| Bacteria are organisms that are so adaptable to | | | | good bacteria are much more capable of causing |
| almost every ecosystem in existence. They carry | | | | positive effects to the whole life of the pond. |
| out numerous fundamental roles in bringing life on | | | | Most pond owners are certainly familiar and are |
| this planet. These organisms have the capability to | | | | using bio-filters in their ponds. But what they do |
| multiply rapidly and before you know it, they have | | | | not know is that the "bio" in bio-filter should be |
| already conquered the whole ecosystem and | | | | accredited to bacteria. The biological process of |
| have started breaking down some materials as a | | | | water filtration in the pond is actually caused by |
| source of energy. | | | | the presence of beneficial bacteria. When pond |
| Being man's friend, bacteria does some beneficial | | | | keepers install bio-filters in the pond to maintain |
| things such as breaking down waste and making | | | | the water quality, what they are doing is setting |
| antibiotics. However, they can also be man's | | | | the pond as a suitable breeding place for bacteria. |
| worst adversary since they have the power to | | | | The bacteria process the wide range of waste |
| invade living organisms to cause fatal diseases like | | | | excreted by the fish, produced by rotting aquatic |
| tuberculosis and anthrax. | | | | plants and dead insects and the uneaten food. |
| Because of the many roles bacteria can perform, | | | | If there are beneficial bacteria, there are also the |
| it is not long before they were used in water | | | | bad bacteria which thrive in the pond as well. |
| systems like fish ponds. The bacteria type which | | | | These bacteria can be noticed through the |
| cause illnesses like ulcers, septicemia and fin rot to | | | | offensive smell they produce. If the good bacteria |
| human beings can be beneficial in water ponds. If | | | | are not able to keep up with the bad ones due to |
| given the chance to inhabit pond filters, the | | | | many cases like overpopulation of the fish or poor |
| bacteria will be able to keep the quality of the | | | | maintenance of the pond, the whole ecosystem |
| water in the pond in its pristine and balanced | | | | gets out of balance. |
| condition. | | | | Once the pond gets into a situation where the |
| Beneficial bacteria in ponds are responsible for a | | | | level beneficial bacteria gets out of balance, the |
| lot of good things in the pond. They are the ones | | | | levels of oxygen in the water can slump. This will |
| which organize the nitrogen cycle in the pond | | | | be the beginning of the death of the whole water |
| making the amount of ammonia less than | | | | feature. Of course, you would never allow this to |
| excessive. The bacteria break down excess | | | | happen in your fish pond. That is why there are |
| ammonia in the water into nitrite and then into | | | | beneficial bacteria that are available in the market. |
| nitrate. For some pond owners, this is just what | | | | Liquid or powder form, these commercially |
| they know. The benefits that bacteria can give to | | | | available bacteria are effective in outnumbering |
| pond are a bit under rated since they are more | | | | the bad bacteria which in turn brings back the |
| famous as disease causing organisms. Actually, | | | | natural balance in the pond. |