How to Deal with Chlorine in Ponds

HomeGardening

  • Author Lara Davidson
  • Published December 22, 2010
  • Word count 565

The main reason why the term "dechlorination" has been made up is the presence of a type of gas called chlorine. It is well known as a water treatment agent used by water companies around the world. Chlorine is a type of gas that does not naturally occur in water. It is capable of dissipating with flowing water in less than two days. Its solubility makes it easier to be absorbed by living creatures in the pond like plants and fish. Once absorbed, the effect can be fatal since chlorine can cause burns to these types of water creatures.

For most urban or rural areas, the water source is usually the faucet. If a deep well is present, then maybe 10%-20% of the homes will choose to get their water from it. Due to this reason, the water that is used to fill up a pond will most likely be treated with chlorine. And the best and only way to avoid the aquatic plants and animals in your pond to be chlorinated and be poisoned is to dechlorinate the water. There are actually a lot of ways on how to get rid of the chlorine content of the water before introducing plants and animals in the pond. There are dechlorinating devices available in the market. However, these may cost you a lot since their job is so crucial. Luckily there are a few other ways to remove the chlorine in the water and mind you that these alternatives are of cheaper costs.

Chlorine is naturally capable of dispelling rapidly especially once exposed in the air. Therefore it is necessary to use a water hose when filling up the pond with tap water. This will allow the some chlorine to be exposed in the air. To make it more effective, spraying the water in the air is recommended. This will eventually aerate the tap water before it serves the pond and the living things in it.

For a certain pond which contains water that hasn’t been dechlorinated yet, it is never too late to avoid further harm in your pond plants and animals. The key to this quandary is evaporation. In a large kettle or pot, boil tap water over a high heat for at least 20 minutes. Cool the boiled water down until it reaches the point wherein it can be poured into the pond. The wider the opening of the pot, the better since the process of evaporation aids the chlorine content of the water to be much lesser. Watering the plants with using this will also help lessen the chlorine added to the water system.

Another alternative to pond dechlorinator units is the use of a basin with wide opening. Pour tap water onto the basin and let the chlorine evaporate naturally in a matter of two days. The bigger the basin, the faster the chlorine dissipation can be. However this alternative requires patience because of the length of time this process needs.

If the above alternatives can’t work for you, then the last option is for you to buy commercial pond dechloriantors. These are no doubt effective and convenient. But be sure to allot a few pennies to this pond supply. Also, you can use dechlorinators that come in liquid or powder forms. These however may contain chemical ingredients that are harmful to the fish so you should be extra careful.

Too much chlorine in your pond can be fatal. Pond dechlorinator performs an important role that many pond owners neglect. How well do you know the right types of pond supplies? Lara Davidson has been writing articles on pond keeping and maintains a pond herself. Follow my articles to find great tips.

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