Strictly speaking, a mature aquatic ecosystem in ecological balance can function without technical assistance. However, achieving this state of ecological balance is not easy!
Too little water, excessive fish population, poor site selection, and overgrown vegetation… many factors can disrupt the balance of a small pond. Therefore, most pond owners will eventually need to use mechanical tools to improve the water quality and "performance" of their water gardens.
This article discusses how Poposoapsolar utilizes mechanical tools to help their small ponds achieve ecological balance.
Basic Knowledge of Pond Pumps
- A special pump that delivers water to the filter.
- Electric motor (brush motor);
- Can generate high pressure to drive a large amount of water (used for streams);
- Self-priming;
- High power consumption.
- A pump placed below the water surface;
- Easy to install.
- Electric motor;
- Long service life;
- Lower power compared to garden pumps (used for streams);
- Usually non-self-priming;
- Low power consumption.
Pump System
Typically, special promotions for pumps can be quite misleading! Therefore, if you are preparing to purchase a pump, you should consult a good specialty store. It’s important to know that while discounted pumps in the construction market may seem cheap, they are often not suitable. When you use a pump to promote water circulation in a stream, it also provides a filtration system or artistic fountain for the pond. You need to know how loud the pump is, its power consumption, what size debris can pass through the pump, and whether it can serve as a stream pump or filter pump.
Poposoapsolar Tip: Both pumps and suction tubes need a base and should never be placed directly in the muddy bottom.
Ventilation System
Increasing the oxygen content in pond water is essential, but it does not necessarily require high-tech solutions. Aerators and oxygenators can work without electricity. They are made from special ceramic materials and contain hydrogen peroxide, which can continuously release oxygen when placed in water. Although hydrogen peroxide in aerators needs to be replaced every two months during summer, they remain an effective and unobtrusive alternative to pumps for small ponds. In ponds without fish, the oxygen released by submerged plants is usually sufficient. Additionally, streams flowing into the pond also bring in oxygen.
Air in the Pump
High temperatures in summer and dense fish populations can rapidly reduce the oxygen content in the pond to critical levels, at which point "artificial lungs" can assist. The simplest solution is to use a ventilation pump, which can draw in air and inject it into the water. This type of pump can be connected to foam nozzles to create an artistic fountain when in use. The operation of membrane pumps connected to sinking air stones is similar to that in aquariums, but you need to ensure they can be used outdoors.
Poposoapsolar Tip: If the oxygen demand is high, such as in shallow ponds with many koi, it is recommended to purchase a small compressor with air stones.
Water Filtration System
Typically, reed beds or shallow streams are sufficient to act as filters. However, if the pond water becomes murky or dirty regularly, you will need a filter. An internal filter, which is a submersible pump with a filtration device, is completely submerged in water. The pump draws water into the filter and releases clean water. Internal filters are very effective but can be challenging to clean. External filters only have the pump submerged in water. They push dirty water into the filtration device, and clean water flows back into the pond. Filter tanks can be hidden among plants or buried in the soil.
Ultraviolet Purifier
While this name suggests that it can purify water, this tool serves only one purpose: the ultraviolet rays it releases can kill all types of cells. Therefore, ultraviolet purifiers can combat single-celled phytoplankton and bacteria. Since ultraviolet light cannot distinguish between beneficial and harmful microorganisms, you cannot run this machine for long periods; otherwise, your pond will become a "sterile" environment. Ultraviolet purifiers are available separately or sold with filters. It’s best to use a diversion method, with one part going through the filter to retain beneficial microorganisms and another part passing through the ultraviolet purifier.
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