Right Plants for Vegetable Pond Filters
Vol: 401 Date: Jan 21st 2004 See previous issues
Contents ... Back to the real world after a long Christmas break ... you see for us poor souls who are lucky enough to live in marvelous and exciting and vibrant South Africa Christmas is also mid summer so the whole country closes down for 4 weeks. And this year I did the same thing. I did not open a single email for more than 2 weeks. For me this is unknown, but I did survive despite the withdrawal symptoms that started to appear after a couple of days. Nevertheless ... good to be back.
1. Time flies so think ahead
2. Natural filters using plant material
3. Admin section
1. Time Flies So Start Thinking Ahead
The severe winter on the eastern seaboard of the USA has probably not created the mood for most people to start thinking about their ponds but soon the cold, snow and severe frosts and ice will be behind us and that breath of spring air will arrive and rejuvenate everybody. Be ready ...
Important note for the new season
I get many requests especially from the USA and UK to identify reputable outlets where they can source pond products and I have always been reluctant to do this. During this winter I have been researching suitable suppliers and will in future provide my readers with links to those companies I would feel happy to work with based upon their knowledge, commitment, service and dedication to the customer
The most important aspect is to make sure your biofilter gets off to an early and good start since it will have slowed down remarkably with low water temperatures. As the water warms evens slightly microorganisms also sense the change and wake up and not just the good ones either.
Spring is the time when many fish that have survived the winter die from disease. They die because their immune systems have been weakened overt he winter months brought on by poor food intake and digestion and the fact that body reserves have been drawn down dramatically. In this state almost any fish is prone to attack by lurking bacteria and viruses.
The challenge fish keepers face then is to ensure as much as they possibly can the health of their fish and environment in preparation for this spring fever period.
To the best of my knowledge there is only one product system available that will protect your fish from bacterial attack in this vulnerable period and state. The product does not cure bacterial infection ... it prevents it taking place by reducing the concentrations of offending Aeromonas and Pseudomonas bacteria. By the way I do not sell the product and have no commercial interest in it either.
The product in the USA is called LYMNOZYME and in the UK is called GENESYZ
The distribution in the UK is done through ..... and in the USA it is distributed by .......
What is important to realize about the product is that it works by a process called "Competitive Exclusion" so addition to the pond has to be done over a period of time in order to reduce the Aeromonas and Pseudomonas bacteria levels to almost zero levels ..... so the sooner you start the better.
Here is a short extract from an article by Tom Holder. You can read the complete article at http://www.practical-water-gardens.com/pyjamas/article003.htm
Extract from Tom Holder's article .... One of the most important things in keeping your pond and your fish healthy is understanding pathogenic bacteria. There are a wide variety of pathogenic bacteria that can infect your pond. By far the most common are Aeromonas and Pseudomonas. These two bacteria kill more koi each year than all the other pathogens combined. Understanding how these pathogens live, eat and attack your koi is vital to controlling them.
Aeromonas and Pseudomonas cause ulcers (also known as hole in the side disease), fin rot, mouth rot and tail rot. If left untreated the damage they inflict will eventually kill the fish. Many hobbyists believe that their ponds do not have either of these bacteria when their fish are not currently experiencing any of the above symptoms. This simply is not true. Aeromonas and/or Pseudomonas exist in almost every koi pond the world. You must understand that it is possible for koi to be around these bacteria and NOT be infected. Koi have a defense mechanism that helps protect them against these bacteria. This defense is made up of primarily their slime coat and their immune system. It is important not to have a false sense of security because all your fish appear healthy. This can change quickly. The big question is: How much Aeromonas and Pseudomonas can koi be exposed to without getting sick?
The 2004 version of "The Complete Pond Solver" will soon be ready and will be sold at $24.95. Purchasers of the 2003 version will be sent the new content FREE OF CHARGE upon request and presentation of their original order number. I will let readers know when this is ready and provide further instructions. If you want to save a few dollars then buy the 2003 version at $21.00 (or equivalent in your own currency) and get the free upgrade when ready.
Click here to buy at the Pond Professor's book store
2. Plants For Natural (Vegetable) Pond Filters
Most of you will have heard me mention my friend in the UK ... Peter J May. Peter is the source of much of my information on plant materials in particular and he is a fantastic practical landscaper of many years experience. He is available to provide consulting services if you have that tricky idea and can be contacted via his site http://www.perfect-pond-detective.com
I owe the plants recommendations in this next piece to Peter and it is an attempt to answer the many questions I get about using plants as substitutes for biofilters (they are not a total substitute by the way).
A vegetable filter is a specific area within the pond or more normally just before the main pond in which plants are deliberately grown to reduce toxic build up within the pond itself. Obviously the filter can only work if the plants grow and this is influenced by many things including season of the year. This is the main reason they can never be a true substitute in a garden pond environment containing fish for an effective biofilter
As water flows through the vegetable filter the plants remove a myriad of nutrients and especially nitrates. This source of nitrogen complements the photosynthesis process which uses oxygen and sunlight to convert carbon compounds to vegetable mass (larger plants). In this way the water becomes "purer".
What are the best plants to use in the vegetable filter?
The Norfolk reed (Phragmites australis) is by far the best since it not only removes pollutants but is capable of adding oxygen to the water by extracting it from the air ... ie it is an oxygenator albeit an unusual oxygenator plant. Oxygenators are generally those plants whose leaves are always submerged so that oxygen from the photosynthesis process has a chance to dissolve before being lost to the atmosphere.
Other useful plants are generally in the fast growing class so that maximum biomass is created in the quickest possible time. Consider the following ...
Sweet Galingale (Cyperus longus
Soft Rush (Juncus effusus
True Bulrush Scirpus lacustris
Flowering Rush (Butomus umbrellatus)
Spearworts (Ranunculus lingua)
Watercress has also often been used
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3. Admin section
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