Pond care is relatively simple provided that the pond is well constructed prior to introducing livestock as well as being kept clean whilst in operation. With pools and ponds you should ensure that the correct water levels are maintained, either by topping up during hot weather or draining off excesses during wetter times. This will avoid undue weathering of exposed areas of pond lining or erosion of banks during flooding.
Cracks in concrete or tears in liners can be repaired but it is rather time consuming and obviously a problem worth avoiding. Properly mixed concrete should not crack even in severe weather conditions. We find that most tearing in lining material is due to improper selection of the correct pond liner prior to installation, other reasons are the dreaded visits from herons, otters and the like whose sharp claws can easily penetrate weaker pond lining.
Green 'scummy' water is a common problem with smaller ponds. A certain amount of algae is present in all water, however during longer periods of sunlight even a perfect balance of fish and plants is not enough for prevention and the water turns a livid green colour. In small still water ponds this can be overcome with the installation of a filtration system including ultra violet light clarifiers. The U.V. light kills algae cells when passed close to its spectrum, whilst the filtration unit removes this dead organic matter before being systematically returned to the pond to cause more problems.
Provided that your pond fish are not overfed and the water is well oxygenated, they should remain healthy. But if you do notice fish acting out of character or swimming too lethargically then we suggest you contact your local fish professionals. Lumps and bumps or skin lesions are obvious signs of distress and should be treated as soon as is possible. Again, a quick call to your local fish pond care people to request the correct diagnosis and treatment should suffice to save your pond fish.
Late autumn and winter are not the best times of year to give your pond a thorough clean, since you will probably disturb all the plants and fish trying to acclimatize themselves for the winter months. Some plants even send down buds to the bottom of the pond where they lie until the weather becomes milder. The best time for a good clean up is in spring, after the last frosts, when pond life is back in full swing and the fish begin to feed actively.
To improve the appearance of the pond and to prevent against disease remove any rotting or dying vegetation from water and marginal plants after the first two or three frosts in early autumn, excess floating plants that look dead should also be removed with a net or garden rake. Fish at this time will not be feeding and will basically live off their own body fats for the remainder of the winter. Make sure you give them adequate cover in the form of rocks, ledges or deeper water where they can hide undisturbed.
Your main concern in summer will be to keep the water clean and well topped up. Remove any leaves or dirt and take care that no grass cutting fall into the pond. It is very important that no garden fertilizers or chemicals get into the pond bio-system, this can poison both plants and livestock. If you see your fish coming to the surface to gasp for air during hot weather, this means that the oxygen levels have dropped considerably and extra agitation of the surface water is necessary along with a partial water change of no more than 25%.
Under extreme drought conditions it is better to trickle water slowly back into the pond with a hosepipe rather than topping up large quantities that have evaporated. Small changes in any bio-system is always better than larger drastic action. Generally our advice is, little and often will give you the pond care success you seek.
David 'Goldie' Edwards is managing director of Garden, Aquarium & Pond Supplies Ltd. based in the UK. His garden pond supplies website gives clients the opportunity to further enhance their aquatic knowledge and fishkeeping skills
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