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Water adds natural beauty to our landscape and provides us with recreational activities such as swimming, fishing or boating. It is habitat for fish and wildlife and must be in balance so the resource can stay healthy.
But. . .
What causes a pond or lake to become unhealthy?
The condition of a pond or lake deteriorates when nutrients such as corn husks, leaves, grass clippings, twigs, dead algae or surface water run off (nitrates and phosphates) enter the water resource. With little or no oxygen present in the hypolimnion, anaerobic bacteria break down the nutrients to form rich organic "MUCK". This "muck" contains methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia gases with black sewer gas smelling properties. This black "muck" is now additional nutrients that phytoplankton use (as fertilizer) to grow more algae.
A never ending vicious cycle!
Fish and invertebrates cannot move freely around the water resource due to anaerobic conditions at greater pond depths. They will inhabit the epilimnion where oxygen levels are higher.
Why Do I Have Black Muck on the Bottom of My Pond and How Do I Get Rid of It?
Black muck formation results from using excessive amounts of the aquatic herbicides - Copper Sulfate or Cutrine Plus on a frequent basis. When copper based compounds are applied they are very short lived. By this we mean, when copper is applied the copper ion in the compound binds to carbonate ions in the water and forms copper carbonate. Copper carbonate has now bound up the available copper that is needed to kill the algae cells. This is why the copper you have added is only effective for approximately two hours and is termed "short lived". An accumulation of copper carbonate forms in the bottom sediments and is detrimental to necessary aquatic organisms needed to maintain a healthy ecosystem.
Using excessive amounts of aquatic herbicides is the root cause of muck on the pond or lake bottom. These herbicides can work wonders but you must understand what happens when they are applied. As the algae cells or weeds die they start the decaying process through anaerobic decomposition. This produces the rich organic muck that acts as "fertilizer" for new algae growth (due to the release of phosphorus) which results in the filling in of the eater resource. New algae growth could be the same species you just eradicated or could possibly be a species of planktonic algae. This results in a NEVER ending battle of algae and/or poor water quality.
This brings up the answer to the second question of "How do I get rid of the muck?". MBA's method of managing aquatic resources consists of employing bottom aeration coupled with bioaugmentation and raking. Also, the planting of aquatic plants along the perimeter is another means of pulling nutrients from the water resource. They also add a beautiful aquascape to your yard or to a commerial sight.
See our extensive list of aquatic plants available for your pond, lake or water garden. You'll be glad you did!!
a healthy pond or lake?
The most important element of water quality is dissolved oxygen. The primary sources of oxygen are 1.) Air/water interface and 2.) Photosynthesis from phytoplankton
1.) Air/water interface has the following effects:
• Binds phosphorus which would otherwise be available for plant growth
• Inhibits the formation of rich organic muck
• Improves water quality
• Increases aquaculture densities (zooplankton)
• Retards the trophication process
• Detrimental gases are eliminated
• Maintains 02 levels in the hypolimnion
• Eliminates thermal stratification
• Stabilizes water pH
• Increases oxidation
• Mixes and circulates H20 throughout the water resource
2.) Photosynthesis from phytoplankton forms the following chemical reaction:
As you have noticed from the above lists, increasing the dissolved oxygen content allows for overall better water quality. It helps to reduce the aging of the pond and lake by allowing aerobic bacteria to process out the "muck" and increase the abundance and species of zooplankton. Oxygen creates a healthy environment which permits the nutrients to be utilized by the natural food chain that exists in your water resource.
Fish and animals can live throughout the pond or lake.
Click illustration for
more aeration benefits.
