Dos and Don'ts of using Pond Bacteria

As many experienced pond owners know, regular use of beneficial pond bacteria can greatly help keep a pond or water garden clear and healthy, but many newcomers to ponding don't quite know how to use or when to use or even what it actually does.

Here is a list of dos and don't s for using pond bacteria and this goes for ponds of all sizes and shapes.

Do use pond bacteria to help break down organic waste such as fish food, fish waste, muck, fertilizer run-off and even dead leaves and vegetation that can contribute to increased ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels as well as murky water and odors.

Do use pond bacteria regularly as part of your routine maintenance. This could be as often as weekly or a little as monthly, but pond bacteria is not a one and done or every once in a while product.

Do use pond bacteria in ponds that contain fish, plants, and other animal life. This type of bacteria is gram negative and is naturally occurring and poses no health threats.

Do use aeration in conjunction with beneficial bacteria. Pond bacteria is facultative meaning it can function with or without oxygen, however the benefits of it is greatly enhanced when aeration is present.

Now here are a few don'ts associated with using pond bacteria.

Don't apply pond bacteria in conjunction with a pesticide or herbicide. This is probably the biggest mistake people make. Pesticides/ herbicides will kill the bacteria if applied together. However, pond bacteria can and should be added approximately 48 hours after a herbicide application to help break down the resulting dead vegetation

Don't use pond bacteria to clear up cloudy water caused by mud or clay. These are inorganic particles that will not be a food source for the bacteria

Don't use in ponds with less than 50% retention of water, over a 7-day time frame (otherwise the beneficial bacteria will not have enough time to perform their functions).

Don't use in ponds with a pH below 5 or above 9. pH outside of this range will reduce the benefits of the bacteria. Optimum should be 7.5

Don't apply bacteria around a UV sterilizer. It is recommended you leave the UV light off for up to 2 days when applying bacteria so that the population is not diminished and to allow for their colonization.

Don't apply to water less that 50 degrees F. Actually you can apply it in lower water temps, but the bacteria will be less effective as they will mostly revert back to spores.

Casey Coke is a Marketing Manager for Natural Environmental Systems, LLC, a global supplier of microbial solutions for pond and lake management. The company markets their own brand of pond supplies under the registered brand name of Pond Keeper.