What should we test in a fish pond water before introducing EcoSmarte?

We always want to test the water everyday ph, copper, phosphate, calcium. We may want to test for ammonia as well. Oxygen has the inherent characteristic to neutralize ammonia, oils, and other contaminants that are put into the water. Ammonia in high level can harm or kill fish.

‍Why should we test the water?

It is good to do tests for ph, copper, phosphate, and calcium usually when you are doing your feeding. Anytime the fish eat or go to the bathroom the ph will move this is why co2 is important here plus the extra cells to boost the dissolved oxygen if your pond is over 35,000 gallons.

Should or can we leave the fish in the pond when dropping the phosphate level?

The aluminum sulphate drop can be done with the fish in the pond. It will drop the algae and phosphates. Use one pound per 1000 gallons. Set the filter to recycle for 2 to 4 hours then stop the pump for 24 hours and vacuum the waste the following day.

Should we or can we use algaecides to treat the water before?

We want to go as chemical free as possible here. Algaecides are a no go with fish. Brush regularly, test weekly, and vacuum the pond regularly. Ponds can be full time job no matter what system you use. Fish are great animals that require regular maintenance.

Can we use borehole water?

Bore water is fine.

What should we do before introducing Ecosmarte in a fish pond? 

Just like with a pool we want to start with clear water.
1. Balance the ph to a 7 (only use sulphuric acid muriatic has a trace chlorine residual which can kill fish).
2. Get the phosphates down to 200 or less
3. Get the calcium up to 400 ppm. Once those are balanced we want to start ionizing. For the tilapia application we want  .4 to .5 ppm copper. If the ph is high, or we have low calcium or high phosphate we will not be able to raise copper level. Maintaining the ph is critical and regularly checking phoshpates. Depending on the size of pond and amount of fish the oxygen demand will be around the clock. If you provide us the size of pond for the tilapia, type and size of filtration, and size of pump in hp I can give you some more insight into operation. Ponds are a 24/7 operation and need daily testing done to run.

What are the benefits of using Ecosmarte for a fish pond?

ECOsmarte copper kills ecoli, bacteria, single celled organisms, and algae. As from 0.3ppm copper we kill algae. For Tilapia, the recommended .4 to .5 ppm copper it will also kill algae. We need good filtration on this site to run it with more ease for filtration or sand filtration with glass media running the pump around the clock.

‍What is the function of a UV?

UV does not kill anything it inhibits the ability for bacteria/ algae to reproduce it will still live its full life cycle. If we see visible algae we want to scrub it with a brush and filter it out.

How do we drop down phosphate level?

To reduce phosphates we want to use aluminum sulphate (which is a floculant) one pound per 1000 gallons put the filter into recycle for a few hours and stop the pump for 24 hours everything will drop to the bottom and vacuum to waste. Floculant used in the pond can be used for algae and phosphates.

‍What type of filter is best?

I would recommend a sand filter with glass media. Glass media will filter 2 to 5 microns (same as DE but with  less maintenance). We will get 8 to 10 years out of the media it will only require backwash at 2 to 4 weeks or 6 to 10 pound pressure rise. We will filter out skin cells, blood cells, guardia cyst, and 70 percent of the bacteria before even hitting the sanitizing system. Getting a glass filter on these sites will make maintenance a lot easier.

‍Should we use CO2 with EcoSmarte?

CO2 is integral for the maintenance of a pond. I would strongly recommend that you get some programmable systems on this pond .It will automate the oxygen cycles and copper cycles and inject co2 every day. Not only that you have the ability to run multiple chambers and increase the dissolved oxygen and neutralize ammonia or other compounds that can kill fish. CO2 will give you the ability to hold the ph in range.

‍What are the sales arguments for Ecosmarte use in a fish pond?

ECOsmarte utilizes copper ionization and oxidation. The argument here is that you are not using harsh or toxic chemicals and is a great environment for animals people and plants. We are creating more oxygen in  few minutes than ozone can in an hour (about 40 grams per minute). The water molecule splits into hydrogen and OH (hydroxyl radicals) which have the highest oxidation potential of almost any chemical. The free hydrogen bonds to minerals When there are two OH’s available it creates H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) in low residual. When the OH oxidizes It releases oxygen that expands particulate for filtration or neutralizes body oils, uric acid, and in your case ammonia which can be toxic when at a high level. The ionic copper kills, ecoli, staph, polio virus, microbes, bacteria, single celled organisms, and algae at .15 ppm (at .3 we will kill the algae). The end result is a bicarbonate water that even with 400 ppm calcium feels silky smooth to the touch and feels and tastes like bottled water. Coupled with co2 we have a world class automated sanitizer system that can utilized in commercial applications for cooling towers, fish ponds, spas, pools, commercial pools, and water features.  

‍What chemicals or products should we use to change the chemicals?

The chemicals we would use for a fish pond would be as follow:
1. sulphuric acid and co2 for ph control.
2. Ionization to raise copper.
3. Aluminum sulphate to lower phosphate and drop algae out of solution.
4. Vacuum to waste to finish it off.
5. Calcium flakes to raise the hardness. We want to run as chemical free as possible this will ensure that the fish live a long life cycle and are healthy.

What would you recommend for Koi or any sensitive type of fish?

Koi and conventional goldfish are extremely ph sensitive and the ph control through CO2 is needed on the pond. The Programmable system is also the only one that will run two cells, often need to increase dissolved oxygen All of these are limited to 35,000 total gallons on a pond or any pool with an infinity edge.

‍What would you recommend as copper level for fish ponds?

Run the KOI  and regualr gold fish to .25 cu ppm and no higher than 7.4 ph, Tilapia can operate at 0.4 to 0.5 ppm.

‍For that reason can copper level refuse to go up in a pond?

No pool or pond will ionize with ph over 7.3, calcium under 250 or phosphate over 500PPB.