Jennifer Brennan, horticulturist at Chalet Nursery was in our ABC7 studio to show us how to do that.
- Proper Location
- 5 - 6 hours of sunlight but more sun raises the potential for more algae growth.
- If your pond is small, it can warm excessively and harm your fish.
- Protection from wind
- Avoid low areas of your yard (run-off)
- Avoid locating close to trees (roots)
- Close to grounded exterior electrical outlet
- Level site
Pump Requirement
Move at least half of the total water volume every hour.
- Volume formula:
- Length x Width x Depth = Cubic Feet
- Cubic feet x 7.5 = Total gallons
- Example: Our 8' x 10' x 3' pond will hold 1800 gallons.
- Filters
- Mechanical: trap large particles of suspended matter such as fish waste, food, and decaying organic matter
- Biological: harbor massive amounts of beneficial bacteria
- Pre-filters: placed on inlet side of pump; protect impeller from damage and reduce clogging
- Balancing The Pond
- Water: no ammonia or other toxins, ph 6.5-8.5, good movement
- Plants: surface-covering water lilies, submerged oxygenators, marginals, bog and floaters
- Fish, frogs, snails, etc.
- Purpose Of Plants
- Provide shade for the water surface to protect fish and shade out the algae
- Cover ½ the surface with foliage
- Water Lilies: ornamental, roots submerged, leaves on surface, flowers on or above the surface
- Hardy: flowers on surface of water, not harmed by winter unless water is frozen solid
- Tropical: flowers held above surface of water, leaves notched or ruffled, night bloomers.
- Deepwater aquatics: Lotus, water poppy, floating hearts; roots submerged 6-24", leaves on water surface, flowers on or above the surface
- Floaters: roots submerged, leaves & stems free-floating on or just below the surface, flowers on or above the surface
- Oxygenators: keep water clear, provide food and spawning area for fish, underwater leaves absorb minerals and carbon dioxide
- Marginals: shallow-water plants, grow close to the edge of the pond, purely ornamental
- Bog plants: roots in moist soil, not permanently suspended in water, leaves and flowers above surface
- Planting zones of the pond: margin, shelf, deep water
- Planting technique: use mesh pots, soil with no organic matter, top-dress with gravel
- Seasons of the Pond
- Winter: use floating heater to keep an area of ice open for gaseous exchange
- Spring: introduce beneficial bacteria early and regularly to control algae; do not feed fish until water temperatures are above 55 degrees F; introduce floating plants to cover the water surface
- Summer: monitor plants for pests; enjoy flowers; continue beneficial bacteria applications; clean pump filter regularly
- Fall: remove fallen leaves and decaying plant material from the water; wait until after the first frost to move hardy plants into the deep parts of the pond; clean out excess slug and any built-up string algae before winter
- Pond Care
- Accuclear: pond clarifier
- Algaefix: controls 3 types of algae: green, string, hair & blanketweed
- Ecofix: bacterial pond clarifier
- Aquatic Plant Food Tablets
- Spring & Autumn Premium Pellet Cool Water Koi & Goldfish Food
- Summer Staple Premium Pellet Warm Water Koi & Goldfish Food
