I was reading some gardening Facebook posts and a lady said she buys beneficial pond bacteria for her pond and adds them weekly. WOW! That was news to me. I’ve had a man-made pond for over 8 years that works just fine without added bacteria. I must be missing something important?
Truth be told – I smelled another gardening myth. Let’s have a look.
Beneficial Pond Bacteria – The Rational
Algae can be a big problem in most man-made ponds. It grows when there is too much light, and too many nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus. If you reduce the level of nutrients, algae will not grow as well. Problem solved.
So how do you reduce nutrient levels? The answer is really quite simple – you make sure that the pond contains a lot of beneficial bacteria. Beneficial pond bacteria also need nutrients to grow and they will out compete the algae for nutrients.
So far so good. This is a simple system that is known to work well.
To make this work you need to have enough beneficial bacteria. What is the best way to get them? From a manufacturers point of view that is obvious. Grow them, package them and sell them to pond owners in a fancy jar with a fancy name: ‘Beneficial’ pond bacteria.
Consider an average sized pond that is 10 x 10 x 2.5 ft, which is about 2,000 gallons. The first product I found on the internet was $30 US to treat this pond for 12 months. They also have the supper strength stuff at $60 US for 12 months. It’s not a lot of money, and if it is needed most pond people will pay this – every year.
What Are Beneficial Pond Bacteria?
There is no clear definition for this but essentially any mixture of bacteria that would decompose organic matter, use up nutrients and live in water would fit the bill.
The beneficial bacteria that are being sold are natural bacteria. We are not talking about expensive genetically modified bacteria. We are talking about the same bacteria that can be found in any natural pond. There are probably millions of species that would work just fine.
Adding Bacteria to The Pond
What happens when the beneficial bacteria are added to the pond? The bacteria will have a look at their environment and if they like it they will start to grow. As they grow, they consume nutrients and divide (ie make babies). In fact they can multiply very quickly – in the lab some bacteria double in number every 20 minutes.
As the number of bacteria increases, the amount of nutrients decrease. At some point there is not enough food for everyone and they start to die off.
It is important to understand that there will always be some food in a pond and so the bacteria never die out completely. Their numbers just get less. In fact the ones that die will provide nutrients for the ones that remain. Bacteria are cannibalistic.
Where Do Bacteria Come From?
Everywhere! They are in the air, water, soil, on plants, on fish, on fish food. Even before you add water for the first time to a new pond, the liner is covered with bacteria. The reason for washing your hands regularly is because they are covered with bacteria. Even wiping your kitchen counter with a disinfectant will not remove all the bacteria.
You can’t keep bacteria out of the pond.
Natural Bacteria in The Pond
The natural bacteria in your new pond do exactly the same thing as the ones you buy. They have a look around their environment. Some might not like being in water and they die. Some don’t like the temperature or pH and they either die or at least don’t multiply very much – they are waiting for conditions to improve.
A new pond has very few nutrients so bacteria don’t grow well for a while – but either does algae.
But in no time at all fish poop. Insects and birds drop organic mater in the water. It does not take long before the nutrient levels build up. As they do, bacteria start to flourish. You can see them as a coating of slime on plants, rocks and the pond liner. To you this is icky stuff, but to the pond this is a natural water purifier.
Why Do You Need To Add Bacteria?
Unless you do something to kill all of your natural bacteria you do NOT need to add more. Want proof? Have a look at Pond Pumps & Pond Filters. I put this man-made pond in 8 years ago. It has no filtration, no air pump and no chemicals. It does have a lot of plants and a lot of surface area (small rocks) for bacteria to live on.
You can do things to kill off your bacteria. If you add an algaecide, it will kill off bacteria (ref 3). Chemicals for adjusting pH will also harm your bacterial herd. If you recycle your pond water through a UV system you will kill bacteria.
Emptying your pond and scrubbing the sides to get it clean also kills your herd. This is recommended by many people and makes no sense at all. Why remove the slimy coating that is home to your natural water purification system?
If you did these things and killed your bacteria it might make sense to add purchased beneficial bacteria to get your bacteria numbers up quickly. Or you could just wait a day or two for them to start growing on their own.
Keep in mind that adding chemicals like copper based algaecides are long term problems. The copper does not go anywhere, unless you do a water change. As long as it is in the water it will affect the bacteria. Maybe this is one reason that companies who sell algaecides also sell beneficial bacteria and recommend you add them weekly. Their algaecide keeps killing off the bacteria so you have to keep buying more and more bacteria. Sounds like a good business!
The Commercial Bacteria Myth
In the words of one manufacturer “the addition of beneficial pond bacteria will render the pond clean and clear”. Is this true or is it a myth?
It may be true.
If for some reason you have killed off your bacterial herd, adding more from a jar will speed up the re-population of bacteria in your pond.
But this is only true if the following two factors are working in your favor.
Are The Purchased Bacteria Alive?
The bacteria in your purchased bottle need to be alive for them to work. You really don’t have an easy way to test this. One commercial source said that “live bacteria smell” and if the contents of your container doesn’t smell – they are dead. That is not very reliable. Besides dead rotting organic material (ie the bacteria) tends to smell!
Are The Bacteria Matched To Your Environment?
Every pond has a different environment with variations in things like water hardness, pH, temperature, existing microbes, nutrient levels, etc. The bacteria you add will only grow well if they like your environment. You can’t tell that by reading the label.
Natural vs Commercial Bacteria
The main argument for adding commercial bacteria is that the pond does not have enough natural ones. What would cause such a situation?
Other than added chemicals the two main reasons would be a lack of nutrients and a lack of substrate for bacteria to live on – the rocks and pond liner.
If your pond does not have enough nutrients for you native bacteria to grow and prosper, then it does not have an algae problem – there is no problem to fix and adding a commercial product is just a waste of money.
Substrate is the surface area where bacteria like to live. In commercial filtration systems this is usually some kind of sponge, or small pieces of plastic. Both of these provide a large surface area on which bacteria can colonize. The key here is the large surface area.
In a pond bacteria like to grow on the pond liner, on plants and on the surface of rocks. A properly designed pond will provide a large amount of surface area, usually in the form of small rocks.
If the pond has lots of places for bacteria to live then the native bacteria will already be living there. Adding more commercial bacteria will not increase the population.
It seems to me that if your pond lacks bacteria it means your pond does not have the environment needed by bacteria to live. Adding more from a jar is at best a short term solution.
Beneficial Pond Bacteria – A Waste of Money
Unless you do something to disturb your native bacterial herd I see absolutely no reason to add beneficial bacteria. The bacteria you already have are just as beneficial as the ones you can buy.
Aquascape sells a product that contains 1 billion bacteria per gram. One gram of healthy soil – the weight of a paperclip – can also contain 1 billion bacteria. If you feel the need to add bacteria just add a pinch of soil.
When I reviewed commercial products I noticed a lot of claims, but not a single piece of evidence to support the claims. There was not a single study to support the use of their products. However, a scientific study that I did find looked at adding a commercial bacterial product to ponds (ref 2) and found little difference in water quality between treated and untreated ponds.
Adding commercial bacteria to your pond to keep the water clear is a waste of money.
Related Topics
Winterizing Ponds and Water Features
Selecting the Right Pond Liner
Building Natural Ponds
This blog post is the second most popular post ever on this site. Lots of people comment and are interested in more information about building natural ponds, so I have started a public Facebook Group to make it easier for people to discuss this hot topic. Please join the group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1760349757565562/
References:
- Primer About Ponds and Microbes; https://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Pond_water
-
Copper Algaecides and Beneficial Bacteria; http://pondalgaesolutions.org/2012/05/07/is-there-a-conflict-in-your-pond/
- Photo source: AgnosticPreachersKid
We purchased property 2 yrs ago that includes a neglected 2 1/2 acre pond where lilies with accompanying bladderwort had taken over approx 95% of the area. Since then, we have conservatively (far less amounts than considered safe) attacked the lilies, & removed all python-sized rhizomes as they float to the surface. We now have about 1/2 to 2/3 of the surface clear. Only now have we encountered an ugly film of sediment floating on a majority of the surface, while the water itself is still clear as can be. I’m sure this is because of the leaves that did not rise to the surface during the last kill. It is impossible to attempt to mechanically remove anythung from the bottom, as it used to be a quarry, & the bottom Is very uneven. Is there anything other than adding supplemental bacteria that we can do to remedy this unsightly condition?
Give it time – adding bacteria will not help.
So I just built a 21 by 26 feet pond with a liner. It has a waterwater and a pump. It’s about 3 feet deep. I built it primarily for our ducks, but the chickens and peacock also drink from it.
The plan was to have lots of water plants such as water lotus and lillies pads. I bought a ton of the them. Put them in the pond and a day later they were all eaten by the ducks. They feasted on them.
On a sunny day, the water turns green in two days. It’s shaded in the morning and late afternoon, but it gets a good 6 hours of direct sun. I have been removing and replacing the water weekly. I am trying the ‘adding bacteria’ model, but it does not seem to work.
So if I can’t have water plants, how can I make it work? Should I add a UV clarifier?
It’s been running for 3 weeks now. It’s all green again. Help!!! I don’t want to use chemicals. Thx
The only way to have ducks and plants is to have them in separate areas.
Try posting your question on the Facebook group Building Natural Ponds
We have had a rubber lined 12×15′ pond for almost 20 years although we have not been diligent in keeping it free each year of leaf litter and pond plants. Last year I totally neglected it and toward fall I noticed that it wasn’t keeping water on the top half. Last month we got in, cleaned out all the water that was left along with all the accumulation of rotting leaves. All plants were removed and we found about 100+ root holes . Those have been repaired, native rocks are now lining the entire surface along with various sized pebbles, water has been added and in less than a week my water is green. I did replace my lillies and a few other small water plants and added two 6″ fish. The Lillies are not large yet. We have a pump that takes water from lowest part of pond up to the top of the 20′ rock and pebble lined stream. My question is, should I simply wait it out for my pond plants to mature enough to cover/shade my pond? The green water is unsightly but I’m wondering if I give it time all the good bacteria on the new rocks plus the shade given off by the plants will overcome the nasty algae. The pond is in sun until about 3 or 4pm then it is half shade.
Green water, without string algae is usually a short term problem. You get an algae bloom, and then it crashes as the algae dies off. Just wait it out.
Having just spoken to “pond expert” who recommended that I purchase his beneficial bacteria product, I found your article most helpful. I do have a question, however, about one factor you don’t address–fish. I have a large pond, about 100 x 200 ft and 9 ft deep at the center. Stream fed. I recently noticed algae forming (the reason I called the “expert”) at the shallow end where the stream feeds the pond. I have no fish in the pond. The expert recommended a minimum of 50 trout and the bacteria. I am wondering if your analysis about the uselessness of bacteria assumes the presence of fish–or perhaps it makes no difference. Will the presence of fish help eliminate algae? Is there a rule of thumb for the numbers of fish needed to maintain a healthy pond?
Thanks, and I look forward to the book.
I don’t see how fish help an algae problem. Some fish will eat algae, but I am not sure about trout. Even if they do eat it, They will poop a lot of it back into the water which keeps nutrient levels high. Fish can result in more algae if you feed them, and people usually feed trout since they want them to grow for food.
A healthy pond does not require fish.
Bacteria will be in the pond with and without fish present.
very informative, thanks. i have a pressurised canister, which keeps amonia and nitrite levels down (aerobic bacteria) and a shower/trickle filter – which i hope will generate anerobic bacteria for dealing with the nitrate. i am drawn by your comment about a pinch of soil being able to provide bacteria to the pond – is this source to be normally found in the soil introduced with pond plants or should i add a wee pinch now and again?
Regards
Keith
The bacteria are everywhere including the plants. They don’t need to be added. The pinch of soil will only make you feel better.
I enjoined reading your article, thanks a lot. I have a question and maybe you’d have an idea… I added to my pond a chmical Argentum Colloid, several times, trying to get rid of the algae, I regret it of corse, do you have any idea how long it is functional in the water untill it disintegrates/ becomes uneffective ? (I don’t want to change all the water as you suggested) Thanks
Not really sure what it is. A Google indicates it is a mineral containing silver – if that is what you used, the silver and other minerals will not leave the pond or be decomposed. they will be there for ever.
Thanks, in a second thought, maybe it’ll be incorporated in the fish and the plants clearing the water for new bacteria to grow….
How do you deal with black/crown rot?
On what?
It’s important to differentiate between heterotrophic organisms, like bacteria that break down organic compounds, and autotrophic organisms, like algae that synthesize from inorganic compounds and sunlight. Bacteria (unless they’re cyanobacteria that photosynthesize) don’t compete with algae. Bacteria actually provide algae with the inorganic nutrients they need by recycling the organic matter into raw material for algae. While cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) is an competitor with algae, many species produce toxic compounds.
Plants, especially those that extract nutrients directly from the water, can reduce algae because they directly compete with algae for nutrients. They also reduce the amount of light available to algae for photosynthesis.
Why does this distinction need to be made?
Both types of bacteria need nutrients like nitrogen and potassium. They may get them from different sources, but they still need them. As heterotrophs grow and multiply, they remove these nutrients from the water, and prevent them being available for algae. Is it a case were they produce much more free nutrients than they ever use themselves?
I assume that the commercial beneficial pond bacteria are heterotrophs since their function is to reduce ammonia levels and organic levels. One could then argue that their effect in a pond is to convert organic matter into nutrients that algae can use.
The distinction is important because of the claim that bacteria will reduce algae in the pond. One of the main metabolic lifestyles of bacteria, heterotrophy, is to break down organic matter into its constituent inorganic compounds, like nitrates and phosphates. They provide algae with the inorganic nutrients they need to grow, just like the bacteria in a compost pile decompose kitchen scraps into plant-usable nutrients. Once all the organic matter is decomposed, heterotrophic bacteria populations will plummet. At least until plants, algae, cyanobacteria, etc. use minerals and sunlight to make more organic matter. Nutrients aren’t removed, they’re just borrowed.
Although cyanobacteria are autotrophs and have the potential to reduce the population of algae by competing with them for nutrients and light, they also have a negative aesthetic appeal (scums, coatings, opaque water). Moreover, some produce toxic compounds and others fix nitrogen, so there’s no advantage in substituting cyanobacteria for algae if you want a clear and clean pond.
I understand the point you re making, but do heterotrophic bacteria not also need nutrients? They need nitrogen and phosphorus to grow. Which means that they must also be competing with algae for these nutrients.
Is it a case that they produce more nutrients than they use?
Bacteria certainly tie up nutrients in their own bodies but, as long as there’s a food source, they’re excreting a continuous stream of molecules that become available for autotrophs.
We know that a healthy population of heterotrophic bacteria in our gardens benefit the autotrophic plants. Isn’t it reasonable to assume that bacteria in a pond would benefit the algae?
Good point.
I have two quite large fifteen year old ponds that are crystal clear. I have watched their very different ecologies evolve over the years and like you I have no filters, pumps or other contraptions. Nor have I ever cleaned them other than dragging out surplus organic debris with a lawn scarifier.
I am sure I will agree with everything you say in your coming book!
Not having really considered it I have never thought about pond bacteria! Thank you for enlightening me of their significance.
Like you I abhor the gullible being exploited by selling them bacteria!
I add benificial bacteria in my pond when my koi are spawning. It brings the ammonia levels quicker than if I allow it to go unchecked. My three females are 28″+. They do lay a lot of eggs. I have 25 koi above 12″ and they do affect my water quality. For string algae this year I tried a product. In my 3500 gallon pond I used 5 ml. of product and in 7 days the string algae was gone. I did one dose a week for 4 weeks and then stopped. This took place in the month of May 2016 and it is October and still no string algae. I would have three feet of algae hanging off all the rocks in my stream.
Why do ammonia levels get high during spawning?