A small pond can be the ultimate water feature, providing a calming oasis and an attractive focal point for your landscaping. It can also form a fully functioning ecosystem, which can make pond maintenance much easier. This feature does require some attention and professional expertise, so use this guide to learn more before filling your yard with water.

What to Know About Maintaining a Pond

Why is the pond water green?

Green pond water is usually caused by algae, which need nutrients and sunlight to survive. Adding plants or fish to the pond to absorb nutrients and block sunlight can make the water less hospitable to microorganisms. You should also check to ensure the pump and filter are large enough to handle the size of the pond.

Do you need to keep the pump running 24/7?

Pumps are crucial for restoring oxygen levels in the water and pulling out algae and other contaminants. If you have multiple pumps, you don’t necessarily need to have them all running constantly. Make sure you have enough running to circulate half of the total volume of the pond every hour.

Do ponds need to be chlorinated?

While ponds need to be treated, common pool cleaners are toxic to the fish, plants, and the beneficial bacteria of a healthy ecosystem. Most pond maintenance professionals recommend using organic filters, adding helpful bacteria, and keeping water aerated so that the system can clean itself.

What should you do during winter?

New York winters are especially harsh and often cold enough to make ponds freeze over. Fortunately, healthy fish will hibernate through the winter, so you just need to make sure they have a healthy environment when they wake up in the spring.

Keep the pump running as long as the water is still a liquid, and clear out any dead or dying plants. A pond maintenance expert can create a winterization plan tailored to your unique ecosystem for specialized care.

 

For over 18 years, Clearly Aquatics has kept ponds beautiful throughout Bloomfield, NY, and the Finger Lakes region. Their pond maintenance experts offer a broad range of services that include everything you need to keep your water feature beautiful and healthy for years to come. Visit their website for more on their maintenance services, or call (585) 657-7679 to schedule an inspection.