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Ecological Swimming Pools

Ecological Swimming Pools

An earthen pond is similar in many ways to an ecological swimming pool. Here is an array of our products designed to keep your swimming water clear, clean, and cool throughout the year. Using ecological principles is the most efficient way we know to keep water gorgeous for year round enjoyment. The three critical components to water clarity are beneficial bacteria, aeration and floating islands.

Beneficial bacteria

Adding beneficial bacteria to your ecological swimming pool is the most efficient way to maintain water clarity and to biodegrade organic waste helping prevent and avoid nuisance algae growth in the pool.

Using biology to treat water, the scientists at Bacta-Pur have devised a formulation of naturally occurring bacteria to provide nutrients to lined ponds, to clear the water and to biodegrade the organic waste on the pool floor. Together the system uses Ecoprebiotics and Ecoprobiotics to synergistically biodegrade pollutants and to improve water quality. The Ecoprebiotics are essential nutrients necessary for survival of beneficial organisms, like eating yogurt to aid with digestion. Known as Nutripak, these nutrients are essential to use if your ecological pool is lined in any way.

For lined ecological swimming pools: contact us for treatments, dosages and cost. 450-243-0976.

Floating Island Water Treatment Systems

Floating Islands of any size are ideal for ecological swimming pools. They create critical habitat for beneficial bacteria and it is these bacteria that keep bottom sediment in check and the water column clear and clean. Planted in virtually any way you like, the islands add a beautiful element to your ecological swimming pool.

The floating island creates a much needed nutrient cycle for your ecological swimming pool. Planted with indigenous aquatic plants whose roots will grow down into the water creating an extremely large surface area for bacteria to live, the islands become an important nursery or bacteria factory; essentially like a water treatment system for your ecological pool. Why is this important? Without the surface area, the bacteria would be in less contact with the water column and the soluble nutrients found within. The bacteria consume excess nutrients that tend to cloud the water, feed algae, and harbour odours. Beneficial bacteria are critical to keep the natural accumulation of the bottom sediment in check.

The islands are made of a durable recycled polymer matrix that is protected against UV light. They come with a bottom metal loop for tethering in one place, or they can simply float freely throughout the pond. A special growing medium known as biomix helps the aquatic plants become established on the island while the roots are growing through the matrix to reach the water level. This is included with the island. When planted with indigenous aquatic plants, the plants will return year after year even when frozen very hard (they even come back in Edmonton!). Island owners can expect very little maintenance from the islands, and they can be left in the pool over the winter!

Consider the following plants for filtering water, creating habitat below the island, for food or simply for beauty:

-Creeping jenny -plant along the edges, this small yellow flowering herb will float in the water and flower all summer long
-Blue-flag iris- plant in the middle of the island, this lovely purple iris will flower once but give great joy when it does!
-Cardinal flower - this stunning red flowered perennial herb tends to do well on the islands where there is less competition
-at your garden centre, get recommendations for hardy perennial grasses, these do well also on the islands
-consider edible plants like lettuce, basil, tomatoes, mint or other plants that benefit from moisture.

As your island matures over time, you will notice other plants will arrive and fill in tiny niches...expect mosses, lychopoium etc. that come in on the wind.

For an Ecological Swimming Pool floating islands can do the following:

-create habitat for beneficial bacteria to thrive,
-create shade spots in your pool,
-provide a platform for plants to grow, or a platform for candles, drinks on a tray etc.
-provide beauty and interest to your pool.

Small aeration system

Ultra-efficient aeration systems for ecological swimming pools, koi ponds, water gardens and small constructed wetlands. These systems include an ultra-silent high-output compressor, self-sinking Torpedo™ tubing and self-sinking Bubble Tubing™ which gently releases small air-bubbles into your pool or pond.

These systems are ideal for any pool, pond or water garden with sizes from (200 gallons to 20 000 gallons) 90 to 900 square feet with water up to 5' (1.5 m) deep.

When a fish pond or water garden is small and shallow it is often not practical to install bottom mounted diffusion discs as the bubbles tend to circulate only a very narrow column in shallow water which tends to create boils of frothing water on the pond surface. Using the new self-sinking Bubble Tubing means you can give your pond or water garden a more natural looking aerating movement.

The chosen length of Bubble Tubing diffuses tiny micro-bubbles that slowly rise to the surface and release life-giving oxygen into your pond. Fish will be healthier and stronger and your water will be clearer with fewer odor and algae problems.

By using our Bubble Tubing instead of a disc you are adding air diffusion which can more effectively distribute oxygen over a wider area and odd shaped, hard to reach places. The flexible nature of the tubing allows it to be bent around obstacles where aeration is required. The rising bubbles create a gentle circulation in the pond and create delicate patterns on the surface of your pond. Adding aeration is now easier and more effective in all sized ponds and water-gardens thanks to the new Bubble Tubing!

Call 450-243-0976 for assistance in sizing the right compressor for your needs.