Act now! The pond weeds are coming
Every year it happens—ponds all over the midwest are overtaken by green stuff—Water Meal, Chara, Duck Weed, Filamentous Algae, Coontail, or even Cattails. Some pond vegetation is good. But, when plant material starts covering most of your pond’s surface, bad things can happen. Too many pond weeds affect how your pond looks, how it functions as a fish habitat, and how healthy it is for recreation.
Bjornsen Pond Management can help you keep your pond in good health! We have the products and expertise to help take control of your pond weeds.
Consider the benefits of aeration:
When it comes to proactive methods to control unwanted vegetation, adding an aeration system is our go-to recommendation.
- Fish require adequate dissolved oxygen levels. It is challenging for them to survive in an oxygen-deprived habitat, especially as water temperatures climb. Deeper, colder areas of your pond contain higher concentrations of dissolved oxygen. Aeration will distribute that cooler, oxygen rich water to areas with warmer water, breaking down stratification in the water column. Aeration allows fish to inhabit the entire lake as opposed to only a specific stratified layer.
- Proper aeration will improve water quality. In oxygen deprived (anoxic) conditions, bottom sediments release various gases and metals that can cause water quality problems. Aeration will allow for many of the factors contributing to poor water quality to be released at pond’s surface.
- Aeration will reduce Phosphorus concentrations. Phosphorus is one main culprit in creating and sustaining large algae blooms. Once phosphorus enters a pond’s ecosystem it is very difficult to remove.
- Adequate aeration will break down unwanted bacteria.
- Aeration removes foul odors by circulating the water and adding dissolved oxygen.
- Aeration helps with mosquito problems.
What about beneficial bacteria?
Bjornsen Pond Management recommends two bacteria products. While similar in composition, they perform different functions.
- Our PondFit Beneficial Pond Bacteria is packaged in throwable, dissolving packets. These packets will float for about 30 seconds until they dissolve, allowing the contents to disperse into the water. PondFit actually increases the effectiveness of your aeration system. And conversely, your aeration system increases the effectiveness of PondFit Beneficial Bacteria. Aeration and bacteria work well independently, but are even better together.
- The second bacteria product that we recommend is MuckEater Pelleted Pond Bacteria. MuckEater removes muck (also called sludge) from your pond bottom. MuckEater can be used around docks and beaches—or for partially treating large ponds. MuckEater can eliminate several inches of sludge per year. MuckEater pellets are also throwable, but they are very dense and will immediately sink to the bottom where they digest muck.
Should I use Pond Dye?
Bjornsen Pond Management’s fish safe pond dyes limit sunlight penetration to the bottom of the pond which can slow the growth of bottom-rooted vegetation. Pond dye also improves the aesthetic of your pond by coloring brown water a more pleasing color. Bjornsen Pond Management’s Pond Dyes are available in liquid or powdered form and they are very intense. No mixing is necessary—simply pour liquid or powdered dye at multiple points around the pond. Dye will distribute through the pond within 24 hours.
If you act now, you will be in a much better position to control your pond weeds into the summer months. Your pond will look better, and your water quality will be much better for your fish and other living habitants.
Bjornsen Pond Management is offering Free Shipping On All EasyPro Aeration Systems!
