Solutions for Sludge & Pond Muck (Part 2)

What is Sludge?

"Sludge" is comprised mostly of organic matter. In lakes and ponds, fish wastes and decaying plant matter are the primary source of sludge.

Sludge tends to be rich in Nitrogen and phosphorous which provide essential nutrition to all plant life.  Therefore, sludge can encourage algal blooms which deoxygenate the water and make it less suitable for animal life. In addition, these nutrients tend to stimulate the growth of aquatic plants to the point that they may begin to become a pest.

Practical Measures to Slow Sludge Buildup

Considering the fact that fish wastes are a major contributor to sludge in lakes and ponds, it might seem nearly impossible to take practical measures to reduce sludge. There are, however, a few things that can help curb the build-up.

Maintaining a fish population that is appropriate for the size of the body of water is extremely important. Angling and the introduction of sterile pan fish are both effective means of control if the fish population becomes too high.

Aside from fish, decaying organic matter is another contributor to sludge levels. Keeping grass clippings out and making an effort to remove dead leaves and branches from the lake or pond can be quite effective in slowing the buildup.

Quality aeration is another key factor in reducing sludge because it maintains the proper levels of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) in the water and also keeps the water mixing.  Without sufficient oxygen levels, bacteria will begin to function anaerobically, which dramatically slows their consumption of wastes and results in the production of smelly gases such as hydrogen sulfide (H₂S).

Scientific Measures to Slow Sludge Buildup

Great Lakes Bio Systems has a number of solutions for dramatically decreasing the build-up of organic sludge in lakes and ponds. The products that you choose will depend largely on the size of the lake or pond, your budget, and the amount of organic sludge that is already present.

Orb-3 Lake and Pond products control organic sludge through the use of enzymes, bacteria, and trace minerals. The combination of these natural technologies safely accelerate the natural decay of the sludge layer. With an effective aeration system and Orb-3 ®Sludge Control products, organic sludge can be reduced.

Orb-3 Lake and Pond sludge control products are safe to use and are readily biodegradable. They will not adversely affect the pH balance of the water nor will they have a negative effect on fish life.

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