String Algae… (Filamentous Algae)

Algae is caused primarily by two things: sunlight and excess nutrients. String, or filamentous, algae is one type of algae that many people with ponds have problems managing. Filamentous algae form long green strands that attach to virtually any surface within in the pond. Some string algae in your pond is in fact good for the pond and is an indicator of good water quality. In large quantities however, it can be a nuisance and very unattractive. Excess nutrients in the water, particularly phosphorous, contribute to the growth of string algae in ponds and water gardens.

AquaMats^® can be very effective at helping to reduce the amount of filamentous algae in ponds and water gardens. The reasons that ponds have "problems" with algae are two-fold. First, if your pond has algae this usually means that there are excess nutrients in the pond that are not being removed or broken down by the filter and bacteria community. Second, your pond may be under-filtered, which means that there is not adequate room or surface area for bacteria communities to colonize in order to break down the excess nutrients that are feeding the algae.

AquaMats^® provide this all-important surface area that many ponds are missing. The more surface area that you have in your pond the more area there is for colonization of bacteria. In turn, the more bacteria that attach to ideal surfaces, the more effective those bacteria become at removing excess nutrients, and in the case of filamentous algae, phosphorous, from the water. AquaMats^® are specially designed, through their patented UltraWeave^TM Technology process, to encourage the growth of epilithon, a mixture of bacteria and benthic algae. These communities on the surfaces of AquaMats^® are capable of removing over a gram of phosphorous from the water column per day.

Green Water… (Phytoplanktonic Algae)

Green water or phytoplanktonic algae are single-celled microscopic plants that float freely in the water. This is probably the most common algae "problem" that people who own ponds have and continually fight against. Phytoplanktonic algae are the most primitive form of algae and are usually the first to appear in the pond.

AquaMats^® can help to alleviate green water problems in pond and water gardens as quickly as two weeks. By adding AquaMats^® to your pond you can increase the surface area of your pond by 2,800 square feet per AquaMat. Again, the more surface area you have in your pond the more area you have for the colonization of beneficial bacteria.

Stressed, Sick or Injured Fish…

Koi and other types of fish are very susceptible to stress, sickness and injury in their natural environments. They are even more so when they are placed in environments that are much smaller than what they are typically used to. In ponds and water gardens, fish are subject to many of the same stressors that they experience in nature. However, there are many more that they come in contact with during their life in backyard ponds and water gardens. The more stressed a fish is the more likely it will become sick, much like humans. If a fish is introduced into an unfamiliar environment for example, that can be very stressful for many reasons. One reason may be that the water quality in its new home is far different from that of its previous home. Another may be that there are now many more fish to share space with in the new pond. Also, most natural ponds have adequate structure, such as plants, to provide protection from predators. The pond that your new fish is now living in may have some structure but it may not be the right types or amount to offer the fish peace of mind.Almost everyone that has ever owned a pond has experienced what can happen with sick or injured fish. This is a situation that a pond owner wants to avoid at any cost. After all, the fish in their ponds are considered family. The key to having healthy fish is to make their environment as safe and free from stress as possible.

Koi evolved in an environment with many natural plants and macrophytes to provide cover from predation. AquaMats^® provide shade during most of the day and shelter from birds and other animals. AquaMats^® are designed to mimic a natural reef or wetland by providing hiding places for the fish that offer a tremendous amount of security. Fish naturally orient themselves to structure and with AquaMats^® in your pond they feel like they are in their natural environment, which helps to reduce their stress. Many Koi breeders have commented on how much more calm the fish are once accustomed to AquaMats^®.