Landscape Architect Articles

LCN August 2008 Water Features07-30-08 | News

Maintenance Chemicals For Dummies

Nitrifying bacteria are the heart and soul of a water feature according to Brandon Dwyer of Atlantic Water Gardens. They convert the waste products that accumulate from fish into nitrite and then nitrate. Nitrate then fertilizes the plants, which photosynthesize to produce oxygen for fish, in addition to food. Without this cycle the pond ecosystem will collapse. Photo: Pond Doc?EUR??,,????'???s Water Garden Center

Water feature maintenance is an excellent service expansion opportunity for today?EUR??,,????'???s contractor. A major reason is the startup cost, which only runs in the $500 range, assuming a pickup is already available. Another appealing aspect of the service is the level of competition involved.

Terminology

One key difference to note is that the majority of the ?EUR??,,????'??chemicals?EUR??,,????'?? used in water feature maintenance are actually natural bacteria. These are better termed treatments when speaking to customers. ?EUR??,,????'??Chemical?EUR??,,????'?? is a word that can worry potential customers with children and pets to protect, and one of Brandon?EUR??,,????'???s other tips for getting around this is to use all EPA approved chemicals. This way, safety concerns with the customer are quickly extinguished.

Regularly Required Treatments/ Chemicals

Nitrifying bacteria are a major treatment that should be added weekly. Fish excrete the toxin ammonia and nitrifying bacteria break it down into nitrates. Plants then use the nitrates to produce oxygen and organic matter through photosynthesis. Fish then use the oxygen and eat the plants, starting the cycle all over again.

Chlorinators are another regularly used chemical. Whenever city supplied water is added, this compound needs to be used to neutralize the chlorine. Failure to add this chemical will result in chlorine burns and extended exposure might kill aquatic life.

Algaecides must be used carefully, as some varieties will also kill off aquatic plants. If this is the case, it should be clearly labeled somewhere on the container. However, with careful selection and proper use, algaecides can rapidly bring an infestation under control. Photo: Fountain Magic Water Gardens

Problematic Treatments/ Chemicals

These treatments are added to fix a problem rather then prevent one. One major problem every spring is algae growth. Treatment options include additional plant growth and chemical algaecides.

Increasing the number of aquatic plants in the feature is the first step recommended by Brandon. Since plants and algae consume the same food supply, a large number of plants will starve algae of the nutrients needed to grow. Plant cover can also deprive algae of the light needed to photosynthesize and the space to thrive.

This approach also avoids a major risk associated with chemical algaecide use. If the treatment is successful, the large amount of dead algae can provide excellent growth material for a new outbreak worse than the first. This is particularly true if an algaecide is used that also kills off plant material, as many, although not all, products on the market can. Most algaecides will be safe for fish. Discussing options with your local distributor and careful examination of labels will help ensure an effective treatment without collateral damage.

Water can be clouded by the accumulation of particles that are too small to be filtered. The solution is to use a flocculent, a treatment that makes small particles clump to ones large enough to be removed by the filtration system.

Sludge builds on bottoms, eventually clogging drains and obscuring aesthetic features. A much easier option then spending hours draining a pond and shoveling the grime out is to utilize a sludge digester bacteria treatment.

Container Volume and Pricing

Controlling algae is a constant battle that you can turn into profits. Ponds will need treatments at least once a week and in the spring. Preventing this eventuality will make your services invaluable to customers and provide a very reliable source of income. Photo: Bien Stephenson on flickr

Buying in the commercial containers is much cheaper than buying the retail size. In one of Brandon?EUR??,,????'???s catalogues, retail costs were 80 cents an ounce compared to 24 cents an ounce for commercial. When pricing chemicals for customers, Brandon recommends tracking how many ounces are used and then charging the retail price on that amount. MICROB-LIFT by Ecological Laboratories Inc. is one quality product line and PondCare a quality brand.

In closing, it?EUR??,,????'???s important to remember that water feature maintenance is all about maintaining the natural ecosystem. The more knowledgeable you are about this natural system and how various pond changes effect it, the more satisfied customers you?EUR??,,????'???ll have.

Water Facts

8 to 10: A.M. If algicides are used, make sure they won?EUR??,,????'???t harm pond fish or plants and treat in the morning between 8-10 a.m. when oxygen is more prolific.

6.8 to 8.5: Years, the expected lifespan of horizontal filter mats, if cleaned once per month.

Source: University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension Service