Paradise Pads—The Heat is On!

Here in eastern Iowa, summer has arrived and the heat is on! With temps and humidity soaring, the perfect solution is use your pond for cool down activities. Bjornsen Pond Management has many products that will help you and your family stay cool.

Our Inflatable Swim Pads have been very popular. In fact, our inventory is decreasing and our manufacturer is struggling to keep up with demand. If you are interested in an inflatable swim pad—now is the time to buy!

We also carry Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Boards. These are a great way to explore your waterways, and get wet if you choose!

Check out the Docks, Swim Pads, and Paddle Boards section of our online store. We stock dock kits in many sizes and configurations, dock floats, and the more traditional foam swim pads up to 6-ft. x 18-ft.

Place your order today to get your items before the 4th of July weekend. Our remaining inventory will go fast!

The Heat is On—Will Your Pond Keep Its Cool? Summer was slow to arrive but in the upper midwest it is certainly here. We have had long stretches where daytime temperatures have been in the mid to high 90s with high overnight temps as well—high enough that pond water temps have been climbing fast.

While warm water is great for swimming and recreation it contributes to the explosive growth of unwanted vegetation and stress on fish due to low oxygen levels.

Just like humans, fish require oxygen (in the form of dissolved oxygen) to survive. Your lake’s or pond’s dissolved oxygen requirements are highest in the summer when water temperatures reach into the 80s and 90s. Higher temperatures reduce water’s ability to hold oxygen creating conditions that can lead to fish kills. Dead (and dying) vegetation like algae use large volumes of oxygen as material decays and is digested by bacteria. Oxygen depletion leaves fish and other aquatic organisms with very little of what they need to survive.

We have been monitoring ponds all over the midwest that have been taken over by vegetation such as Water Meal, Chara, Duck Weed, Filamentous Algae, Coontail or even Cattails. Having pond vegetation is good—to a point. But, when the plant material starts covering most of your water surface, bad things—like plummeting dissolved oxygen levels—can happen.

We often go back to the four basic methods of dealing with explosive vegetation growth:

1. Preventative measures
2. Mechanical removal
3. Biological removal
4. Algaecides, herbicides, dyes, and beneficial bacteria to slow growth

In addition to taking measures to reduce aggressive vegetation growth, you may want to seriously consider an aeration program to ensure your fish are getting the oxygen they need.

Bjornsen Pond Management can help keep your pond in good health. We have the products and expertise to help your pond “keep its cool.” Check out our pond vegetation control products, PondFit Beneficial Pond Bacteria, aeration systems, and mechanical tools that will help make short work of your pond cleaning tasks. And, of course, you can always ask us specific questions online or call (319) 350-2918! We are always eager to help!

Free Shipping On All EasyPro Aeration Systems!

We are now offering free shipping on all EasyPro Aeration Systems! This is quite a savings as many of these systems are large and heavy.

Consider these positive affects of aeration:

• 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 of 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.

Today is a great time to add more aeration to your pond. Remember, Bjornsen Pond Management is offering Free Shipping On All EasyPro Aeration Systems!