What
has happened?
Especially in the first few months after refilling a pond, increased algae
growth occurs parallel to poor plant growth. The plant variety,
particularly that of underwater plants and floating plants is missing or
has not yet fully established itself. Missing trace elements (iron,
calcium) lead to a yellow colouring of the pond plants and a high pH-value
causes increased development of 'slimy' and short thread algae as well as
'blue' algae. Rising lack of carbonic acid, caused by the algae, increases
the pH-value further.
What
can happen?
Plant growth declines whilst algae growth increases, suffocating the
remaining plants. A pH-value higher than 8.6 stops the respiration process
of the plants; a further rise of the pH-value could cause fish to die due
to ammonia poisoning. A biological MCA (maximum credible accident) occurs.
What
has to be done?
After every refilling of the pond, after every change of water and after
continuous rainfalls, "Bio
stable regulator" should be used for water treatment. In a very gentle
way this purely biological product reduces the pH-value and allows the
plants to breathe again. At the same time, the barley straw, contained in
the "Bio
stable regulator" reduces algae growth and vital humus compounds transform
important trace elements such as iron so that they can be consumed by
plants.
Beware!
If fish gasp for breath in the evening, test the pH-value. A pH-value
above 9.0 threatens the life of the fish by ammonia poisoning. You need to
lower the level of the pH-value carefully by ½ unit (0.5 pH) per day up to
a medium level of 8.5 to 8.0 by applying "pH-value
minus".
Will
the algae stay away permanently?
Hardly. This is simply because small artificial water bodies almost always
suffer from a bad relation between the stress on the water (fish) on the
one hand, and the chance for cleaning processes on the other hand. String
algae is not altogether bad for a pond; it even indicates, to a certain
degree, a decent water quality.
Tip:
Exchange "Bio
stable regulator" after latest 3-4 months. Don't throw it away. Use it as
fertiliser for plants by adding it to the compost.
Solution:
"OASE aqua activ "Bio
stable regulator"
alternatively: "pH-value
minus"
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