Bacteria naturally occurs in our lakes and ponds and its microbes are highly beneficial for breaking dead organic material and keeping the ecosystem safe and stable. Biochemists have researched and created a way to culture beneficial bacteria so that they can be easily added to lakes and ponds that accelerate the process of decomposition. This process is often referred to as biological water quality augmentation.
Types Of Bacteria
Many different types of bacteria work in many different ways to help break down organic material. We have made a list below to better understand the types of beneficial bacteria and how they work.
Aerobic Bacteria:
Aerobic bacteria rapidly break down organic compounds by using oxygen. Adding equipment like fountains or diffused aerators to your lake or pond will help aerobic bacteria break down these compounds faster.
Anaerobic Bacteria:
Anaerobic bacteria work much more slowly but can work without any oxygen. These bacteria will digest organic debris and release gas as a byproduct.
Both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria perform something called denitrification which transforms nitrate into nitrogen gas and removes it from your pond or lake. Having high nitrate levels in your water is very dangerous for fish and can also cause the build-up of algae.
When adding bacteria to your water initially you will add a large starter dose to get the bacterial population to establish, and then maintenance doses are applied to ensure that the bacteria continue to grow. As the bacteria grow and replicate, they will tie up nitrogen and phosphorus so that it is not available to the algae. The bacteria will then either go to the sides or bottom of the water where they will break down organic matter. Adding beneficial bacteria to your pond or lake in conjunction with a floating fountain or diffused aerator is a great way to keep a healthy and stable ecosystem for plants and fish to thrive.