Pond Maintenance Tips

Constructing a pond in the courtyard or garden is a popular concept. The pond can be an attractive addition to your surroundings. You can decide the size of the pond depending upon the available space and your budget. The pond itself is a small ecosystem. You may fill your pond with some aquatic plants as well as fish such as goldfish or koi fish. You should provide your pond with pumps and filtration system for water circulation and purification. Different types of filters are available such as the biofilter, biological filter and UV filter. Several things can affect a pond's ecosystem such as dead plants, uneaten fish food, insects and waste from the creatures in pond. Hence you should be careful about the maintenance of your pond.

Helpful Tips for Pond Maintenance

Here are some helpful tips for the pond maintenance:

• You should regularly check the water level of your pond as pond water may evaporate continuously. The pond does not have an ability to hold the water during the rainy season unlike a lake or the sea. It may lose excess water during the dry season. Therefore, you should check and maintain adequate water level. You should fill the pond with fresh water as needed, to ensure safety and health of the aquatic life in its ecosystem. If the water level is not dropped within 3 weeks, then pump out some water and add fresh water in the pond. Add a dechlorinator to minimize the amount of chlorine in the newly added water. Dechlorination is very important, as a small amount of chlorine can harm or even kill the fish in the pond.
• Check your pond for the presence of any decaying plants and other debris. The toxins released during their breakdown in the process are harmful to the fish in your pond. Regularly check the bottom of your pond and remove the decaying plants and debris from it.
• Check the filtering system of your pond every 5 weeks for the presence of clogs or other obstructions. These obstructions can prevent the uninterrupted flow of water. Keep in mind that the filter should work for 24 hours without any interruption. Even if it stops for a few hours, it may lose a large amount of its beneficial bacteria. In order to avoid it, you should regularly clean the filter to maintain the cleanliness of your pond.
• Add some beneficial bacteria to your pond. These bacteria are the natural cleaning agents and helpful in maintaining the ecosystem. They feed on the fish waste and other organic debris in the pond. They convert ammonia into nitrites, which are then converted to nitrates. Nitrates play a major role in pond filtration. They are absorbed by the aquatic plants, which in turn release oxygen. This nitrogen cycle helps to reduce phosphorus and other harmful contents in the pond. This cycle can also prevent the growth of algae. The beneficial bacteria feed on decaying matter such as fish waste, dead bugs and leaves. Such organic waste is essential for the growth of algae. The growth of algae in the pond water is prevented due to lack of the organic waste. These beneficial bacteria are available in four forms, i.e.liquid, powder, barley straw and blocks.
• Proper aeration of your pond is very important, as fish and bacteria need oxygen. Once you provide your pond with adequate aeration, it is easier to maintain it. You should also fertilize your water plants with appropriate fertilizers.

Simple pond maintenance done on a regular basis can make your pond's surrounding lively and beautiful. With a little effort, you can enjoy the well-maintained ecosystem of your pond.