The Role of Biological Supplements
This is a substantial amount of alkalinity reduction and will, over a period of time, dramatically change the character of the pond water, affecting both hardness and pH stability. It is also a mild acidifying process, producing a gradual build up of nitric acid. It should also be noted that the process does not remove any nitrogen from the system it simply changes it from one form to another. Nitrification uses substantial amounts of oxygen and carbonate, thus reducing water hardness and lowering pH.
So what about the nitrate? Although nitrate does not represent a direct health threat to most fish, high levels are still undesirable. Nitrate is the one of the basic food sources for aquatic weeds and algae so we can see that increasing the nitrate in the system could create more problems by stimulation growth. There is one final phase of this process necessary to remove excess nitrogen from the ecosystem. Denitrification and dissimilation are parts of another natural process that converts nitrate to atmospheric nitrogen gas. This process only occurs in the absence of oxygen. This is why a small amount of bottom sediment is a necessary part of a healthy ecosystem. The sediment in the benthic layer on the pond bottom is a low oxygen environment where these reactions can occur. The first stage is dissimilatory nitrate reduction, which reverses the nitrification process and converts nitrate (NO
in Establishing a Healthy Aquatic Ecosystem.
In this chapter, we will discuss how the addition of specifically selected bacteria can stabilize and optimize many of the natural processes in your pond's ecosystem. In converting from ammonia to nitrate there are two bacterial species involved. Nitrosomonas sp. bacteria which oxidize ammonia to nitrite, while Nitrobacter bacteria convert nitrite to nitrate, with both species utilizing the energy released by the reactions. This process involves a complex series of reactions that can be summarized in chemist shorthand as this:
For Nitrosomonas: 55NH
4+
+ 76 O
2
+ 109HCO
3
C
5
H
7
O
2
N + 54NO
2
+ 57H
2
O + 104H
2
CO
3
The bacteria used in these formulations are derived generally from natural environments and are not genetically engineered. Useful bacterial strains are grown and blended for application to specific organic problems and commercial uses and typically contain a number of species that have been selected and combined to degrade specific organic compounds or waste products. The strains of bacteria in the blend work together - each producing the enzymes necessary to degrade specific components in the waste and their resulting intermediates until reaching non-harmful compounds such as water and carbon dioxide.
By adding supplemental bacteria to the pond water, a natural cleansing process is established using biologically active bacteria cultures, enzymes, activators and accelerators developed specifically for ponds. The microbes populate the entire system, multiply and produce large quantities of digestive enzymes on an ongoing basis.
The bacterial cultures will help break down ammonia to form nitrates and nitrites which are then reduced to nitrogen gas. Similarly, other waste materials in the pond, like waterfowl excrement and landscape debris, are broken down in the system into non-hazardous materials. Unless treated with bacteria, these materials form oxygen-depleting bottom sludge. The break down process gives the bacteria the nutrients they require to grow and reproduce.
The bacteria utilize dissolved oxygen in their digestive processes. However, by removing the undesirable organic materials noted above and reducing BOD in the aquatic system, ultimately, more oxygen will be available in the system. The use of bacteria will not adversely affect a well-aerated pond.
The use of supplemental bacteria is not a one-time quick fix for poorly circulated or eutrophic ponds. Rather it is a preventative maintenance tool that requires bacterial additions at regularly spaced intervals. Using microbial treatments in your lake on an ongoing basis will assure that your ponds' ecosystem stays healthy and under control. These treatments will help control nutrient levels, reduce sediment, stabilize pH, alkalinity and oxygen levels and bring your pond into optimum condition, when used in conjunction with other components of a balanced treatment program, including proper circulation and the selective use of algaecides and herbicides needed to control fresh aquatic growths.
Bioaugmentation is a completely natural and ecologically harmless method of maintaining a proper pond. Typically, small and medium sized ponds have difficulty controlling excess nitrates and ammonia in their confined systems. The buildup of nitrates and ammonia create toxic environments that result in fish kills and eutrophication of the system. These problems can be controlled by the addition of supplemental bacteria.
