Clearing Pond Problems: Insights from Pond Pro's Product Experiment

Introduction

The health and clarity of your pond is vital for both aesthetics and the well-being of aquatic life. Pond Pro offers a range of products designed to mitigate common issues such as algae problems, high phosphate levels, and turbidity. In this blog post, we delve into an experiment conducted by one of our 2023 summer students to observe and test Pond Pro NaturalClear and QuikClear and suggest how various Pond Pro products could help with some common water problems.

The Experiment

The Goal:

• The objective of this project was to evaluate two of Pond Pro products' effectiveness in addressing common pond issues, including algae problems, high phosphate levels, and turbidity.

Data Collection:

• Weekly sampling and testing in four ponds was done for a range of water metrics, including turbidity, pH, ammonia, phosphates, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), and temperature. This data collection allowed us to gain a comprehensive understanding of the ponds' conditions.

Product Application:

• To test the Pond Pro products, the ponds were treated on a bi-weekly basis, with the first treatment applied on May 19th, 2023.

Results

Duckweed Mystery Solved:

• One of the issues we addressed was the presence of duckweed in the ponds. After thorough water testing, it was evident that high nitrate and phosphate levels directly contributed to the growth of duckweed as these substances act as natural fertilizers for surface-dwelling plants. Additionally, waterfowl and other wildlife can transfer duckweed from one pond to another.

Why Do We Care About pH in Water?:

• If the pH of water is too high or too low, aquatic organisms living within it will die. For instance, the majority of aquatic organisms will live in a pH range of 6.5-9.0. pH can also affect the solubility and toxicity of chemicals and heavy metals in the water.

Turbidity in Water:

• Turbidity is a visual characteristic which measures the relative clarity of a liquid. 
• Murky water = high turbidity!
• Note: Spikes in turbidity is a sign the clarity of the water has changed. 

Understanding High Phosphates:

• High concentrations of phosphates can result from poor agricultural practices, urban runoff, or discharges from sewage treatment plants. Excessive phosphorus can lead to a nutrient imbalance in the system which results in increased growth of algae and aquatic plants – a process known as eutrophication. Although plants and algae produce oxygen during the daytime, they consume oxygen at night which can result in deadly conditions for fish and other aquatic life.

Conclusion

Our experiment with Pond Pro products offered valuable insights into mitigating common pond issues. From algae control to managing phosphate levels and addressing turbidity, these products played a significant role in maintaining healthy pond ecosystems.

These findings underscore the importance of regular monitoring and the benefits of using Pond Pro solutions to address common pond challenges. We are very thankful for the work our summer students put in to making Pond Pro your go-to supplier for all of your water needs!

Additional References

-https://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/research_methods/environ_sampling/pH_EC.html

-https://www.fondriest.com/environmental-measurements/parameters/water-quality/ph/

-https://www.safewater.org/fact-sheets-1/2017/1/23/tds-and-ph

-https://www.globalseafood.org/advocate/effects-mechanical-aeration-evaporation-rate-water-temperature/

-https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/5298aadb-f5cc-4160-8620-ad139bb985d8/resource/38ed9bb1-233f-4e28-b344-808670b20dae/download/environmentalqualitysurfacewaters-mar28-2018.pdf

-https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/turbidity-and-water

-https://www.epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys/indicators-phosphorus

Experiment conducted by Nikida Marshall.