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"Think Nitrate"
Whilst much of our emphasis has been on the removal of blanketweed
and other algae from ponds by using Viresco™,
it is worthwhile looking at the problem from a different perspective.
Perhaps one aim of all pondkeepers should be to remove
nitrate completely from pondwater and then to keep it at zero for
as long as possible. Whether blanketweed or other algae are present
is, therefore, not really a consideration. Viresco™ Aqua and Viresco™ Koi will take down the nitrate level to zero and keep it there for
some time. An extra benefit of this is that any algae will die of
starvation. However, we should look at the removal of nitrate as
the prime objective in relation to fish health. As well as being
the main food source for algae, once nitrate is removed and kept
away, the pond becomes a healthier place for fish and other aquatic
animals. We have been informed by numerous pondkeepers that, when
nitrate is at zero, fish become "livelier", are "happier"and
become "different creatures".
Remember, the more fish there are in a pond, the more
nitrate will arise. Many people over-stock their ponds because they
have excess filtration capacity. Many pondkeepers over-feed their
fish. There is also a tendency for many pondkeepers to use more
high protein food. All these actions mean that more ammonia is produced
than would normally be expected. This means that more nitrite and
nitrate arise as a consequence. In order for our Viresco product
to successfully remove the nitrate, more of it should be introduced
into the pond to compensate for the increase in nitrate arising
from the extra excrement.
We therefore recommend that pondkeepers should "THINK NITRATE" and set out to take nitrate levels
down to zero. Herbicidal chemicals used for killing algae do not
address the problem of nitrate in pondwater. When the chemical is
dissipated, the algae starts to grow again as the nitrate is still
present in the pondwater. Neither do the electronic/magnetic gadgets
address the problem of nitrate. Other than a microbial approach,
it would appear that only the installation of vegetable filters
or regular water changes do anything to reduce nitrate levels. Even
with these methods, rarely will the nitrate level drop to zero and
stay there. Our Viresco™ products will remove nitrate completely and keep it at zero for
some time.
The Nitrogen Cycle
We recommend that regular nitrate testing of the pondwater is carried
out when our Viresco™ algae suppression products are used. Check the nitrate level before
applying Viresco™ and then repeat the test approximately every week thereafter. The
nitrate reading will fall to zero and the algae will die. Keep testing
the nitrate weekly and use the reading to decide when to make further
applications of product.
Where
does the nitrate come from? It mainly arises indirectly
from the protein that is the food fish take in. It will also arise
from the decay of organic debris in ponds. The diagram below shows
how ammonia, nitrite and nitrate arise in a pond. Nitrosomonas bacteria
in the filter convert the ammonia to nitrite and then nitrobacter
bacteria convert the nitrite to nitrate. To complete the cycle,
anaerobic conditions are required to reduce the nitrate to gaseous
nitrogen and oxygen.
The Nitrogen Cycle
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