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Sallis Chandler Landscape Designers and GardenersspaceDesign and Advice Garden Styles Garden Features Aftercare

Pond Care

Plants and Wildlife

Water Quality
Clear water and healthy plant and animal life in the pond rely on achieving a biological balance in the pond. Factors that control this are: water volume, surface area of water, aeration, sunlight, plant life, animal life and decomposing debris.

Positive Factors
The pond pump and filter clean and aerate the water.
Floating plants help to limit excessive light levels in the water. Plants help to oxygenate the water.
Fish, amphibians & molluscs feed on insect larvae & algae

Negative Factors
High light levels, high levels of nitrates in the water (especially tap water) and high temperatures may encourage formation of floating algae and blanket weed (algal strands). Overfeeding fish can further nitrify the water encouraging algal growth.

Excessive faeces from overstocking with fish can reduce oxygen levels in the water as waste breaks down. Leaf litter and debris building up the bottom of the pond reduce oxygen levels in the water as waste breaks down and can lead to stagnation of the water. Over colonisation of floating plants or floating fallen leaves can reduce light levels too far in pond leading to poor plant and animal health.

Plants
Waterlilies etc. are planted in baskets. Initially these should be placed in shallow water. As they mature they should be moved down to the deeper part of the pond.

Floating plants will increase through the growing season. Do not allow them to cover too much of the water surface. They will probably die off in the winter. Aerating plants are free floating in the water. Do not remove these when cleaning the water with a net.

 

Fish
Do not allow too high a fish population to build up in the pond. Should a fish die remove from pond as soon as possible

Feed fish sparingly and only feed when they are actively eating what they are given. The warmer the water temperature the more food the fish will eat, but there will generally be plenty of algae and insect life in the pond for them to feed on.

Fallen Leaves and Debris
Remove fallen leaves and debris from the pond as soon as possible. Frequently skim the water surface with a net to remove leaves and debris before they sink to the bottom. Cover the pond with a net during the autumn to prevent fallen leaves sinking into the pond.

NB. Do not allow a 'carpet' of leaves to cover the pond for a long period of time as this may suffocate the fish.

Pond Pump and Filter
General Maintenance - The submersible pond pump draws water from the low part of the pond & pushes it through a biological pond filter which removes suspended debris and under an ultra-violet light which kills waterborne algae. Clean water then returns to the pond

The pump itself has no filter & should rarely need attention unless it becomes colonised by pond life.. The filter should be backwashed periodically. The frequency depends on water quality. Instructions will be with the pump.

Care of Pond Liner
Firestone rubber pond liners are high quality and have a twenty year guarantee. However all pond liners are easily punctured or torn and extreme care should be taken not to damage the liner with sticks or sharp objects. Children & dogs should be discouraged from going in the pond.

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