Bryozoan found in an Ohio Pond
Photo courtesy of AQUA DOC Aquatic Specialist, Mike Drobnick

THE FROG BLOG!

What On Earth Is In My Pond?

If you have seen one of these in your pond, you've seen a phylactolaemate bryozoan, an animal that has inhabited our planet for millions of years.  Though there are several thousand species of bryozoan, the phylactolaemate bryozoan is exclusively found in freshwater and, currently, there less than a hundred named species.  Bryozoans make their home on underwater structures such as fallen branches. 

The blob you see pictured above is not a single animal, but a colony of individual zooids.  The colony begins with one zooid which will reproduce to form copies of itself.  Every member of the colony is a genetic copy of the first.  Bryozoans reproduce through both sexual and asexual means such as fragmentation.  The freshwater phylactolaemate bryozoan also form statoblasts through asexual means.  These statoblasts become encased in a shell like covering and will either be carried away from the parent colony to regrow in a different location or may remain attached to the parent colony to rebuild when the parent colony dies off.  New colonies are produced through sexual means, however.  Bryozoans, believed to be hermaphroditic, produce larvae that will detach from the parent colony and float or be carried to a new location to form a new colony. 

Generally, the bryozoans will remain under the water unnoticed by pond owners.  However, when the summer draws to a close and the water temperatures drop you may see colonies floating in the water.  This happens when individuals die and gasses build up which make the colony float.  Bryozoans are generally not harmful and can be a food source for other animals.  They can, however, cause problems in watergardens or closed systems if they become lodged in filters or pumps.  If bryozoans become an issue or are an eyesore, the colony can be removed by hand.  Bryozoans will most likely return the following year, however, as buds or statoblasts have already attached elsewhere to begin another colony. 

If you have questions about these odd creatures, ask your Aquatic Specialist or contact AQUA DOC at 800-689-5253 or aquadocinc@aol.com.         

Happy Holidays!


~ The Frogger Blogger




Fresh water bryozoan
Photo courtesy of Mike Drobnick
 

 

References:
http://www.wright.edu/~tim.wood/bryozoans.html
http://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/68105-Phylactolaemata
http://www.earthlife.net/inverts/bryozoa.html
http://blogs.thatpetplace.com/thatfishblog/2012/10/31/the-blob-in-your-back-yard-bryozoans-in-backyard-ponds/#.VJHicmd0yUk

 

 

 

 



Thank you, Applied Biochemists

THE FROG BLOG

Thank You, John Cortell and Applied Biochemists


A big AQUA DOC thank you to John Cortell from Applied Biochemists for presenting an AQUA DOC U to our Admin. Team today.  Applied Biochemists produces algaecides and herbicides, such as Cutrine-Plus, that are found in our retail store as well as used by our Aquatic Specialists.  AQUA DOC values continuing training and education among our staff in order to provide you, our customers, with current and thorough information on the products we use and sell.  We appreciate Mr. Cortell's time and thank him for the great information. 


Happy Spring!

~ The Frogger Blogger

Getting Your Watergarden Ready for Spring

THE FROG BLOG

Getting Your Watergarden Ready for Spring

With spring just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about getting your watergarden ready for the season.  It is important for the health of your fish and plants to keep the water clean.  But, it's not enough to drain out the old water and fill the pond back up with water from your garden hose.  This can actually harm your fish and damage your plants.  So, what needs to be done?  Here are a few pointers to get you started.

First, do a quick inspection.  Look for visible signs of cracks or tears in the liner, electrical cord damage, kinks or breaks in the tubing, connections, and etcetera.  If you have fish, use water from the pond to fill a large tub.  Use a net to catch the fish and place them gently in the pond water filled tub.  If your fish are lively, put a leaf net over the top so they don't jump out.  Be sure to place the tub in a shady area.  This is a good time to examine the health of your fish, check them for signs of disease and/or injury.  It's also a good idea to place an aerator in the tub to oxygenate the water, especially if the cleaning process takes more than an hour or so.  Next, pull out any plants that made it through the winter, place them in buckets filled with pond water and place them in a shady area.  Examine the plants for signs of disease, remove dead material, divide and re-pot as necessary and fertilize before returning to the pond.

Master Liquid Test Kit

Now it's time to drain the pond.  You can bail, siphon, pump or use a pond vacuum to remove the remaining water.  Clean out debris, sticks, leaves, and muck and using a skimmer net.  Next, scrub the rocks and remove any remaining debris.  Check all equipment again to be sure everything is in good working order, clean and/or replace filters, check for debris in the waterfall and clean out as needed.  Once all that is complete and the pond is clean, begin to refill the pond.  It is important to let the water from your hose slowly trickle in to the pond.  Adding water slowly, helps regulate the temperature to the surroundings.  Water that is too cold, can shock and harm your fish.  You'll also need to add a dechlorinator to the water and balance the PH (follow all manufacturer's instructions on the label).  Once the pond is full and the water treated, turn on your pump to start circulating the water.  Add some of the old water the fish are in to the pond, this will help the fish, and the plants, readapt.  Finally, reintroduce your fish and plants to your pond.  To mitigate soil escaping into the clean water, allow plants to sink slowly to their appropriate depth. 

Spring cleaning can reduce bacteria and parasites and is important to the health of your pond and its inhabitants.  After your spring cleaning, periodically check your watergarden throughout the season for debris, tears in the liner, mechanical issues, water condition, excessive algae growth, and so on.  There are many products available on our website to help you keep your pond clean and healthy.  Please feel free to leave questions in the comment section. 

Happy Spring!

~The Frogger Blogger


References:

http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Water/sprngpnd.htm

http://www.watergarden.org/Seasonal-Care

http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/ponds/2002050739023501.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/040318_backyard_pond_koi_maintenance.html

   

Thank you! Aqua Master Fountains

THE FROG BLOG



Rudulf Huber of Aqua Master and John Wilson of AQUA DOC
March 6, 2014
 

Thank You!
Aqua Master Fountains

Rudi Huber, of Aqua Master Fountains, came to present AQUA DOC with our ninth consecutive recognition for "Outstanding Sales and Service Achievement."  AQUA DOC is now the third largest distributor of Aqua Master fountain and aeration systems in the country!  We are very proud of this achievement.

Rudi also took the time to present an "AQUA DOC U" to our team members.  He told us about many new products that are on the horizon.  We are very excited for the release of the "Red, Green, Blue" LED Night Glow Lighting.  For the first time, Aqua Master fountain owners will be able to vary their lighting display in a multitude of patterns and colors.  The new RGB lights should be released this year.  We will post when the new lighting system is available both here and our Facebook page. 

Thanks again, Rudi and Aqua Master!  We look forward to a great 2014!


Aqua Master
1 HP Masters Series Fountain with a Crown and Geyser Nozzle



The Effects of Road Salt

THE FROG BLOG

The Effects of Road Salt

This winter has been a harsh one and tons of rock salt have been spread over the nation's roads and highways to melt the snow and ice.  Rock salt, or road salt, is inexpensive and it works.  Rock salt is sodium chloride, a natural product that is basically the same as the salt on your dinner table.  However, problems arise when the concentration of sodium chloride becomes too high and the environment is adversely effected. 

The use of road salt to clear ice from the streets began, as an experiment, in the mid twentieth century.  In fact, as recently as the 1940s, only about 5,000 tons were used across the county to control ice on the roads.  These days, however, 10 to 20 tons can be spread across the county in a given season.  Sodium chloride is water soluble, meaning it dissolves into a solution.  Hence, as the snow and ice melt, the road salt is dissolved into it.  The dissolved road salt does not just go away, and therein lies the problem.  The sodium chloride stays in solution and is carried with the melted snow and ice to wherever it runs off to, be it into the soil, the storm drains, or local streams, rivers and other bodies of water, such as your pond.

Unfortunately, the same product that makes our roads safer, can cause environmental damage.  Those of us who live in the Midwest, know the damage the road salt can do.  In the spring, have you ever noticed the tree-lawn grass is brown near the curb?  The dissolved road salt that is absorbed into the ground can cause dieback, interfere with germination, or kill plants altogether.  The same is true of aquatic plants.  When aquatic plants, with lower salt tolerance die back, more salt tolerant species, including nuisance vegetation such as cattails and Phragmites, can take over.  The excess salt in the water can also cause problems for other aquatic plant and animal life.  For example, the increased salinity in the water may decrease the micro-invertebrate population upon which the higher organisms feed, which disrupts the food chain.  Also, the increased salinity of the water can decrease the dissolved oxygen in the water which affects all plants and animals living therein and may cause eutrophication. 

Road salt is necessary to keep the streets clear for public safety.  There are available alternatives, but, unfortunately, many of these are expensive.  Over time, however, this may change and other alternatives may become available.  In the meantime, individuals can take steps to mitigate the use of rock salt.  If you are using rock salt, it works best on a thin layer of snow or ice.  Don't assume using more salt will melt more snow.  Shovel as much of the snow as possible before putting the salt down and use it sparingly.  Also, homeowners might try using sand or kitty litter, when possible, to help prevent slipping.  There are several chemical treatments available as well, be sure to read the labels carefully and apply as directed.  One homeowner's efforts may seem like a drop on the bucket.  But, when many people do a little things to help the environment, big results can be achieved. 

Here's to open waters!

~ The Frogger Blogger
 
References:

http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/water/discovery-watersheds/news/2014/sidewalk-salt-and-stormwater
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/7229424/#.Uv4xcCKYbcs
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/the_green_lantern/2010/02/salting_the_earth.html
http://news.discovery.com/autos/salt-roads-environment-technology1.htm
http://www.stormh2o.com/SW/Articles/8162.aspx
http://www.stormh2o.com/SW/Articles/216.aspx
http://www.newyorkwater.org/downloadedarticles/environmentanimpact.cfm
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/education/envirothon/salt.html
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/weymouth/2012/12/salt_in_the_wound_why_you_shou.html
http://www.caryinstitute.org/reprints/report_road_salt_2010.pdf
http://water.greenventure.ca/road-salts-alternatives

Leeches Suck!

Leeches Suck!                                        By Tony Frazer

It’s a beautiful day by your lake or pond and the cool waters entice you in for a swim. The water is cool, clear and refreshing. You float on your back looking to the sky and think “This is the life”. You swim to shore, dry off and you see what looks like a leaf stuck to your foot. But it’s not a leaf. It’s a LEECH! AHHHHHHH!

Leeches can conjure up a severe case of the heebie jeebies, but are rarely cause for alarm.

Leeches are segmented worms that belong to the phylum Annelida and comprise the subclass Hirudinea. Leeches are hermaphrodites containing both male and female reproductive organs. Oh yeah they also feed on blood. AHHHHHH!

If you have leeches it’s not the end of the world. Leeches can be controlled naturally by stocking predatory feeders like Bass and Bluegill. They can also be removed by making your own coffee can trap. Take a coffee can and poke some holes with a nail or screwdriver in the lid and sides. Weight it down with some rocks and put some raw meat inside. Tie a string to your trap and sink it in your pond. The Leeches will come to feed on the raw meat. Check your trap daily, remove and destroy leeches. Re-bait and reset your trap. Keep trapping till the numbers dwindle to zero.

Now back to the opening scenario, you have a leech on your foot. After feeding, the leech will detach and depart, which may be anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours or more. Ewww. Let’s get that sucker off. Unlike the movies, cigars and salt are not the preferred method. These will cause the leech to quickly detach; however, it will also regurgitate its stomach contents into the wound. The vomit may carry disease, and thus increase the risk of infection. Yuck! The recommended method of removal is using a fingernail or other flat, blunt object to break the seal of the oral sucker and detaching its jaws. Then flick the leech away and do your best Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonation. “Hasta la vista….leech!”

After removal, clean the wound with soap and water, then bandage. Bleeding may continue for some time, due to the anticoagulant in the leech's saliva. Bleeding time will vary, with location, from a few hours to three days. Applying pressure can reduce bleeding, although blood loss from a single bite is not dangerous. The wound normally itches as it heals, but should not be scratched, as this may complicate healing and introduce other infections. An antihistamine will reduce itching, and applying a cold pack can reduce pain or swelling.

Some people can suffer severe allergic reactions from leech bites that require urgent medical care. Symptoms include red blotches or an itchy rash over the entire body, swelling around the lips or eyes, feeling faint or dizzy, and difficulty breathing.

Don’t let leeches suck the enjoyment out of your pond. A good management plan can keep them in check.

 

*A big Thank You!  to Aquatic Specialist Tony Frazer for this week's blog post! 

~The Frogger Blogger

 

Do Fish Freeze in Winter?

THE FROG BLOG

Do Fish Freeze in Winter?

The Vertex aerator in this pond keeps an area of open water in
the ice and provides needed oxygen for the fish below.
Photo by John Wilson

The winter of 2013-14 has, thus far, proven to be a harsh one.  The extreme cold temperatures have caused many freshwater lakes and ponds to completely ice over and the blanket of snow has blocked out the light.  So what happens to the fish?  Do they freeze?  Do they hibernate?  Freshwater fish have adapted to all manner of harsh climates and the way in which they survive varies from species to species.  Many fish thrive in the frozen ponds, whereas others enter a state of near hibernation.

Fish are coldblooded creatures, or poikilotherms.  Coldblooded animals do not have the ability to warm themselves and their body temperature is regulated by their surroundings.  In other words, the body temperature of a fish will be close to that of the surrounding water.  Different species of fish have different tolerance to temperatures and are categorized as coldwater, coolwater and warmwater.  The fish will go to the area of the water most suited to their cold tolerance.  Fish with a higher cold tolerance will be more active, where as those with a lower cold water tolerance will be less active.

In the summer time, the warmer water is closer to the surface.  However, in winter, it is the exact opposite.  The colder water rises toward the surface and the warmer water sinks to the bottom.  Fish with low tolerance for cold, such as largemouth bass will seek out sheltered areas at the deeper depths and will not move much.  These fish enter a state near hibernation.  They will be sluggish and seem to hang suspended in the water and some species burrow into the bottom.  Their need for food drops considerably and they need very little to survive.  In fact, the metabolism of a fish in this state will be such that it may take up to a week for food to digest.  Fish with a higher cold tolerance, such as trout, will be more active and remain near the surface.  The cold temperatures do not cause the dramatic changes in activity in these species.  Coldwater fish will keep feeding regularly and move to warmer waters as the food supply dwindles.

Problems can arise for many fish species when the temperatures are so extreme the water freezes over completely.  When this happens, and especially when a blanket of snow blocks out the light, the oxygen levels can drop severely.  The fish will seek out areas of greater oxygen concentration.  However, if the oxygen levels drop too far, a winter fish-kill can occur.  Some fish loss is to be expected.  Fortunately, however, a large scale winter fish-kill is not a common occurrence, but it can happen.  The risk of a large fish-kill can be mitigated by keeping oxygen in the water through use of a bubbler type aerator with bottom diffusers, such as the Vertex systems.  Bottom bubbler diffusers will also keep an area of open water in the ice to allow for gas exchange.

Nature has the incredible ability to take care of itself.  Animals adapt and fish are no exception.  Yes, fish can succumb to harsh winters, but most will make it through just fine.  However, in harsh conditions like we are currently seeing across the country, the pond owner can help their fish survive by keeping oxygen in the water.  If you would like further information on keeping your waters and fish healthy and/or bottom aeration systems, call us for a free consultation with one of our Aquatic Specialists. 

Stay warm and here's to open waters!

~The Frogger Blogger



Sources:

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1175593/how_freshwater_fish_survive_the_winter/

http://dnr.wi.gov/wnrmag/2009/12/ice.htm

http://www.hngnews.com/lake_mills_leader/news/local/article_d2c9824e-9726-11e2-845b-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=print

 

The Effects of Excess Nitrogen on Your Water

THE FROG BLOG

The Effects of Excess Nitrogen on Your Water

Nitrogen is abundant in nature and is an essential building block of life.  It is necessary for the production of tissue in living things and the growth of plant life.  It is an integral part of your aquatic ecosystem.   However, if the amount of nitrogen present is excessive, it can have an adverse effect causing many problems for pond owners.



Pond with a thick covering of watermeal.

Nitrogen helps plants to grow and is commonly present in many types of fertilizers applied on lawns and gardens as well as crops.  When applied, however, not all of the fertilizer will be utilized by the plant for which is was intended.  The excess fertilizer will runoff with rain water ending up in bodies of water such as ponds, lakes and streams.  Fertilizer has the same effect on aquatic plants as it does other plants.  It makes them grow.  The extra nutrients from the fertilizer can lead to harmful algae blooms and excessive aquatic plant growth in your water.  Besides being aesthetically unpleasing, the large algae blooms and excessive nuisance aquatic vegetation can cause many problems in the pond ecosystem.  For example, a pond that has watermeal or duckweed present can rapidly become entirely covered with the dense vegetation as in the picture above.   The thick covering diminishes light penetration which inhibits the growth of other plants.  This adversely effects habitat for aquatic animals by decimating their food supply.  Furthermore, the dense weed can deplete oxygen in the water which may result in a fish kills.

With the common use of fertilizers for lawns, gardens and agriculture, it can be difficult to mitigate the amount of excess nitrogen entering your water.  It is important to use fertilizers in the appropriate amounts and limit their use when possible.  Nitrogen is also present in animal waste, so limiting access of animals to your water can be helpful as well.  If your water develops a large bloom or excessive nuisance vegetation, take steps to control the growth and keep your water healthy.  There are many effective methods available, such as algaecides, herbicides and aeration systems.  AQUA DOC's Aquatic Specialists are available for on-site consultation to assess your water and recommend treatments.

If you have questions, please feel free to leave a comment.  We are here to help!

Here's to open waters!

~The Frogger Blogger

References:

http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/view-document.html?gid=7939

http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/water/ponds/pond-management/pond-construction/pond-ecology

http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/nitrogen.html