When it comes to cleaning your lake, it is always advised to choose a natural solution as this is a safer option that will preserve the integrity of the water as well as minimizing the risk to the fish.
A lot of people will immediately purchase a pesticide or herbicide but these are not natural and can actually do more harm than good as they will kill anything that they come into contact with as well as potentially damaging the good plant life within your lake.
If you are wanting to restore the lake’s ecosystem, using a natural solution is always going to be the best option. However, there are a variety of different ways you can clean your lake, and choosing the right method for you can be tricky depending on the depth and size of your lake. We have gathered the best ways that you can clean your lake so you can be prepared and ensure that you know what to expect whilst also meaning that you can make the most of your lake.
Here are the best ways on how to clean a lake naturally.
Natural Lake Cleaning Products
The first thing you may want to consider, especially if there is a lot of dirt and buildup in your lake, is using natural products to help get rid of any excess vegetation. A general rule of thumb is that a little bit of vegetation can be good for the lake but too much will end up harming the lake more than doing any good.
Therefore, using natural products is the most effective way to get rid of any unwanted materials. Made from organic and natural ingredients, products such as Goodbye to Muck’s LakeMatand MuckMatare fantastic as they contain limited chemicals which means that you are not risking any danger to the water and fish whilst also ensuring that they can perform well and give you the results you want.
Natural products are some of the most convenient options on our list as they are easy and quick to apply, which means that you don’t have to worry about fussing around with them (low maintenance).
How to clean a Lake:
Bacterial Treatments
The next option is bacterial treatments which are designed to reduce the materials that weed and algae feed on to thrive. By reducing these nutrients, the weeds will eventually die meaning that your lake will naturally become cleaner over time.
Products such as AquaDye are a treatment that effectively removes these materials which in turn protects the water and ensures that there isn’t any odor.
Bear in mind that these treatments can be costly and require routine maintenance.
Septic Tanks
You may have a septic tank installed in your lake and making sure that it is correctly maintained can make a huge difference in the lake’s overall cleanliness. Therefore, if you do own a septic tank, then make sure that it is running efficiently and can conserve the water properly.
You can clean it naturally using environmentally friendly soaps and fixing any leaks to minimize any lost water being cleaned. It’s also best to make sure that you regularly check your septic tank thoroughly and schedule a professional to check it to make sure that everything is working well.
Lake Dyes
The main purpose of a lake dye is that it can help to make your lake look more appealing by changing the color. But, did you know that it can also be effective by stunting algae growth?
This is because they act as an umbrella over the surface of the lake which prevents sunlight from hitting the algae which in turn will cause the algae to slowly wither and die as it is not able to feed on any materials for nutrition.
The best company to look into is AquaDye who has an array of different products that can help with these issues. What is great about AquaDye is that they are environmentally friendly and incredibly safe to use, meaning that you don’t have to worry about the fish in your lake as it will restore the lake’s ecosystem.
Phytofiltration
If your lake seems overwhelmed with lots of problems beyond algae and you need to filter out the harmful elements, phytofiltration is the best solution for you. In simple terms, Phytofiltration is the name of the process that helps to filter any harmful chemicals, materials, and pollutants from your lake by using nearby plants and trees.
The most common way this is applied is by using surface plants.
This is also the easiest as this will encourage oxygenation and help to absorb any nutrients, while simultaneously blocking the sunlight. What follows is similar to the lake dyes as the harmful materials will then be stunted in growth and will eventually die as they won’t be able to feed on their nutrients.
As plants and trees are used in this method, anything natural and harmless won’t be affected at all, meaning that there is no risk to the lake’s ecosystem.
FAQs About Clean Lakes
What is a healthy lake called?
When your lake is healthy, it is known as “eutrophic” while productive lakes are called “hypereutrophic”. This means that the lake’s ecosystem is fully thriving and the lake itself is incredibly clean.
What keeps a lake healthy?
Lakes are defined as healthy when they have a clear balance of natural chemicals that allows the ecosystem of the lake to thrive. Lakes need to have a healthy amount of phosphorus and nitrogen which means that plants can grow without overwhelming the body of water.
Do lakes last forever?
The amount of time that lakes last depends on the environment that the lake is in. For example, some lakes will appear and disappear annually while others can last for over a hundred years. There are certain factors such as climate change which has caused a huge shift in where lakes are found and how long they last. Some lakes may disappear and never return.
Be sure to check out some more of our FAQs on how Goodbye to Muck can help keep your lake and lakeshore looking their absolute best.