The Various Types Of Pond Bacteria

Except for ponds that have been specially built to be free from bacteria, every single pond in the world contains bacteria. It's possible to rid a body of water from bacteria by using chemicals like bleach, but this will not only kill bad bacteria but also other bacteria that are vital for the pond's ecosystem. This means that most of us simply have to accept pond bacteria as a reality.

In our bodies we have the situation that 'bad' bacteria cause all types of diseases, such as infections and inflammation. Bad bacteria has a similarly negative effect on everything that lives in the water of a pond. On the other hand, just as good bacteria is beneficial for the working of a healthy body, they are also beneficial for the ecosystem, that is everything that lives, in your pond.

When it comes to a body of water, the good bacteria are the ones called aerobic bacteria. Their job is to decompose everything in the water that would have a harmful effect on life, such as rotten food, fish waste, remnants of fertilizer and dead vegetation. If these were not broken down, they would cause bad algae to form which will eventually discolour the water and create an unhealthy environment for everything that lives in the water.

As it happens, good bacteria also require the same type of food as their bad counterparts. An abundance of good bacteria will therefore deprive the bad ones of food, keeping their numbers in check. Sludge removers are a good example of these good bacteria. They feed on rotten stuff in the water. Nitrifiers is another type of good bacteria - they have the job of converting dangerous ammonia into benign nitrates.

If the balance between good and bad bacteria is disturbed, resulting in too many bad ones, it will have a harmful effect on the whole ecosystem of the pond. Harmful waste material will remain in the water because it's not broken down. This will cause bad algae to form. The result of this in turn will be too little sunlight getting through to the water and low levels of oxygen. The end result could be that fish and other organisms start to die.

The so-called 'bad' algae is actually a form of fungus and not bacteria as such. They act in very much the same way as bad bacteria though. They cause such an extent of pollution in the water that both plants and fish can eventually suffer from water born diseases. It can even cause negative reactions such as nose irritations, sore throats and skin rashes in humans coming into contact with such water.

To completely get rid of these bad bacteria is rather difficult, especially if your pond's water is stagnant. Anything that keeps the water moving will have a beneficial effect. You can for example install a pump or introduce water features such as waterfalls and fountains. It is also possible to buy good bacteria from a pet store. Ask for their advice about the correct quantity to add taking into account the volume of your pond.

Keeping the pond water free from bacteria is an on-going task. Keeping the water free from rubbish will have a hugely beneficial effect in the long run. Don't let rotten leaves and fish waste accumulate in the water for example - remove it regularly using a net. Regularly replacing all the water in the pond with fresh water will also help. Not overpopulating the water or overfeeding the fish will similarly have an inhibiting effect on the growth of pond bacteria.

Pond Bacteria exists in all ponds, good bacteria exists to efficiently keep organic waste such as fish waste and excess food.