When brown in good and green is bad.

Water Feature and Pond Maintenance

Recently, RainMaker began working with an HOA where we again have opportunity to maintain ornamental ponds as part of landscape maintenance.  This gives me an opportunity to discuss RainMaker's approach to maintenance of the ponds and water features found there.

There are two primary pond types: (1) ponds that are purely decorative (meaning no fish or plant-life) and (2) living ponds that contain fish, plant and bacterial elements within an ecosystem.  

Decorative ponds are easily maintained using synthetic chemicals and routine testing of the potential Hydrogen (pH) level.  Decorative ponds actually require more ongoing maintenance than living ecosystem ponds because there are no competing forces to correct imbalances.  This type of pond is much easier to correct when things get out of whack because you can just "nuke 'em" with chemicals and the problem is usually quickly resolved.

Recommended pH levels in a living pond are 6.8 - 7.8 ppm.  If the pH level is too high (water is too alkaline) that may promote algae growth.  If the pH level is too low (water is acidic) that may cause toxicity in plant and animal life.  

Established, living ponds should be mostly maintenance free and the elements of the ecosystem work to balance the pH level naturally.  This assumes the ponds are well designed, have a continuous flow of water (for aeration and oxygenation) and are functional (no areas of stagnation).

A balanced ecosystem of plants, fish and bacteria all work to maintain the health of the pond.  Oxygen level and organic chemical levels, salt, water temperature, all affect the diverse life cycles and interactions within the pond. 

Recently, some of the pond water was observed to be discolored (brown).  This is more typically observed in late fall during autumn leaf-drop.  This event was okay because it followed heavy July rains and is likely the result of run-off from sprinklers and the high precipitation.  The water should soon clear out the pigments from leaves, soil, etc. and leach out of the pond and newly cleaned filters.  This type of run-off will not likely harm the biologicals in the water.  

On the other hand, when dirt, fertilizer and sunlight result in cloudy, green water would indicate a nutrient imbalance that may lead to algae bloom.  Green or planktonic algae will rapidly increase within an nitrogen and phosphate rich environment.  When that is the case it may be necessary introduce chemical free, natural algaecides such as Quetrine Plus (AquaScapes) or Ecocarbon products in order to control algae by reducing nutrients levels.  This takes a little longer but is one of the few options available to tweak substrate levels when dealing with bio-ponds.

RainMaker cleans pond filters according to seasonal conditions.  For example, in early spring, it is a good idea to clean filters once a month until a good eco-balance is established in order to contain algae bloom.  Mineral additives can help the pond consume excess ammonia and are also beneficial to plant and fish life.

Throughout summer months, filter cleaning is less frequent and introduction of biological additives is minimal.  There are exceptions here, too.  For example, the heavy rains that washed top-soil, fertilizer and contaminants into the ponds could prompt a check of water quality following such weather events.  

Late fall/early winter "leaf-drop" also increases the  pace of filter cleaning.  Pumps should continue to run during winter months to maintain aquatic life.  Turn off decorative water features, fountains, water-falls, etc during winter.

Don't forget winter sludge control and you get the idea of RainMaker All-Season Maintenance's approach to pond maintenance.

Thanks for the read.  Please comment.