Ace Ponds
Bring Wildlife to your Yard with an Ecosystem Pond
Why Ponds?
If you love wildlife and the idea of having a complete ecosystem in your yard, then ponds are for you! There is no limit when it comes to ponds; the fish, frogs, aquatic plants, you name it. Although the maintenance is going to cost you a bit more than that of a pondless waterfeature, it is so worth it in the end. Watching wildlife live together can provide a whole different level of stress relief while still having the beauty of a waterfall and a stream if you choose to include one. Additionally, the frogs will eat any mosquito larva, meaning no mosquitos!
The Importance of a Complete Ecosystem
A complete balanced ecosystem is critical to a healthy pond. Keeping the ecosystem intact will improve the water quality of your pond, keep any wildlife healthy, including aquatic plants, and maximize the lifespan of your pond. The diagram above shows the process of the nitrogen cycle. You begin this process by feeding your fish. The fish then produce waste, releasing ammonia into the pond. Debris such as leaves that fall into the pond release acidic nutrients into the water as well. Ammonia is very toxic and without the presence of beneficial bacteria, can kill the fish and any other life within the ecosystem. This beneficial bacteria breaks the ammonia down to nitrites and then further into nitrates. Nitrates are your aquatic plants primary food source, making them a crucial part in the cycle. The aquascape skimmer and biofalls filtration system is the key to keeping a balanced and healthy ecosystem. The skimmer houses the pump and collects all floating debris on the water surface, limiting the amount of ammonia which is released into the water. The biofalls holds the filter media which allows for the nitrification process to occur. As the water rises up through the filter matts and bioballs, which is practically a colony of living organisms, the acidic nutrients are broken down into nitrites. The water then spills out of the biofalls and back into the pond, providing a source of oxygen in the pond.
Filtration
In order to achieve the complete ecosystem in a pond, every pond must be built with a skimmer and biofalls. Having the proper filtration is very important when it comes to keeping the water quality in your pond crystal clear for the year.
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Skimmer
The skimmer has two main functions. The first and more important one is it houses the pump. The green filter mat directly above the pump not only assures that no debris clog the pump, but also provides extra filtration. The second function of the skimmer is literally to skim any floating debris into the basket pictured above the filter mat. Since the suction from the pump is so strong, it is able to pull everything from clear sight into the basket, which is usually checked and emptied once a week. The fake rock serves as the lid to the skimmer to allow for easy access. It is designed to match the natural stonework very well and it is very durable and safe to walk on. The skimmer sits directly outside the pond and is attached to the pond liner using a watertight plate with rust proof bolts.
Biofalls
The biofalls is your main source of filtration. There are two outlets at the bottom for bigger ponds which require two skimmers. When there is only one skimmer, the second outlet is capped off. As the water enters the biofalls from the bottom. it swirls around, disturbing all the sediment and forcing it to rise up through the two filter mats. This is where all the small sediment, usually dirt and sand, is caught. Finally, the mesh bags at the top are filled with bioballs. These are small spheres with holes which allow the beneficial bacteria to colonize. This process is usually achieved naturally but can be sped up with a beneficial bacteria powder. The beneficial bacteria are important because they transform the nutrients in the pond from acidic and dangerous to healthy nitrates for the plants and wildlife.