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Pond Maintenance Spring
As soon as the water temperature in your pond approaches 42 F (6 C), it is time for spring maintenance. Spring pond maintenance requires inspection of your equipment including your pump, tubing and water lines, fountain sprays, filters, pond liner or preformed pond, and any other equipment that may form the basic infrastructure of your pond. This is what to look for:
Pumps - If you have a submersible pump with replaceable rotor (what we recommend at PlanetRena), inspect the rotor/impeller area for damage. This includes shafts, magnets and impeller blades. If the shaft is bent or broken, the impeller blades are missing or damaged, or the rotor magnet is pitted or scored, replace the whole assembly. Your pump will operate more efficiently and quietly with a rotor impeller replacement . Also inspect and clean the rotor well, rotor cover, and the outside of the pump. Use a stiff bottle brush or old toothbrush to reach inside the rotor well. You can also use nylon scrub pads to clean the outside surfaces of the pump. This will remove slime and algae without harming the surfaces. If you have heavy calcium deposits, simply use a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water on a pad to remove these deposits. For very heavy deposits soak the whole pump in this mixture overnight and then scrub with a nylon or other synthetic scrub pad.
Filters - If you have a submersible pond filter, inspect it for damage to the case and tubing. Replace the filter or tubing as needed. Replace the filter pad or pads as needed. External pond filters require similar maintenance but may also require repair or replacement of the plumbing tubes inside the filter. If the unit has biological media such as bio-balls, etc., these can be rinsed if they are clogged with organic matter. PlanetRena recommends PondCare cut-to-fit replacement filters both regular and carbon for mechanical filtration along with Ammo Rocks Biological Filter media as replacements for the media that came with your filter. In order to quickly restart the biological action of your filter, we recommend PondCare BIOFILTER BOOSTER.
Pond Liners and other containers - Some hobbyists recommend a 15-20% water change in the spring. The need for this varies greatly depending on the climate. It can't hurt, and one benefit of this water change is that the lower water level reveals the top foot of your liner making for easier inspection. We don't recommend draining and scrubbing the liner unless you have a significant build-up of organic material in the bottom. You can delay this major cleaning by using PondZyme Plus heavy-duty pond cleaner. This product actually breaks down solid waste into small particles that can be removed from the pond by filtration or water changes and significantly reduces organic waste buildup in the bottom of your pond. This liquid also makes a great plant fertilizer!
Plants - Water plants are no different than other plants. You should remove dead matter and cut back those plants that have grown too large. We do recommend leaving enough plants to cover 2/3 of the surface to reduce the chance of algae blooms. Water lilies should be divided about every three years. Abundant, full leaves and diminished flowers are good indicators that the lillies need to be divided.
Fish - If your fish have remained in the pond over the winter, now is the time to net a few and make sure they are not carrying any diseases or parasites that will jeopardize the entire pond's population. You will also need to remove excess fish that will upset the eco-system of the pond. A general rule of thumb is to have no more than 3-4 inches of fish for every square foot of pond surface. Fish require a different diet during the spring; feed them a diet high in carbohydrates and lower in protein during this time. When the pond water is cooler (42-72 (21 ), feeding a higher protein diet will result in poor water quality since the fish convert this excess protein into ammonia and excrete it into the pond.
PlanetRena recommends the PondCare Spring and Autumn Pond Foods when the water temperature is between (42 - 72 (21 ). If your fish do have damage from over wintering such as ulcers, open wounds, or tail and fin rot, we recommend the natural, patented remedy MELAFIX for rapid healing of wounds without harming pond plants or the biological filter.
Water Quality - Spring algae control presents many challenges to pond keepers when the eco-system is out of balance due an overabundance of fish in proportion to plant life. Planet Rena recommends the proven and tested one-two punch of Arteich Pond Colorant , a harmless, blue dye that turns the water a beautiful blue color, masking algae blooms initially but fading as water changes are made in the spring. This will give your plants a chance to mature, providing more shade and absorbing nutrients from the water this reducing the growth of algae. Secondly, we believe in PondCare ALGAEFIX . This EPA registered product is the first selective algae control product for home use. It will control single-cell (green water) algae, blanketweed and string algae without harming your live plants.
Water Testing - PlanetRena believes in regular water testing of your pond. Spring is a good time to test for Ammonia which is colorless and odorless but highly toxic to fish. Testing pH is also important; water that is too acidic or too alkaline is harmful to both fish and plants. The final test we recommend in the spring is Phosphate. Too much phosphate promotes algae growth which is difficult to control in the spring.
Following these basic guidelines will make your spring maintenance less of a chore, leaving you with more time to enjoy your pond. If you have further questions about this subject or any other covered at PlanetRena, email us using our handy
contact us form.
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