Pond lighting fallacies

Adding a pond or water garden to a landscape design is a beautiful way to include a unique natural element and create a relaxing retreat. The water feature offers your customers a variety of options to create the desired effect through a combination of flowing water, rocks, plants and lighting. Illuminating a pond can add to the aesthetic appeal as well as make it easy to enjoy when it’s dark out. There are misconceptions and inaccurate information surrounding pond lights that should be addressed, however, and here are the top three to watch out for:

1. UV lights will sterilize the pond
While it is true that UV lighting has been used to sterilize water, using it in a pond will not be harmful to the pond habitat. The water passing in front of the UV light will not cycle through frequently enough to completely sterilize the contents. It will provide enough cleansing properties to aid in algae control and decrease the growth of harmful bacteria and microscopic organisms without compromising the health of the fish and plants within.

2. UV lights are different
Pond enthusiasts are often confused by the statements of manufacturers regarding the watt of the bulb and the size of the pond. This discrepancy is due to the rating of the light as either a sterilizer or a clarifier. A UV light listed as a clarifier will require additional plants to keep the pond water clear.

3. UV lights can replace plants
Ultraviolet lights are good for helping to keep the pond water clear, but plants provide an added benefit of filtering waste such as ammonia, which can accumulate when fish are in the pond. A healthy pond includes a combination of lighting and plentiful plants to address a wider range of habitat needs.

Information courtesy of Pondliner. For more, visit www.pondliner.com.