Keeton Industries is consistently listening to you, the customer AND consistently going above and beyond to ensure quality control. As a result we are proud to introduce our newest generation of our solar-powered, Solaer Aeration System. The newly designed systems features a fully enclosed electrical panel that provides improved protection in even the harshest environment.

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Keeton Industries is excited to introduce a beneficial microbe meant to help your pond or lake in cold weather! All of the same great benefits of our best selling microbe, Aqua-Tron® and with a microbe that activates in 52° and BELOW! Aqua-Tron : Cold Water Formula will help you save weeks, even months of prep time in the spring, by maintaining the beauty of your pond and lake in the winter! Clear cold ponds and lakes “Nature’s Way”… Safe and Easy Application. Click here for more information!

The common misconception when applying chemicals to your pond or lake to make it clean, clear and eliminate weeds is that you are addressing the underlying problems. What people don’t realize is that it is more of a “band-aid solution”, meaning only temporary. While it is true that chemical herbicides and algaecides kill unwanted weeds and algae in your pond or lake, it won’t be long before those same plants and algae are back and most likely, stronger and more abundant than before your chemical application. Why? When herbicides and algaecides are used to kill the weeds and algae, the decomposing plant material will release nitrogen and phosphorus into the water. That’s right, nitrogen and phosphorus, the same elements used for fertilizers! This new abundance of fertilizers spurs on growth of the weeds you just attempted to eliminate. This process is also referred to as “The Chemical Cycle” and is shown below.

2. You Must Positively Identify What You Need to Treat

Many aquatic plants share similar features and can look alike to the untrained eye. Determining the identity of the aquatic plant or algae can be very important when you plan to treat them chemically. If you want your chemical treatment to work effectively, you must know what you are trying to eliminate. Many people will spend hundreds of dollars on chemicals for a particular plant or algae only to find out that it was incorrectly identified in the first place.

3. Many States Have a Chemical Ban

Aquatic Herbicides and Algaecides must be registered through the Environmental Protection Agency. In recent years more and more states are banning the use of certain products, even though the EPA has approved their registration. Every state is different and each takes a different approach to protecting their environment and its inhabitants.
Every year more states are looking into banning the use of certain chemical products and this will most likely affect what products are available for use in your area.

 4. Kills Desirable Aquatic Life

Chemicals kill. This is why people apply them to weeds in the first place. However, many herbicides and algaecides act broadly and do not differentiate between desirable and undesirable species. In any environment it is best to maintain an ecological balance that preserves the proper amount of both plant and animal life. All too often we hear of cases where chemicals were applied to eliminate a specific weed, only to find out that every aquatic plant was killed in the process. This sudden change can be very detrimental to aquatic life and in some situations might also cause a “fish-kill” due to low oxygen. Not only is this bad news for the fish (especially the trophies), but can be a real mess to clean up.

If you own or manage private waters, the Pond Boss V Conference and Expo is a must-attend! Landowners from all over the United States and abroad will convene and hold court with as many as 25 leading pond management experts, wildlife biologists and others who will share their experiences. The seasoned speakers have spent years in the field, plying their trades, as have the 30-plus vendors who will show off all the latest and greatest land management tools and services. There will be a variety of topics including: planning, constructing and renovating ponds and lakes, fish management, how to grow giant freshwater fish, managing habitat, proper feeding techniques, aquatic plant identification and management, how to sample and analyze your private waters and much, much more. There will be hands-on demonstrations in and around the water, so you will be able to hear, touch, see and feel your way to a higher level of knowledge to be the best steward of your land and water. Spouse programs are planned and plenty of time is set aside for mingling with people of like mind. Big Cedar Lodge is family oriented and a great venue for this meeting. Don’t miss out!

Pond Boss magazine is the nation’s leading magazine dedicated to managing private ponds and lakes. www.pondboss.com is home to the nation’s free pond management discussion forum and many valuable resources for those who own and/or manage private ponds and lakes.

• Many companies claim their product is super concentrated, but in reality, their products bacterial plate count is high due to the addition of “filler” microbes or are even contaminated with unproductive or unwanted species.  The bacterial plate count or cfu/g (colony forming units/gram) is only a measure of all microbes present, not just the beneficial ones.

SCAM #2: Our microbes are the least expensive out there!

• Many companies claim their microbes are the most affordable, but what they don’t tell you is that you need to buy more than the affordable 1-pound purchase to treat your body of water. For example, $25 for 1 pound doesn’t sound like a lot, but when you need 25 pounds…

SCAM #3: You only need to apply our microbe treatment once (or twice) a year (or season).

• Beneficial microbes are naturally occurring microorganisms that perform beneficial tasks in the aquatic environment, but they are not present in concentrations high enough to properly maintain things. When you add a microbial product to your pond or lake you are artificially increasing the concentration of beneficial microorganisms that can perform tasks such as water quality improvement or sludge reduction.  Due to their natural life cycle the concentration will fall over time to a more natural level. In most situations, this process takes about 10-14 days.  This is why is important to reapply beneficial microbes every two weeks to maintain an affective concentration of microbes.

 SCAM #4: You MUST have aeration for beneficial microbes to work.

• Aeration can increase the effectiveness, but if you are using the proper microbe application for your problem, your microbes should work just fine without additional equipment and/or products.

SCAM #5: Liquid is better than dry.

• Liquid microbes and dry microbes can both be effective.  As a general rule, Dry microbes are typically more concentrated, as liquid is used as the carrier.

SCAM #6: There is a ton of different microbial products available.

• This really is not the case; many products are manufactured by only a few companies.  These products are just re-branded under different names and resold by various retailers.  The vast majority of products offered are nothing special, they just have a different name.

Centennial Lake – Milliken, CO

In early February, Keeton Industries received a call from Josh Roseberry with the town of Milliken, Colorado. He explained that the town’s 9-acre, “boot-shaped” lake, Centennial Lake, had been dealing with some reoccurring issues he wanted to address before spring. Due to the popularity of the lake, the town of Milliken felt a natural, eco-friendly approach would be the best option. Not only were they concerned with the abundance of coon-tail and filamentous algae, but they were also hoping to receive a grant from the Division of Wildlife to stock their lake with fish.

Roseberry had said the Division of Wildlife liked the idea of aeration and they had wanted to see an increase in the water level within the lake. Our team was able to evaluate the lake’s situation and we agreed with the DOW assessment. An electric power location was also recommended for the site, for the installation of a Quiet Line Aeration System.

Not only is Centennial Lake a popular place for the town of Milliken to swim and walk their dogs, but it is also home to Mile High Wake Park. Mile High Wake Park offers cable riding across the water using a wake-board, a wonderful pastime and great way to practice your wake-boarding skills and tricks! All the more reason to keep the lake clean and healthy.

On May 9, 2012, Centennial Lake received its Quiet Line Aeration System – a TR-9DP. Overall, this project was successful start to finish; the Town of Milliken was happy with the way the aeration system looked and sounded (or didn’t sound) and were pleased with the results. Check back for updates on this project.

If you, as a dealer or lake owner, have an aeration or microbes project story to share, please contact us!

Not sure what a fish kill is? The following is a great educational site about fish kills, when they happen and why.

Here is information on Summer Fish Kills: www.fish-kill.com

Using your subsurface aeration system (water aerator) is a simple way to generate oxygen to those fish and assist in the decomposition of organic matter and sludge. Using a natural, biological approach by circulating a consistent flow of oxygen, you are keeping your pond or lake healthy and beautiful at the same time!

North Carolina has reports of being able to produce strawberries sooner this year. Kansas has magnolia, forsythia and other trees blooming 3-4 weeks early than normal. You can sunbath in Ohio and beds of daffodils and tulips are in full bloom in Central Park, New York. All in March!

Unseasonably warm temperatures this winter, where it’s been as hot as 70 degrees in places that normally don’t see over 30 degrees, has hurried the bloom of plants, flowers and trees throughout the country. This also means aquatic plants and algae in ponds and lakes are going to start sooner this season. As a result, you just might need to prep your pond or lake a little differently this year.

There are many things to consider when planning to keep your aquatic oasis in a healthy state this year. It may be as easy as starting your biological treatments early or you might have to consider a full blown aquatic management overhaul.  From past experience we know the best treatment course always includes a natural, biological solution of a subsurface aeration system and beneficial microbes.

Subsurface aeration is a proven technology, and is considered to be the foundation for improving and maintaining proper water quality and clarity in ponds and lakes. Subsurface aeration eliminates stratification, increases dissolved oxygen levels and increases water clarity. It also creates the proper conditions to grow and maintain large populations of beneficial microbes.

Beneficial microbes are naturally occurring microorganisms that perform beneficial tasks in the aquatic environment. These bacteria are capable of improving water quality and clarity by targeting organic particulates and excess nutrients, such as Nitrogen and Phosphorus, brought in by various sources. Although beneficial microbes are naturally occurring, they typically are present in low concentrations that are not able to improve water quality and clarity on their own. The application of beneficial microbes can boost their populations giving them the ability to affect water quality and clarity.

Contact Ford or Kurt to find what combination will work best and target your problems, before they start. Spring into a healthy pond or lake today!

About ProGreen EXPO:
Attend ProGreen EXPO and get a wealth of information…. professional training and education for you and your staff; new products, services and suppliers at the trade show; meet your fellow green industry professionals.

Whether you are on your own or have a cast of thousands, ProGreen EXPO has something for you and your business. The latest trends in research…new irrigation assembly techniques…the best equipment…whatever your specialty within the industry, you can count on your time being well spent.

Click here for more information: ProGreenEXPO.com