“Even where lakes and ponds have no obvious surface inflow, fertilisers, grass clippings, tree leaves etc. will percolate through the soil, depositing nutrients into your lake or pond”
Even a good lake, like this one at Woodbury Golf Club, could turn bad if not managed properly
The amount of oxygen fish need compared to humans is substantially different. We breathe air with almost a 21% oxygen content, whereas fish abstract oxygen from water that, when totally saturated, contains only 8 parts per million, (expressed as 8 milligrams per litre) of oxygen, not much at all. So, how in the world can a pond ‘not’
keep enough oxygen to keep fish alive forever and ever? Water has its limits and juggles a lot of
processes. Chemical transformations and interactions are where the actual magic takes place.
Start with nitrogen transformation. Of the many combined forms of nitrogen present in a body of water, the most important are ammonia and nitrate. Both can be assimilated (absorbed and used) to produce amino acids to be used by both algae and weeds. After all, nitrogen is a nutrient for plants! Stir in some phosphorous (from the fertiliser that washed in from the rain storm event) and we have the makings of a natural soup that all plants love. Decomposition of organic matter (dead algae and plants) results in release and accumulation of ammonia. Under aerobic (with oxygen) conditions, ammonia is oxidised in a two stage process called nitrification (stage 1 to nitrite; stage 2 to nitrate). However, under anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions, the nitrification of
ammonia to nitrate does not occur, and ammonia
accumulates at the bottom of the pond. Enhancing nitrification of ammonia to nitrate, and subsequent use of nitrate in de- nitrification, can stabilise and reduce phosphorus loading, phosphorous being the food source for algae and aquatic plants! Here is where all of this science ties together. Oxygen loss is directly related to the process of eutrophication. Add sediment phosphorous release, which feeds algae and weeds, and the potential for a lake to be stripped of oxygen, resulting in a potential fish kill, quickly becomes reality.
The solution is the addition of a well designed aeration system, be it from surface spray units or lake bed units, to relieve the natural symptoms by increasing the rate of dissolved oxygen input and increasing the aerobic respiratory capacity.
Aeration affects almost all aspects of the lake in:
• Nutrient cycling • Heat distribution
• Aerobic (good) bacteria populations that break down muck on the pond
Fertilisers and grass clippings will percolate through the soil bottom
• Decreased phytoplankton populations that block the sun’s rays
• And, increases fish health and populations
Aeration allows the pond to breathe and speed up aerobic digestion (good digestion) or help the pond respirate and ensure achievement of aerobic benefits. Lake and pond owners can choose
from many mechanical aeration and circulations options available today. Surface aerators are floating units with a pump or motor mounted beneath the float.
They are efficient as an emergency aerator, or to keep a constant oxygen supply in the water body. In a deeper body of water, a surface aerator may need the addition of a ‘draft tube’ to have the ability of drawing water from below the thermocline. As a rule of thumb, a typical display aerator, with a draft tube, requires 1-
C-Range professional mowing and turf maintenance system
• Ideal for bowls and golf clubs, contractors and other turf professionals
• Choose from 510mm (20in), 610mm (24in) and 864mm (34in) working widths
• Start off with just one cartridge head and add others as needed or when budget permits
Uses quickly-interchangeable, precision cartridge heads, enabling one machine to cut grass (with or without grooming) and to scarify, verticut, slit, brush or lightly spike fine turf.
Phone 01889 271503 or email
sales@allett.co.uk for more information and a no-obligation demonstration.
www.allett.co.uk 6-blade cylinder 38 10-blade with groomer 10-blade cylinder Brush Scarifier Slitter Sorrell Roller Verticutter
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