Controlling Algae- Pond Management Tips from AlgaeControl.US

Ultrasound Effects on Algae, Cyanobacteria and Biofilm

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:38:00 +0000

Green algae and diatoms have been found to be damaged by sound waves in studies with frequencies ranging from 20 khz to 60 khz putting it in the ultrasonic region. The damage is done by resonating the inner cell wall that generates a sympathetic rebound and ultimately causes a tear between it and the contractile vacuole that regulates the internal pressure. The inner cell wall is called the plasmalemma and its structure and design can vary widely between different types of algae. Once it is broken from the contractile vacuole, it will collapse inside the outer algae sheath an d c ause the cell to die. It is impossible to know what is the exact frequency that damages each type of algae. There are estimated to be upwards to 100000 different species. Our control strategy takes the range of 24 to 64 khz and covers it with 79 frequencies within that range. The idea is to get close enough to a resonating frequency to create the damaging effect. As algae grow and reproduce, they likely go through a number of frequencies that may be damaging to them, so you don’t have to be exact, just close enough.

Cyanobacteria are different than green algae. They have gas vesicles that are only one protein layer thick and easy to break. They only learned what these things looked like in the early 1970’s. The ultrasonic device does not kill them directly, but breaking the gas vesicles causes them to lose buoyancy so they sink out of light and die. Since the device is not strong enough to break the outer cell wall, the trapped gas from the vesicles migrates to the outer wall and slowly leaks through in about 3 days. To see this effect you need an electron microscope. Gas vesicles are extremely tiny and there are hundreds in each cyanobacteria cell.

Some scientists believe that it is cavitation that causes the damage, but if you do the math you will see that it would be impossible to create a cavitation zone large enough to be effective and even if you did, the ultrasonic device would be prohibitively expensive. This belief stems from early work in this field by Paul Langevin, the French scientist that developed sonar in the early 1920’s. They noted that algae died around the sonar test sight and since the device created a cavitational field, they assumed that cavitation, a very strong force related to turbulence, was responsible. In the 1890’s they noted similar effects when algae blooms disappeared around mining sites where dynamite was exploded underwater. In this case the shockwave of the explosions caused the damage.

Some algae are so complex internally that it is difficult to cause them to resonate and be damaged. Types that are similar to plants with true branching filaments are generally not affected by the technology. In the last two years we learned that a difficult blue-green algae (Lyngbya) can be damaged by a slightly higher energy output level. We were the first to note this and are working to improve upon this finding.

One last piece of information that you may find interesting is that facultative anaerobic bacteria are influenced by the sound waves. They behave as if they are in turbulent water conditions where they do not seek to reproduce in such turbulent water. We have used this finding to keep tanks and water processing equipment clean from biofilm growth.

George Hutchinson, President, AlgaeControl.US

Basic Glossary of Invasive Aquatic Plants

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 22:53:00 +0000

Water Chestnut is Invasive

We've been getting quite a few calls lately regarding aquatic plants which are not native to a pond environment, yet seem to be taking it over bit-by-bit-ie. "Invasive Plants". Let's first look at a concise definition of what classifies an invasive plant (Invasive.org)

Invasive and Exotic Species of North America

any species, including its seeds, eggs, spores, or other biological material capable of propagating that species, that is not native to that ecosystem; and whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.

The classification of invasive plants can get a bit complicated, so below we are giving our readers a basic glossary of invasive plants.Below are definitions of the terms you may see in the stories about invasive aquatic plants:
Aggressive (a gres’iv):
Behavior marked by combative readiness; growing, developing, or spreading
rapidly; more severe, intensive, or comprehensive than usual especially in
dosage or extent
Aquarium ornamentals (a-kwer’e em or’ne ment’ls):
Plants that are put in aquariums for decorative purposes. In a home
aquarium, plants also can provide some of the same benefits as plants in the
wild, providing shelter and hiding places for fish and during the daytime,
photosynthesis helps take carbon dioxide produced by the fish out of the
water and puts oxygen back in.
Aquatic plants (e-kwat’ik pl’ants):
Literally “water plants,” that live on or in the water. An example of a plant
that lives on the water is a water lily. Plants that live in the water include
invasives such as Egeria densa and milfoil.
Bilge (bilj):
The compartment at the bottom of the boat where water collects that then is
pumped out or drained. The water that gets in the bilge can come from rain,
spray or small leaks such as loose fittings or joints as well as cracked or torn
hoses.
Displace (dis plas):
In the case of invasive aquatic weeds, this means push out. Foreign invaders
such as milfoil and Egeria densa do this by literally pushing native plants out
of an environment by robbing them of nutrients and sunlight and by creating
water-quality conditions that make it hard for other plants, and sometimes
even fish and other aquatic life, to survive.
Eradication (e rad’ikat’shun):To tear up by the roots; to get rid of as if by tearing up by the roots.
Established (e stab’lish’d):
To make stable; make firm; set (to establish a habitat)
Hull (hul):
The body of a ship or boat. It keeps the water out and serves as the platform
for building the decks, cabins, etc.
Infestation (in fes ta shun):
To spread in or overrun as a nuisance or danger. In the case of invasive
aquatic weeds, the definition fits perfectly because of what the plants do to
the aquatic environment, the enjoyment that swimmers, boaters and anglers
lose, and the economic costs that farmers, ranchers, resort owners, groups
such as watershed councils and government agencies spend to try and
control or eliminate them.
Invasive (in va’ziv):
A species that is non-native, able to establish on many sites, grow quickly,
and spread to the point of disrupting ecosystems. It is also an alien species
whose introduction does or is likely to cause harm to the economy,
environment or human health.
Livewell (liv wel):
A tank on board a boat in which fish — from bait to an angler’s catch — can
be kept alive. Water is pumped into and drained out of the livewell to keep
oxygen in the water for the fish to breath. And it is the tubes as well as the
tank that can serve as hiding places for invasive aquatic weeds and other
unwanted pests to hitchhike from one lake, pond or river to another.
Mat (mat):
In the case of noxious water weeds, such as Egeria densa or milfoil, this
refers to the way a weed grows. The growth tips of the plants spread and
sprawl at the water’s surface creating a dense layer of vegetation that keeps
sunlight from getting to the lower-growing plants below and makes
activities, such as swimming or boating, virtually impossible.
Monoecious (mo nee shus):
A plant species in which male and female organs are found on the same
plant but in different flowers.
Native (naa’tiv), Indigenous (in dijj’e nes):
A species that is a part of the balance of nature that has developed over
hundreds or thousands of years in a particular region or ecosystem. Species
native to North America are generally recognized as those occurring on the
continent prior to European settlement.
Non-native (non’naa’tiv), Nonindigenous (non’in djj’e nes), Foreign
(for’in), Alien (al’yen), Exotic (eg za’tik), Introduced (in’tre doos’d):
A species typically added with human help (intentionally or accidentally) to
a new place or new type of habitat where it was not previously found.
pH (p h):
A scale used to measures the acidity or alkalinity of something, from soil
and swimming pools to ponds and lakes. Distilled water at 77 degrees has a
pH of 7, and is called neutral. A pH above 7 is considered alkaline, while a
pH below 7 is acidic. Baking soda, as an example, is slightly alkaline and
has a pH of 9. The acid produced by your stomach, on the other hand, is very
acidic, with a pH of 1.
Photosynthesis (foto sen thi sis):
Photosynthesis is the process by which most plants use the green pigment
chlorophyll to convert sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into the “food”
that they need to live and grow. Photosynthesis releases oxygen into the air
for us to breathe.
Snowbirds (sno burds):
People whom, just as with some birds, migrate south in the winter to avoid
cold, rain and snow. Snowbirds return in the spring and early summer,
towing their boats that can pose potential problems in the form of aquatic
invaders from lakes, ponds and rivers from those warmer climates.
Wetlands (whet’landz):
Land or areas (as marshes or swamps) that are covered often intermittently
with shallow water or have soil saturated with moisture.

Other Related Sources for Further Exploration of Invasive Plants
Plants Database
Invasive.org
Invasive Plant Atlas

AlgaeControl.US Receives A+ Rating by BBB

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 22:21:00 +0000

A+ Rating on BBB

That's right aquaculture fans! South Santee Aquaculture aka AlgaeControl.US received a phenomenal A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau. See for yourself under "fishery consultants" on the BBB website. What does this mean?

BBB issues Reliability Reports on all businesses, whether or not they are BBB accredited. If a business is a BBB Accredited Business, it is stated in this report.

Thank you for making us so valuable to your environment! If you'd like to rate us on Google Places, feel free to stop by our new Google Place Page and drop us a review or find us on our new Google Map!

Pondzilla is the Monster of Muck

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 21:21:00 +0000

Are there Monsters In Your Pond? There Should Be

The Muck In Your Pond Better Watch Out

Our good friends over at Team Aquafix make some pretty amazing products for cleaning wastewater, eliminating undesirables from your pond and lake and making any body of water cleaner and easier to maintain. One such invention of theirs is the almighty Pondzilla, mentioned on their blog once before. Pondzilla happens to also be available in our toolbar store below or on our products page with Free Shipping anywhere in the United States!

What is Pondzilla?
PondZilla is an catalyst which helps to polish a lake or pond. Pondzilla works by reacting with dead plant matter in a water body and converting it to simple sugars. These sugars are then uptaken by bacteria.

What does it do?
This process helps to polish a lake, clean the water column and degrade muck. PondZilla can be applied with herbicides.

pondzilla 100
Muck degrading catalyst

Lake/Pond Initial Application Maintenance Application
Organic Content Gal./acre Gal./acre
Low Content . . . . . . . . . . 1 .5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0 .75
Medium Content . . . . . . . . 3 .0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 .0
High Content . . . . . . . . .. .10 .0 . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . 3 .0

Treatment Directions: Product performance is enhanced
when water temps are 39° F or above and water is well aerated.
1) Wear proper safety equipment including rubber gloves and eye protection
when applying PondZilla . In the event of separation, shake before using .
2) Determine volume of lake/pond in acre-feet of water (1 acre foot of water
equals 1 surface acre or 43,560 sq . ft . with an average depth of 1 ft ., or
325,869 gal .) .
3) Dilute determined amount of 1 part PondZilla to 9 parts of water .
4) Disperse evenly using a clean sprayer or other appropriate method .
5) Apply maintenance amount two weeks after initial application and then every
two weeks following .

NOTE: Always dilute PondZilla to proper application dilution . Dispersing evenly notexceeding maximum listed application rate . Failure to dilute, disperse evenly orexceeding application result may cause fish mortality .

If you have any questions about Pondzilla, feel free to contact us at South Santee Aquaculture
Read About other pond management products that we offer.

Pondzilla Flyer- Team Aquafix, Inc.

Introducing eLemna-8 An Ecofriendly Duckweed Destroyer

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 20:52:00 +0000

Solving the Problem of Duckweed

The primary problem with duckweed is the waxy outer coating which enables it to float and by floating as a mass block sunlight from reaching the bottom of your pond. No sunlight, no photosynthesis, no growth below, so it kills what is below it. It also reduces the oxygen in the water aiding the anaerobic decomposition of the dying biomass and other muck on the bottom. This is what causes the bad smells. These type of bacteria also release phosphates from the dying biomass, which helps the duckweed grow even faster!

That waxy coating inhibits a lot of herbicides from being effective requiring multiple applications and long term concentrations in the water to be effective. If the wax can be removed to give a pathway for the herbicides to enter the plant, even simple herbicides like liquid copper (EarthTec®) can work because they are effective once they get into the interior of the leaf and to the chlorophyll. However this was a problem in the past due to the reasons stated above-ie getting the herbicide through the waxy coating (which can grow back almost as fast as you remove it) and into the plant itself. Problem Solved! Introducing eLemna-8, an invention by fishery biologist Kevin Hutchinson and chemical engineer George Hutchinson of South Santee Aquaculture and AlgaeControl.US.

eLemna-8

An environmentally friendly blend of natural dewaxing agents,
cereal based microsponge sticking agents, emulsifiers, muck
degrading enzymes and tracer dye. Accelerates the natural
bacterial decomposition of aquatic plants and algae.

What is Duckweed?

Lemna minor or "Duckweed"

Shakespeare referred to "duckweed" as "Green mantle of the standing pool." Duckweeds (otherwise known as Lemna minor) are plants that are well-known to everybody, and consequently very few persons know anything of them. This is a paradox; but they are so common and so small that the average man or woman is content to know them in the aggregate, and cannot condescend to a more intimate acquaintance with individuals, or with the different species, yet like many other small things - "unconsidered trifles" - they are very interesting to the botanist; for these are among the smallest and simplest of the flowering plants. Taking up two or three plants from one pond and comparing them with some from another piece of water, we shall probably find a difference in them; but they are all possessed of a more or less flattened green body that floats on the water, and which we shall be inclined to call a leaf. It is not a leaf, however, but a plant that produces no leaves, though it has roots and flowers. To be more accurate we will call it a frond, from whose under-surface there goes down one or more simple unbranched roots, and in clefts of whose margin are simple flowers.

(This section is from the book "Wayside And Woodland Blossoms", by Edward Step. Also available from Amazon: Wayside And Woodland Blossoms: A Guide To British Wild-Flowers.)

Where is Duckweed Found?

Lemna minor (Common Duckweed or ) is a species of Lemna (duckweed) with a subcosmopolitan distribution, native throughout most of Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, occurring everywhere that freshwater ponds and slow-moving streams occur, except for arctic and subarctic climates. It is not reported as native in Australasia or South America, though is naturalized there.

How does eLemna-8 Work?
eLemna-8 is able to not only penetrate the waxy coating of duckweed (so that algaecides such as EarthTec® can do their work to the interior of the plant, it will actually strip the plant of the wax and allow the plant to die gracefully, floating to the bottom of the pond to become food and biomatter for other aquatic life to gain nutrients from. So in practice, using eLemna-8 in combination with EarthTec® you are able to accelerate the natural bacterial decomposition of aquatic plants and algae.

Below you will find a few helpful documents about eLemna-8, including a MSDS sheet and seller information. You may also purchase eLemna-8 from our store in the blog toolbar below.

Related Research Links for Duckweed:
Lemna minor Lesser Duckweed [Rook.org and USDA Plants Database]

Rydlyme Marine Test for Boat Cleaning Applications

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:51:00 +0000

Kevin Hutchinson Owner of South Santee Aquaculture

Watch this test video below that we made which shows just how powerful Rydlyme Marine is at eating away shells and other crusted marine growth which forms on the bottom of boats and other marine vessels. Also added to our SouthSanteeTV channel on Youtube.

What is Rydlyme Marine? (brochure at bottom of post)

RYDLYME Marine is a safe biodegradable marine descaler developed to dissolve problematic fouling mediums including calcium, rust, zebra mussels, barnacles, tiger shells and other mineral deposits that hinder the performance of vital water
systems. This safe and simple solution effectively dissolves rock-like scale deposits that contaminate your water-cooled marine equipment.

RYDLYME Marine can be used on all types of vessels including workboats, cruise ships, mega yachts, freighters, and recreational boats. With RYDLYME Marine you can clean-in-place to reduce workload and save valuable maintenance dollars. Our innovative product has no waste disposal problems; it is biodegradable in any concentration.

RYDLYME Marine can help save you money by removing unwanted marine deposits on heat exchangers, engine cooling systems, condensers and many more applications where fouling is a problem.

Watch as Rydlyme eats this Shell for Lunch!

Some Product Shots-Don't eat these...

Rydlyme Marine Brochure

A Brochure for Rydlyme Marine is available to you below or by contacting us at South Santee Aquaculture
You can also contact us through the toolbar at the bottom of this page-and for that matter, order Rydlyme from the store in the toolbar.

Rydlyme Marine Large Container

Rydlyme comes in various sizes, depending on the type of application you are wanting to use it for. You have the small tester size above and this 30 gallon Container below.

Rydlyme Brochure for Download

Warm Your Pool or Pond With This DIY Project

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 01:27:00 +0000

I'd bet you never would have thought that your electric bill could be lowered using hula hoops! It can, if you have a pool. With a little help from Make (via Lifehacker) you can use Do-It-Yourself Hula Hoop Lily Pads to warm your pool and cut a huge chunk off of your electric bill. I'd also be willing to bet that this same hack can be applied to your pond, with enough ingenuity. Below is a video instructional that tells you everything you need in order to create Hula Hoop Lily pads..enjoy!

Weekend Project: Lily Pad Pool Warmers [Make]

Find an AlgaeControl.US Dealer in Your Area

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 19:30:00 +0000

You can now locate a AlgaeControl Dealer in your area, via this handy google map below. We have dealers who specialize in all types of aquatic management services and have chemical-free products for your lakes and ponds, including Ultrasound!

Specialities

(21 dealers)Water Plants
(20 dealers)Waste Water
(36 dealers)Ponds and Small Lakes
(22 dealers)Irrigation/Horticulture
(14 dealers)Swimming Pools
(26 dealers)Aquaculture & Fish Farms
(19 dealers)Koi Gardens & Small Ponds
(24 dealers)Large Lakes and Reservoirs
(26 dealers)Golf Courses
(9 dealers)Cooling Towers

View AlgaeControl.US Dealers in a larger map

We LOOOOVE Mapping Marine Life!

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:57:00 +0000

World Database on Protected Marine Areas

As you probably have figured out by now, we LOOOOVE mapping marine life. That's why today we bring you yet another cool way to use maps when researching aquatic life on earth. A lot of times, we like what Google Maps Mania digs up. For example, take a close look at World Database on Marine Protected Areas.

Did you know that only 0.7 of the world's oceans are protected? The WDPA-Marine wants to provide the most comprehensive set of marine protected areas (MPAs) data available. Part of this effort involves a very cool Google Maps mashup that provides information about the less that 1% of protected ocean.

The map uses shaded polygons to highlight protected ocean areas. For each protected area it is possible to select a number of layers showing coral, mangrove, seagrass and saltmarsh locations. The map also includes layers to display Wikipedia articles, photographs and videos of the selected protected area.

Do you have a map that you'd like to share with us? We'd love to hear about it!

Mapping Illegal Pools with Google Earth

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:35:00 +0000

As you probably know by now, we like maps. This is yet another awesome map trick-this time involving location of Illegal Pools (found via GEarth Blog). Apparently illegal pools are frowned upon up north, as the town of Riverhead, NY, located on Long Island, has recently started using Google Earth to track down backyard pools that don't have the proper license.

Away with Geese is A Floating Geese Deterrent

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 01:29:00 +0000

Geese LOVE Your Pond-But You Hate Geese
How do we deal with this problem? Simple. Away With Geese is a floating deterrent

Wanna Know How to Get Rid of Geese (without a shotgun)?

THE SOLUTION = Away With Geese Light

Water-based Unit
1. Disrupts geese sleep patterns causing them to move to another pond.
2. The product floats in the water and works at night, 7 days a week
3. Solar powered - no changing batteries or running electricity to the site
4. Maintenance free
5. Environmentally Safe and Effective Geese Control
6. Barely noticeable to the human eye
7. Solves Geese Problems quickly
8. Covers 3.5 Acres
9. Light emits in all directions at once

Land-based Unit
1. Eliminates night and early AM congregating by disturbing the geese just enough to encourage them to move to another location
2. Solar powered - no changing batteries or running electricity to the site
3. Stakes securely into the ground and may be placed anywhere in your lawn
4. Maintenance free
5. Environmentally Safe and Effective Geese Control
6. Barely noticeable to the human eye
7. Solves Geese Problems quickly
8. Covers 3.5 Acres
9. Light emits in all directions at once

Lightweight and Easy to Install

What is Away with Geese?

Away With Geese is a simple, compact, and maintenance free way to control Canada Geese on lakes and ponds, effectively eliminating problems of droppings, aggressive behavior, and damage brought by nesting geese.

Unlike other methods used to deter geese, such as: chemical sprays, physical barriers, noise devices, trained dogs, and hunting, Away With Geese has no adverse affects on its environment or humans. Furthermore, it will not tarnish the natural aesthetics of the lake or pond it is protecting. The device is comprised of a solar powered light that flashes once every two seconds, mounted on a flotation device, which is anchored to the bottom of the afflicted pond. The flashing light discourages Canadian Geese from foraging and nesting, causing them to leave and move on to another lake or pond.

The compact device is not only harmless to the environment and ecosystem of the pond, it also is visually innocuous, measuring a mere 15 inches wide and 12 inches above water line. Once Away With Geese is on duty, no work is required to maintain a Canada Geese free environment.

The installation takes five minutes, the light is solar powered, and the housing is factory sealed and impervious to weather conditions. It is really a grounds keeper's dream.

There is a One Year Warranty that covers manufacturing defects.

Away with Geese for 3.5 Acre ponds

3.5 Acre Coverage

The Away With Geese product has an effective range of at least 75 yards in any direction. One unit will service a pond that is up to 3.5 acres in size (about 450 x 450 feet) provided that all areas of the pond are within line-of-sight of the Away With Geese light.

Watch out for Blind Spots

Watch Out for Blind Spots

Some ponds may have inlets or bays where Geese can hide in the edges of the pond. In order to have the light reach these areas, special care must be taken when placing the Away With Geese unit so that hidden areas of the pond are within line-of-sight.

Away With Geese for multiple ponds

Use Multiple Units for Large Ponds or Difficult Areas

Some pond shapes may require two or more units in order to provide complete line-of-sight coverage

Specifications:

Weight: 10 lbs.
Dimensions: 15" Wide, 22" Long, 12"Above Water
Stock Number: AWG-1

You can purchase Away With Geese from the South Santee Aquaculture Store in the toolbar below.

Ways to Calculate Pond Volume and Size

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 01:35:00 +0000

How to Calculate Pond Size

This is the first in a series by South Santee Aquaculture about the various was for calculating the size or volume of a garden pond.

How to Calculate Water Volume

Remember that water volume is calculated much differently based on the shape of the pond.

Oval Pond ------- Length x Width x Depth x 6.7 = Water Volume

Circle Pond ------ Length x Width x Depth x 5.9 = Water Volume

Rectangle Pond -- Length x Width x Depth x 7.5 = Water Volume

So...if the water depth is not the same for the entire pond, estimate the average depth of the water for the pond and use that number for the depth.

Also if you are going to build an oval pond 16 feet long by 11 feet wide by 2 feet deep, the water volume would be:

11 x 16 x 2 x 6.7 = 2358 Gallons

Why is Calculating Pond Size Important?
The calculation of the size and volume of your pond is important to virtually every aspect involved with keeping it well maintained, such as the fish you buy, how to control aquatic life, staying on top of important cleaning tasks and when purchasing fountains or aeration devices.

What about Calculating size of Irregular Shaped Ponds?

Irregular shaped ponds

This one is a little bit trickier and we will go into some advanced methods of calculating odd or irregular shaped ponds in the near future. However, what I will tell you is Irregular shaped garden ponds are calculated using "squares". This is a bit tedious done manually but with the help of South Santee Aquaculture it can be greatly simplified and the results for your garden ponds volume are very accurate when care is taken. Contact us with questions about your pond.

The system relies upon this basic formula ...

Pond Volume = Surface Area x Average Depth.

The challenge lies in calculating the surface area accurately which is easy if the shape is a square or round say. But for complex shapes an estimate of area has to be made using the "count the squares" technique.

Related Posts of Interest:
Yearly Pond Maintenance Calendar

Yearly Pond Maintenance Calendar

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 00:58:00 +0000

Here is a nice way to stay on top of the various maintenance tasks involved with having a healthy garden pond-our yearly pond maintenance calendar! Add this calendar to your iGoogle or subscribe by email and it will automatically send you an alert to your email on the days that you have new tasks that you should focus on, when keeping a well-managed pond environment.

On our end, we will maintain this calendar as well, adding important notifications and tips for keeping a well maintained pond as they become available. Maintaining a clean, healthy and sustainable pond environment has never been so easy! If you have any questions or concerns, just drop us a line on our website. South Santee Aquaculture is dedicated to promoting safer and heathier solutions for aquatic environments.

Mapping Pond Life on Google Maps

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:34:00 +0000

As you all know, we are fond of ponds and pond life. Today, I ran across something very interesting on Google Maps Mania- Pond Life Mapped!

The Natural History Museum in the UK asked the public to carry out water surveys in their neighbourhood. The idea behind the crowd-sourced survey was to help scientists learn more about how polluted our lakes and ponds actually are.

The Pond Health Score Map shows the location of the healthiest and least healthy ponds. Every survey has been given a health score depending on the invertebrates found. This map shows the pond health scores of the surveys submitted.

The Water Clarity Map shows where the clearest waters been found around the UK.

Checking Water Quality Using Google Maps Mashups

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:41:00 +0000

Recently, I ran across a very interesting map mashup (via Google Maps Mania) called Water Atlas, which is from from the Hillsborough County and City of Tampa allows citizens to check water quality, hydrology, rainfall and weather data from the county's water stations.

This is the type of thing I would like to see worked out for South Carolina Water Quality.

Depending on the type of water station selected you can view, daily rainfall, precipitation, water flow, elevation, temperature, velocity and conductance. Each information window also includes a link to view graphs of the stations recorded data for the last 24 hours, week and month.

It might make one reflect on the Water Trifecta, mentioned before on this blog.

Kasco's 2400VFX and 4400VFX Fountains

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:11:00 +0000

From 2400vfx Aerating Pond Fountain by Kasco Marine

In a previous post, we highlighted the 1Hp 1400jf Fountain by Kasco Marine. Today we are going to talk about a couple other 1Hp fountains that have differences from the 1400jf series. Behold I give you the 2400VFX and 4400 VFX series decorative fountains by Kasco Marine.

F2400VFX Floating Aerating Fountain

Also known as Decorative Fountain Aerator is great for smaller farm ponds. The 2400VFX Floating Fountain is a Kasco classic. The classic Kasco "V" pattern, now a larger 5' Tall x 15' Wide pattern gives this model a beautiful, aerating fountain pattern that will improve water quality and aesthetics of any pond or body of water.
View More Images (or below) | Request More Information

Marine's 4400VFX

1 hp Floating, Aerating Fountain or Decorative Fountain Aerator is great for medium to large ponds. The classic Kasco "V" fountain pattern, now a larger 8' Tall x 26' Wide gives this model a beautiful fountain pattern. The 4-Blade Prop causes less water slippage past the prop blades giving the 4400VFX Floating, Aerating Fountain the highest water flow per Kilowatts of power used Kasco has to offer. Kasco's 4400VFX Floating Aerating Fountain does an excellent job at adding oxygen and improving your pond or lake aeration.
View More Images (below) | Request More Information

Features and Benefits of the 4400VFX

Dramatic V Pattern: now a larger 8' tall x 26' wide for an eye-catching display
Efficient / Low Power Use: Highest efficiency design for low power consumption versus competing units. Reduces operating costs over the entire life of the unit. 11.3 running amps on 120V and 5.7 running amps on 240V circuits for low operating costs
Clog Resistant: Unique water-deflecting nozzle design gives you the most clog-resistant model on the market. Successful shallow water operation in as little as 19"
Rugged Motor: Environmentally friendly design with a hard-face internal mechanical seal and external lip seal for protection against leaks. Seals are silicone carbide for long life. Long-life top and bottom ball bearings. Flood oil lubricated for excellent heat dissipation.
Corrosion Resistant: Superior dependability in salt-water or other corrosive environments. All external metal motor, float, and hardware components are of stainless steel composition and protected by a sacrificial zinc anode.
Low Maintenance: Clean the motor housing once or twice per year and replacing the sacrificial zinc anode when visibly corroded.
Fully Tested: ETL listed to stringent UL and CSA Safety Standards.
Ships Easily: 4400VFX ships in 2 or 3 boxes (depending on cord length) and 4400HVFX ships in 3 or 4 boxes (depending on cord length) via UPS (add 1 box for lights)
Dependable: Backed by a two-year warranty
Choice of Cord Lengths: SJTOW underwater rated power cord length options of 50', 100', 150', or 200' (250' available in 240V options) Includes two 50' braided nylon mooring ropes.
Made in the U.S.A.

1Hp 1400jf Aerating Fountains by Kasco Marine

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:44:00 +0000

1/4hp Floating, Aerating Fountain will beautify any small backyard pond or watergarden and is great for use in residential applications as well as entry way ponds (1400JF without lights). The 1400JFL floating fountain design allows for 5 interchangeable nozzle heads and LED lights, while keeping a low price for our customers.

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Brochures and Manuals for Kasco Fountains:

Aeration and Premium Fountains for Any Body of Water-Free Shipping

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 21:24:00 +0000

Aerating Fountains

Fountains are a great way to enhance the aethetics and health of any pond or lake. But did you know that Kasco Pond Aerators (Also Called High Oxygen Transfer Units) are designed to withstand the rigors of commercial aquaculture operations, industrial applications, and municipal waste water Plants, as well?

With more vertical-pump-type aerators in use in North America than any other manufacturer, Kasco is the clear market leader in products proven to deliver outstanding performance and reliability.

Kasco pond aerators dramatically agitate high volumes of water at the surface to maximize exposure of water to the air for valuable gas exchange, greatly improving your pond or lake aeration.

Kasco Marine's 1400JFL

1/4hp Floating, Aerating Fountain will beautify any small backyard pond or watergarden and is great for use in residential applications as well as entry way ponds (1400JF without lights). The 1400JFL floatingfountain design allows for 5 interchangeable nozzle heads and LED lights, while keeping a low price for our customers.

F2400VFX Floating Aerating Fountain

Also known as Decorative Fountain Aerator is great for smaller farm ponds. The 2400VFXFloating Fountain is a Kasco classic. The classic Kasco "V" pattern, now a larger 5' Tall x 15' Wide pattern gives this model a beautiful, aerating fountain pattern that will improve water quality and aesthetics of any pond or body of water. Kasco's 2400VFX Floating Aerating Fountain does a great job of adding oxygen and improving your lake or pond aeration.

Marine's 4400VFX

1 hp Floating, Aerating Fountain or Decorative Fountain Aerator is great for medium to large ponds. The classic Kasco "V" fountain pattern, now a larger 8' Tall x 26' Wide gives this model a beautiful fountain pattern. The 4-Blade Prop causes less water slippage past the prop blades giving the 4400VFX Floating, AeratingFountain the highest water flow per Kilowatts of power used Kasco has to offer. Kasco's 4400VFX Floating Aerating Fountain does an excellent job at adding oxygen and improving your pond or lake aeration. The floating, aerating fountain pattern will assist in improving your water quality as well as adding to the aesthetic appeal of your pond. The 4400VFX Floating, Aerating Fountains are available in 120V or 240V, 60Hz models.

Kasco Marine's 8400VFX

Kasco Marine's NEW 8400VFX, 2 hp Floating, Aerating Fountain or Decorative Fountain Aerator is great for larger ponds. The classic Kasco "V"fountain pattern, 8' tall x 32' wide gives this model a beautiful fountain pattern. The larger motor and enhanced propeller design gives the 8400VFX 2.5 times the water flow as the 4400VFX. Kasco's 8400VFX Floating Aerating Fountain does an excellent job at adding oxygen and improving your pond or lake aeration. The floating,aerating fountain pattern will assist in improving your water quality as well as adding to the aesthetic appeal of your pond. The 8400VFX Floating,Aerating Fountains are available in 240V, 60Hz models.

Kasco Marine's 3.1JF, 3Hp Fountain

Kasco Marine's 3.1JF, 3 hp Floating Aerating Fountain provides the power needed to adequately aerate larger ponds and provide eye-catching decorative displays. The 3.1JF is supplied with a state-of-the-art GFCB protected control panel, model C-85. The panel includes a 240 volt control panel with timer, GFCB protection, 120V GFI protected outlet for lights, and photocell for light operation. Kasco recommends a licensed electrician to install the C-85 control panel and the 3.1JF if you plan to hard-wire the unit into the C-85 control panel. The 3.1 JF boasts an innovative float design with a low profile in the water for enhanced appearance, plus an attractive decorative shape

Kasco Marine's 5.1 JF (New!)

5 HP Floating, Aerating Fountain, or Decorative Fountain Aerator
Kasco Marine's NEW 5.1JF, 5 hp Floating Aerating Fountain or Decorative Fountain Aerator is great for larger ponds or when multiple large patterns are desired.The Kasco 5.1JF Floating Aerating Fountain is unique for its size, in that, it comes standard with 6 interchangeable nozzles and can be operated without a nozzle to give you 7 FOUNTAIN PATTERNS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!

Model VFX

Kasco Marine's 5.1 VFX

The classic Kasco "V" fountain pattern, 9' tall x 34' wide gives this model a beautiful eye-catching display. The larger motor and enhanced propeller design gives a pumping rate of over 800 gallons per minute, adding maximum oxygen to improve your pond or lake aeration. It will assist in improving your water quality as well as adding to the aesthetic appeal of your pond. It is available in a 240V, 60Hz model.

Download the Brochure here:

Sonic Solutions LLC Ultrasonic Manuals, Specs and Guides

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:29:00 +0000

As most of you are aware, South Santee Aquaculture is the premier distributor of ultrasonic pond management and algae control products by Sonic Solutions LLC. If you are in search of a quick reference guide or owner manual, look no further!

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New Kasco Marine Fountains and Pond Aeration 2010 Pricing

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:46:00 +0000

We promised you that it would be coming soon and here it is...New 2010 Kasco Marine pricing is here and unbeatable! Ok..we know its half way through the year and all, but what better time to look into installing a fountain into your pond or lake than the summertime, right! We are in the middle of completely redesigning our products page, but if you have a question or would like to inquire about an order, simply contact South Santee Aquaculture through our website.

Open publication - Free publishing - More pricing

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The Water Trifecta - South Santee Aquaculture, Inc. Methodology

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:45:00 +0000

South Santee Aquaculture, Inc./AlgaeControl.US subscribes to a philosophy we call the Water Trifecta^©. It not only attacks the problem of algae, but more importantly it addresses the underlying problem for most ponds that is caused by the build up of nutrients and stagnated water beneath the thermocline. Beneath the thermocline there are oxygen levels that do not support aquatic life and where anaerobic bacteria thrive, especially in the warmer summer months. These bacteria consume bio-matter and release phosphates as part of their digestion process. The increased phosphate levels they generate in turn drive algae blooms. The combined work of the anaerobic bacteria and blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) produce organic chemicals such as Methyl Isoborneol (MIB), Geosmin, and Beta-Cyclocitral that result in taste and odor issues. In aquaculture facilities, these same chemicals causing the taste and odors can also cause off-flavor fish (an earthy, muddy taste).

Many ponds arrive at this condition due to the overuse of copper algaecides, which have their place, but when overused cause bacterial death in the sediment. This causes the build up of nutrients to accelerate. Eventually, the bacterial population recovers and the release of the phosphates occurs as previously discussed. What results is the beginning of a perpetual cycle. There is merit to the saying that once you start to use copper to control algae; you will always have to use it. The Water Trifecta^© works to reverse this by subscribing aeration, beneficial aerobic bacteria and ultrasound to prevent algae blooms from occurring.

Saltwater Ultrasonic Algae Control

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:49:00 +0000

We often get questions about how the ultrasonic technology works in marine or saltwater applications. We recently got the note below from Rick Eager, Senior Fisheries Biologist at Swimming Rock Fish & Shrimp Farm.

Dear AlgaeControl.US,

Just a short note to let you know how well the sonic unit took care of my shrimp ponds algae crash cycle. Stopped It Dead!

My shrimp pond in late August/September was cycling between green algae blooms and crashes every 8-10 days depending on sunlight input. I started the ultrasonic unit after the crash and the pond never bloomed again. Great! The shrimp grew well. My saltwater salinity was about 24 ppt. So if folks ask if ultrasound works in saltwater, the answer is Definitely!

My best,
Rick Eager

We have other applications done in marine environments as well, but this is the latest testimonial to the effectiveness of the ultrasonic technology in these types of water systems.

AlgaeControl.US Has a Whole New Look!

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:24:00 +0000

We are excited to announce that AlgaeControl.US website has a whole new look and feel. With tons more algae research information and updated products from Sonic Solutions, we hope you enjoy the new website. Be sure to contact us with any information or feedback that you may have.

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South Santee Website Back to Work

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:31:00 +0000

So after much time and a whole lot of fun, the South Santee Aquaculture website is back up and running after the hosting switch. Thanks is owed to all of our patient readers and customers out there. We appreciate your understanding. Now its time to go fishing! Let us know if there's anything we can do to help...

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South Santee Site Temporarily Down Today

noreply@blogger.com (AlgaeControl.US) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:51:00 +0000

Just letting our readers and friends know that the South Santee website is down for just a couple of hours today while transferring to new servers. We appreciate your understanding. You can always reach your favorite aquaculture team by visiting Algaecontrol.us site. Thanks for your support.

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