Pond Maintenance Advice

Small garden and fish ponds are popular additions for many people that wish to complement their homes with the beauty of a water feature. However, many people that install garden ponds fail to realise how much maintenance is involved in order to keep them looking beautiful. A pond that is not regularly maintained can be the cause of a host of problems including stagnation, bacteria, dead or unhealthy fish, and even breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other unwanted insects.

First of all, it’s easier to maintain a pond if you break the maintenance up into regular intervals.

Weekly Pond Maintenance

Each week you should perform a visual inspection of the pond and mark the water level. If it has dropped since the last week due to evaporation (this will be especially prevalent during the summer months), top it off with fresh water. If you are finding that you are consistently losing 10% or more water weekly, consider adding a dechlorinator (which is an additive that removes chlorine from the water) or creating a rock feature around the pond which will lend extra shade - reducing evaporation. If the water stays at a consistent level from week to week, remove some to use on nearby plant beds; replacing what you have taken with fresh water. Using pond water on your other garden plants can be a good fertiliser and helps keep your pumps and filters from getting clogged up from buildup. Look for any decaying vegetation and remove any debris that may get caught in the pumps filtration system.

Monthly Pond Maintenance

Every month, clean all pump filters and associated equipment with fresh water and pump fresh water through the pump. This is not a requirement; however, if you use a specialized BioFilter as cleaning it with fresh water can harm the delicate ecosystem of the pond and possibly harm your fish.

Annual Pond Maintenance

Each year, perform a thorough cleaning of the pond by removing all of the plants and fish and pump out all of the water in the pond. Use some of the water that you pumped out to house the fish while you clean the pond. Without using harsh chemicals, scrub the bottom to remove any contaminants or sludge and rinse thoroughly. When you refill the pond, ensure that you dechlorinate the water before replacing the plants and fish.

Stocking only a moderate amount of fish so that they don’t have to struggle for depleted oxygen levels. Additionally, create and maintain a balanced, healthy ecosystem in your pond by utilizing plants that are well-equipped to survive and thrive in pond conditions as well as rocks and stones. Follow these tips diligently and your pond will be a haven for your fish and beauty-spot in your garden for years to come.

To speak to an expert about pond maintenance call us on 08456 589 599