Keep Pond Maintenance to a Minimum

Ideally, pond owners want to keep their pond maintenance to a minimum. However, there are some key things that need to be done on a regular basis in order to ensure the health and well-being of the pond’s inhabitants.

What should be done to a pond on a regular basis?

Pond Maintenance Tips

This really depends on the pond. If it is a small, decorative pond, then it may only need to be cleaned once a year. If it is a larger pond used for fishing or swimming, then it will need to be cleaned more often – perhaps every two to four weeks.

In either case, there are some basic things that should be done on a regular basis:

• Remove any debris that has accumulated in the pond, such as leaves or branches.
• Check the water level and add water if necessary.
• Check the pump and filter system to make sure they are working properly.
• Check the pH level of the water and adjust if necessary.

We encourage adding bacteria to your pond during the growing season – it boosts this powerful cleaning engine. If the bacteria treatments seem like a chore, you can add it automatically with the Aquascape Dosing System . This unit supplies your water feature with the necessary amounts of bacteria and enzymes to keep water clear. Just change the packet every month or two and the dose does the rest!

How can pond maintenance be made easier?

There are a few ways that pond maintenance can be made easier. One way is to use floating plants, which will help to keep the surface of the water clean and reduce the amount of maintenance required. Another way to make it easier is by using a bottom drain, which will mitigate the need to remove debris from the surface.

Use a Low-Maintenance Pond Filter

A good quality pond filter will help keep the water clean and clear, meaning you will not have to spend as much time cleaning the pond manually. Install a pond pump. A pond pump will help circulate the water and keep it oxygenated, which is important for healthy fish and plants.

There are two key components that give a pond proper filtration. A mechanical skimmer houses a pump and pulls water through a basket and multiple filter mats. This simple process removes most large debris and sediment before it reaches the pump below. A biofilter, sometimes called a Biofalls, provides a habitat for beneficial bacteria. These microscopic friends break down and remove other waste like ammonia, nitrogen, decaying plant debris, and fish waste that can cause water-quality issues and algae blooms.

Are there any other things that can be done to make pond maintenance easier?

Water Quality is VERY Important When it Comes to Koi Pond Maintenance

While maintaining healthy water quality is important for all ponds, it becomes especially critical if the pond contains koi. To keep them healthy, they need plenty of room to swim around and oxygen-rich water. If their surroundings do not accommodate this, they could contract ulcers or become ill.

If you have a koi pond, you should consider adhering to a pond maintenance schedule, or hiring a professional pond contractor.

Pond maintenance schedule

Once all the pond ecosystem parts are in place, what kind of maintenance is required? Here’s a schedule to keep you on track.

1. Check the skimmer basket. You should do this every two or three days. After a storm or a windy day, this may need to be daily. – Time: 1-2 minutes in fall, we highly recommend using a net to prevent tons of leaves from getting in the water. Your pond netting can look surprisingly unobtrusive and save hours of work.
2. Add bacteria. This is as simple as dumping a little powder into the water. – Time: 1 minute every week or 5 minutes every two months to change the dose packet
3. Feed the fish. This isn’t a chore – it’s a highlight of the day. But if you’re out of town for a few days, don’t worry. The fish will be fine eating debris in the pond. Time: 2 minutes
4. Check the water level. With a pond, there will always be a small amount of water loss through evaporation and splash. You just need to keep an eye on it. Every pond is different, but monitor the water level maybe once a week. Again, this isn’t really a chore – you just have to hang out by your pond. – Time: 5-10 minutes
5. Trim plants. You generally don’t need to worry about this until the plants are mature. It also depends on the number of plants you have. – Time: 15 minutes a month
6. Spring clean. We highly encourage a cleaning and checkup to make sure your pond is working efficiently. It starts the new growing season off right and makes sure your pond looks great. This is a messy and time-consuming job that works best with proper equipment. If you’re an enthusiastic DIYer, you can clean a pond yourself – here’s how. But you might consider hiring a professional to save the trouble. – Time: 2 minutes for a quick phone call or up to a full day if doing it yourself (time will vary depending on the size of your pond)

And that’s about it!

Keeping your water feature in good working order doesn’t take a lot of time – leaving you plenty of time to personalize your outdoor space. And that’s the fun part!