1. Check your ponds, waterfalls and stream beds for any areas that may require repairs
2. Remove fish from pond prior to cleaning. Place them in temporary holding tanks with plenty of aeration. Examine fish for activity, ensure they are not struggling and are visibly healthy.
3. Remove any accumulated debris from the pond. If you have a rock bottom pond with no bottom drain, now is the time to do your Spring cleanout if you didn’t do it in the Fall. Be sure to remove filter media from skimmers and bio falls and spray wash them with fresh clear water (only). Drain the pond completely down. Spray wash the sides and bottom with a power nozzle and refill. If you don’t have a Pond Vac, you can use a wet/dry vac to remove excess debris from skimmers, filters and pond bottom. Don’t scrub or try to make your pond look sterile. Remember the beneficial bacteria needed to keep your pond in balance collect on the liner and rock in your pond as well as the filter media.
4. Remove and dry any mechanical de-icers and store properly for next season
5. Inspect and replace hoses and fittings that may be leaking
6. Start up the pump in shallow water to ensure that it is working properly
7. Refill pond with fresh water
8. If your pond has a bottom drain to prevent build-up in pond bottom, replace up to 25% of the pond water with tap water, at this time. (be sure to clean skimmers and filters as above before doing your partial water change.
9. Remember to add a water conditioner to remove chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals found in most tap water.
10. For a healthy pond, you will need beneficial bacteria. This will help to get a jumpstart on balancing your system.
We recommend Microbe-Lift PL it is Specially Formulated for Decorative Fish Ponds, Lagoons, and Smaller Water Features. It comes in 2 sizes: 1 quart which is enough to treat up to 20,000 gallons of water as a maintenance and up to 8,000 gallons as initial treatment. 1 gallon which is enough to treat up to 100,000 gallons of water as a maintenance and up to 40,000 gallons as initial treatment. Can also be purchased in larger sizes for commercial applications.
Microbe-Lift/PL offers continued biological activity even in water temperature under 55°F (12°C).
• Creates a healthy environment for your pond, promoting faster fish growth.
• Reduces ammonia and nitrogen levels.
• Significantly reduces noxious odors caused by dead algae, fish fecal matter, and urine.
• Reduces hydrogen sulfide, which creates strong, offensive odors.
• Reduces buildup of bird droppings, fish feed, and dead leaves.
• Breaks down dead algae.
• Improves dissolved oxygen levels.
• Dissolves away organic sludge.
• Seeds and maintains biological filters.
• Contains nitrifiers, including both Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter species.
• Contains photosynthetic bacteria which reduces cloudy water by promoting flocculation and settling of organic and inorganic particles.
• Effective over a wide range of pH conditions.
• Microbe-Lift PL is Safe for fish and plants.
Microbe Lift PL comes in 2 sizes: 1 quart which is enough to treat up to 20,000 gallons of water as a maintenance and up to 8,000 gallons as initial treatment
1 gallon which is enough to treat up to 100,000 gallons of water as a maintenance and up to 40,000 gallons as initial treatment. (Larger sizes are available for commercial applications)
Summer Garden Pond Maintenance Plant Maintenance No matter how healthy your aquatic plants are, they will require a small amount of maintenance. Removal of expired flowers and yellowed leaves from water lilies is essential. By keeping the water clear of any dead and decomposing plant material you will help keep the pond looking good and help reduce excess algae. This is also a good time to look for any pests or disease. Be sure to fertilize your water lilies during the summer to keep them blooming, especially if you did not use a yearly (time release fertilizer spike) in the Spring.
Fish Health and Feeding Fish are an important part of the balance in your pond. They contribute to the pond’s ecosystem and actually reduce pond maintenance. They also play an important part in the enjoyment of our ponds. Those of you who have fish in your pond probably get as much enjoyment from feeding your fish as you do out of any other part of pond ownership! Feeding your fish also gives you a good opportunity to inspect for disease or infection. Be careful not to over-feed your fish. Food that is left uneaten will decompose in the pond and increase nutrient levels. This will lead to excess algae, and too much food can be unhealthy for your fish. A good rule of thumb is to feed your fish only what they can eat in three to five minutes. You can feed your fish 3-4 times per day. Reducing the number of times per day you feed, will encourage the fish to eat any excess algae growth.
Algae Control Algae can be a problem in the summer - especially if your pond is positioned in a sunny location. There are many things that you can do to control the excess growth of algae. Add bacteria, it will compete with the algae for excess nutrients in the water, and effectively help to starve the algae into submission. Make sure you have plants in your pond. They will also absorb excess nutrients from the water, and starve even more algae out of your pond. Control runoff and avoid using fertilizer in areas that may drain towards your pond. Most fertilizers can be toxic to your fish and fertilizer will cause a surge of excess nutrients in your pond and actually encourage algae bloom. Barley extract can be added for beneficial enzymes that naturally balance Pond water & improve clarity. Barley extract disperses quickly, matures pond water chemistry, releases decomposition by-products immediately and buffers pH.
Automatic Water-fill Valves Normal evaporation from the summer heat can rob your pond of an inch or more per week in the Northwest. If you don’t already have an automatic water-fill valve on your pond, you should think about having one installed. The water fill valve works similar to the float valve in the back of a standard toilet. When installed inside your skimmer it will maintain the appropriate water level of your pond. The water fill valve can be connected to the garden spigot on your house, or connected to an underground irrigation system. |