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As spring
approaches, we at Paradise Ponds, offer the following suggestions to get
your pond off to a healthy start for the new growing season.
- If your stream pump was turned off for the winter, now is the time to turn
it back on and get your water flowing once again.
- You can begin feeding your fish again when the water temperature reaches a
constant 50 degrees.
- Any leaves or debris that have accumulated in the pond over the winter
should be removed at this time.
- Spring cleaning - Highly
Recommended
- Begin by draining the water out of the pond down to approx. 6", place some
of your old pond water into storage containers or buckets for your fish while
performing the pond clean-out. Once down to approx. 6" of water you can now
easily net all of your fish and carefully place them into your storage
containers or buckets.
- Continue to drain your pond of water removing any large debris by hand, once
fully drained you should begin power washing all rocks and gravel, pumping out
all dirty water as you are washing..
- All filter mats should also be washed and / or replaced as needed.
- At this time all underwater lights should be checked, any bulbs that need to
be replaced should be done at this time.
- Any plants that need to be thinned or divided out should also be performed
at this time.
- Begin to fill your pond with fresh water, add a water declorinator to
neutralize any chlorine that has been added to the tap water by local water
dept. Now, place the entire container or bucket(s) containing your fish into
the pond and allow them (the buckets) to float in the fresh water, this will
allow the fish to slowly acclimate themselves to the new water temperature
without going into shock with the possibility of dying.
- Your pond is now clean, healthy and ready to start another new year of
enjoyment.
Late spring suggestions
- As water temperatures begin to rise and pond waters reach a steady average
temperature of approx. 50 - 52 degrees we suggest adding bacteria. Liquid
bacteria is suggested, it is quick acting and will give your pond a jump start
to get the bacteria growing. Liquid bacteria added at 1oz. per 1000 gals. Dry
bacteria is added at 1 teaspoon per 1000 gals. You can us either liq. or dry.
After pond clean outs, you should add either liq. or dry bacteria once a day for
the first 14 days, after 14 days you can add bacteria once every 10 - 14 days.
- If you don't have plants in your pond now is a great time to do so. Plants
act as excellent natural water purifiers, they also give fish a place to hide,
beautify your pond and really make your pond come alive.
Summer
- Periodically Check your skimmer box for any debris.
- Feed fish 2 times per day max. only what can be eaten in a 3 minute period,
excess food left to float away will add to future algae problems. (green water)
- Add dry bacteria once every 10 - 14 days
- Enjoy your natural pond!.
Autumn/Winter
One of the most significant events of fall
is, of course, when leaves begin to fall from the trees above. If these leaves
get in the pond and decay it will throw off the ecological balance of a water
garden. One option is to use a net to skim leaves off the surface of the pond as
they fall, but this can become a very difficult daily chore. Skimmers are
designed to get the occasional leaf or other floating debris, and heavy leaves
can clog a skimmer several times a day. The best way to minimize leaves from
your pond is to install leaf netting over the pond during the time when leaf
fall is very heavy. It is easier to keep them out rather than get them out after
the fact.A checklist for Autumn/Winter pond care
- Before the leaves begin to fall, cover your pond with one of several sizes
of leaf netting. (It is much easier to keep the leaves out than to remove them
after they fall into the pond).
- This is a good time to divide some types of aquatic plants (water lilies
should be cut back 2" - 3" from the base).
- Remove annuals from the pond as they will decay and pollute the water.
- After your perennial plants have stopped growing, cut back the foliage just
above the water level.
- Stop feeding your fish after the water temperature has dropped to below 50
degrees.
- For slow moving streams be aware of possible ice dams that might form and
divert water over the streams liner.
- If you turn your pump off, you should remove it from the check valve and
place the pump in a container of water in a frost free area to stop the seals
from drying out and cracking.
- If you turn off your stream pump, we suggest you add a floating de-icer to
keep an area free of ice. This opening is necessary during periods of ice cover
to allow an exchange of gases.
- Water Hawthorns are a nice addition to the ponds and sometimes bloom through
the ice. They grow and bloom during the fall through spring and go dormant in
the summer.
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