Congratulations on your new home! And what a stroke of good luck – you get to dip your toe into the beauty and tranquility of an aquatic lifestyle. Once you experience the natural wonder of your own personal oasis, you’ll wonder how you ever survived without a pond in the first place.
Moving into a new home is exciting, and discovering the joy of a pond is, too. But if you’ve never owned a pond, inheriting one can seem daunting and overwhelming. Where to start? What to do?
For starters – don’t panic! Even if you feel like you’re looking at more of a mud puddle than a pond, you’ve got options.
Take some time to learn the basics of pond care so you can keep your new water feature healthy and beautiful (or get it back up to snuff if it’s in a state of neglect). And remember you can always visit our pond shop, bring photos, and talk to our pond pros – whether you need advice and recommendations, or want pond care “done for you” with a professional eye.
In the meantime, read on to find out how to assess your new pond, what to look for, and what steps to take to get it – and keep it – looking and functioning beautifully.
Take Stock
Before you can decide what to do next, it’s important to know what you have to work with.
Is your pond healthy and vibrant, or has it likely seen better days? All healthy ponds share a few key characteristics.
First, a pond always moves. Whether there is a stream feeding into it, a waterfall flowing into it, or a bubbler, fountain or aerator keeping the water moving, a pond should never be stagnant.
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Stagnant water is not a pond – it’s a puddle! Stagnant water is a mosquito magnet, an algae feast, and not a good home for fish or other critters. Determine the source of movement, and if there is none, put resolving it first on your to-do list.
In a healthy pond you should be able to see to the bottom. If the water is cloudy or has a lot of debris floating on it, you’ll need to address it with a good cleaning and perhaps a water clarifier. A good filtration system will keep water clean and healthy over time.
And if you can see to the bottom but it’s covered in a layer of debris, decaying leaves, or sludge, you’ll need to resolve that, too. In that case, you may need to drain and clean the pond, or have a pro do it for you.
Finally, a healthy pond has algae. That may sound counterintuitive but not all algae is bad algae. If the entire surface is covered in a layer of opaque green, then you’ll need to employ an algicide and do some deep cleaning. But a slick layer of algae on stones or a bit of floating algae is actually a good sign – it means your pond is much more likely to be a naturally balanced ecosystem.
Evaluate Equipment
A healthy pond is naturally balanced, but it still needs some help from science to keep it that way. Pond equipment like skimmers, filters, pumps, heaters, aerators, dosing systems, ionizers, de-icers, and more, can all contribute to the ongoing health of a pond.
To find your equipment, examine the area inside and around your pond. A pump, for example, may be submerged, or installed outside the pond. Filters are usually located at the top of waterfalls, and skimmers are typically located across from a waterfall and may be disguised with a faux stone cover.
Familiarize yourself with the equipment you have, including the brand and model. There are lots of options, so knowing what you have will be helpful if you’re looking for service, repairs, or new equipment. It will also ensure that you know how to care for the equipment you have and support its longevity.
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There is no “best” equipment, just equipment that is best for you. A pond pro will be able to tell you whether you’re missing any essential equipment, or what you may want to add for the healthiest results.
Do A Fish Check
If you have a fish pond, you’re in luck! These playful critters will bring you days and years of joy, and are a valuable part of a healthy ecosystem.
During warmer months, check to be sure fish are lively, and their colors are bright. If fish are listless or if there are spots on their bodies, something is out of balance and you may need to take proactive action to help them heal.
During colder months, fish may have already wound down so you may not see them at all. Don’t panic, though – whatever the time of year, the best thing you can do for your fish is to keep pond water clean and clear, and be sure that the water is moving.
Don’t let water become overheated during summer, and don’t let it freeze over during winter. This will ensure that oxygen is always circulating to keep fish alive and well.
Finally, mind your feeding habits. Koi especially may take to “begging” and looking rather doleful until you feed them, but don’t be fooled. Feeding more than once per day, or more than they can easily eat within five minutes, is a recipe for disaster. Excess food and fish waste will cause decay and bacteria growth that can throw your pond way out of balance.
Choose a quality fish food relative to the season – cold water fish food during fall and spring, and regular food during warmer months.
If water temperature is below 55º F, stop feeding fish entirely. In fact, if your ecosystem is balanced and healthy, with a good balance of plants, aeration, algae, and wildlife, you shouldn’t need to feed fish at all. Of course, it can be a fun experience that is part of your enjoyment, and koi can be taught to literally eat right out of your hand. So don’t give it up if you don’t want to, just be smart about how you do it.
Survey Plants
Plants don’t just add a beautiful finishing touch to your pond, they also play a vital role in its health. Different types of plants play different roles.
Floating plants like lilies and lotus are some of the most prized in the pond world, and for good reason. Their iconic blooms add a charm and serenity it would be hard to achieve without them.
But they are also vital for keeping you pond cool during hot months and preventing the beating summer sun from harming fish or creating just the right conditions for an algae outbreak.
Submerged plants create the necessary oxygen for healthy water and fish. They also filter out nitrates to help keep water clean, and they provide a food source for fish, too.
Marginals, like the vivid cardinal flower or regal iris, are a bright spot on any day, and will attract myriad wildlife like butterflies and hummingbirds. From blooms to tall grasses, marginals help prevent erosion at water’s edge, offer shade on hot days, and also absorb excess nutrients to keep water healthy and clear.
The healthiest – and by extension the most beautiful – ponds have all three. If yours is lacking in any, indulge your inner artist and be sure to add a few, or work with a landscape designer to create the perfect vision for your space.
Test Water
If everything looks good, plants are thriving, fish are happy, and equipment is chugging along nicely, you probably don’t need to test the water. But you know what they say about an ounce of prevention…
Especially if you’ve inherited your pond from a previous owner, or if you’re wading into pond life for the first time, water testing is a simple step you can take to reassure yourself that everything is A-OK. And if it’s not, it can steer you toward a healthier pond.
DIY water testing kits are inexpensive and worth the peace of mind. If you’d rather, you can have your pond water professionally tested. Our showroom provides free water testing any time, as many times as you need. Bring a sample of your water in a clean container and in five minutes you’ll have results for ammonia levels, nitrites, nitrates, and more, along with advice for addressing any issues that arise.
Start Some Proactive Maintenance
A well-balanced ecosystem is self-sustaining and requires minimal maintenance. But minimal doesn’t equal zero. A few simple steps can keep your pond healthy year-round and avoid larger problems that require a lot more time and effort to resolve.
Beneficial bacteria is a good place to start. A weekly dose can help keep algae in check, break down organic debris, and keep water healthy. Your pond is already a natural breeding ground for this good bacteria. Adding it regularly during the growth seasons will boost its health and maintain a balanced environment.
Be sure that skimmer baskets, if you have them, are clean, or your filters are free from sludge. Skim fallen leaves off in autumn, and cut back dead plants in spring. Make sure there is a breathing hole in the surface during winter or fish will be oxygen-starved, and let lilies and lotus cover your pond in summer to provide beautiful and much-needed cooling shade.
A bit of seasonal TLC, whether you choose to do it yourself or want a professional hand, will keep your pond healthy and gorgeous all year.
Being a new pond owner is an exciting time, and there’s lots to learn and appreciate. Enjoy the experience, have fun, and let us know if and when you need help.
From fall closings to spring cleanings, help for sick fish, managing algae outbreaks, or just beautifying and enhancing the surroundings, our pond pros are here to help. Let us know how we can make your pond experience the best it can be!
