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Periphyton habitats
Periphyton is the thin living film that grows on surfaces under water. It is made of algae, bacteria and other tiny organisms. We install habitats in your lake that give this film more surface to grow on.
That film is the bottom of the food chain. Insects, snails and many fish graze on it. It also takes nitrogen and phosphorus out of the water as it grows, the same nutrients that feed problem algae.
On the lakes we look after, Jeff has seen habitats show promise against golden algae by helping keep the food chain in balance. That is our field experience: there is no proven cure for golden algae yet.
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What they do
- Give periphyton more surface to grow on
- Grow natural food for insects, snails and fish
- Take up nitrogen and phosphorus from the water
- Give shade and cover where habitats float or stand near the surface
- Work alongside your aeration and water treatment program
How it works
- Look at the lakeWe check depth, sun, fish and water quality.
- Plan the habitatsWe choose the type, size and placement for your lake.
- InstallWe place and anchor the habitats where they will do the most good.
- You get the recordBefore and after photos, readings and products used, by email and in your client portal.
The science behind it
Periphyton is the film of algae, bacteria and tiny organisms that coats underwater surfaces. Studies show it is a major food source for insects, snails and fish, and adding surfaces for it to grow on raised fish production in most fish-pond trials.
Like other algae, it takes nitrogen and phosphorus out of the water as it grows, which is why algae-turf systems are used to clean water. Golden algae has no proven cure. What we say about habitats and golden algae is our own field experience on the lakes we look after.
This is why we hold the Arizona Lake Symposium every year, with PMD CEU training credits. We use the science and apply it to what we see and measure on your water. No canned plans from a desk at a distant head office.
About the symposium →Want to dig deeper? These are the studies and guides behind this page:
Other services: Water analysis · Chemical treatment · Biological augmentation · Fish stocking