Blog
Why Do I Need A Solar Pond Aerator?
If you have a pond, you know that stagnant water can cause unwanted bacteria, pests, as well as illnesses that can harm your fish. Having a pond aerator is essential to keep circulation of water and air inside your pond. The more oxygen you have the better off your pond will look and also healthier your fish will be. A great option for an aerator is a solar pond aerator. These aerators are made up of solar panels that transform sunlight into electrical energy to power the aeration system. By using sunlight to power your pond aerator, you can minimize the use of environmental resources thus saving on electricity. Solar pond aerators are also a great option when you can’t run a cable from your power source to your pond. Solar pond aerators come in different sizes. The larger the solar panel, the more sunlight it can absorb and convert. Larger solar panels are able to emit and create higher amounts of electrical energy. It can, therefore, operate a more powerful and efficient aerator. Ponds with lots of direct sunlight will be ideal to power a solar pond aerator. There are several choices of solar pond aerators. Knowing the depth of your pond, size and also your sunlight conditions will help with choosing the most efficient solar pond aerator for your pond. Outdoor Water Solutions offers high quality pond & lake aerators (solar, electric & wind) and aeration windmill systems, fish feeders, fountains, and all natural pond care products. Please email or call us at 1-866-471-1614 and we can provide you with a detailed quote.
Read moreBlog
What is Pond Muck?
Have you ever swum in a pond that smells bad, and when you get out you have black goo on your feet and legs? If your pond does not have aeration, chances are Muck has been accumulating on your pond bed since its inception. But what exactly is Muck? Muck’s physical appearance is often a blackish-brown slimy substance that will often time smell of sulfur or other pungent odors. Organic material of all kinds, such as grass clippings, droppings, dead organisms, and other forms of life will fall to the bottom and begin its transformation into this nasty smelling goo. Due to the anaerobic (no oxygen) nature of unaerated ponds, this organic material will slowly accumulate, all while leaching potent nutrients into the water column; nutrients that allow algae and other nuisance vegetation to thrive. In this way, Muck is a food source to all sorts of unwanted plants. Therefore over the years; ponds will get worse each season in regard to algae and other unwanted vegetation. Muck can also be a breeding ground for leeches, as they love to grow in it. This is just another reason on a long list of reasons to want to get rid of Muck if you have it or avoid getting it if you do not. If there is nothing in place that can negate the large quantities of nutrients that accumulate in the pond, you can be certain it will only get worse with time. And because the pond is anaerobic, the processes that could break down this muck cannot occur, as they are aerobic (require oxygen). Due to the anaerobicity, this oxygen free zone along the bottom of the pond will produce harmful bacteria and hydrogen sulfide. As a result, other living organisms in the pond can be harmed from the production of these byproducts. So, what can you do to proactively assure that you avoid Muck accumulation? Methods to Avoid Muck Accumulation: Bottom Diffused Aeration – With a bottom diffused aeration system, you ensure that your water column is completely destratified. That means that there is little change in temperature and oxygen concentration the deeper you go. This type of system will assure that oxygen is present where the Muck has settled, allowing beneficial aerobic bacteria in the water column to breakdown the Muck, in turn, lowering nutrient concentration in the water. Often, people will start to regain depth in their ponds just from this change, depending on how many years’ worth of Muck a pond has accumulated. Additionally, if you are applying an herbicide or algaecide when needed, you are simply masking the symptoms of an already sick pond, and even making it worse. If the pond does not have aeration, those dead plants and algae will simply sink to the bottom and begin leaching nutrients, repeating the cycle. Beneficial Microbes – The aerobic bacteria that breaks down the Muck can be supplemented in high concentrations to ensure breakdown of matter on the bottom of the pond. With oxygen present, these bacteria will deplete the nutrient load and mitigate the foul odor often produced by stagnant ponds. At Outdoor Water Solutions, we sell a dry proprietary Barley Straw Blend of 5 strains of Microbes specifically designed for ponds and lakes. The bacteria come in water soluble packs that are easy to apply and require no preparation. Due to its dry nature, we can fit 20-50x live bacteria in the package when compared to a liquid product. This high concentration ensures that the bacteria can cultivate and thrive in the water column long enough to do its job. Muck Pellets – Muck Pellets are similar in function to the Beneficial Microbes, but vary in application. These pellets are formulated to sink to the bottom and eat the Muck in a localized area, quickly and effectively, whereas the Beneficial Microbes cultivate in the water column, spanning across the entire pond. The benefit of Muck Pellets is that if there is a Dock, loading zone, swimming area, etc. in a pond that has been overtaken by Muck, Muck Pellets is the product to go with. Due to the trace mineral base and enzymes that are present, the bacteria are catalyzed to degrade Muck and nutrients from their surroundings. The bacteria that are in the pellets are high volume waste consumers, meaning they decompose large quantities of Muck at a fast rate. This one tool can be utilized with other solutions mentioned to give you the best chance to reduce the amount of organic material you have sitting on the bottom of your pond. Outdoor Water Solutions is one of the leading companies in the pond industry and sells a full line of pond microbes including the Lake & Pond Bacteria and the Lake & Pond Muck Pellets. We also have super concentrated blue dye and multiple aeration options including electric, solar and wind powered. Please email or call us at 1-866-471-1614 and we can provide you with a detailed quote.
What Exactly is Algae?
Algae can be a problem for a lot of pond owners. It can even grow on the bottom in late winter, early spring when you think it should be dormant. It can be controlled with algaecides but the best option is to prevent it with a combination of pond dyes, aeration and supplemental microbes. Types of Algae: Algae often floats on the top of your pond and appears to be in mats. Usually, many forms of algae grow on the bottom then rise to the surface over time. Before you treat it, it’s important to understand the different forms of algae and how they live in your pond’s ecosystem. There are three common types of algae found in North American ponds: Filamentous Algae. Most commonly called pond moss, moss, pond scum or string algae. This algae starts growing on the bottom then floats to the surface where it forms a mat. This can easily cover a large part of your pond and makes it extremely difficult to fish or swim in. Planktonic Algae. These are floating microscopic plants that are usually floating on the surface and can be green, blue-green and or brown in color. Forms of planktonic algae, especially the blue-green kind can be toxic to both people and animals if not controlled. Most planktonic algae is beneficial and are an important part of the aquatic ecosystem. They also produce oxygen and food for the animals that live in your pond. Chara. This form of algae grows on the bottom and looks very similar to a plant called Naiad. It doesn’t have any flowers or true leaves. You can tell it’s chara by its strong musky odor when crushed. Why do you have Algae? Algae is a life form and is very dependent on both sunlight and nutrients to grow. If your pond has runoff coming into it that carries Nitrogen or Phosphorous from farm fields, golf courses, yards and anywhere else that might be carrying fertilizer, then you’re probably going to have algae. It also likes shallow water and abundant sunlight. Older ponds that have black organic matter on the bottom are also prone to algae as that organic matter releases nutrients as it decomposes. How do you Treat Pond Algae? Liquid Algaecides. Floating mats of algae and planktonic algae are usually treated with a liquid product, like Cutrine Plus, which is a liquid copper based product that is sprayed over top of the algae to provide control. Granular Algaecides. Bottom growing algae like some filamentous algae and chara can be tough to control unless you apply a granular product directly to the algae. Cutrine®-Plus granular is a good option for this as the granules will sink and come into contact with the algae on the bottom. Can you be Proactive and Prevent Algae? The answer is yes. The best way to prevent an algae problem or to at least minimize it is to be proactive. By using a combination of pond dye to shade the water, all natural microbes and sub-surface aeration, you can work on the problem vs. just putting a band aid on it. By changing your pond to aerobic vs. anaerobic, you start to break down excess nutrients which feed the algae. Adding microbes and dye further helps the situation. Outdoor Water Solutions is one of the leading companies in the pond industry and sells a full line of pond microbes including the Lake & Pond Bacteria and the Lake & Pond Muck Pellets. We also have super concentrated blue dye and multiple aeration options including electric, solar and wind powered. Please email or call us at 1-866-471-1614 and we can provide you with a detailed quote.
How do you Improve a Pond the Natural Way?
Improving Pond Water Quality the Natural Way Together with a team of seasoned biologists and water quality experts, OWS has created a simple, easy to use Pond Care System. The three products included in the Pond Pack work together to help to prevent problems before they start! Today, many pond owners rely on the use of algaecides and herbicides to keep their pond looking nice. While these products work well, they are primarily curative in nature. That means they fix the problem after it is already a problem – like algae and weeds. They do not fix the underlying issue which is a buildup of nutrients and a lack of aeration and water circulation. These “excess” nutrients and lack of oxygen is really what causes too much algae and too many weeds. Other potential problems with traditional solutions: Pond Turnover – without proper aeration, most ponds will physically turn over once or twice a year. This is due to the water stratifying into different layers with the colder, oxygen depleted water on the bottom. As the seasons change, a pond can invert or turn over, which brings the colder, low oxygen water to the surface where fish will often die due to lack of oxygen. Pond Algae – with a lack of oxygen and a build up of nutrients, pond algae can thrive in a pond. Algaecides are effective in killing the algae that’s there, but do not prevent it from coming back as they do not fix the real problem. Pond Muck – with a lack of oxygen, beneficial bacteria, and enzymes on the bottom of a pond, the decomposition process of leaves, fish waste, grass clippings, etc. cannot occur. The bottom of the pond soon starts to build up with a black layer of muck that cannot decompose and instead continues to accumulate and release excess nutrients into the water further feeding algae and other weed problems. Pond care is really evolving as the industry itself becomes more environmentally conscious and pond owners start to consider alternatives to using potentially harmful chemicals to treat their pond water. Just like any problem that needs to be solved, the best way to approach it is to look at the underlying issues or symptoms of the problem. An excess of nutrients and a lack of aeration and water circulation are usually the underlying problems that cause algae and excess vegetation in a pond. As a more environmentally sound alternative, pond care can be achieved by using a combination of biological products and aeration. The Pond Pack from Outdoor Water Solutions combines three different natural products that work together to help prevent future problems. To further improve your pond environment, aeration provided by an Outdoor Water Solutions solar, wind or electric aerator can make a big difference by adding beneficial oxygen to the water. This begins breaking down excess nutrients, both in the water and on the bottom of the pond. Combining additional oxygen in your pond with a mixture of beneficial bacteria, water clarifiers, and natural pond dye gives your pond the care it needs to stay healthy and clean. Pond Care Packs Provide: An Easy and Safe to Use Pond Cleaning System No FDA or EPA Approval Required No Need to take Courses and go through a Licensing Application All Natural Solution to Help Keep Your Pond Clean and Healthy For Use in Ponds, Lakes, Fisheries and Ornamental Bodies of Water Each Pond Pack contains three different products which work together to help people clean up their ponds and maintain them in good condition 365 days a year. These three natural products are proven and tested to help tie up nutrients in the water body and provide the simplest and most cost effective solution available on the market. Recommended Solution Each Pond Pack box will treat ¼ acre pond with an average depth of 4' - 6 feet. For a ½ acre pond 4-6 ft deep, you would use two boxes for season long performance. Each Pond Pack Box contains three all natural products designed to help keep your pond clean and healthy all season long. Lake & Pond Water Clarifier is a non-toxic granular product commonly used in the water treatment industry to improve water clarity. It also reduces the amount of phosphorous in the water and helps clean up murky pond water. Lake & Pond Bacteria is a non-toxic natural blend of beneficial microbes in a barley straw base. Lake & Pond Bacteria helps break down organic matter, diminishes nutrient overload, helps reduce odor, and creates a clean, clear pond ecosystem. Lake & Pond Dye is a proprietary blend of environmentally friendly, non-toxic, water-soluble dyes formulated to reduce sunlight penetration and impart a natural blue color when applied to ponds, lakes and fountains. For ponds that have a lot of algae present, you may need to treat with a copper based product. For ponds larger than ¼ acre, you may need to purchase multiple Pond Packs to get season long performance. Aeration systems are not required, but extremely helpful in increasing the performance of these products. NOTE: The use of these products can improve water quality in ponds and small lakes, especially when combined with aeration. For the most environmentally sound system, combine these products with an Outdoor Water Solutions aeration system.
3 Ways to get your Pond or Lake Ready For Spring
Check out these 3 Ways to Get Your Pond or Lake Ready for Spring! Is your pond or lake ready for spring? Now that the ice is gone, and spring is working its way across the country, it’s time to think about treating your pond. All ponds age and as they age, they eventually accumulate black muck on the bottom which then leads to excessive plant vegetation and algae issues. Why, because the bottom of most ponds is anaerobic and things do not break down and decompose very easily in an anaerobic environment. As the muck layer grows, it releases phosphorous and other nutrients which then feed green plants and algae or pond “moss”. So how do you prevent these things from happening? Here are 3 ways to get your pond or lake ready for spring. First, consider adding bottom diffused aeration. This turns the bottom aerobic which means much more rapid decomposition due to the more active aerobic bacteria. Why do you think the wastewater treatment plants churn and move their water, to add oxygen and aerobic bacteria, the same way oxygen and aerobic bacteria keep an aquarium clean. Aeration options include wid energy, electricity or solar power. All are effective, and all work. Secondly, add some additional microbes and aerobic bacteria. A concentrated blend of dry bacteria can speed up nutrient and organic matter decomposition. This can be in pellet form to work on the bottom muck extensively or in dry powder form to circulate throughout the water column. Thirdly, use a colorant to help filter the sunlight. We have a wide range of dye’s that are all super concentrates and can help significantly, especially in ponds with shallow edges where algae is prone to grow. Lastly, you can selectively use an algaecide or herbicide to help with problem areas. Outdoor Water Solutions carries a wide range of these products to help control excessive algae and weeds in problem ponds. Follow these 3 tips and your pond or lake will be ready for the warmer weather and looking good!
4 Ways to Treat Spring and Summer Ponds
Now that the ice is gone and summer is here, it is time to think about treating your pond. All ponds age and as they age, they eventually accumulate black muck on the bottom which leads to excessive plant vegetation and algae issues. Why, because the bottom of most ponds is anaerobic and things do not break down and decompose very easily in an anaerobic environment. As the muck layer grows, it releases phosphorous and other nutrients which then feed green plants and algae or pond “moss.” So how do you prevent these things from happening? Here are four recommendations: First, consider adding bottom diffused aeration. This turns the bottom aerobic which means much more rapid decomposition due to the more active aerobic bacteria. Why do you think the wastewater treatment plants churn and move their water, to add oxygen and aerobic bacteria, the same way oxygen and aerobic bacteria keep an aquarium clean. Aeration can be done with wind energy, electricity or using solar power. All are effective and all work. Secondly, add some additional microbes and aerobic bacteria. A concentrated blend of dry bacteria can speed up nutrient and organic matter decomposition. This can be in pellet form to work on the bottom muck extensively or in dry powder form to circulate throughout the water column. Use a colorant to help filter the sunlight. We have a wide range of dye’s that are all super concentrates and can help significantly, especially in ponds with shallow edges where algae is prone to grow. Lastly, you can selectively use an algaecide or herbicide to help with problem areas. Outdoor Water Solutions carries a wide range of these products to help control excessive algae and weeds in problem ponds. Have questions about maintaining your pond or lake? Give us a call 866-471-1614.
Outdoor Water Solutions Support!
Outdoor Water Solutions Support Have a technical question about one of our products? Want to talk to a live person? Outdoor Water Solutions is pleased to offer a dedicated technical support line, the first in our industry! Joshua Flowers has recently joined the Outdoor Water Solutions team as Technical Support Lead . He has a degree from the University of Idaho in Fisheries and Wildlife Resources and has many years of experience working for the U.S. Forest Service and "The Pond Boss", Bob Lusk. In addition to providing technical support on Outdoor Water Solutions products and fielding your pond, lake and aeration questions, Joshua provides timely articles and updates on our website. You can contact Joshua at our Technical Support number, 1-479-879-2961.
Natural Algae Prevention
We recently had a question sent to us from a pond owner who is looking to prevent algae from growing and to combine “all natural” products with aeration. John Redd, Owner of Outdoor Water Solutions offered the following suggestions: Step 1: Keep colorant in your pond year around. It should have a consistent blue/dark blue appearance that is pleasing in color, but more importantly, filters the sunlight and keeps it off of the bottom. The amount of dye is dependent on pond size, pond depth, rainfall and sunlight. On a 1 acre pond that is 4’ deep on average, we would typically recommend 1 quart of concentrate to start. If 8’ -12’ deep, it would probably take 2 quarts to start assuming there is no residual colorant left from last year. Then you would add a ½ quart each month or two to keep the color year around depending on how much rain and/or dilution you might get. You can always add some, give it a day or two, then add more until you get the color you want. You should not be able to see the bottom at 2’-3’ of depth. Algae can grow anytime, even over winter, so having a colorant in your pond all year is critical to preventing algae growth. Step 2: Add supplemental aerobic bacteria every 2 weeks once the water temperature hits 50 degrees. For a one acre pond, you would add 8 packets (4 pounds) every 2 weeks. Toss it in around the edges of the pond and out in the middle. These are water soluble packets that dissolve and increase the # of aerobic bacteria in your pond with the objective of breaking down excess nutrients and organic matter. Step 3: Selectively control algae that appears. Some people use an algaecide. Others use a lake rake and pull it into shore and dispose of it. Keeping it from sinking to the bottom and adding to your existing muck is typically a good idea. Have a question? Contact us today or Call Us 1.866.471.1614!
7 Ways to Control Algae
7 Way to Control Algae It's that time of the year, when winter is holding on ferociously, spring is around the corner, and summer is not far behind. As managers of lakes and ponds its time to reassess our annual algae and vegetation management plans/prescriptions. As a professional we are always asking what, why, when, where, and how did our plan work, or did not work. We must give credit where its due. Algae’s basic function along side the rest of the terrestrial world (trees, plants, etc.), is to produce oxygen for the environment we live in. However, as the temperatures begin rising algae growth can take on a whole new meaning for lake and pond owners. That credit we just gave it, took the preferable “right turn Clyde”. Algae begins growing unchecked and becomes an ugly mess that is ruining the tranquility and beauty of your recreational pond. Professional lake, pond, or water managers are always trying to get one step ahead on algae. No one likes seeing green floating scum on their water. But did you know that there maybe many variables contributing to algae growth? Pond owners should consider the type of fish the pond holds, slope and depth of the pond, livestock that may be around the pond, the water source, and the previous use of pond. These are just some of the considerations to thing ab out when you see algae growing in your pond or lake. When addressing algae problems, start by assessing your what our the current goals are for the pond. Goals and current events will determine what methods are used to treat algae. If there is an event happening in two days, a chemical treatment that results in dead brown mats of algae won’t be received very well by guests. There is no “one size fits” all recommendation or product to control algae. It is the job of the consultant to provide all available options and information after asking and answering questions that will help you to make decisions for your lake or pond. Remember, no two ponds that are alike and a product that is labeled “one size fits all” will more than likely disappoint. So, what options should you consider? We'll take a look at seven algae control options and discuss them weekly. They include: Nutrient Reduction Sunlight Reduction Fish Chemicals Biological Mechanical Aeration Controlling algae is a process. Start with your goals for your pond or lake, discuss the costs, time and resources needed. Remember there is “no one size fits all”. Educate yourself and if needed, worth with a lake or pond professional to discuss your situation. If your lake or pond is looking great, everyone will benefit and enjoy your efforts.
Pond Algae Control
Pond Algae Control Once you have a problem with pond algae, there are a couple of options for controlling the situation. The most common is to add a copper based algaecide, either in dry or liquid form, to kill the visible algae. You want to avoid not killing too much algae at one time because it will take most of the available oxygen out of the water and you may end up with a fish kill. Most companies recommend treating one-third of your pond at a time. Algaecides can be effective at controlling what you can see, but this does not address the bigger problem. As a result the algae problem will come back time and again. Killing the algae can also contribute to more and more excess organic matter as when it dies. It will sink to the bottom, adding yet another layer of rich, black organic matter that feeds more algae. Grass carp sometimes eat algae, but it is not common. They have been seen eating plants coated with algae, but their mouth and gills are not positioned to eat algae effectively. Although grass carp can be used to control some aquatic weeds, they should not be stocked to control algae. In fact, grass carp can add to a nutrient problem and cause algae to multiply if they are no longer eating aquatic weeds efficiently. The existence of algae in you pond may be a fact of life, but it is good to know that there are ways to prevent excessive growth of it and there are ways to control it with some patience and the right tools.