Tag Archives: filters

Readying Your Pond to Look Great in the Spring

Water gardening is not a low maintenance hobby. It requires diligence, vigilance and constant care or it can really become quite messy looking.  How it will look and small all summer has a lot to do with how well you start caring for it in the Spring.

 

Make sure you have a pond thermometer ready in the pond.  Winter is officially over when the pond water reaches fifty degress. This also means that it is now time to “wake up” any wintering fish in the pond by feeding them.

 

As soon as strong sunlight starts hitting the pond it is then time to feed with friendly bacteria called Anacharis.  This organic material eats up any algae growth.  The rule is to use one bunch of anarchis for each square foot of pond surface area in the pond.

 

It is also the time to increase the water circulation by turning on the filters and pumps.  You may want to start slow so that you do not distress your fish. If it is just an ornamental pond then turn up the pump full blast. If you have an ultraviolet sterilizer, turn it on once you are sure your mechanical and biological filters are working properly.

 

If there is any debris on the surface of the pond clean this using a pond skimmer or a rake.  A Mini Vac can also be used to remove debris and sludge from the top of the pond

 

If the danger of frost has passed, Spring is the time to plant new water lilies, Repot and divide any clumps of bulbs if necessary.  Raise any submerged pots to the pond surface. Add new floating plants such as water lettuce or water hyacinth in the Spring as well.

 

If the pond seems really dirty you might find it necessary to replace the water in the pond and refill it with fresh water. Replace as little of the water as you can, as changing as little as ten percent of it can upset the balance of life in your pond. You can easily remove this water with a Shop Vac. This step is only recommended if you have a real problem on your hands because this kind of readjustment almost invariably causes one element or another to die off in your pond. You should also add a dechlorinator to the new water to get rid of chlorine and seed it with new bacteria once you have refilled the pond again.

 

Bottom Drains Keep Your Pond Looking Clean

 

Does your pond look dirty and is the water too murky to see plants or fish?  This is a common problem in outdoor ponds where the owner has not bothered to install a bottom drain.  A bottom drain helps keep your pond looking clean all year long because it is a great water clarifier.

 

It is generally accepted that bottom drains are a must and should be fitted to all ponds under construction but if you made your own pond with a plastic liner or basin you may have skipped this step.  The good news is that it is never too late to install a simple one.

 

A bottom drain can also greatly improve the efficiency of any mechanical filter and especially a gravity filter. This can save you a lot of time when it comes to skimming or vacuuming your pond and the filters will just work better.  The better the filters work the more oxygen there will be for any fish in the ponds.

 

If the main drain is above the height of the pond then it is possible to have a discharge chamber, and then you can pump the pond water to the drain, using a pump with a fitted float level.   The float levels can tell you a lot about the health of the pond and whether it is time to give it a cleaning.

 

In general, bottom drains have a deep large sump usually 10 to 12 inches diameter and about 6 inches deep. These usually have a 4-inch socket to take pressure pipe and this is then taken directly to the drain box where a 4-inch standpipe with `O’ ring is fitted. It is also possible to purchase bottom drains made of fiberglass.

 

Most pond drains have what is called a mushroom cover. It’s called this because it makes the drain look like a large black or steel mushroom.  The more bottom drains you have, the less maintenance your pond will require from you.

Usually, the number of bottom drains required will depend on the size and shape of the pond.  A rectangular pond that is between 12ft x 10ft would probably require two bottom drains if you want the water to be as oxygenated and as clean as possible.

 

Each drain should have its own straight pipe that connects directly to the mechanical filter to keep your pond from looking as muck free as possible. This can save you from doing a lot raking of debris all year round.