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Pond Care & Maintenance

Proper pond care and maintenance will help keep your pond healthy and sparkling clean. There are a number of chemical, mechanical and biological ways to help maintain your water feature. How you combine these elements to best maintain your pond depends on personal preference, as well as the needs of any plants or aquatic creatures that call your pond their home.

  1. Water

    • Keeping your water healthy is the most important part of your pond. Change out the water once a year, preferably in the springtime. Be sure that the level stays the same. Whenever adding water, be sure to add the appropriate amount of decholorinator.

    Filters

    • A biological filter is an easy way to keep your pond crystal clear. These work by filtering the pond water through a layer of plastic pieces, which harbor beneficial bacteria. These bacteria eat waste material and other undesirables from your pond water. Be sure to clean out your filter periodically.

    UV Lights

    • UV (ultraviolet) lights work by exposing algae to UV light, which kills them. These lights are usually placed inline somewhere in your pond's filtration system.

    Skimmers

    • One of the best ways to keep your pond healthy is by making sure that leaves and other debris are cleared out as soon as possible. Buy a pool skimmer and skim off any leaves or detritus that you see floating on the surface of the pond. If your pond is shallow enough, don a pair of gloves and scrape out the muck that accumulates at the bottom.

    Chemical Treatments

    • Some pond owners use chemicals to help keep up their pond's appearance. Algeacide is a chemical you can add to your water that works by killing off unwanted algae. However, it is dangerous to fish and other wildlife, so it is best used in a pond where only plants are present. There are also pond tinting dyes you can use to color the water.

    Fish and Plants

    • Striking up the right balance between fish and plants is important in pond care and maintenance. Fish eat algae that can make your water cloudy. Plants, in turn, process waste materials from the fish and also generate oxygen.

    Aeration

    • Keeping your pond aerated is also very important. A waterfall or fountain keeps the water circulating with the atmosphere, which introduces oxygen into the water. Oxygen, in turn, is used by fish. Even if you are not stocking your pond with fish or plants, moving water helps prevent mosquitoes and other insects from using your pond as a breeding ground.

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