Algae Is Ancient — And Your Pond Wouldn’t Be the Same Without It
Algae is ancient, and your pond, and our world, would never be the same without it.
Pond Blog
The Pros And Cons Of Triploid Grass Carp
Stop pouring money into your pond to kill weeds when these fish will do it for free. Maintaining a clear pond usually involves a cycle of expensive chemical treatments and mechanical harvesting. Triploid Grass Carp offer a 'set it and forget it' biological solution that turns pond maintenance into a natural process. Here is why these sterile cleaners are the...
What Is Periphyton? Understanding the Slime Growing on Rocks, Plants, and Docks
Periphyton is a complex, primarily phototrophic assemblage consisting of algae, cyanobacteria, heterotrophic microbes, and detritus embedded within an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix. These communities colonize submerged surfaces such as rocks, plants, and docks in aquatic ecosystems. Functioning as a fundamental primary producer, periphyton regulates nutrient cycling, provides dissolved oxygen through photosynthesis, and serves as a critical, nutrient-rich food source...
Why Does My Pond Have an Oily Sheen on the Surface?
An oily sheen on a pond surface typically results from either natural biological processes or petroleum contamination. Most often, iron-oxidizing bacteria or decomposing organic matter create a brittle, iridescent film that shatters like glass when disturbed with a stick. Conversely, true petroleum sheens are elastic, swirling and reforming immediately after impact. While bacterial films are harmless, petroleum indicates environmental pollutants...
Why Is There Foam on My Pond? Natural Foam vs. Pollution
Pond foam is primarily caused by an accumulation of Dissolved Organic Compounds (DOCs), such as proteins and lipids from decaying vegetation, fish waste, or spawning activity. These organic molecules act as natural surfactants, reducing the water’s surface tension and allowing air bubbles from waterfalls or aerators to persist and clump together. While often a natural biological byproduct, excessive or bright...
How Groundwater-Fed Ponds Behave Differently From Runoff-Fed Ponds
How groundwater-fed ponds behave differently from runoff-fed ponds centers on their primary water source: groundwater ponds rely on constant subsurface pressure from aquifers, while runoff ponds depend on episodic precipitation and watershed drainage. Groundwater-fed systems typically offer superior water level stability and cooler temperatures, yet they frequently suffer from low dissolved oxygen levels. Runoff-fed ponds fluctuate significantly with local weather...
