How Does Phosphate Get Into A Pond

By Clifford Woods

Ponds under attack from green water, poor coral growth, algae and cyanobacteria and are the things that are responsible for your dying fish. These are factors that generally leave aquarists frustrated, and most of them, are brought about by the presence of phosphates in water.


What Are Phosphates? Phosphates are naturally occurring compounds, which commonly form in water bodies. This is largely due to a number of sources, the major one being water sources. Soil and salt mixes that are swept into the water as a result of rain or wind are a major contributor for how does phosphate get into in a pond and these are usually harder to control than aquarium water.

It’s important to note that phosphates are the active ingredients in fertilizers. That being said, salt mixes that could be found in rocks surrounding the pond may be the reason why your water is choking.

How Can You Identify High Phosphate Levels? Identifying the signs of high phosphate levels can be obvious (if you know what to look for), or they might be a bit more subtle and hard to recognize but here are a few:

• The water color
• Predominant presence of nuisance algae
• Poor coral growth

Your water could indicate the presence of phosphates and if your pond is pea green, you need to think about phosphate testing. Nuisance algae predominance is also a good sign that your water is thriving with phosphates, since like already mentioned; it is the active ingredient in fertilizers and therefore, encourages growth of plants. And Algae of course is a plant. 

Types of algae to look out for are black hair algae and slime algae as well. You can also identify signs of poor marine, such as unhealthy corals and poor survival rates of invertebrates, such as shrimp and snails. There is several phosphate testing kits you can use to identify phosphate presence in your water.

How to Remove Phosphate Eliminating phosphates can be quite tricky and before you can conduct any elimination process, you need to first identify the cause. If you throw frozen foods into your ponds, this may the reason why there are high levels of the compound. You may want to consider rinsing foods before feeding your fish or simply avoiding frozen foods. The water that frozen foods are frozen in sometimes has high phosphate concentrations.

Are there golf courses, farms or even fertilized gardens and lawns around your pond? If yes, run off from the rain are washing these phosphates into your pond. Once you've identified (and hopefully eliminated) where the phosphate is coming from, you can start getting rid of what you already have.

Water changes with phosphate-free water can help cut down on your levels but can take time before you see a noticeable difference.

In salt-water aquariums, protein skimmers can help remove wastes and decrease the phosphate levels, and refugiums can be used in freshwater and salt-water tanks. There are various products in the market that can help you get rid of phosphates. These mediums act to absorb the compound or trap it for removal. When a phosphate remover is applied into the water, it basically traps the phosphates and immobilizes them, making them insoluble nutrients.

Phosphates in ponds are harder to eliminate, since you cannot control what products people use in their lawns and farms. That said, you can control the levels by always ensuring that your pond is clean and using a phosphate remover often. With persistent testing and removal, your pond can have a good water quality for your fish and other marine species to thrive better.

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

What is Phosphate?

By Clifford Woods

Phosphates, which contain phosphorus, are essential nutrients that contribute to the growth and metabolic reactions of all animals and plants. The quantity of phosphorus can either increase or limit growth. Since it is essential to the growth of plants and animals, an imbalance in the amount of the natural growth of phosphorus can produce harmful changes to the environment. This is when it becomes a job for a phosphate remover to handle.

Contributing Factors In Phosphates Overgrowth
The internal contributor in the growth of the presence of phosphates in your fish pond is from the mineralization of dead matter, such as plants, uneaten food, feces, fish slime, bacteria, etc. The rotting food particles or dead plant materials settle either within the filter or on the substrate.  Vacuuming the gravel or rinsing filter materials every time you change the water in your pond or tank will substantially decrease the potential accumulation of phosphate deposits. The probable external sources, on the other hand, are additives such as frozen fish food, carbon or pH stabilizers.  

Effects Of Phosphates In Fish Ponds
For people who raise fish on ponds, the elevated presence of phosphates means algae invasion and that is a big threat to the lives of your fish. Using a phosphate remover is ideal in this kind of pond situation. Partially, changing the water in your fish pond more frequently can also help. Once the growth of water weeds and algae in your pond becomes uncontrollable, they will dominate the use of oxygen until the water in your pond will not be able to support the life of your fish any more  leaving them to die. So, use phosphate removers as soon as the presence of phosphorus becomes threatening.

Addressing The Issue With Phosphate Removers
The ideal amount of the presence of phosphates in your fish pond should be below 0.005 ppm. A phosphate remover will control the level of phosphates in your pond by reducing the amount of algae that grows in it.  

When phosphate removers are applied into the water, it basically traps the phosphates and immobilizes them, making them insoluble nutrients. 
Phosphates in ponds are harder to eliminate, since you cannot control what products people use in their lawns and farms. 

That said, you can control the levels by always ensuring that your pond is clean and using a phosphate remover often. With persistent testing and removal, your pond can have a good water quality for your fish and other marine species to thrive better.

For salt-water aquariums, it will maximize the coral growth in it. When buying them, make sure that you thoroughly check the brand specifications. Most often, it comes as phosphate mesh media bags or reactors.  

Those that come in reactors need to be installed, while those that come in mesh media bags are packed with phosphate removal media and employed inside the sump or canister filter.  

If you want to be rid of a persistent phosphate problem, be vigilant in eliminating the causes of its overgrowth in the first place instead of always relying on a phosphate remover to do the job for you. Avoid over-feeding your fish to reduce or eliminate the presence of uneaten foods. Choose a brand of fish food with the lowest levels of phosphates. Perform tank maintenance regularly by vacuuming the bottom of your ponds or tanks to remove plant decay, fish waste, and uneaten food. A filter’s job is to skim all dirt, so make sure you always remember to clean it, too.

Keep all these important maintenance steps in mind for your fish to have smooth-sailing lives.

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Clifford Woods is the CEO of Effective Environmental Services and Organic Environmental Technology
Find out more about our Organic Pond Cleaner - Pond Magician
We brew Beneficial Microorganisms that eat toxins and sell 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.

Keeping Ponds Clean With Organic Pond Cleaners

by Clifford Woods

A large number of pond owners are misconceived when it comes to the presence of algae in aquatic structures. The problem occurs where the algae is growing prolifically often distorting the color and the texture of the water.

A poor quality of water can actually stress and stunt the growth of fish and therefore understanding ways of keeping your pond clean and fresh can create a balanced ecosystem.
Where the water quality is not maintained, ammonia levels will be on the rise impacting on the health of fish. In a large number of cases, it will result in poor gill function and an inability for the Koi to breathe. Apart from the devastating impact on fish, the presence of large amounts of algae can create an unattractive looking feature.

It is important to implement organic pond cleaners which contain beneficial or effective microorganisms 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.

Increased exposure to sunlight during the warmer months creates the ideal conditions for algae growth. The key is to manage the amount of waste entering water in order to control ammonia and nitrite levels. The implementation of aquatic bacteria to break down the high organic content safely and naturally can prove most successful.

Be sure to avoid placing large number of aquatic plants, twigs, branches and similar objects in the water as this will breakdown over time increasing the nutrient rich content in the pond.
With effective microorganisms and aeration systems in place the bacteria will begin to eat the extra nutrients and muck settling in the bottom of ponds for clearer water. Where you are able to reposition plants to provide shade and clean out filters, it may give the beneficial bacteria an opportunity to repopulate.

There are many products available to add the necessary microorganisms to the pond. Once these have been added it will work to decrease ammonia and nitrates and increase the overall oxygen content. The result is a drastic reduction in the presence of algae as all organic content is broken down without any harm to the fish present in the water.

Should the water turn a brown color, clear the area of all debris and leaf matter that may have fallen into the pond and settled on the bottom. The addition of suitable microorganisms will allow for acceleration in the break down of any remaining leaf or organic matter. Over time you will also notice the water beginning to clear and reduce the collection of sediment.

Keep your pond clean with organic pond cleaners

It is important to exercise regular maintenance. This includes cleaning filters and checking aeration systems. This will enhance the desired microorganism populations and the breakdown of excess waste.
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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.

Controlling Algae Naturally in Your Pond

By Clifford Woods

You have two choices in dealing with algae in your pond and that is with chemicals or naturally.
Chemical methods are fine if you there are no living creatures or plants in your pond because algaecides and chemicals will kill any and all life in the water. Normally chemicals would be used in a swimming pool or perhaps outdoor fountains, any water feature that does not have plants and or fish in them.
The natural way works with Mother Nature, not against her. You could use plants and fish, or good bacteria that would create and maintain a healthy well balanced ecosystem. Algae itself is a plant, it needs nutrients and light to grow so when you add plants to your pond they directly compete for the nutrients available. Add enough plants and you naturally minimize the nutrients available to the algae.
Over feeding your fish. Fish food that is not digested by the fish is the main pollutant in many ponds. Fish eat many things in the pond and that includes algae. Too much food for the fish increases waste and provides nutrients that feed the algae. When the algae goes on an over population bloom reduce or eliminate feeding until it is under control.
Reduce sunlight penetration: Cover at least half of the surface area of your pond with plants. Water that is not covered is much more difficult to keep in balance than ponds filled with beneficial plants.

Add beneficial microorganisms

colonies of healthy bacteria found in Pond Magician are a crucial part in ensuring a naturally balanced pond. When cooler water temperatures are present add more and during the warmer months add less.
Keep the water moving: pulling water from one end of the pond and then filtering it before it returns at the opposite end will greatly improve water quality. Oxygen is added to the water as it is circulated.
Water run-off from lawns and surrounding gardens can overload the pond with nutrients and that is not good for the life in your pond.
Create a run off or add a drain tile.
You must manually take out the dead and decaying plants and their leaves: Decaying leaves and or plant debris will also create excess nutrients in your pond. Skimmers are by far the most efficient and easiest way to keep your pond free of debris.
Water change: A partial water change (10-30%) every month or month and a half may also help reduce excess nutrients in some situations.
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Clifford Woods is the CEO of Organic Environmental Technology. and Effective Environmental Services.

They brew Beneficial Microorganisms that eat toxins in the environment and sell Environmentally Friendly products

The Value of Clear Clean Ponds to the Environment

By Clifford Woods

Environment has remained the most neglected entity in the world throughout history with industrialists and businessmen totally forgetting that they live in a world which they share with other creatures. This neglect of the surroundings we live in has resulted in severe consequences for us humans in the present day and age, which are going to affect our future generations as well.

It is for this reason that people nowadays have started putting the environment above everything else. Business corporations and industries have started paying attention to the ecological system and are trying to find out ways to limit the pollution and to preserve our natural resources.

Why Is Cleaning a Pond so Necessary? Ponds are among the environments most polluted components. This is why finding a clean pond has become a rarity nowadays. All the polluted water from the factories and industries is dumped in these ponds, which has caused these freshwater havens for many creatures to become unclean and the breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects.

Thus, cleaning a pond is not only necessary for providing a healthy environment for useful garden animals like frogs and toads but also for keeping the population of mosquitoes under control.

How to Clean a Pond: For cleaning a pond, the use of an organic cleaner has proven to be vital for the safety of the other animals living in the pond. An inorganic chemical used as a cleaner can prove to be harmful for the aquatic life that lives there and can severely damage their population. Moreover, the use of chemicals also lowers the quality of the water and makes it unsafe for humans as well. Therefore, in order to clean a pond, it is vital that only the use an organic pond cleaner should be attempted, as it would keep the pond clean without posing any threat to the aquatic life that lives there.

Environmental Benefits of Clean Ponds:

A clean pond can be of great value to the environment. Not only does a pond make the atmosphere cleaner and provide water and a breeding place for many animals, it also provides people a chance to enjoy nature in its purest form.

In addition to this, clean ponds are great substitutes for gardens and since they have no grass they do not need to be mowed every few days, thus they save a lot of electricity that would have been used in mowing the lawns.

Another great environmental benefit of a clean pond is that its underwater soil is nutrient rich and can be used as natural fertilizer for in-door plants, thus saving a person the need to use chemical fertilizer for nourishing his plants. As the ponds do not require as much water because of their ability to store water from rainfall, they keep the water consumption down and help in saving water as well.

It is because of these amazing environmental benefits that ponds are considered an important constituent of our ecological system and are of great value to us. Having a clean pond is a blessing for a community or a household as it keeps the natural balance and provides a soulful place for the people to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Therefore, if you want to enjoy the ecological benefits that a clean pond can provide then always remember to use organic cleaners for cleaning your pond.
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Clifford Woods is the CEO of Organic Environmental Technology.
You can find products for Natural Pond Cleaners at www.effens.com
We brew Beneficial Microorganisms that eat toxins in the environment and sell Environmentally Friendly products

Tips for Keeping a Clean Pond All Year Round

By Clifford Woods

You have done all the work to create your beautiful pond. You've got the correct, colorful fish and the pumps are pumping, the plants are "just so" and you start enjoying.
You then do all the right things. Add the chemicals and things recommended and one day your pond is not as clear as it was. You cannot see your fish and worse - it's all green!
Oh no!

Well, here are some no chemicals tips for a clean, all natural, organic pond that you and your fish will love!

The first point is NEVER put any chemicals what-so-ever in your pond. They damage the environment; destroy natural vegetation and they can HARM your fish! If you are currently using chemicals, it is strongly recommend that you cease using them. At the very least, they are not safe for the environment.

Use effective microorganisms - always - an organic pond cleaner! Some kinds of microorganisms help us, but other kinds give us trouble. Among microorganisms, there are good bacteria and there are bad bacteria. Good bacteria cleans water, produce cheese, bread etc. and are of help to our health. Bad bacteria contaminate soil, pollute water and air. They cause sickness and disease and degrade health. So, look around. Do a little research and locate some effective microorganisms that you can use in your pond. Use organic pond cleaners, your fish will love you for it.

No Ultra Violet Lights - ever. Ultra Violet light does reduce the bacteria in the pond; however, the UV cannot tell the difference between the good bacteria and the bad ones. Because of this, a UV light kills the friendly bacteria in the Pond and in any effective microorganisms you are using - right along with the bad guys!

Use your dechlorinator. If your water is chlorinated or every time you add fresh water to your pond; dechlorinate. Chlorine is not good for the microbes in any effective organisms you use.
Plants and animals are not likely to store chlorine. However, laboratory studies show that repeat exposure to chlorine in air can affect the immune system, the blood, the heart, and the respiratory system of animals. Chlorine causes environmental harm at low levels. Chlorine is especially harmful to organisms living in water and in soil; so, use your de-chlorinator!
No sludge build-up! When effective microorganisms are used regularly in ponds, about every 6 weeks or so all-year-round, the black, stinky, smelly sludge build up on the bottom of ponds does not seem to happen.

Good practice:Some good practices when dealing with ponds are:

1. Calculate the gallons of water in your pond correctly. Use a calculator - The formula is: length x width x average depth x 7.5. This ensures that whatever you are adding to it is being added correctly to your pond.
2. If you have heavy rains, double the dosage of whatever effective microorganisms you are use.
3. Do not fertilize your pond plants. This also fertilizes the algae - and we do not want to be doing that!

Using effective microorganisms, at the recommended dosages, all-year-round (every 6 weeks or so) and keeping your pond dechlorinated whenever you add fresh water, will give you:

• Happy fish
• Thriving and beautiful plants
• No green water
• A clean, healthy, beautiful pond all-year-round!

Clifford Woods is the CEO of Organic Environmental Technology.
You can find out more about our Organic Pond Cleaner at www.effens.com
We brew Beneficial Microorganisms that eat toxins in the environment and sell environmentally friendly products