Lakes & Ponds FAQ
How does Aquaritin work?
Aquaritin Lakes & Ponds uses breakthrough nanotechnology to deliver micronized silicon and 12 essential nutrients in a single formulation for exclusive growth of native diatoms.
The growth of beneficial diatoms in water effectively and naturally reduces nutrient availability for nuisance organisms, improving water clarity & eliminating foul odor.
Diatoms exist in every natural water body and have been around for 200 million years. Life as we know it could not exist without them as they contribute to over 20% of the planet’s oxygen.
Diatoms are single celled photosynthetic organisms that consume CO2 and release O2 through photosynthesis. The O2 is supplied to marine life and aerobic bacteria living in the pond. The bacteria use O2 to break down organic matter at the bottom of the pond releasing N and P which is also consumed by the diatoms.
Long term studies of natural water bodies confirm that when a healthy population of diatoms are present in spring, summer algal blooms are avoided.
Diatoms form the basis of the marine food chain. They are consumed by zooplankton, which in turn are consumed by fish. Therefore, nutrients such as nitrogen and potassium from the water column and carbon from the atmosphere are sequestered into fish biomass.
Read more about The Mysteries of the Diatoms.
Get rid of foul odor
Foul odor indicates lack of oxygen and sludge build up at the bottom of your pond. Under such conditions, anaerobic bacteria become active in consuming the sludge while releasing H2S (hydrogen sulfide) gas in the process. This H2S gas has the “rotten egg smell” that you are noticing.
Within a day or two of dosing Aquaritin Lakes & Ponds, your entire pond will be oxygenated by the diatoms that Aquaritin promotes. Aerobic bacteria will replace anaerobic bacteria and bad odor will be eliminated.
Improve my reclaimed water
Reclaimed water tends to be low in dissolved oxygen. Dissolved oxygen (DO) in irrigation water is a parameter that is completely ignored and yet it can have a significant impact on plant health, root development and fertilizer & water uptake.
Aquaritin Lakes & Ponds promotes beneficial diatoms even in recycled water.
Click here to learn about how Aquaritin Water Solutions transformed wastewater to high quality irrigation water at the Asian PGA Tour Delhi Golf Club.
Water poor in DO will take away oxygen from plants through the root system as well as deplete soil oxygen, both of which are needed for a healthy plant and heathy soil bacterial flora. Water does this in order to return to a balanced oxygen state.
Insufficient water DO can lead to other problems as well. Nematodes prefer oxygen-poor soils and irrigating plants with water poor in DO will allow them to come near the surface where they can easily damage plant roots.
Past research has shown that reducing the concentration of DO in the root zone of plants will compromise the plants’ ability to absorb nitrate and water. Research has also demonstrated that roots are injured by O2 deficiency and that plant metabolism changes during acclimation to low concentrations of O2. Oxygen deprivation in plants is called internal anoxia and one of its results is sucrose degradation whereby the plant goes into an energy-conserving pathway to compensate for the lack of oxygen. So basically the lack of soil DO is a problem that keeps compounding the longer it lasts.
Maintaining a healthy diatom population in irrigation ponds will ensure adequate DO in the water.
I don’t want to use algaecides
Algaecides are a short-term band aid solution for a deeper problem where algae is being disabled and deposited to the bottom of the pond. Bioremediation can be attempted while using algaecides, albeit with a 36-hour interval between the two applications. Manual removal of the surface algae where possible is also recommended.
When water bodies are dominated by diatoms in spring, algal blooms will be less severe during summer thereby minimizing use of algaecides.
Aquaritin Lakes & Ponds promotes the growth of beneficial diatoms in your water.
We recommend 3-4 applications of Aquaritin Lakes & Ponds 10 days apart when water temperature gets to 50°F (10°C) in spring, and then dose as needed during summer when water quality shows signs of decline.
I've got a sludge problem
Prolonged use of algaecides deposits dead algae to the bottom of your pond. Additionally, leaves and grass cuttings, fish and animal waste also sink to the bottom forming a part of the accumulated organic matter (sludge). While a couple of inches of sludge is fine, anything more can make the pond susceptible to eutrophication. Nitrogen and phosphorus are often locked up in this slimy sludge, which creates further imbalance in the water and continues to feed future algae blooms.
When diatom growth is boosted by Aquaritin Lakes & Ponds, they release nano-bubbles of oxygen that penetrate the sludge, breaking it up and getting the aerobic bacteria activated to consume it.
You can make an educated guess on how much sludge you may have by using a dipstick at different points in the pond. While mechanical removal (dredging) is always an option, it is both environmentally undesirable and very expensive. A better way forward is to consume the sludge biologically (bio-dredging). After all thats what bacteria are designed to do.
To diminish the sludge it is necessary to consume the organic matter faster than it builds up. Therefore the sludge has to be degraded at an accelerated pace, requiring addition of sludge-eating bacteria and an aggressive oxygen source such as Aquaritin.
When diatoms grow exponentially, nano-bubbles of oxygen pervade the entire water body and also penetrate the sludge, breaking it up and getting the aerobic bacteria activated to break it down. Often, with bio-dredging, parts of the sludge will break apart and float to the surface, confirming that it is diminishing the sludge.
I don’t have an aerator
Diatom growth promoted by Aquaritin Lakes & Ponds naturally infuses your entire pond with nano-bubbles, providing natural aeration without the capital expenditure.
Surface aerators or water fountains have been marketed as a source of O2 needed by aerobic bacteria. In reality, they provide O2 on the surface layer but not much at the benthic layer where it is most needed for bacteria to consume the sludge. Bubblers or air stones provide O2 at greater depths but can be dogged by clogging issues.
When diatoms are proliferating, water bodies should stay healthy on their own just like natural ponds in the wilderness. Not only do they oxygenate the water, they also consume N and P and supply much needed food for the marine life inhabiting the pond.
I want to manage my ponds without an outside contractor
Lake and pond management companies play an important role in making your golf course look good. However, they are heavily reliant on algaecides, for which they hold an applicator’s license. While the pond looks good on the surface, you are building a sludge problem for the future.
A good way to challenge the value you are receiving from your service provider would be to move one of your ponds under your management and maintain it with Aquaritin.
Lower your expense on outside contractors. Aquaritin Lakes & Ponds is a natural, non-toxic solution that is easy to apply and does not require an applicators license. Simply apply with a backpack or truck mounted sprayer.
Aquaritin.
It's in my program.
One 33 oz bottle treats 4 million gallons or 15 acre-feet.