A
Acid:
Having a pH of less than 7 (neutral).
Water treatment
Alkaline:
Having a pH greater than 7 (neutral).
Water treatment
Aeration,
pond:
To expose the pond water to air to increase the oxygen levels. Waterfalls,
fountains and aerator nozzles all contribute to increasing the water oxygen
level.
Aeration methods
Algae:
Lower forms of plant life that has been in existence for millions of years.
Thriving in sunlight, nutrient rich water and warmth.
Water treatment
Algicide:
A substance used to kill or inhibit the growth of algae. However, must be
fish, plant and filter safe
Water treatment
Alkalinity:
The alkali concentration or alkaline quality of an alkali-containing
substance.
Water treatment
Ammonia:
Lethal to livestock. Should always be kept at zero. Produced from fish
waste, dead plant matter, dead livestock and uneaten food.
Water treatment
B
Bacteria:
Microscopic organisms that reproduce rapidly under the right conditions.
Can be either detrimental or beneficial to ponds.
Water treatment
Biological:
Affecting life or living organisms.
Water treatment
Biological
Filters:
Filters that, by harbouring beneficial bacteria, convert harmful nitrites
into useful nitrates while cleaning the water of algae and debris.
Filter choices
Bio-Media:
Medium that provides surface area and good adhesion of nitrifying bacteria
with a bio-filter.
Blanket
Weed or String Algae:
Fibrous green strands of 'cotton wool' like algae. Grows rapidly by
utilising excess nutrients in ponds.
Water treatment
C
Capping:
Tiles, pavers, stone etc used to finish the top of water features and
around ponds.
D
The duty cycle of a pump is the relationship
between the running time and the stationary (off) time, based on one
hour.
For example; pond pumps are rated 24/7 (run
24 hours a day 7 days a week) which is a 100% duty cycle.
Other pumps, such as bilge pumps or sump
pumps may have a duty cycle of only 10% which means they can run for 6
minutes in one hour with 54 minutes cooling time. Exceeding the duty
cycle limitations will reduce the operating life of the pump.
The difference in the duty cycle is a
reflection of the performance, a sump pump produces a high volume with a
high pumping head, a pond pump produces a large volume flow with low
head, therefore requiring much less energy, it has less heat and can be
cooled by the pond water allowing 100% duty cycle.
F
Filter:
Filters are units designed to clean and clear water. There are two main
types used for ponds, mechanical and biological. The filter can be located
either in-pond or external, out of pond filters can be either gravity or
pressure types, with pressure being the most common.
Filter choices
Flocculate:
To form lumps or masses. See Interpet Green Away
Water treatment and
Filter choices
Flood Suction:
The pump inlet is located below water level so that the water flows freely
into the inlet.
Flow rate:
The volume of water to be circulated throughout the pond system, measured in
litres per hour (lph).
Fountain:
A decorative structure, that issues a flow or jet of water.
Fountain
Head:
A nozzle
that creates jet or steam of water. Available in a variety of shapes and
patterns.
Fountain
heads
Friction
Loss:
The amount
of head (pressure) required to move the water through the hoses and
fittings. This must be allowed for when selecting a suitable pump for the
pond.
See our chart
Fungus:
Parasitic plants lacking chlorophyll, leaves, true stems and roots that
reproduce by spores.
G
Geyser:
A column of water ejected into the air from a pump.
Fountain heads
Green Water
Algae:
Commonly
called 'Pea Soup' - Caused by excess algae this is a dramatic imbalance of
the pond's micro-organisms.
Water treatment
Gravity feed:
The pump
inlet is located below water level so that the water flows freely into the
inlet.
H
H.D.P.E:
High-density polyethylene, used in many items including
ponds
Head:
A measure of pumping pressure. 10 metres head = 1 Bar at 20°C
More
information
Head
Height:
The maximum height that the pump can lift water up vertically, ie the point
at which water ceases to flow.
Link
I
Impellor:
A
rotating device (normally on a shaft) inside a pump used to force water
through the pump. In most cases a magnet is also attached
L
Low Voltage
Pump:
12V and 24V, usually
alternating current (AC)
solar pumps are
normally direct current (DC)
M
Marginal
Plants:
Aquatic plants that live in the shallow areas around the edge of a pond.
N
Nitrate:
NO3. Large macronutrient used by plants for food. Levels over
50mg per litre will encourage algae.
Water treatment
Nitrite:
NO2. Lethal to fish and other pond life. Nitrate poisoning causes
fish to gasp at water surface.
Water treatment
Nozzle:
Pump attachment such as a fountain
head that creates various water patterns and assists in aeration of the
pond water.
O
Organisms:
An individual form of life, such as a plant, animal, bacterium, protist, or
fungus; a body made up of organs, organelles, or other parts that work
together to carry on the various processes of life.
Water treatment and Filters
Oxygenating:
To produce oxygen in water.
Oxygenating
Plants:
Plants that emit oxygen into the pond water during photosynthesis.
P
Parasite:
An animal or plant that lives in or on another and from which it obtains
nourishment.
pH:
A
measure of how acid or alkaline your pond water is, with 7 being neutral.
The acceptable range for pond water is between 6.5 and 8.5 with 7.5 being
the ideal for the health of your livestock.
Water treatment
Photosynthesis:
The process
in green plants and certain other organisms where carbohydrates are
synthesized from carbon dioxide and water using light as an energy source.
Most forms of photosynthesis release oxygen as a by-product.
Pond Liner:
Membrane material used in freeform pond construction to waterproof
the pond cavity.
Pond liners
Pond
Vacuum:
A device that sucks sludge and debris from the bottom of a pond.
Vacuum cleaners
Ponds -
Fibreglass:
Pre-formed ponds constructed to look as natural as possible that come in a
range of varying shapes and sizes.
Ponds -
Rigid:
Preformed pond units that come in varying shapes and sizes. We recommend
flexible
pond liner
Projecting
Sheet Spillway:
Spillway that projects a sheet of water into the pond as a decorative effect
(see sheer descent spillway).
Spillways
Pump:
A mechanical device that generates water pressure so the pond water can be
circulated for filtration and decorative uses. Pumps are made in varying
styles such as, filter, waterfall / stream, feature,
or
general purpose
Pump Cage:
A device that restricts the size of solids from entering a submersible pump.
S
Sheet
Descent Spillway:
Manifold
box used to create an even sheet of water that runs down the wall.
Spillways
Sheer
Descent Spillway:
Also know
as projecting sheet. Manifold box used to create a 'solid sheet of
water that projects out from the wall.
Spillways
Skimmer:
A device that removes leaves and other debris from the pond surface.
Skimmers
Sludge:
Organic matter and waste product build up at the bottom of a pond.
Water treatment and
Sludge vacuum cleaners
Solar
Panel:
A device that produces electricity from sunlight by photo-voltaic action.
Solar panels
Spiral
Hose:
Reinforced
hose designed to maintain its shape and minimise the friction loss that
degrades pond pump performance, especially in bends.
Plumbing
Spitter:
A nozzle that produces a solid stream of water.
T
Test Strip:
Water test strips that measure the most important levels of water quality,
acidity, hardness, nitrites and nitrates.
Water treatment
U
UV-C or U.V.
Clarifier:
Unit that
uses ultra-violet light from a special lamp to kill algae and other
microscopic organisms as water passes through it, thus 'sterilising' the
water.
UV clarifiers
Underlay:
A high density fabric used under pond liner to protect it from puncture.
Sometimes called geotextile. Also assists with installation of liner.
Pond liner
V
Volume:
The amount of water contained in a pond or water feature, usually measured
in litres. Multiply length x width x depth in metres and multiply the result
by 1000 to give the volume in litres. For more accurate pond volume
calculation information
Chart
W
Water
Lilies:
Attractive
aquatic flowering plants.
Water
treatment:
Chemicals
used to maintain optimum water quality, specifically formulated to be
suitable for pond aquatic life.
Water treatment |
