Pond bacteria are present in nearly all ponds, except those ponds built to contain only pure, clean and sterile water. Artificial ponds need chemical agents such as bleach to eliminate any pond bacteria that may possibly come out. Otherwise, most ponds found in gardens or landscaped areas also known as “living ponds” are inhibited by good and bad bacteria.

Just like the bacteria we have in our bodies, there are generally both good and bad bacteria present in pond water. Whereas, the good bacteria help people break down the food, while the bad ones trigger disease, inflammation, or even infection. Pond bacteria are no different: there are good bacteria and bad bacteria. Good bacteria fight off bad bacteria to keep them from coming back, while bad bacteria infest water and its organisms.

Bad Pond Bacteria - Pond bacteria are generally small to be individually seen by naked eye, but they are recognizable by way of alterations in water colour, the existence of pond scum and algae, as well as foul odours such as methane. The most troublesome is the algae build-up. Algae have many various types, several thousand in fact. Algae are commonly categorized as fungi instead of bacteria, but they are dealt exactly like bacteria. Several kinds of algae create an unwanted appearance to ponds and can be very harmful. Wildlife as well as domesticated creatures can get water-borne diseases and even die once it consumed water infested by harmful algae. Humans directly into contact with algae infested pond water can experience skin rashes or irritation, eye, nose and throat irritation, and other illnesses.

Good Pond Bacteria - Whereas bad algae often thrive on decaying plant material and animal waste, the good pond bacteria normally thrive on the bad bacteria and consume the latter's food sources. Good pond bacteria are usually weak and thrive only under limited conditions. One kind of good bacterium is sludge remover. The sludge removers feast on dead substances from ponds, removing a food source essential to various kinds of bad bacteria. Another kind of good bacteria are nitrifiers. These kinds multiply slowly. Nitrifiers role is converting ammonia into nitrites and then into harmless nitrates.

Periodic Waste Removal -The ideal approach to maintain good bacteria is by removing dead materials periodically. A natural pond cannot be “cleaned' just like a pool, primarily because it is hosting plant and marine life. However, you have to be careful in the particles or substances that fall off the pond and avoid overfeeding fish that greatly contribute to bacterial growth. One good promoter of algae development is direct sunlight.

Eliminating undesirable pond bacteria is definitely an extensive process, particularly if the pond water is stagnant. Installing a water fountain, an aerator, or anything that promotes movement of water can be a significant help in cleaning a pond. As what has been noted previously, pond bacteria are too small to be seen; however, once you succeed in removing algae, pond scum, sludge, and clarify the water, you've probably won the battle-- although the war may continue over time.