Pond Care

POND CARE

Spring

• Turn pump and filter back on after cleaning them out
• Remove any debris which has accumulated at the bottom
• Clean rocks with pressure washer
• Add water hyacinth and water lettuce as soon as the danger of frost is gone
• Inspect the pond liner for damage and leaks
• Check tubing for kinks or ruptures

Summer

• Keep 2/3 of the surface covered with plants if pond receives a lot of direct sunlight
• Continue to remove organic debris from surface and clean debris from the bottom to prevent build-up
• Use barley straw to control filamentous algae growth
• Continue to add fresh water to your pond as water evaporates in the hotter weather

Fall/Winter

• Remove as much debris as possible from the pond. This includes leaves, twigs and other debris. If you have fish, failure to do this could be harmful
• Stop feeding fish when temperatures lower to 50 to 55 degrees. Their metabolism slows and eating can make them sick. Bacteria treatments should also be discontinued
• Cutback plant material, which helps prevent organic debris from decomposing in the water over the winter. Hardy bog and marginal plants should have all dead leaves and foliage trimmed down just above water level and hardy lily leaves and stems should be cut back leaving 2 to 3” at the base of the plant. Bring tropical plants inside for the winter or replace in the spring
• If you decide to shut down the waterfall, disconnect the pump and check valve and store it inside in a bucket of water. This will keep the seals from drying out and cracking. The waterfall can be run over the winter and will provide interesting ice formations. If weather is sub-zero for consecutive days, the ice buildup can cause the skimmer to run dry so you may need to shut down the system. (Note: if the pump is turned off during a heavy freeze, be sure to remove the check valve so the water drains from the pipe and BioFalls)
• Remove filter mats and bags of biological media from the BioFalls. Rinse them down and store them in the garage or shed. If left over the winter, the filtration media may freeze solid and delay spring cleanouts
• Remove lava rocks on top of the BioFall mats, rinse and return to Biofall for use next year
• Disconnect any auto fill valves and blow out pipes, or make sure the lines are open on both ends so freeze and thaw cycles will not rupture lines
• To protect any fish, a hole must be kept in the ice to allow the escape of harmful gases in the water and the pond must be oxygenated over the winter. One way to do this is to place the waterfall pump in a bucket and surrounding the pump intake with stones to prevent clogging. Place the pump on the second or third shelf so the surface water is broken from the aeration. The agitation of the pump will prevent freezing and provide oxygen
• Another option is to use a floating heater in combination with a small submersible pump (at least 150 gph). Place the pump on the first shelf of the pump. Floating heaters are the most common method of keeping a hole open in the ice, but they do not provide oxygenation for your fish