What is the advantage of the regular use of JBL StabiloPond Basis?
As a result of a variety of processes the water in the garden pond is permanently losing minerals and hydrogen carbonate, the latter of which acts as a buffer for the pH value. These processes are:
Rainfall: Rainfall is softened pure water and dilutes the pond water. The total hardness and the carbonate hardness decrease.
Biogenic decalcification: When there is a lack of carbon dioxide in the water, some plants and algae in particular meet their demand for CO2 through biogenic decalcification:
Ca(HCO3)2 (only dissolved) <-> CaCO3 (precipitates as lime) + H2O + CO2.
Lime precipitates as a by-product and both the carbonate hardness and the total hardness decrease.
Nitrification in the filter: Through the nitrification caused by filter bacteria nitrite develops. Nitrite is the salt ion of the nitrous acid. The acid ion (H+) also is precipitated and reacts with the hydrogen carbonate in the water:
H+ (acid cation) + HCO3- (hydrogen carbonate) <-> H2O + CO2.
Thus the nitrification uses up hydrogen carbonate and the carbonate hardness decreases. Mineral consumption through plants and animals: All organisms need minerals for their metabolism and their growth, including calcium, magnesium and others. Thus plants, bacteria, algae, insects, snails, mussels and other invertebrates such as fish all cause the total hardness in the garden pond to decrease.
JBL StabiloPond Basis evenly portions the minerals needed in the garden pond (including calcium and magnesium) and does more than just raise the carbonate hardness.
Additional regular post-dosing, individually adjusted, may be necessary, depending on the rainfall, which varies from year to year and from region to region. In Central Europe a regular dose on a 2 monthly basis is sufficient. With higher rainfall an additional dosage on a 4-6 weekly basis can be necessary. To find out, use JBL PondCheck.