AQUAMATS

Aquamats are difficult to categorize: they serve as filters, as fish-food factories, and as fish habitats. Although they were developed for the commercial aquaculture industry, we think they have a place in ornamental fish ponds.

Aquamats serve as a habitat for fish to play, hide from predators, or spawn. The texture and color of the fabric are optimal for the growth of epilithon, a mixture of beneficial bacteria and algae that serves as a natural fish food. Fish also eat zooplankton such as daphnia that graze on epilithon. The process of growing desirable algae colonies on the surface of the Aquamats removes nutrients from the water that could otherwise lead to the growth of less desirable floating algae or string algae. The bacterial colonies on Aquamats perform just like they do within biological filters: they transform toxic ammonia from fish waste into other non-toxic forms of nitrogen. In fact, a single Aquamat has a larger surface area than many popular pond filters.

Aquamats should be used to supplement other pond filters, not replace them. Similarly, they should be used to supplement fish foods and not replace them.

SIZES: Aquamats come in three standard sizes: 16" tall by 12" long, 22" tall by 138" long and 40" tall by 79" long. The 16" size is recommended for ponds smaller than 500 gallons and less than 24" deep: order one mini for every 50 gallons of pond water and snap them together to make a continuous chain. The 22" size is recommended for larger ponds up to 30" deep and the 40" size is recommended for ponds from 30" to 48" deep: for either, order one for every 2500 gallons of water.

Aquamat, 16" x 12", $16.00
Aquamat, 22" x 138", $136.00