Common Mistakes That Can Lead To Deterioration Of Water Quality In Reservoirs

Common Mistakes That Can Lead To Deterioration Of Water Quality In Reservoirs
Common Mistakes That Can Lead To Deterioration Of Water Quality In Reservoirs

Video: Common Mistakes That Can Lead To Deterioration Of Water Quality In Reservoirs

Video: Common Mistakes That Can Lead To Deterioration Of Water Quality In Reservoirs
Video: Water Quality Testing Methods 2024, March
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Good water is essential for healthy plant and animal life in ponds. What is water quality? This concept includes two parameters. The first is the chemical composition, including hardness, pH, alkalinity, nitrite and ammonia content, and other chemical elements and additives. Despite the fact that plants are much more resistant to chemicals than fish, it would still be nice to keep a pond clean even with only plants.

Koi carps in the pond, photo pond content photography
Koi carps in the pond, photo pond content photography

The second element is the purity of the water. Clean water, first of all, contributes to the aesthetics of your reservoir, because you can't really admire a pond with muddy and dirty water. Dark water will tell you that the chemical balance is imbalanced or the water is oversaturated with nutrients.

Poor water quality will tell us about inadequate care of your pond, as well as situations that are completely out of your control. In this article, we will look at some general points that can affect water quality, and we will also tell you what can help.

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Preparing the pond for winter

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Incorrect filtration. If you do not want to spend a lot of nerves, time and effort maintaining your pond, then you need a filter. Naturally, reservoirs do not have filters, but Mother Nature has much more experience in creating balanced systems and it took many years to form real ponds. In nature, water bodies inhabited by inhabitants are usually quite large, and therefore minor fluctuations in the chemical composition of water will not affect the inhabitants strongly enough.

There are two main types of filtration that any reservoir owner should be familiar with: mechanical and biological. Mechanical filters are designed to remove physical contaminants. Water from the reservoir is driven through a filter, and dirt and waste is screened out. As with any filters, mechanical filters must be cleaned and changed periodically. You should clean the filter once a week.

Koi carps, photography pond care image
Koi carps, photography pond care image

Biological filters are essentially colonies of bacteria that feed on the decomposition of hazardous chemicals and making them less hazardous. This type of filtration is vital in man-made reservoirs. If your pond is unlined, chances are that bacteria in the soil at the bottom of the pond will be a good start for biological filtration. If the reservoir is lined, then you will have to make some effort and specifically add bacteria for biological filtration, as is done in aquariums. Improper biological filtration can lead to the formation of toxic substances in the water and damage fish and other inhabitants of the reservoir.

Incorrect installation time. In nature, it takes years to establish an ecosystem in a body of water. By using equipment, chemicals and additives, you can speed up this process, however, you will need patience to install a new pond anyway. Plants can take a couple of days to acclimate, while fish can take several weeks. If you want to add new fish to the pond, add one or two fish at intervals of several weeks. Any new inhabitant puts a strain on biological filtration and your bacteria need time to get used to and cope.

Overpopulation. A body of water is a fragile and delicate ecosystem and the amount of life it can carry is limited. Overcrowding can lead to a lack of oxygen in the water and an increase in the concentration of toxic substances. Overcrowded ponds require many times more effort to maintain, and animals are in a state of constant stress.

Overfeeding. Algae will appear in the pond, whether you like it or not. A small amount of algae is not scary, but when there are a lot of them, they can negatively affect the state of the water. Overfeeding fish is one of the simplest ways to fill a pond with algae. To avoid vegetation outbreaks and an increase in ammonia levels, feed your fish once a day with enough food that it can completely absorb in 3-5 minutes. The fish may look hungry, but they will feel good and this way you will take care of the entire pond. There are even special bacterial cultures sold to help you cope with the effects of overfeeding.

Stress, bacterial and fungal infections. Fungal and bacterial infections in your pond are usually caused by poor water quality. If plants, fish and amphibians often suffer from diseases and fungal infections, and you have already checked everything described above, then you may need an ultraviolet sterilizer. The UV sterilizer is installed in such a way that it allows water to pass through it during its normal circulation. As soon as the water passes through the sterilizer, ultraviolet rays destroy algae and bacteria. These settings can be very helpful. However, in order for this setup to work properly, you need to determine the exact size.

Koi carps in the pond, picture pond care at the site photography
Koi carps in the pond, picture pond care at the site photography

Cleaning of leaves and dirt. Remove dead organics from the pond as soon as you notice it. Fallen leaves, dead fish and other organic debris are an excellent breeding ground for algae and by removing them will slow down the growth of unwanted algae. Any decaying tissue produces ammonia, so by removing it you are helping to maintain good water quality in your pond.

Fresh water in the reservoir. Once biological filtration is in place in your pond, you need to be very careful when adding fresh water to the pond. Replacing "seasonal" water with fresh water can provoke the emergence of new toxins that can destroy the already established bio-filtration system. Until the water level in the pond drops too low - do not rush to add new water. When adding fresh water, do it in small portions intermittently to give your system time to adapt. Water changes should also be avoided until levels of toxic chemicals rise too high to be naturally controlled. Again, the changes should be done gradually. And of course, check your tap water for chemicals before adding it to your pond. Chlorine and heavy metals can kill fish and other inhabitantsso they must be removed from the water beforehand.

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Poor drainage. You need to protect your pond from drainage and rainwater drainage, as rainwater will get dust, dirt, chemicals into your pond. This is especially true if you live near a large city. Install a boom around your body of water. On the other hand, the water will leave the overflowing pond by itself. Although this will not be a major problem in areas with low rainfall and low pollution.

Excess sunlight. The body of water should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Shadows from trees and branches will help, but you will need to plant special plants in the pond, such as lilies, for example. If the entire body of water is exposed to sunlight, then you need to shade from one third to two thirds of the area of the pond. This will slow down the growth of algae.

And finally. There are, of course, also indicators that can affect the quality of water in a reservoir. If, after all of the above, you still have problems with water, this may be due to the place where your pond is located, to the climate and other factors. You will need to consult with the appropriate professionals.

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