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Lakes and ponds are remarkably complex ecosystems. They support a wide variety of life that is both visible and invisible. They are living, breathing environments and prone to a host of water quality problems that require very careful management. The historic approach to dealing with water quality problems is to bombard them with harsh chemical treatments. When used in excess or for many seasons, this can be disastrous and can upset the fragile balance of the water to such an extent that it may not recover. Enzyme and bacteria treatments are a relatively new way to approach water quality problems. Through the use of enzymes and bacteria, it is possible to improve water quality without upsetting the water chemistry.
Nutrient-Based Water Quality Problems
Enzymes and bacteria are typically used to treat typically nutrient-based ptoblems. Nutrients are at the heart of most water problems. They provide the necessary nutrition for algae to grow and bloom as invasive plant life chokes the water. Ammonia levels build up, odors develop and the water loses its clarity. This is all because of excessive nutrient content.
Rising phosphorus and Ammonia Levels in Lakes and Ponds
As lakes and ponds are home to many living things including fish, Nitrogen, phosphorus, and ammonia, internal loading can arise if the water body is unchecked and without treatment. Fish waste is a major source of lake and pond pollution. This waste has no way to escape a stagnant lake or pond environment. So where does it all go? To the bottom of the pond, where it builds up and forms a nutrient rich sludge that will fuel future water quality problems as it decreases the depth of the pond and further exacerbates existing issues.
The traditional chemical approach often makes it very difficult to reduce nutrient levels in the water without destroying the fragile balance that exists in the lake or pond. It is possible to mechanically dredge the sludge from the bottom of the pond but the process is costly and disruptive. There are chemical products that can help to reduce nutrient levels in the water but they may create additional water quality problems if they are toxic to fish.
Treating Lakes and Ponds with Enzymes and Bacteria
Treating lakes and ponds with enzymes and bacteria is becoming mainstream. There are some similarities in these approaches to treatment. The enzymes and bacteria that are used in Orb-3 ®Lake and Pond products target common contaminants in the water. They help to break up oils, slime that bind organics, break down nutrients and suspended solids, all without altering the water chemistry. Both enzymes and bacteria do so by targeting specific overloads that the water body cannot handle internally. Enzymes and bacteria can both be applied in broad spectrum formulas as they will not react with each other. On a superficial level, the function of bacteria and enzymes is similar. In practice, however, there are significant differences.
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