- Biocides are often required in industrial
applications, such as cooling towers, to control algae, but they are not
recommended in waters where it is desirable to raise fish and water horses
or other livestock, or where people use the water for swimming or other
recreational activities. Biocides have been widely used because safe
environmental alternatives were not previously available. Biocides
destroy not only the unwanted algae but also the bacteria, rotifers, and
protozoa necessary to eliminate the nutrients in the water which cause
algae to grow. As long as the nutrients are present, algae will always
find a home.
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- 4) Biological
Treatment to Restore Ecosystem Balance
- While biological degradation of organic
nutrients in lakes, ponds and reservoirs occurs naturally, on-site
strains of bacteria are frequently inadequate to handle heavy pollution.
By inoculating the water with naturally occurring, selectively adapted
strains of bacteria, such as those in Alken Clear-Flo®
formulas, a properly balanced equilibrium can be restored to your
waterbody, reducing the overgrowth of any one species.
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- Additional strains in Alken Clear-Flo®
formulas will sink into the sludge and reduce nitrate to nitrogen, and
oxygen, while other strains oxidize hydrogen sulfide and degrade other
components in the sludge, further improving the balance of your pond.
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