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UPCOMING EVENTS · VSKC Koi Auction - February 8th at 12:00 Noon
Chinese Cultural Center New Year Holiday Festival 668 North 44th Street, Suite #228 February 6-8, 2009 · VSKC Koi & Water Gardening Seminar
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Oxygenators: The Heart Of Your Pond The oxygenators provide oxygen in the water to keep it pure. Besides the fact that the oxygen is used by the “good” bacteria to break down dead and decaying matter, they have the unusual characteristic of directly taking ammonia out of the water. Ammonia build up in any water garden is deadly to fish and other pond life. Oxygenators are great in absorbing the toxic build up of ammonia directly from the water. Thus, they differ from other aquatic plants that uptake only nitrates. Oxygenators such as Anacharis prefer ammonia over nitrates! Many water gardeners work tirelessly to rid the ammonia in the water with filters. However, here is a group of plants that can absorb the ammonia directly from the water. If you have fish and the oxygenators are growing rapidly, then they are really doing their job. But be careful that if you remove these excess plants the ammonia may begin to build up. On the other hand, too many oxygenators can cause oxygen depravation in the night since at night the oxygenators are not producing oxygen but require oxygen along with other animal pond life. A balance must be sought in all water gardens. Which are the BEST for the water garden? Tops has always been Anacharis, but can be difficult to grow in the hotter desert ponds. Another great oxygenator is Vallisneria. This is extremely attractive and also comes in a dwarf variety. It propagates by runners. Salvinia is another popular water plant but must be contained to prevent it being pulled into skimmers. One of the best is the Water Hyacinth where it can be grown (remember, this plant cannot be imported into Arizona). Reprinted from Wm. Tricker, Inc |
