How to Shock a Pond Quick How-To Guide
If fish are dying in your pond or if you see lots of algae, it may be time to shock the pond to clean it up. Algae needs oxygen to grow, just as fish and aquatic vegetation do. However, too much algae can rob fish and plants of the oxygen they need. Shocking your pond and getting rid of the harmful algae can restore the clean, clear look to you pond. Because desirable plants and animals live in ponds, owners look for natural enzymes and organic compounds to clear the water. Chlorine should only be used as a last resort.
Remove all dead or decaying plant and animal life from the pond. Algae feeds on the decay process.
Place the correct amount of algaecide in your pond according to manufacturer’s directions. For example, if you have a 120-gallon pond, you would need to use 2 teaspoons of general Algaecide. Each algaecide is different, so read the directions closely.
Let the pond pump aerate and spread the algaecide. If algae is still present after a week, shock the pond again.
Benefits of Having a Garden Pond
Having a garden pond is a dream for many homeowners. While creating a garden pond ecosystem can be a lot of work, there are many long-term benefits of building one. A garden pond provides aesthetic beauty to your house or commercial premises and can help you impress your neighbors and visitors. Below are some of the benefits of building a garden pond.
Natural Calmness and Beauty
A garden pond ecosystem provides a natural scenic beauty and natural calmness to your garden. It acts as a relaxing retreat from all the busy work life worries. Having a garden pond provides a very positive effect on the mind and body. Spending some time amidst your garden pond ecosystem can rejuvenate your mind and increase focus, creativity, and sleep quality, reducing stress and anxiety. Having a positive effect on the mind will also improve physical health.
Less pollution
Garden equipment machinery emits high levels of carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and nitrogen oxides. When a pond occupies space in your garden, it automatically reduces the space available for plants and grass. This leads to less use of lawnmowers and garden equipment machines, leading to lesser production of gas and other air pollutants. It also helps in reducing the use of pesticides and fertilizers. Reduced usage of fertilizers helps to reduce the levels of toxicity in the garden. It also leads to cost savings on garden machinery and fertilizers.
Safe sanctuary for local wildlife
While ponds can be filled with beautiful fish, such as Koi and goldfish, they also attract and provide a sanctuary for local wildlife. Aquatic plants can be grown in ponds, which can attract different types of birds and frogs. The growth of algae also attracts tadpoles and other small aquatic animals. A garden pond can lead to an entire ecosystem of flora and fauna of local plants, birds, and small animals.
Financial benefits
We already discussed building a garden pond to save costs on garden machinery and fertilizers, and pesticides. But the most significant financial benefit of having a garden pond is it can help increase the overall value of your property. A garden pond makes your property far more attractive to prospective buyers. Having an already present garden pond means your potential buyer will have to spend money to build a new one, plus it gives your property that premium feels and helps command a larger price.
Our experts with years of experience can quickly help you plan and build a garden pond according to your needs.
Water Pumps for your Garden Pond
Water Pumps for your Garden Pond
Water pumps are one of the most crucial features of the garden pond. Although a static garden pond pump isn’t an absolute necessity, a pump is required when we install a fountain, waterfall, and filter. A water pump helps to keep the circulation of water. Water circulation helps to keep the fish and plants healthy. Water circulation helps in the prevention of algae build-up, breeding of mosquitoes, and stagnation of water. Water circulation also helps in the proper distribution of oxygen levels throughout the garden pond system.
Choosing a correct pump for your garden pond is very essential.
There are following types of pumps for Garden pond
Submersible Pond Pumps
These pumps are fully submerged under water normally at the deepest area of the pond. They are a very economical solution for a small size pond and make a perfect fit for garden ponds. Submersible pumps are excellent for ponds with fish as all the electrical parts are well isolated from water, thus reducing the risk of oil spill or an electrical accident. The water intake pipe attached to filter helps to clean the water before it is delivered to the pool by the outlet pipe. These pumps come in many different sizes.
External or Centrifugal Pond Pumps
These pumps are installed outside the pond usually in a dry location. They are easier to maintain. These pumps are suitable for larger ponds. Compared to submersible pumps they do make a lot of noise.
Selecting the right pump for your Garden Pond
Garden pond pumps are measured by Gallons Per Hour. It’s recommended that the pond water is circulated every hour. So, if you have a pond with a water volume of 1800 gallons then you would require a pump with 1800 Gallons Per Hour. However, if your pond has fish and other aquatic animals you may have to select a larger pump with a capacity at least twice the volume of water in the garden pond.
Choosing the right kind of pump for your garden pond will help to keep your pond clean and healthy. We at Aquascapes can help you to select a pump that’s the right fit for your Garden pond needs with our expertise and experience. You can also check various water pump products in our catalog here.
Garden Pond Care in Winter
Appropriate pond care in winter is extremely important. As the winter season now commences in full swing, things in your garden pond come to a halt. The fishes go into hibernation mode. You shut down your pumps and filters. However, the debris that was collected during the pre-winter months continues to decompose releasing gases into the water. These gases also fuel algae growth. Adding to the complexity, a sheet of ice forms over the water trapping the fish and water beneath it. As the oxygen level decreases due to fish consuming it, the level of toxic gases goes on increasing due to the debris, creating an extremely harmful environment for the fish.
One of the ways is to provide an air hole on the surface of the water so that the fish can survive in winter. Even though the fish go into hibernation in the winter months, they still need oxygen to survive the winter season. If you turn your filters off for the winter, you’ll need to supply oxygen with a pond aerator or a small recirculating pump. Such an aerator should be ideally placed on a shelf in the pond. It will help to maintain the hole on ice while adding oxygen to the pond. Aquascape provides the best in class pond aerator kits for your garden pond.
If you live in an area where climates are colder for a longer duration of time, you may have to use a de-icer along with an aerator. This will help to maintain the hole on surface ice which allows the gases to escape from the water.
When the temperature drops below 50 degress F , the metabolism of the fish drops. Hence, it’s ideal to stop feeding the fish below this temperature as it may prove very harmful for the fish. Following the above guidelines will definitely help you in pond care in winter.
