PLANTS IN PONDS

By Clifford Woods

Plants in ponds will reduce the amount of algae that is able to grow, but also use the waste from the fish to give a natural water filtration system.

Plants below the water:These plants are the major contributors to water quality. They will oxygenate the water during the day and provide oxygen for the fish as well supplying excellent shade. Submerged plants compete with algae for use of nitrogen produced from fish waste and decaying plant material.
If you pot these plants it will allow for easy removal for thinning or when winter comes.

A few examples

Jungle Val - Hornwort - Cabomba

Floating and Surface Plants
Pick plant species that grow flowers and leaves on the surface of the water. The difference between floating and surface plants is that floating plants float freely on the water’s surface without attached roots, while surface plants have roots that extend down and anchor into the pond’s soil. Remember to remove plants if coverage exceeds two-thirds of the pond's surface area.

A few examples

Floating Plants:Duckweed - water lettuce

A few examples

Surface Plants: Hawthorne - Four Leaf Water Clover- Water Lotus

Side or Marginal Plants
Plants that grow well in moist or soggy soil or that grow well in standing water. Plant them along the side or edge of your pond. They will root in the soil and their foliage will spread out over the water. Careful to not choose plants that grow rapidly or that will spread to much and too far.

A few examples

Western Blue Flag Iris - Sweet Flag - Dwarf Bamboo

Advice: cleaning your pond and using only organic pond cleaners, makes for healthy ponds, happy fish and thriving plants and it also contributes towards a safer environment for any adults, children or pets spending time in the yard.

Clifford Woods is the CEO of Effective Environmental Services

and Organic Environmental Technology.

We brew Beneficial Microorganisms that eat toxins and offer Environmentally Friendly products.

The Value Of Clean Water

By Clifford Woods

It is a known fact that clean water is essential to all living things to be able to survive. With the environmental changes occurring at present however, the environment is at risk of losing clean water with all the uncontrolled pollutants that are incorporated in the water system.

There might be a time when clean water scarcity will be experienced all around the world.

One solution in addressing the problem of contaminated water is the use of beneficial microorganisms.

Beneficial microorganisms, either in the form of bacteria or fungi, have the ability to breakdown almost anything to use them for food as a source of energy. They are the reason for the decay of organic materials in the environment. Beneficial microorganisms, which we commonly term as good bacteria, are very helpful to the body since they fight harmful microorganisms or bad bacteria.

Aside from their benefits in the body, they also have some benefits in our environment, such as helping in production of clean water. These beneficial microorganisms are versatile; they can adapt to any type of environment they are in. These have the ability to clean water and thus, they are incorporated to dirty ponds and lakes that need to be cleaned up. Although there are natural floras already present in the local environment, they have already been depleted by pollution and thus, the need to incorporate cultured microorganisms into them is imminent. 

Beneficial microorganisms may be incorporated in ponds to produce clean water. Some types of beneficial microorganisms break down toxic ammonia present in ponds. They break them down into nitrites, which are converted into a useful form. An increase of nutrients present in the pond environment can also become harmful, beneficial microorganisms also feed on these excess nutrients. A pond that is full of algae and dead plants has its oxygen content of the water depleted. The introduction of beneficial microorganisms can help clean water by feeding on these dead plants and algae and emitting oxygen back into the water. The pungent odors due to increase in algae and dead plants are also reduced. In this way, other living things present in ponds and lakes, such as fish are able to thrive in the environment. And people enjoy the clean water caused by beneficial microorganisms too.

Bad bacteria present in a pond environment can cause illness to humans resulting in ulcers, septicemia, and gastroenteritis. These harmful microorganisms are incorporated into water systems that mix with water sources and then come out in tap water, which all the while is thought as clean water. Beneficial microorganisms can eliminate stomach illnesses by releasing antibacterial properties.

Beneficial microorganisms are able to balance the ecosystem around their environment to help other living things to thrive, such as in the case of ponds and lakes to keep clean water flowing. 

However, if the beneficial microorganism is out-numbered by harmful organisms and substances, the rate of pollution is faster than the breakdown from the beneficial microorganisms. They cannot do the entire job alone and so there is a need for humans to maintain cleanliness in the environment and to reduce pollution as much as possible to have unending supply of clean water. 

It is important to implement methods that will keep the correct balance of both algae and bacteria so that a healthy ecosystem is maintained. Where matter and waste are allowed to collect in the bottom of the pond, the oxygen content eventually decreases, which means that beneficial bacteria or microorganisms are unable to control for high levels of ammonia and nitrites. Even the application of a pump or filter to aerate the water will prove ineffective.

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Clifford Woods is the CEO of Effective Environmental Services and Organic Environmental Technology
Find out more about our Benficial Microorganism Pond Cleaner - Pond Magician
We brew Beneficial Microorganisms that eat toxins and offer Environmentally Friendly products

Benefits of Having Organically Clean Ponds

By Clifford Woods

Anyone who has a fish pond in their yard wishes there was some easy way to clean it out. It can smell bad and you have to clean it out occasionally to keep it healthy for any fish, so they do not get sick and die.

Even if the pond has a filter, other gadgets and products from the store, there are still going to be times when you need to clean the pond. Ponds tend to become the most polluted parts of our environment. And due to the polluted water in ponds, lakes and rivers, they attract insects and other little creatures, which make the pond even dirtier and can turn it into a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

So, cleaning a pond is not only needed for providing a healthy environment for garden animals, such as frogs or toads, insects and your fish, but also to keep the population of mosquitoes under control. Ponds that are built well and are in harmony with nature will need less maintenance.

Something that ponds do benefit from is organic pond cleaning. This is a method that is beneficial to the health of the fish, as no harsh chemicals are used and the waste that is taken out has many other uses. The use of chemicals also drops the quality of the water making it hazardous for humans as well. In order to have organic healthy ponds; it is essential that only organic pond cleaners are used, as it can keep the ponds clean without any risk to all the life that lives there.

The pond does need to be cleaned at least once a year with the fall or spring being the best time, as the water is cooler during those months and the fish adapt better. If the pond smells bad – you have waited too long. If cleaning the pond is done on a regular basis, it will not get to the point where it might get smelly.

Move the fish to a water tank while cleaning or if you have several ponds, you can just move the fish to another pond. This makes it easier on the fish. You need a brush that is nylon for cleaning the sides of the pond. With the nylon brush, there will probably not be any need for harsh cleaners.

The silt that is on the bottom of the pond can be scraped up and be used in the garden as mulch. This silt is great for gardens and plants, and will make your garden soil really healthy. Another benefit is that this keeps all the essential minerals in the pond for the health and protection of the fish.

Organically cleaning your pond, makes healthy ponds and healthy fish. It also contributes towards a safer environment for any adults or children spending time in the yard and with pets quite frequently drinking the pond water, it will be safe for them too.

There are many ways to contribute towards a safer and healthier environment for all of us to live our lives and the benefits of having organically clean ponds can be one of them.
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Clifford Woods is the CEO of Effective Environmental Services and Organic Environmental Technology.
You can find out more about Organic Pond Cleaners at www.effens.com
We brew Beneficial Microorganisms that eat toxins and offer Environmentally Friendly Products.