General Pond Keeping and water Garden Fish Pond Tips And Answers
How do I remove the sludge from the bottom of my pond?
If your pond has a lot of debris and sludge on the pond floor then why don’t you get your hands on a pond vacuum cleaner, also known as a pond vac. These pond hoovers are great for removing muck and are sometimes known as muck vacs. The best pond vacs are made by Oase, a well known German manufacturer.
How can I get into my pond without getting wet?
If the water is too cold then you can always try extra long shoulder length gloves for handling fish and removing other pond debris. For those of you who do not have webbed feet there is always a selection of long water proof waders; ideal for getting to those hard to get at places in your pond.
My pond or water feature is loosing water!
If it is extremely hot then some of this may be down to evaporation. You could always do a quick check by switching off the pond pump (not for too long mind!). If the level stops falling then the leak is outside the pond and may be due to a split pipe. If however the level continues to fall then you have more than likely got a leak. If you have a concrete pond then this may be due to a crack in the pond wall. If you have a liner pond then you have more than likely got a tear in the pond liner material; this can be fixed with a pond liner repair kit, quite easily. In the case of a water feature there may be a crack.
How can I add more air to my fish pond?
It is difficult for atmospheric oxygen to mix with water. As the pond water temperature rises it becomes even more difficult for oxygen to be absorbed into the pond water. This is compounded by the fact that warm water is physically incapable of retaining as much oxygen. Always ensure that there is a secondary means of adding oxygen into your pond; a waterfall, venturi or air pump is an excellent way to do this.
How can I measure the average depth of my fish pond?
If you have a garden pond that does not have a uniform depth then it is relatively easy to measure the average depth. Take a long stick and mark it at say 2 inch intervals with a water proof marker pen. Walk around the pond and take readings from about 10 different places. At each spot make a note of the actual depth. After you have finished taking the readings, add them together and divide by 10. There you go!
At what temperature do Koi stop eating?
Koi fish under normal circumstances will stop eating when the water reaches 8 Celsius (46 Fahrenheit) ... For further Koi keeping articles click the link ...
Do I need to add salt to my garden fish pond?
Salt is predominantly used as a means of fixing bacterial fish infections. I am not too convinced that it works as a general treatment, simply by adding it to the pond water. If you have a sick fish then it is better to treat the individual fish in an isolation tank or pond. Be careful to make sure that you do not overdose. If however you feel that using pond salt (non iodized salt) is the thing to do then use about 2 lbs per 20 US gallons of pond water as a general treatment. For a short term soaking outside the pond itself and in order to treat individual fish use about 3 times as much salt as above.
Are Bacterial starters any good?
Adding pond start bacterial mixtures can do no harm but I am also convinced that they are a pure marketing myth. Having said this some pond keepers swear by them.
Make Sure You Have Enough Power Points
If you are installing a new pond and arranging for a supply of electricity to it then do add any extra power points for possible future use.
Keep Fertilizers Away From Your Pond
Avoid spreading fertilizers around the pond area and do your best to prevent water run off from the garden into the fish pond. This is often the source of high phosphate content in garden ponds, leading to an increase in algae blooms and blanket weed problems. Read now you can have algae free garden ponds permanently for further information and advice ...
Quick Solution To Low and High pH Problems
If you have a pH reading that is high (alkaline) then add a touch of diluted vinegar, or lemon juice. If your pond pH reading is low (acidic) then you will need to add some baking powder.
The secret is to do this gradually over a period of time. You should add some, wait for a while and then take another pH reading. Ensure that you take readings at the same time daily, to allow for natural fluctuations that take place in the pond. An example of a natural fluctuation is the level of carbon dioxide in the pond water. At night as carbon dioxide is released by plants and pond algae the pond pH may well decrease. During the day when plants and algae use carbon dioxide, the pH level may rise. About 10am is a good time to test your pond.
How Do I Test The pH and Ammonia of My Garden Fish Pond?
This is easily carried out straight forward using a suitable pond testing kit from a reputable manufacturer. Always remember to check the use by dates, as chemicals are sensitive to time and may not work correctly. Do not be too concerned with the readings if everything seems well. The only time to worry is if there are severe changes that are not the norm for your fish pond. This is why you need to take readings at around the same time every day. You are looking for patterns and differences. By carefully monitoring the pond water you will start to recognize when something isn't quite right. Read avoid fish fatalities and control ammonia levels for further information regarding how ammonia and pond pH affect your pond fish.
How Do I Choose The Right Location For My Garden Fish Pond?
Choosing the right location to situate your fish pond is a combination between which aesthetically pleases you the most and which is the most beneficial for your Koi, pond fish and aquatic plants. Ideally you will need a spot which has sunlight for at least half of the day, for the benefit of the aquatic pond inhabitants and pond plants; aquatic plants, particularly day blooming lilies will not flower without sunshine. A moderate amount of shade will provide welcome respite for your fish. This is where water plants come into play.
A critical factor when choosing the location for a pond is the electricity supply. Make sure you have enough power points; the Cal Pump power control centre is worth a consideration here. Try not to place the garden pond near to deciduous trees which shed their leaves in the fall; this pollutes the pond and increases ammonia and carbon dioxide levels. Certain tree species are also extremely poisonous to fish and wild life. In cooler climates avoid exposing the pond to prevailing winds. Site and landscape your pond to avoid surface water from rain pouring into the pond. Smaller ponds heat up and cool down quickly and as such the inhabitants are exposed to significant temperature cycles. Read what do I need to know before I build a fish pond? for further information and advice.
Do not Let Your pond freeze over in winter
For those pond keepers who live in areas with extremely cold winters, where there is a possibility of the fish pond freezing over you will need to purchase a pond deicer or pond water heater, to prevent this from happening. It is critically important to ensure that there is always a hole in the pond ice; this allows toxic gases to escape. Alternatively you can place a pan of boiling hot water on the ice. This will cause the ice to melt. Under no circumstances should you hit the ice with a hammer, as the resulting shock waves will cause stress to the Koi and goldfish.
Reduce the confusion between imperial and US pond measurements
To complicate matters further there are imperial gallons and US gallons. Inevitably you will come across both in pond keeping so use these simple conversion factors if necessary. You can always click on my pond calculators if this is easier for you ...
To convert gallons to liters multiply by 4.54
To convert gallons to US gallons multiply by 1.2
To convert US gallons to liters multiply by 3.78
To convert cubic feet to gallons multiply by 6.23
To convert cubic feet to US gallons multiply by 7.48
To convert inches to cm multiply by 2.54
To convert feet to meters multiply by 0.305
To convert pounds to kilograms multiply by 2.2
To convert square feet to square meters multiply by 0.093
To convert cubic meters to liters multiply by 1000
To convert in the other direction you divide by the factor. For example to convert liters to gallons you would divide by 4.54
