With the arrival of warm weather, it is time to get outside and begin enjoying your pond or water feature. Your pond has been dormant all winter and needs a little bit of care to spruce it up and make it beautiful for the upcoming season. Everything is based on water temperature; cycles, plant growth, fish feeding, etc. Following these simple tips will help create a smooth transition into spring, as your pond comes back to life.

Clean Out Debris - One of most important aspects of spring pond maintenance is to clean out as much of the debris, leaves and build-up of muck that has accumulated on the bottom of the pond as you can. If this organic matter is left on the bottom of the pond, it will continue to decay, releasing toxins into the water. Polluted pond water can be dangerous to fish. Use a long handled net to scoop out leaves. You may rent one of our pond vacuums. Please call in advance to reserve it.

Tip - Add Microbelift Spring/Summer Cleaner, a natural bacteria, to the pond to help accelerate the decomposition of leaves, sediment, and other organic matter that has accumulated over the fall and winter months. Begin adding Microbelift Spring/Summer Cleaner in mid to late March. Four weekly doses of the pre-measured packs are recommended.

Water Changes - Water changes are a necessary part of pond maintenance and should be done several times a year. In the early spring, you should make a 15% to 25% pond water change over several consecutive days to eliminate the dissolved organics built up over the winter. If you do a larger water change, it will be less stressful for the fish if you move them to a holding tank, filled with existing pond water. Depending on the number of fish, we recommend using a holding tank that it is at least 200 gallons in capacity. You may rent one of our collapsible 300 gallon holding tanks. Please call in advance to reserve it. After you fill the pond back up with the hose, treat the pond with appropriate additives. Then put fish and water from the holding tank back in the pond.

Tip - You don’t want there to be more than a five degree difference between the temperature of your pond water and the temperature of the water coming out of your hose. Drastic temperature changes in the pond water can be very stressful for your fish and even cause disease. The pond water will be cold to work in, so invest in a pair of long sleeve gloves.

Condition Your Tap Water - When doing your spring start up process, don’t forget to condition your tap water. It is important to eliminate the chlorine and chloramines found in municipal water. Even small traces of chlorine will irritate fish and damage gill tissue. Use PondCare Chlorine and Heavy Metal Neutralizer or Stress Coat to remove the harmful chlorine and chloramines from the tap water. Ecofix, by PondCare, can be added to the pond water as a clarifier; helping break down dead algae and increasing the oxygen levels in the water. Phos-Out removes excess phosphate which can cause cloudy pond water. Adding Pond Salt will help insure that your fish remain healthy as they become more active after the winter months.

Start Your Biological Filter - Clean out and start up your pond filtration system. PondCare Biofilter Booster can improve the development of the biologicval filter and keep your pond naturally balanced.

Inspect Your Pond – Check to see if the winter months had any negative effects on your pond’s liner, fittings or tubing.Look for low places in the liner or shifting in the rocks where water may run off.

Test Your Pond Water - It is not possible to know the condition of your pond water without testing it. Test kits offer a simple way to check for problems such as ammonia or nitrites, which are a major cause of fish loss in ponds. Once spring feeding begins, these compounds can reach toxic levels very quickly.

Tip - Test the pond water frequently to head off problems. Complete water changes or add appropriate water treatments to keep your fish healthy.

Plant Care - Part of your spring pond maintenance routine should include repotting your pond plants. Use aquatic planting media and plant pots that give the roots sufficient room to grow. Aquatic plants need the right nutrients to grow and flourish in your pond. Fertilizer tabs should be pushed down into the soil of the pots to stimulate growth. Follow the directions for the required frequency of fertilization.

Tip – Most ponds do not have enough plants so plan for more. Aquatic plants provide a place for fish to hide and will help keep algae under control.

Tip - Begin feeding your fish wheat germ or a spring fish food when the water temperature reaches 65 degreesWheat germ is easier for the fish to digest and reduces the amount of ammonia they produce.

Inspect Your Fish - Take the time to examine your fish to make sure they have come through the winter unharmed. Look for torn fins, blood streaks, ulcers or fungal infections. Use PondCare Melafix or Pimafix, all-natural additives used to treat koi and goldfish diseases.

Aerators and Pond Heaters – Remove your pond heaters or deicers and store them for next winter. You can continue to use your pond aerators, since they provide added oxygen to the pond water.

Tip - Aeration pumps are external pumps and need to be protected from rain.

Cleaning the Skimmer - Clean out the pond’s skimmer or filter so that it is clear of leaves and debris. Check to see that the pump is not clogged.

Tip - Replace the filter pad in the skimmer every year. These pads get extremely dirty.

Cleaning the Waterfall - The waterfall box only needs to be cleaned out two to three times a year so the good bacteria is not constantly removed from the pond. The pads and bag of rock can be rinsed out with buckets of pond water or with a garden hose.

Tip - Rotate and replace the waterfall pads as follows: Remove all pads. Throw away the bottom one. Put a brand new pad on top of the remaining old ones and place them back in the waterfall box. The filter media on top of the pads should be replaced every 3 years.

Using Your U.V. – Bulbs should be replaced annually. Begin using your UV sterilizer four to six weeks after the pond is up and running. This allows enough good bacteria to grow and colonize, helping your pond water cycle properly.

Bog Filtration – Plants will begin to grow back and begin to aid in the filtration process. Remove dead or decaying leaves or plants. Add additional plants this spring if there is enough room.

Pondless Waterfall – Turn pump back on. Check for shifts in rocks or low liner that may cause runoff. Remove any leaves and debris that have accumulated over the winter. Plants will begin to grow back. Remove dead or decaying leaves or plants. Add additional plants this spring if there is enough room. Check water level. Add water if necessary.

Items you want to have for spring cleaning your pond -

1. Thermometer
2. Test Kit
3. Long Handled Net
4. Long Sleeve Gloves
5. Microbelift Spring/Summer Cleaner
6. Wheatgerm
7. Ecofix
8. Phos-out
9. Pond Salt
10. Aquatic Plant Media & Fertilizer Tabs
11. One New Skimmer & Waterfall Pad
12. New UV Bulb