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CONTROLS ALGAE,
POND SCUM,
ODOR
& SLUDGE
IN LAKES & PONDS |
EC-504
natural pond cleaner is formulated for use in controlling pond
scum, algae and odor that commonly plague lakes and ponds. EC-504
works in the entire water column, as well as bottom sludge
layers. EC-504 is environmentally safe and is not harmful to humans,
plants and animals. EC-504 is easy to use. Simply apply at
regular intervals or as required during the algae season.
EC-504 is NOT an algaecide and no applicator’s permit or
license is necessary.
BENEFITS
•
Removes existing algae and prevents new growth.
•
Breaks down organic and fecal waste in the water.
•
Clarifies lake or pond water.
•
Eliminates ammonia and organic odors.
•
Enhances uptake of nutrients by grasses.
•
Improves the aquatic environment for fish and wildlife.
•
Reduces ammonia salts and other contaminants.
•
Safe for humans, animals, fish and aquatic plant life.
PRODUCT
COMPARISON
|
EC-504 |
COPPER
SULFATE |
DIQUAT |
|
ALGAECIDE |
No |
Yes |
Yes
|
| CONTROLS
ODOR |
Yes |
No |
No
|
| REDUCES
SLUDGE
|
Yes |
No
|
No |
| BENEFITS
TURF
|
Yes |
No
|
No |
| ENVIRONMENTALLY
SAFE
|
Yes |
No
|
No
|
| PERMITS
REQUIRED
|
No
|
Yes |
Yes
|
| ALL
NATURAL
|
Yes
|
No
|
No |
HOW
EC-504 WORKS
When
EC-504 is applied to the water phase, algae blooms are controlled through competition.
EC-504 remove nitrogen compounds from the water column
faster than the algae and, as a result, the algae are starved out
of existence or bloom is inhibited. In addition, EC-504
degrades accumulated organic waste, top scum and bottom sludge
for use as carbon sources. The overall result is clean, clear
water, free from algae, odors and sludge. EC-504 is designed
to treat the cause, not the effect.
TYPICAL QUESTIONS
What
stimulates algae growth?
Factors that
directly affect algal growth include available forms of nitrogen and
phosphorus, sunlight, and temperature.
What level of
phosphorus does it take to stimulate algae growth?
Depending on geographical location, environmental
conditions, water column characteristics, etc., surface
water concentrations ranging from 4 - 20 ug/L can trigger an
algae bloom.
How do
algae affect DO (dissolved oxygen) levels in the water column?
Periodic oxygen depletion, resulting from algae respiration and
decomposition, can occur during algae blooms.
Example:
a) During the day algae take up carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the
water column through
photosynthesis. Typically, this can cause the DO levels to increase.
b)
During the night, algae take up oxygen and release carbon dioxide into the
water column.
Typically, this can cause the DO levels to decrease.
c) Algae,
suspended below the surface, cannot photosynthesize and, as a result, they
decompose. The decomposition process consumes dissolved oxygen, and, as a
result, DO levels in the water column can decrease.
What is
thermal Stratification?
Typically, when pond water is warm and in full sun, oxygen
is consumed faster than is replenished. This can result in
thermal stratification in the water column. That is to say,
the warmer, oxygen rich upper layers of water are suspended
on top of the cooler oxygen deficient lower layers. When
this occurs, conditions within the pond environment change.
Example:
a) Beneficial aerobic bacteria become inactive and anaerobic
bacteria take over.
b) The rate, at which the biodegradable component(s) in the
bottom sludge layer is degraded, is significantly reduced.
c) Sludge accumulation increases.
d) Nutrient levels, in the bottom sludge layer begin to
climb resulting in algae bloom, excessive scum accumulations
and plant growth and higher ammonia and hydrogen sulfide
levels.
e) Biological oxygen demand
increases and dissolved oxygen levels decrease.
Will
EC-504 harm turf?
No
EC-504 actually enhances turf health. EC-504 also
improves the water quality of irrigation ponds by breaking
down ammonia salts and other contaminants before they reach
the turf.
Is
EC-504 safe for fish?
Yes.
By removing ammonia and nitrite from the water, EC-504
enhances the aquatic environment for fish and other wildlife.
How
does EC-504 control odor?
EC-504 addresses the cause of the pond odor e.g. ammonia
and slow decaying organic matter. By accelerating and
stabilizing the natural nitrogen conversion reactions, EC-504
greatly reduces or eliminates the release of ambient ammonia.
Rapid digestion of accumulated organic matter eliminates foul odor.
How
does EC-504 clarify water?
EC-504
reduces the algae population and digests floating and
suspended organic matter that clouds the water column.
Will
EC-504 clear a pond of existing algae?
Yes,
however, EC-504’s mode of action is to “starve” the
algae by out-competing for a primary nutrient, nitrogen.
Therefore, it is most effective when used as a preventive
maintenance program, before algae start blooming.
Is
EC-504 compatible with algaecides or pesticides?
No.
Algaecides work well in the short term. Algaecides kill
biomass and, as a result, fewer nutrients are digested and the
potential for long-term algae problems increases.
Is
EC-504 an algaecide?
No,
EC-504 is not an algaecide. EC-504 is designed to digest the
algae’s primary growth nutrient, nitrogen. It will not kill
living biomass. EC-504 will help to re-establish a healthy,
balance aquatic ecosystem. EC-504 is non-toxic, non-corrosive,
and all natural and will not harm animals, plants, birds, fish
or humans.
What
about aeration?
Typically,
EC-504 does not affect the dissolved
oxygen concentration in a well-aerated pond. Aeration will
enhance the effectiveness of EC-504, as well as benefit all
aquatic life present in the pond. It is recommended that all
ponds without adequate dissolved oxygen levels be aerated. By
digestion of free organics, the microbes in EC-504
dramatically reduce the BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand). That
is to say, in aquatic systems more of the dissolved oxygen is
available to fish life as less is required for the oxidation
of organics. Thus, EC-504 will enhance non-aerated and poorly
aerated ponds.
Will
EC-504 work within the pond bottom and sludge layer?
Yes. The sludge layer can be the
largest contributor of nutrients to the pond for two reasons.
(1) As organic matter (leaves, grass clippings, etc.) degrades
on the pond bottom, nitrogen and phosphorus are released to
the water. (2) biomass, in the sludge layer,
can be damaged by chemicals flushed
into the pond during rainstorms. EC-504 will accelerate the degradation process. This not
only reduces the sludge layer volume but will also reduce the
release of nutrients. It is important to note that the copper
used in algaecides and herbicides accumulates in bottom sludge
causing an ever-increasing toxicity problem for natural
microbes.
Are permits or applicator’s licenses necessary?
No,
EC-504 is not regulated and a permit or applicator’s license
is not required.
How
is EC-504 used?
EC-504
is a pond management program, not a one time, quick-fix
chemical addition. As such, it requires initial preparation
and continued attention in order to provide optimum results.
What
is the purpose of the maintenance dose?
EC-504
is a preventative maintenance product. Accordingly, a
bi-weekly dose will ensure that biomass levels remain
sufficient to handle nutrient inflows. Water outflow,
irrigation, leaching and inter-species competition, with less
desirable microbes, can reduce biomass. The maintenance dose
is applied every other week at the rate of 1 lb./acre-foot.
Typically, each treatment environment has unique set of
characteristics that impact microbial activity and, as a
result, the time window to achieve the desire results will
vary from pond to pond.
APPLICATION INFORMATION
TYPICAL APPLICATION RATE (MAINTENANCE): 1 lb.
/ Acre Foot
TYPICAL APPLICATION INTERVAL: Every 3 to 4 weeks for
the duration of the algae season
Note: One
acre-foot = 325,829 gallons
How
to calculate application rates.
A triple dose (three times the maintenance dose) is
recommended for the first treatment and a double dose for
the second treatment. Thereafter, use the maintenance dose
as determined in step 3, below. For ponds that already have
some algae growth or that receive heavier nutrient loads
(from lawn fertilizers, farm fields, geese manure, etc.),
use a double dose until the algae is eliminated then revert
to maintenance dose. For small ponds and water gardens, see
below.
1. Estimate
the surface area of the pond in acres. (One acre is about
210 feet square or exactly 43,560 sq. ft.)
2.
Estimate the
average pond depth in feet. (Estimate a bit high if unsure)
3.
Multiply the surface area in acres x the
average depth in feet. The result is the pond volume in
acre-feet as well as the number of pounds of bacteria
required for maintenance purposes. (Example: 0.5 Ac. X 4’ deep =
2.0 Acre-feet (2 pounds/maintenance dose).
4.
Estimate the total number of weeks in the
algae growing season or the number of weeks the pond water
temperature will be above 500F. (Note that algae
begin growing in waters at or above this temperature and
cease vigorous growth below this temperature).
5.
Divide the number of weeks in the growing
season by 3 and add 1 to the result. This will give you the
number of seasonal treatments.
(Example: 28 weeks divided by
3 = 9.3 - Add 1 for a total of 11 seasonal treatments)
6.
Add 3 to the number of seasonal treatments to
account for the two initial heavier doses.
(Example: 11 + 3
= 14)
7. Multiply
the number obtained in step 6 x the maintenance dose (step
3). This will give you the total number of pounds of
bacteria you will need for the algae season.
(Example: 14 x
2.0 = 28 pounds/season)
Note:
For optimum performance water pH should be between 6.0 and
8.0. Check pH before beginning seasonal treatments and several
times during the season. Adjust pH to within those limits if
necessary. A pH of 7.0 is most desirable.
APPLICATION
RATES FOR SMALL PONDS AND WATER GARDENS
The
following table is intended as a general guideline for
treating small ponds and water gardens for algae, scum and
bottom sludge control. The recommended amount depends on the
historic amounts of algae and scum grown on the pond when
untreated and the number of fish in the pond. Typically,
manure and urine resulting from waterfowl can significantly
increase loads and suggested dosing amounts should be doubled
or tripled depending on the number of birds.
Generally
a light accumulation of algae or scum is one that covers
approximately 5 – 10% of the pond surface; a medium
accumulation about 10 - 20%; a heavy accumulation about 20 –
40% and a very heavy accumulation over 40%. A light to medium
accumulation will usually require a dose at or near the lower
limit in each category, while a heavy or very heavy
accumulation will require the maximum dosage in each range.
Amounts
of EC-504 shown below are the maintenance dosages. The first
dose should be 3 times this amount; the second dose 2 times
this amount. If the pond is not clear and algae free after the
second dose, continue to apply the second dose amount until it
is. Then use the maintenance dose to keep the pond in that
condition. Ponds in areas that do not have a winter algae
kill, i.e. those whose water temperature does not go be low 500F
at any time of the year, should restart the dosing procedure
with the 3x, 2x and maintenance dose procedure every 6 months.
Ponds that are seasonal require the above sequence of doses at
the beginning of each season.
APPLICATION
RATES - MAINTENANCE
|
POND
WATER VOLUME
(Gallons) |
APPLICATION
RATE
(Ounces) |
| Less than 10,000 |
1.0 – 2.0
|
| 10,000 – 20,000 |
2.0 –
4.0
|
| 20,000 – 40,000 |
4.0 – 5.0
|
|
40,000 – 75,000 |
5. 0 –
6.0
|
| 75,000 – 150,000
| 8.0 – 16.0 |
| 150,000 – 326,000
| 16.0 – 25.0 |
| More than 326,000 |
See above
-
Dosing for Ponds
|
NOTE:
Typically, when chemical fertilizer is applied to areas
around a pond, a surge of nitrates into the pond can be
expected. This can result in new algae growth in shallow
areas. When this occurs, temporarily increase the
maintenance dose for one or two applications to account for
this nutrient surge. Use the 2x or 3x amounts depending on
the degree of new growth. To apply, simple toss the water
soluble pouches directly into the water.
APPEARANCE
A free flowing powder tan in color.
PH
(re-hydrated solution)
6.8 – 7.2. The solution will not harm or corrode process
equipment.
SAFETY
The materials used in the production of EC-504 are derived
from naturally occurring and sustainable sources. EC-504 is
environmentally friendly, biodegradable and is not
harmful to animals, plants and
humans.
STORAGE & HANDLING
Store in a cool place away from direct sunlight. No
special handling required.
COMPLIANCE
Fully complies with EPA Toxic
Substance Control Act (TSCA) and the rules, orders and
regulations promulgated there under including:
a) Sections 4, 5, 6 & 7; Title 40 Chapter 1, 707.20 thru
707.75;
b) 40 CFR Sections 704.3. 710.2(e) and 720.3(c); and
c) Sections 5 and 13, reference 42FR64583
d)
Does not contain marine pollutants as defined in 49 CFR 171.8.
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EC-504 IS ALSO
AVAILABLE IN:
|
8.8 oz. water soluble pouches - 22 lb. HDPE Pail
(call
for pricing)
Bulk: 22 lb. HDPE Pail
(Call
for pricing)
Bulk: 110 lb. HDPE Drum
(Call
for pricing)
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OUR MAIN FOCUS IS ON
PROVIDING YOU WITH THE FINEST PRODUCTS BACKED BY SUPERIOR CUSTOMER SERVICE.
|
We're
here if you need us!
Consultation is Free!
Tel:
1-403-364-2888 or
1-403-364-2802
(9 am - 5 pm MST)
Fax:
1-403-364-2889
Email:
MORE CONTACT INFO
|
MORE
SATISFIED EC-504 CUSTOMERS
----- Original Message -----
From: .......
Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 3:05 PM
Subject: Re: Question re: EC-504
" My
wife and I have been water gardening for over 15 years and our small
pond is heavily stocked with mature Koi fish. We have used many
algae control products over the years and find EC 504 is the best
product by far, our pond has never looked better. It keeps string
algae under control, and algae build up on the river rock lining is
gone."
John & Paula
...........
Oakville Canada
(Original
document is on file at EcoChem)
----- Original Message -----
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