Inspired By Nature

BENEFICIAL MICROBES, TRACE MINERALS & ENZYMES

Holistic Pond Management

Holistic pond management provides the basis for Inspired By Nature’s all natural pond management. Holistic management is the process of determining the underlying causes of pond problems and developing best management practices to solve the problems. Bottom diffused aeration provides effective means of managing the pond’s ecosystem. Another component, microbial application, proves to be effective in controlling water quality problems. At the same time, it holds the potential to increase fish production within the pond.

Customized Management - NATURALLY

Since what we do is customized to YOUR pond, it is best to call Don to discuss your pond situation. By doing that we can help you create a management plan that suits YOUR goals and budget. We don't believe in cookie cutter pond management. We'd rather spend time with you discovering what your needs are, rather than selling you a generic package or a bucket of product that you may not even need. We could just let you order products here and send them to you but we'd rather help you choose the proper amounts and combinations of products. It might be an old fashioned approach but personal service and good customer relations are the foundation of our business. Call Don at 419-669-4084 to discuss YOUR pond issues.

What Are Beneficial Microbes?

Microbes or bacteria are small, single-celled organisms that occur in practically all conditions imaginable. Many are aerobic, requiring oxygen to survive. However, a number of bacteria are capable of surviving in the absence of oxygen. Although variously shaped, they are typically round or rod shaped. These organisms are so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye. In fact, approximately 8,700,000 round rod-shaped bacteria cells could be contained in the period at the end of this sentence. With few exceptions, microbes’ primary role is that of decomposers, consuming organic muck and dead material and allowing it to be used within the system. In fact, without bacterial decomposition, your pond would fill with dead material very quickly.
Like all other living organisms, bacteria need to eat to survive. To feed, per say, bacteria absorb nutrients that are available within their surrounding area. To facilitate this decomposition, bacteria actually release enzymes that allow for the breakdown of tissue (animal or plant) externally. As the dead tissue breaks down, their components are absorbed and made available for the growth of the bacteria, which are then followed by assimilation of this material into the cell.
Another aspect of microbial growth is that of a boom and bust growth pattern. Somewhat similar to an algal bloom, microbe populations tend to grow and reproduce very rapidly, and are then subject to a crash in the population as their food sources are depleted.

Implications…following initial introductions of the microbes, microbe growth will be very rapid, producing an exponential growth of the population. Under these conditions, the microbial population can double from every 20 minutes to up to every 8 hours. The result, rapid growth and rapid consumption of both reactive nutrients and organic sludge. Microbes, like your fish, consume oxygen. Therefore, an aeration system may be necessary as a result of the rapid respiration that results from the initial microbial growth in older ponds.

Role of Microbes In Your Pond

Research has shown the importance of microbes within aquatic ecosystems. Referred to as “The Microbial Loop,” this process emphasizes the role that bacteria play in transferring energy within aquatic systems. Traditional food chain theory emphasizes the role that primary producers (algae), primary consumers (zooplankton), and secondary consumers (small fish). In the background, however, are the decomposers. Although sometimes overlooked, these organisms play a critical role in any food web.

Typically, microbes are seen only for the role they play in decomposition, allowing for the recycling of nutrients, making them available for future plant and animal growth. However, they also play an important role in transferring energy to the primary consumers such as the zooplankton. The result, utililization of energy from the decomposition of organic decay in addition to that of photosynthesis by primary producers. Within every pond there are billions upon billions of microbes. In fact, there are microbial populations established in nearly every aquatic environment. The key, however, lies in the diversity of the microbes that are present.

Each microbe plays a slightly different role or niche, that allows for efficient decomposition of organic matter within the system. In addition to the microbes, enzymes are added to the mix. The enzymes enhance the natural role of bacteria, allowing for more rapid mobilization of the nutrients within organic matter (sludge).
Now, this may seem somewhat contradictory to our goal of managing excessive nutrients. Why would I want to mobilize nutrients that are tied up in the sludge at the bottom of my pond? Number one, efficient decomposition of this sludge will permit you to actually increase the depth of the pond. Number two, the decomposition of the material will allow those nutrients that are piling up in your pond bottom to become available for fish growth. In addition, fewer nutrients are available for algae growth in the water column.

As previously stated, algae are the base of the aquatic food chain. This large food source is consumable by small organisms such as daphnia and copepods, which are in turn consumed by small fish. However, bacteria can also play an important role in this food web. Many of the small filter-feeding organisms that consume algae are also able to consume bacteria. This can be especially important in situations where filamentous or other algae inedible to zooplankton are present. This has the potential of converting inedible food sources into fish biomass via microbial consumption. At the same time, a transformation of nuisance algae into more consumable bacteria shows improvements in water quality as well as holding the potential for increasing fish growth.

When used with Inspired By Nature’s other holistic management approaches such as periphytic filtration and bottom diffused aeration, microbial enhancements can produce outstanding results in water clarity and reduction of organic sludge. At the same time, we can also enhance fisheries by providing an edible food source for many of the zooplankton and protozoa's within the pond.

IBN ‘s Microbe Blend

Beneficial Microbes are Mother Nature’s little consumers. They will consume the muck at the bottom of your pond, incorporate nutrients from that material, and get consumed up the animal side of the food chain. Now, instead of having available nutrients for nuisance plant growth, you have tied up and moved those same nutrients up the animal side of the food chain. For example, one pound of phosphorus can grow up to 2800 pounds of plant material - where that same pound of phosphorus can grow 200 pounds of fish! The Beneficial Microbes go to the base of the food chain and direct nutrients to promote a cleaner pond.

$37.00/LB

Trace Minerals & Enzymes

Our own blend of Nature's Elixir! Go straight to the base of the food chain to help make microbes work even better! Rejuvenate Your Pond or Lake with IBN’s Lake & Pond Restorative Trace Minerals.

IBN’s Trace Minerals contains over 80 micro nutrients, minerals,elements and includes a potent natural catalyst to accelerate and enhance overall performance. By incorporating the IBN Trace Minerals product into your pond management regimen you can achieve visible results quickly.

Improves Muck Consumption By Our Microbes
Improve water clarity
Provide phosphorus reduction (Very Important!)
Stimulate biological activity
Replenish trace minerals depleted by fish and aquatic plants.
$130.00/10 lb. bucket

IBN Microbe Booster Plus is THE Clear Solution to Cloudy Water

IBN Microbe Booster Plus is designed to cleanse your water by removing organic material and suspended solids to naturally inhibit turbidity.
IBN Microbe Booster Plus promotes effective biological remediation in three key ways, IBN Microbe Booster contains a broad based lake and pond enzyme blend which rejuvenates existing bacteria: our select blend quickly emulsify organics: and a fortified micro-nutrient package to shore up any weak areas in your pond. Breaks apart cellular structure in living algae and other organic debris. Helps to accelerate decomposition.
Let nature balance itself by using IBN Microbe Booster to improve and restore water quality back to it’s natural state.

Biodegradable formula
Fast acting
Stimulates Lake and pond biota
Improves lake and pond immune system
Safe for plants, pets and humans
Minimizes chemical treatments
$155.00/gallon

IBN Beach Blaster

Proven results and easy to apply. Our Beach Blaster “blasts’ the muck out of the beach area. Keep your beach tidy and pleasant looking with an application.

$230/10# bucket

IBN Binder

New last year, this product helps to bind phosphorus in the water column, which can help reduce excessive plant growth.

$375

Green Clean

Helps to control algae blooms. Green Clean PRO® is a non copper based granular algaecide that works quickly to control string algae and other types of pond algae. GreenClean is an algae killer that works on contact to kill algae and help keep ponds clean all year long.

GreenClean PRO can be used for algae control in any water feature such as ponds, water gardens, ornamental waterfalls, fountains and birdbaths. It is a non-hazardous algae killer that is safe for fish, birds and pets once added to the water.Also great for cleaning concrete, walkways, greenouses and other commercial applications.

$215 50# bucket

How to find us

14890 Otsego Pike

Weston, Ohio 43569

We are located right at the corner of US 6 & ST RT 235 (Otsego Pike)