Landscape Gardening » Yard & Garden Planning
Pond Manangement
Spring
Pond Management: If needed, clean the pond. Top off the pond with water, if needed. Remember to use StressCoat or Dechlor to remove any chlorine.
Water Quality: Jump start biological filter with ABA or Clear Differencesm, if applicable.
Feeding Fish: As fish are coming out of dormancy, feed the fish a food low in protein such as Spring/Autumn Food.
Health Care: A precautionary treatment of NoxIch can be used.
Summer
Pond Management: Remove any debris from the surface of the pond. Top off the pond with water, if needed. Remember to use StressCoat or Decholor to remove chlorine. Remove any dead leaves from water plants. Fertilize water plants. Check submerged pump regularly for blockages.
Water Quality: Backflush or clean filters as needed to keep ammonia at a minimum. Test water for ammonia and nitrite levels.
Feeding Fish: Feed fish once a day what they can eat in three to five minutes.
Health Care: Keep an eye on the fish for any signs of illness.
Autumn
Pond Management: Remove any debris from the surface of the pond. If needed, use a leaf net to catch excessive falling leaves. Top off the pond with water, if needed. Remember to use StressCoat or Decholor to remove chlorine. Remove any dead leaves from water plants. Fertilize water plants. Check submerged pump regularly for blockages.
Water Quality: Backflush or clean filters as needed to keep ammonia at a minimum.
Feeding Fish: Feed fish once a day what they can eat in three to five minutes. As temperature starts to drop and the fish get less active, slowly switch to a Spring/Autumn food and decrease feedings.
Health Care: Keep an eye on the fish for any signs of illness. Clean out as many fallen leaves as possible to prevent them from decomposing in the pond.
Winter
Pond Management: Clean pond if necessary. Turn off any pumps or filters and remove. Thoroughly clean your biological filter, if applicable, and leave drainage valve open. Cut hardy water plants back and drop to the deepest part of the pond. Remove all tropical plants.
Water Quality: Keep an area free of ice over the winter to allow gases to escape and oxygen to enter.
Feeding Fish: Continue to decrease feedings until the temperature drops below 50F. Below this temperature stop feeding altogether.
Health Care: Keep an area free of ice.