Name: Orb-3 Water Garden Startup Kits
Brand: Great Lakes Bio Systems
SKU: C120-M001-1E
Price: 62.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Features

Kick starts biological activity in water gardens
Simplify water maintenance all season long
Keep pond water clear, naturally
Prevents sludge and muck build-up
Safe for fish and aquatic plants

Specification

More information on Orb-3 Water Garden products:

Orb-3 Dry Bacteria (U126-000)
Each 1-pound bag treats up to 16,000 gallons of pond water

Orb-3 Lake & Pond Dry Bacteria is a custom bacteria blend formulated specifically for water gardens to reduce cloudy water while reducing sludge-generating organics. Natural ponds rely on a healthy population of beneficial bacteria to consume nutrients that support algae and aquatic weeds. Orb-3 Lake & Pond Dry Bacteria leaves water fresh, clear and sparkling.

– Fortified grain carrier gives these granular microbes a boost
– Naturally cleans water to enhance clarity
– Combination of fast growing, hearty bacteria strains
– All-natural; pathogen free bacteria
– Safe for fish, aquatic plants and humans

Dosing
Weekly – 1 tbsp. per 500 gallons (when water temp is over 50°)
Double the dose when opening, closing or if you have cleaned the pond

Usage
Dilute each dose with a minimum of 1-gallon of pond water.
Disperse product evenly over water garden surface using a manual sprayer or trash/diaphragm pump.
Never commingle with bactericides or quaternary disinfectants as they will degrade/inactivate bacteria.

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Orb-3 Sludge Pellets (H749-000)
Each pounds treats up to 333 square feet of water garden bottom

Orb-3 Sludge Pellets drive the active ingredients to the water garden bottom so the muck-eating bacteria, enzymes, and trace minerals can go straight to work, making beach clean-up and natural sludge-bed maintenance easy. See a change in as little as 7-10 days. Rely on Orb-3 Sludge Pellets to provide continuous sludge management.

– Eats away at organic sludge buildup on water garden bottoms
– Visible results in as little as 7-10 days
– Achieves quick results in targeted areas
– Naturally eliminates odor-causing muck on beaches
– No gypsum fillers

Dosing
For small areas or water gardens, apply 1 pound per 15' x 15' area

Usage
Broadcast pellets uniformly over area to be treated.
Use weekly in water gardens; and monthly or seasonally depending on sludge depth and age in ponds.

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Orb-3 TMOC (W331-000)
1-Pound Treats up to 0.5 acre-foot of pond water

Use TMOC is a Trace Mineral/Organic Catalyst that supplements key nutrients that are likely missing from your water garden, supports the microbes that remove wastes from the water, and creates a dazzling backyard display using Mother Nature's oldest elements to bring your water garden back to it's best.

– Supplements missing trace minerals for enhanced microbial activity
– Reduces phosphates without affecting pH
– Supports overall fish and plant health
– Improves water clarity
– Stimulates biological activity

Dosing
Bi-weekly – apply 2 tsp. per 500 gallons (when water temp is over 50°)

Usage
Dilute recommended dose with 1 gallon of pond water to make a slurry.
Keep agitated while dispersing product evenly over water garden surface.

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Orb-3 Water Garden Enzymes (Q749-G4M)
1-Quart Bottle Treats up to 8,000 gallons of pond water

Designed to work on the small scale of water gardens and backyard ponds, including Koi ponds. With regular use of Orb-3 Water Garden Enzymes you can enhance pond water clarity, minimize sludge accumulation, restore water quality, improve the natural filtration efficiency plus strengthen a pond's ability to stay healthy season after season.

– Accelerates waste breakdown to improve clarity
– Continuous cleaning action corrects water quality
– Improves effectiveness of chemical treatments
– Prevents material decaying and build-up
– Safe for fish and aquatic plants

Dosing
Weekly – apply 2 oz. per 500 gallons (when water temp is over 50°)
Double the dose when opening, closing or if you have cleaned the pond. Do not over apply.
For larger bodies of water use Orb-3 Lake & Pond Enzymes (SKU: Q749-000).

Usage
Dilute recommended dosage with a minimum of 1-gallon of pond water.
Disperse product evenly over water garden surface by pouring out of a bucket or use a hand-held or mechanical sprayer.

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Best Results for all Orb-3 Pond & Water Garden Products

Apply when ambient temperature is 50°–90° F; pH is 6 – 8; alkalinity <100ppm.

Proper aeration is extremely important to maximize its performance & ensure safety of fish.
Maintain aeration & monitor dissolved oxygen levels immediately after treatment to ensure that it remains above 3ppm.

Safe for people, fish, & wildlife when used as directed.

FAQ

When can I start using my Orb-3 Water Garden Kit products? + -

Wastes have been accumulating during the cold months. Biological activity increases as the temperature rises.

Start the process using Orb-3 Water Garden products as soon as pond water is 50°F.

How do I select the best bacteria for my pond? + -

Consider Carrier, Count and Species...

Carrier
All bacteria are sold on some type of carrier. Common choices include salt, corn cobs, saw dust, wheat hulls, and similar products. If you are adding something into your water garden, why not choose something that will enhance the efficacy of not only the bacteria but the water garden in general? The special carrier used with Orb-3 Lake & Pond Dry Bacteria contains food & minerals that support the new bacteria as it colonizes in your water. The faster the bacteria can get established & start growing, the faster you will see results.

Count
How much bacteria are you really getting for your dollar? Since there is really no standard method for plating high count bacteria, many vendors do not even attempt to disclose how much bacteria you are actually buying; others may be using different methods which can make comparison difficult. Orb-3 Lake & Pond Dry Bacteria is concentrated and contains 1 billion colony forming units (CFU) per gram of product (CFU/g).

Species
Were the species chosen due to their cost or due to their efficacy in the water garden environment? Orb-3 Lake & Pond Dry Bacteria contains numerous specialized strains chosen to give your water garden the biggest boost possible, including:

• Bacillus subtilis – a fast-growing strain with excellent sludge reduction capabilities.
• Bacillus pumilus – has ‘probiotic’ effects, including its ability to inhibit the growth of aquatic pathogens.
• Bacillus licheniformis – consumes fats, oils, and greases – key components of cloudy water, films and scum.

One key goal with all species is to support the production of enzymes, which break down the contaminants in the water garden; another is competitive exclusion, whereby beneficial bacteria out-compete pathogenic strains as well as those strains that are less efficient at removing the excess nutrients in the water garden.

Every aspect of Orb-3 Lake & Pond Bacteria was carefully chosen to provide you with the best technology available to help you create & maintain a beautiful, stunning body of water.

Why are Trace Minerals important to my lake or pond? + -

They improve the overall health & vitality of the beneficial bacteria that consume excess nutrients and clean the pond water.

Read more in our blog: Why are trace minerals important to my lake or pond?

Why use Bacteria and Enzymes? + -

Most water garden owners recognize how important it is to have a thriving population of beneficial bacteria in the water. The beneficial bacteria continuously clean the water by consuming ammonia and other contaminants, leaving behind clear & inviting water.

The indigenous microbial population, as well as the augmented one you add with Orb-3 Bacteria, will have enhanced performance by supplementing with enzymes.

Enzymes are quite different than bacteria. While bacteria are alive, enzymes are not - they are complex proteins that accelerate reactions that occur in nature. Bacteria exude enzymes during the process of consuming the wastes in a water garden.

Orb-3 Enzymes are a cost-effective means of accelerating the waste reduction process in your water garden & helping the bacteria that are already in your pond to do their job more efficiently.

How long will it take the Enzymes to work in my pond? + -

There is no clear cut answer to this question because there are so many variables involved. However, we can offer some guidelines based on our experience.

Changes will happen faster in warmer water, with sufficient aeration & mixing.

In relatively new ponds with minor issues, you should start seeing changes in a few weeks to a month. Older ponds that have taken many years to develop problems will take longer to fix. It is not uncommon to require a season or more of treatments with a natural product before you start to see marked results.

The key is getting the nutrient loading out of the water. This usually involves addressing the sludge layer at the bottom of the pond and cleaning the water column itself with enzymes. Plenty of dissolved oxygen (good aeration) is beneficial for all natural products to work as safely & effectively as possible.

How important is aeration to maintaining a healthy, natural pond? + -

Good aeration is probably the single most important factor in water quality and the overall health of your pond.

How do I figure out how many gallons of water my pond holds? + -

See our blog post: How do I figure out how much water is in my pool or pond?

Where can I learn more about good pond management practices? + -

We recommend "The Efficient Pond Management Handbook" by Ryan McCaw.

This handbook is designed to give the average pond owner the knowledge and skills needed to manage the pond.

We like this book because it stresses a natural approach to pond management and a philosophy of solving the underlying problem rather than chasing symptoms.

Check with your local book seller or visit Amazon.com (https://a.co/d/0WMgpMU).