We usually hear the saying that we need bacteria in our body for us to survive. It's actually true. We need some good or beneficial bacteria in our body and as well as in our surrounding to carry out different functions in our body and in the ecosystem. Let's take pond bacteria for example. We should be aware that all ponds are inhabited with different kinds of bacteria. Basically, we can categorize these bacteria to the good ones and the bad ones. The good bacteria, also known as aerobic bacteria exist in the water for a very important function. They efficiently keep organic waste like fish waste products, uneaten feeds, dead vegetation and some fun-off of fertilizer that can cause water quality problems. The bad bacteria, or also known as anaerobic bacteria, are the one responsible for the foul odor and the poor quality of the water. Sometimes, there are some instances where in the good bacteria are over powered with the different organic waste products; as a result, there will be an ecological imbalance in the pond. Some of the reasons for the imbalance in the ecology may be the over population of the fish, over feeding or maybe debris from the environment that are washed off due to the heavy rain.

The good bacteria or the beneficial bacteria in the pond will be unable to decompose the waste products immediately, the oxygen levels can deplete and the anaerobic bacteria will start to become prevalent, and will start producing hydrogen sulfide that will cause the foul odor that we usually smell in unhealthy ponds and poor water quality. One good thing is that nowadays, there are commercially available pond beneficial bacteria that you can buy in the market. You are like strengthening your army by adding more soldiers in your camp. You should always outnumber the bad bacteria in your pond so you can maintain a balance ecological system.

Since we can never be sure when will bad bacteria will colonize our pond again, it's better to get ready always. As what they always say, prevention is better than cure! It's a very good idea to add beneficial pond bacteria in your water on a regular schedule. You should remember that you can do this as often as weekly, as but not more often than that. Try to consult with a professional pond keeper. Sometimes, the number of times that you should add some beneficial pond bacteria depends on what kind of pond do you have. Also, since good bacteria need oxygen to function well, it will be advisable to have a good aerator or fountain. You can also try helping the good bacteria by preventing unwanted debris from the environment falling into your pond. Scoop out excess feeds, leaves, dead vegetation, etc from your pond. Having a healthy pond is not that easy to have, but with the help of good bacteria, it will be a piece of cake for you!