**How Can Calcium Montmorillonite Clay Help?**
What is the most important part of your Koi pond or Water Garden? Hands down it has to be your water quality.
Water can come from a number of sources. In some cases it comes from well water, but in most cases these days it comes from your local water company. The local water companies treat the water and during this they remove a lot of the minerals and trace elements that our ponds thrive upon. The only way those minerals and trace elements can be replaced in our ponds are with additives. Calcium Bentonite/Montmorillonite Clay is one of the best ways to add those minerals and trace elements back into the pond water.
Calcium Bentonite/Montmorillonite Clay has a number of minerals and trace elements in it that help our fish thrive. Not only does it help our fish thrive, it also helps the beneficial bacteria in our ponds thrive. The beneficial bacteria that live in your filters consume the minerals and trace elements added by Calcium Bentonite/Montmorillonite Clay. Some of those minerals and trace elements are calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and iron.
**People have asked if our fish and beneficial bacteria are the only ones that benefit from adding Calcium Bentonite/Montmorillonite Clay to the pond?**
No, Calcium Bentonite/Montmorillonite Clay has an extensive surface area, which allows it to attract, and then absorb, toxins such as heavy metals, free radicals, and pesticides. It also has minerals and trace elements that help make plants flourish. When re-potting your plants in the early spring, add a few tablespoons of clay to the potting soil along with some type of aquatic fertilizer tab, and you will see a difference in your plants.
**Are all Calcium Bentonite/Montmorillonite Clays the same?**
No, they come in a number of grades. Some have more silica then others, and some are full of impurities. We suggest doing a few tests on your clay before adding it to the pond. One test is how well does it mix up. Some low-grade clays will clump up. You will not want to use these clays in your pond. You run the chance of it plugging your filtration system. Another test you can do is to mix it in a glass of water. After a minute or two you should not see a lot of particles floating on the surface of the glass. If you do, there is some type of impurities in the clay.
Rich in trace minerals and absorbable calcium, (contains over 60 essential trace minerals) each tiny, tiny particle of this calcium montmorillonite clay, aka Terrapond remains in an alkaline state retaining its electrically active, negatively charged ion. When introduced to the pond, the toxins, bacteria and pathogens in the water, which carry a positive electrically charged ion, bind to the negatively charged ions in the clay. These toxins are held in a colloidal state (suspended) inside the clay particles and leave through the filtration system.
The clay, when ingested by fish (they enjoy nibbling on the clay), goes through the digestive system binding to the toxins in the fish’s body. These toxins are encapsulated in the clay and removed through their waste elimination process…toxins, clay and all. The added benefit is that the calcium montmorillonite contains highly absorbable minerals that are easily assimilated by fish, humans and all animals, in turn strengthening the immune system, enhancing the production of enzymes, and effectively detoxifying the body.
The minerals in this particular clay also promote beautiful coral and plant growth, visibly displaying the results.
Much has been written and researched about the healthful benefits of calcium montmorillonite clay when ingested by humans and animals.
The Healing Power of Living Clay by Neva Jensen includes a study entitled Trout Researchers Share Info. The director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife services Tunison Research Lab in Hagerman, Idaho spoke about the biggest expense on a fish farm, which is the feed. However their studies proved whenever the fish were fed this cheap clay, they grew bigger even when the feed was reduced.
**How Much Calcium Montmorillonite Should I Use?**
Premium calcium montmorillonite is a very fine, pure, edible clay and it will stay suspended in your water while doing its work. Many first-time users are often concerned when their water doesn’t clear in a short period of time. Please do not be alarmed. Even if you accidentally apply a dosage that exceeds the recommended amount, you can never harm or overdose your fish with this 100% natural product.
Start with a conservative dose if your pond water is already at or close to an acceptable level of clarity. This clay’s colloidal suspension properties allow it to continue bonding with impurities, carrying them safely into your filter. It also allows more nutrients to get into your fish’s systems. Since the best koi are raised and live in mud ponds, your fish will thank you for their mud bath that improves conformation, coloration, health, and vitality.
Recently our home had to be treated for termites and being first time owners of pond fish, we did not know that they would be effected. Immediately the fish went down to the bottom of the pond and started laying on their side. We drained the pond, refilled and used some natural products to remove chlorine and so forth. One of the fish is better, but is still acting odd. The other is still at the bottom of the pond and neither have eaten on 3 weeks. It makes me so, so sad to see them like this. We continue to check the PH of the water and continue to drain off water each week and always cleaning the filter. Is there anything we can do to help our fish?
Hi Cheryl. I asked Richard Heimberger, from Healthy Ponds, and here is his advice:
Sick fish do not wait very well. The initial dose of termite poison has done it’s damage. If there is still poison present in the pond water, it can only be removed with activated carbon. A fine mesh bag or sturdy panty hose can be used to hold the activated carbon in a place of high water movement. I would use 3 to 5 pounds of activated carbon per 1,000 gallons of water. Rinse the charcoal dust from the filled mesh bags before placing into the system. Run this for 72 hours, then dispose of the contaminated activated carbon. At the same time, add 2 pounds of pure sodium chloride per 100 gallons of pond water. (Rock salt in the blue bag from the big box stores) This will bring the salt up to .2%. Run this .2% salt for 21 days, then remove with water changes. Hope this will give your fish some relief.
I have a large deposit of montmorillonite and I am looking to sell the material for pond sealant also good for fish food the material has been tested and is safe. If you are interested call me at 775-945-2040