I repeatedly tell all my clients that a pool conversion is going to take some time. Pesticides, chlorine, and other chemical toxins are instant gratification, and natural systems are not.
In just a couple of months I can transition a pool from a chemical moonscape to a beautiful green woodland meadow.
There are thousands of different species of algae.
These different species exhibit different colors, different growth habits, different nutrient requirements, different temperature and lighting requirements.
The algae and microorganisms I put in at the start, are the grass and small plants of a woodland meadow.
I will then introduce “rabbits and deer”, “snails and insects”, encourage “Oaks and elderberries” and, turn it into a beautiful old growth forest.
I believe that we seriously need to reevaluate what we think is clean in our environment. Clear, odorless, toxic, chemical carcinogens, or pesticides are not clean. While none of the dozen pond systems that I maintain have remained murky for over a year, I would ask that we all start to think about the truth that green is clean. If the pool is now able to support algal life then it is no longer toxic to you, your pets, and the wildlife.
The little Pacific chorus frogs are no longer “drowning” in the pool above. Native aquatic organisms such as Pacific chorus frogs and slender salamanders do _not_ drown in a swimming pool. They are aquatic! They are poisoned by chlorine. A little Pacific chorus frog can float all day in a natural pond but “drowns” in a swimming pool ? ? ? _It’s the chlorine_
As the pools become green and clean I will turn it into a beautiful old growth forest. But this does not generally happen until after all modules are installed and running.
I install about a module a month but how frequently is also somewhat up to the client. In _some_ cases when a client pays me for the modules early, I can start the next module before I normally would. This provides all my clients flexibility in their payment schedule.
We will put in plants for all of the modules and we will guarantee both the modules and plants while we are doing the maintenance, period. I will not install plants in new modules until the plants will benefit the system. I believe that I am being paid for what I know and what I can do, not for some pieces of wood, metal, and tubing.
Thank you to all the early adapters for converting their backyard into a non-toxic aquatic Wonderland :-)