Topic: Solar oxygenator

[tricia]

Does anyone have experience of this:

http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=55&products_id=2275

I would invest for next year if it would help keep my murky pond clear 8)

Tricia

[tim k]

it will not help keep your pond clear but the more oxygen the better

hth

tim

[gardenqueen]

I have a pump that is on all year, and water cascades down a very small waterfall. I have water cress growing in the waterfall and hornwort in the pond. I had advice on here regarding the hornwort clearing ponds, and it certainly did the trick in a short space of time.

[tricia]

I have masses of hornwort and watercress. but still murky water  :(. In fact, I have to  clear some of the 'weed' periodically or it would take over the entire pond - especially the watercress.

Tricia

[dtw]

It seems a bit pricey, if you're technically minded why not buy the items separately and wire them up.
A low power solar panel (like the ones used for charging AA batteries) and a battery powered pump.
You would need to match the voltages though, or build a regulator circuit.

[tricia]

I'd forgotten all about that dtw  :). And right now the pond water is so clear I can count each individual pebble where a basket has overturned. As soon as this cold snap is over I shall be out there clearing some of the debris from the bottom of the pond while I can still see it  :P. I just wish I could manage to keep the water so clear all the time  ::).

Tricia

[dtw]

I use a small bag of straw (or hay, I can't remember which) in the filter box.
You can buy them from aquarium/pet shops, or make your own.
When it rots, it makes the water slightly acidic which discourages algae.
To help discourage blanketweed, I put a row of tall plants in pots on the
side of the pond to cast a shadow and reduce the direct sunlight.
I got hardly any last year.

[jennym]

I use a small bag of straw (or hay, I can't remember which) in the filter box.....

I also used barley straw (a little bundle) direct in my very small pond, and it worked a treat.

[djbrenton]

I know someone who's got one of those but it only works on really sunny days.