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Old 02-05-2014, 10:24 PM
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Hi, I'm Ann and I live in the English midlands. For years beyond measure I've kept fish, been a devoted gardener and pondkeeper and of recent years I managed a company that desilts lakes and restores aquatic environments, including river bank repairs after flooding.

What we have only just realised is that domestic pondkeepers don't seem to use a product that we use twice a year on the large lakes and village ponds that we help to care for. That's Siltex. We use it to help break down existing organic silt (the stinky black gunge) and to prevent new deposits from become blacky and stinky.

Normally we sell it by the tonne; we've just realised that we maybe should sell it by the kilo... which treats a 4x4m pond.

What do you think? Shall I put the technical info up as part of the thread?
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Old 04-05-2014, 05:08 PM posted to rec.ponds
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Default Do you use Siltex?

"Ann-Marie L" wrote.co.uk...
Hi, I'm Ann and I live in the English midlands. For years beyond
measure I've kept fish, been a devoted gardener and pondkeeper and of
recent years I managed a company that desilts lakes and restores aquatic
environments, including river bank repairs after flooding.

What we have only just realised is that domestic pondkeepers don't seem
to use a product that we use twice a year on the large lakes and village
ponds that we help to care for. That's Siltex. We use it to help break
down existing organic silt (the stinky black gunge) and to prevent new
deposits from become blacky and stinky.

Normally we sell it by the tonne; we've just realised that we maybe
should sell it by the kilo... which treats a 4x4m pond.

What do you think? Shall I put the technical info up as part of the
thread?
Ann-Marie L


You could.
It would probably help if you displayed cites
(that were not created by you or financially involved with you)
that tell what good this "Siltex" is.
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Old 06-05-2014, 07:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ann-Marie L View Post
What we have only just realised is that domestic pondkeepers don't seem to use a product that we use twice a year on the large lakes and village ponds that we help to care for. That's Siltex.
Normally, organic material in water is broken down quickly by bacteria and used in the natural processes of the aquatic environment. If the amount of organic matter entering water is greater than the amount that can be broken down, it will accumulate on the lake or pond, forming deep layers of organic silt.

The lower layers of silt on the bed of the water-body may become anoxic (contain no oxygen) due to bacterial action, appearing black in colour and having a characteristic foul smell, and large-scale disturbance of this deep silt can result in sudden and catastrophic de-oxygenation.

Siltex

Siltex has been one of the great revelations in water management and is probably the most efficient method of controlling organic silt.
Siltex is a highly porous form of Calcium Carbonate consisting of microscopic particles with an average size of less than 5 microns (5 thousands of a millimetre).
Odours are caused by the bio-degrading of fish and waterfowl faeces, algae, rotting weed, and rotting leaf litter. As these rot and fester in the water they produce methane gas, which causes an unpleasant smell. By boosting the aerobic bacteria and micro-organisms the smell disappears.

• Decreases organic and oxidisable matter, which shows as a reduction in silt levels.
• Increases oxygenation by stimulation of aerobic micro-organisms.
• Improves water clarity by settling suspended solids.
• Reduces methane production by silt body
• Counteracts acidity in water and silt.
• Provides essential calcium for plants and animals
• Increases biodiversity within bodies of water.

Siltex is harmless to humans, mammals, birds, fish, invertebrates and water plants*. If used in garden ponds it will cause no harm to pets drinking the water.

*Siltex can be harmful to nuisance algae and blanketweed.

Siltex should always be applied to the whole water body and not just the worst affected parts. In ideal conditions and when applied correctly and in correct quantities, Siltex can remove as much as 8 – 10 inches of silt annually.


What is Siltex?

Siltex is a finely ground Calcium Carbonate consisting of microscopic particles with an average size of less than 5 microns (5 thousands of a millimetre).

What is Siltex used for?

Siltex is used to treat organic silt in Ponds, Lakes, Reservoirs, rivers and other water bodies.

How does Siltex work?

Organic silt accumulates when the micro-organisms that normally feed on the organic matter are no longer present, due to low oxygen levels and often increased acidity. The microscopic particles of Siltex are able to penetrate right into the silt layer and create the right environment for the micro-organisms to re-establish themselves and start to digest the organic matter, thus reducing the volume of silt.

Is Siltex harmful?

Siltex is harmless to humans and pets and aquatic life with the exception of blanketweed and some algae’s. Siltex is entirely natural and is not chemically synthesised.

Applications.

Siltex should be distributed evenly over the water area at a rate of 1kg (2.2lbs) per 4 square meters of water. If there are a number of floating plants Siltex can be mixed with water in a watering can and be applied with a watering can without the flower attachment at the rates described above.

Siltex acts to reduce the depth of silt on the bed of a pond. The principal mode of action is to increase the breakdown of organic waste material by stimulating the aerobic bacteria naturally present to multiply. These bacteria oxidise ammonia into nitrite and ultimately nitrate, thereby reducing the loading of potentially toxic organic waste present.
Among its other supplementary benefits, Siltex can also aid the flocculation of suspended organic and inorganic particulates into larger particles, which can then settle onto the bed of the waterbody. In this way, the product can help to improve water clarity, provided that the cause of the turbidity is addressed also.

Lastly, the dissociation of calcium ions from the dissolving Siltex brings about the enhanced bioavailability of calcium for skeletal development in fish and exoskeleton development in aquatic invertebrates. In this way, Siltex can help to increase the productivity of the water body by stimulating development of the food chain.

Importantly, Siltex is an entirely natural product, not anthropogenically synthesised in any way. So users can be assured that no synthetic chemicals are introduced and safety to the ecosystem and the gardener applying the product.

The extent to which Siltex will reduce the depth of silt present depends on a number of variables and as such success cannot be predicted with accuracy. However, factors such as the existing water quality and the proportional composition of the sediment (organic vs. inorganic) can be used as indicators of the likely effectiveness of a programme of treatment.
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Old 06-05-2014, 07:34 PM
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It's easy to Google - lots of the big aquatic companies sell it by the tonne. Best watch that you don't end up on some German sites - Siltex seems to be a common trade name over there.

Obviously I'm not putting our company name up - I'm not that pushy. If anyone is interested in small quantities I can give them my email address.
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