|
|
Biofilters need lots and lots of oxygenOxygen is an essential ingredient in your garden pond, especially if you plan to keep koi and other fish. Just as trout and salmon in the wild will swim miles upstream to spawn in cool, shallow water that is rich in oxygen, the fish in your backyard need the same levels of oxygen to order to thrive. And the principal is the same for fish kept in aquariums, where pumps are used to introduce oxygen into the water. In natural ponds and water-courses, air is absorbed at the interface (the point where the air and water meet -- ie the surface of the water). This air is then mixed by convection throughout the water mass. Only a small portion of oxygen in the air (air contains about 21% oxygen) is transferred into the water to be used by fish, plants, and bacteria. In nature, the amount of oxygen in a lake or pond on a calm summer day will be less than on a cool windy day. The reasons for this are twofold: On a calm day, the interface between the air and the water is reduced because there is little surface movement. When temperatures are higher, the water has less ability to absorb and hold oxygen. On the other hand, during a storm in winter the oxygen levels in a lake or pond would be at their highest, for the same reasons as mentioned above. As waves rise and break along the bank of a lake, this presents a new air/water interface across which air can be absorbed by the water. And the colder water has the ability to absorb much more oxygen. Oxygen and Pond KeepingOxygen is your pond is not just for your fish. The beneficial bacteria in your pond filter also need high levels of oxygen in order to survive and multiply. As stated in other articles on this website, biofilters are absolutely essential to the health of ornamental garden ponds. These filters purify the waste products excreted by fish, preventing the water from becoming toxic from a buildup of these waste products. But a biofilter can only work if it receives oxygen to feed its own bacteria 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. This bacteria is a living organism, and like any other organism, it needs oxygen to breath. If the pump in your pond is shut down for any length of time (4 or 5 hours), all the bacteria in your biofilter will die. This is why it's essential to have a quality pump in your pond system, especially if you'll be away from home for a few days. The reason that the bacteria will live even this long without fresh water being pumped through is that there is normally a bit of water left in the filter. The bacteria will use this as their emergency oxygen supply. But after this time, the bacterial will quickly die, and toxic chemicals will begin to build up in your pond very rapidly. If you have a well-stocked pond, your and the water is warm, you could have a very dangerous situation for your valuable koi or other fish. The ConclusionBe aware that your biofilter is a living organism that needs water pumped through it at all times, especially in the summer months when temperatures rise. The only exception is for short periods when you're performing maintenance on the pond. For more on this topic see this biofilter article . The conclusion: Water must be pumped through a biofilter 24 hours per day, every day without fail except for very short maintenance periods. You cannot go to bed, shut off the pump until the next morning and expect your fish to like it. |
More info or buy here
|
