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Seasonal Care
Spring
• Early Summer •
Mid to Late Summer •
Autumn • Winter
SPRING
Life returns to your pond in the Spring. Your fish are
still lethargic. Do not feed them until the water
reaches 40 degrees F or above for a week straight. They
are unable to digest food if they are fed then forced
into hibernation by sudden cold spells. Feed your fish
easily digestible wheat germ rich foods (low protein).
Feed at midday when fish activity is at its most.
Keep pond covered by a net until marginal plants grow
and while fish are still lethargic-so hungry Herons and
King Fishers do not empty your pond of fish.
After removing net clean back dead plants and foliage.
Remove leaves from the pond bottom, decomposing leaves
become stressful to fish. It is advisable to carry out a
partial water change add Aquasafe or Chloramine to
reduce Chlorine, ammonia & heavy metals. This freshens
up your pond.
Check all electrical equipment. Clean intakes of pump
and check cable.
Turn on Bio-filter (rinse all parts), when temp reaches
40 degrees F. Add clear Pond bio-organisms daily to
bio-filter for quicker start-up of bio-filter.
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EARLY SUMMER
Net out or pull out thread algae which flourish this
time of year. Your pond will be green until your plants
start to shield the surface. If this green pea soup
drives you crazy you may consider investing in a
bio-filter. A properly sized and maintained bio-filter
will clear water within a few weeks.
Fertilize your plants monthly and divide any plants
which may be overgrowing their containers.
Fish will be feeding more now and can be given higher
protein food. Keep an eye on your fish health as this
time warm weather also breeds parasites.
Bio-filters are under great stress at this time
Bio-organisms are unable to reproduce enough to cope
with increased fish waste and increased algae growth.
Clean pre filters regularly to prevent clogging.
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MID TO LATE SUMMER
Your pond is at its best. Their may be times when water
levels drop significantly and more frequent topping may
be required.
Oxygen levels may drop, your pond life will benefit from
pumps being run all day and night.
You can still introduce or divide plants.
Monthly maintenance of bio-filter, flushing and clean
intake of pumps for clogs. You will notice significant
reduction in flow if you have a serious clog. This will
reduce the life and efficiency of your pump if not
cleaned occasionally. Small filters in ponds must be
rinsed 2 to 3 times per week. Remember to rinse small
and large filter pads in a bucket of pond water to
prevent the elimination of beneficial bio-organisms.
Chlorine in city water kills bio-organisms.
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AUTUMN
Tidy up pond, trim back dying plants. Lower lilies to
bottom of pond, cut back. Trim back oxygenating plants
and replant. Early autumn is the last possible time to
consider a complete pond clean out. Otherwise, change
20% of the water to refresh the pond. remove as much
waste from the bottom of pond as possible.
Cover the pond with netting to prevent leaf pollution.
Examine fish for any signs of disease. Do not move fish
or introduce new ones when temperatures reach 10 degrees
C/ 50 degrees F. See winter section for pump
replacement.
Give filters a good cleaning before winter sets in.
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WINTER
Fish enter a state of semi-hibernation at temperatures
below 40 degrees F. Moving very slowly in the depths of
the pond. Refrain from feeding fish until the spring.
During the short mild spells of winter the fish will
find natural food.
Leave pond cover or nets in place.
If your pump is placed at the bottom of the pond, you
must move it slightly below the surface. The ideal
situation is to only stir the surface water if you plan
on running your pump through the winter. You should use
a smaller pump in the winter to stir surface. If you
have a separate smaller pump for your bio-filter use
that. Keeping the surface moving will prevent the pond
from freezing.
If the surface is allowed to freeze for more than two
days fresh oxygen is prevented from entering the water
and waste gasses are prevented from exiting.
You can do the following to melt the ice:
Melt a hole in the ice by boiling water and placing hot
pan bottom on the ice.
Plug in commercially purchased pond heater which senses
temperature change.
Keep a pump running all winter significantly reduced
volume, moving water does not freeze.
Do Not break the ice, shock waves stun or kill fish!
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