Sludge, there’s sludge everywhere!
Your large pond or dam will have sludge sitting at the bottom of it and as it builds up it can become icky and smelly. Sludge is essentially stored nutrients that builds up over time and is perfect food for algae and aquatic weed.
How do I get rid of the sludge?!
The ongoing application of Biological Water Treatments (Bioaugmentation) and introducing oxygen into the water is the best thing you can do for your dam to improve the water quality while stifling the growth of aquatic weed and algae. We can introduce oxygen by installing aeration systems – please contact us to learn how we can provide aeration solutions tailored to the needs of your dam that won’t break the bank.
You wouldn’t leave the house without clothes so why not aerate your dam and apply biological treatments when the two work hand in hand and optimise the effectiveness of one another?
What are Biological Water Treatments
Biologicals are essentially beneficial bacteria and additional ingredients that enhance them. Enabling them to eat excess nutrients and sludge. The Biolgicals are available in different formulations and concentrations like powders, liquids and our favourite, pellets! There is one to suit every waterbody.
What does a biological pellet look like?
The pellets look like chook food. The pellets sink once applied to the water where they becomes active and begin to eat away at the excess nutrients hiding in the sludge.
How do Biologicals work and are they safe?
- They love and live on excess nutrients found in the water column and the sludge. Reducing the nutrients available to algae and weed growth.
- Balancing nutrients means that any fish or aquatic animals living in the water will be happier and healthier.
- By removing the sludge in this way, the days of costly dredging are over!
- The treatments contain the more effective sludge eating bacteria resulting is dramatic sludge reductions.
- The treatments are completely safe for aquatic life and for livestock drinking the water.
What exactly is in sludge?
Mostly water and a mixed bag of rotting grass, leaves, waste from animals (especially ducks!) and any other organic materials that end up in the water. Things like rocks & silt won’t be digested
How and where do I apply them?
It is best to apply the treatments evenly across the base of the pond or dam but increase the quantity of the pellets in problem areas. Simply throw the pellets in or go for a paddle in your boat. The pellets should be as a ongoing monthly dose. The maintenance dosage is 5kg per month per surface acre. If you have any questions about your dosage rate, just ask.
When is the best time to treat with Biologicals?
Keep applying the treatments all year long and monitor the sludge layers in the dam. Naturally, you are going to have more issues with aquatic weed and algae in the warmer months so it can be helpful to increase your dose rates in these months. Don’t forget that the pellets are both a direct treatment for reducing sludge but also a preventative measure so keep up the treatments.
How do I purchase them?
The famous Biostim Pellets are a natural solution to a natural problem and contain special strains of bacteria and other special ingredients that make them very effective. These treatments can be purchased online at Love my pond in a handy 20kg bulk tub which will keep your pond or dam healthy for ages.
