How do you know if you should invest the money in a professional to do your spring maintenance on your pond or not? Should you do a spring maintenance on your pond yourself? Is it even necessary to spring cleaning on your waterfeature? Every spring (sometimes even as early as January and February) Dreamscapes gets a number of phone calls from new pond owners and old pond owners alike asking if it's necessary to clean out this pond when spring rolls around and what should they expect from their spring water feature as the temperatures begin to rise again. Even if you're familiar to the pond lifestyle, always remember that what worked for you ONE year, does not mean that it will work for you this year--especially if ANYTHING has changed in your pond.
- Have your fish grown?
- Did you add any aquatic plants last season?
- What kind of fall shutdown did you perform on the feature?
- Do you like to gamble? No, really--this is a serious question!
Visual Indicators
The best (or most obvious) indicator that you need to have a Spring Maintenance Service performed on your water feature is if the color of the pond water is anything but clear. Sometimes it's tea colored or muddy looking. Sometimes it's one of many different possible shades of green, indicating algae.
Even when the water is clear, we suggest to stick something (like the end of a broom) to the bottom of the pond and stir it up a bit. If you see the area around the broom get cloudy--- you NEED to do a spring cleaning! Debris and waste can settle pretty well in the long months since the pond was actively running and unless you stir up the settled muck, you may not notice it at all at first. But once the ecosystem is awake again, that left over debris will cause a whole other set of problems for you.
But SOMETIMES the ice thaws and all your fish are belly up and you're just not quite sure why because the water looks clear and the broom isn't stirring anything up.
Even when the water is clear, we suggest to stick something (like the end of a broom) to the bottom of the pond and stir it up a bit. If you see the area around the broom get cloudy--- you NEED to do a spring cleaning! Debris and waste can settle pretty well in the long months since the pond was actively running and unless you stir up the settled muck, you may not notice it at all at first. But once the ecosystem is awake again, that left over debris will cause a whole other set of problems for you.
But SOMETIMES the ice thaws and all your fish are belly up and you're just not quite sure why because the water looks clear and the broom isn't stirring anything up.
Ammonia and Water Balance
Ammonia- the silent killer of the pond world. Ammonia does not always stick out like a sore thumb, unless of course all your fish went belly up before you realized it's presence. The visual clue of ammonia spikes barely exist---which is why it's always important to start each season with a clean slate. Gambling with your fishy friends life can be more frustrating than it's worth.
Ammonia exists from the decomposition of waste (fish still poop over the cold winter months), dead organic matter like leaves, and even frogs and fish that didn't make it through the winter. Any ammonia is absolutely toxic to fish and pretty much invisible. The easiest way to treat ammonia spikes is by removing it: i.e. drain and clean.
Aside of ammonia spikes, if your pH, phosphates or nitrites are out of balance, a drain and clean essentially resets your water feature so your ecosystem starts the pond season in good shape. You should also consider testing your pond water balance regularly during the season so that you can correct any issues before they become fatal for your fish! Click here to read more about keeping your pond water clean by reading this blog.
Ammonia exists from the decomposition of waste (fish still poop over the cold winter months), dead organic matter like leaves, and even frogs and fish that didn't make it through the winter. Any ammonia is absolutely toxic to fish and pretty much invisible. The easiest way to treat ammonia spikes is by removing it: i.e. drain and clean.
Aside of ammonia spikes, if your pH, phosphates or nitrites are out of balance, a drain and clean essentially resets your water feature so your ecosystem starts the pond season in good shape. You should also consider testing your pond water balance regularly during the season so that you can correct any issues before they become fatal for your fish! Click here to read more about keeping your pond water clean by reading this blog.
Algae and Poor Water Quality
All the muck and build up left over on the bottom of your pond contributes to the growth of algae during the warmer temperatures. While algaecides are designed to kill algae, they are temperature sensitive which gives algae free reign to feed off of those excess nutrients until May. By that point, getting the pond in balance in order to ENJOY your water feature may be a losing battle.
Lastly, your fish are often curious and bored and if there is an abundance of muck and sludge, it is common to have it stirred up frequently during the summer as the fish root around.
Lastly, your fish are often curious and bored and if there is an abundance of muck and sludge, it is common to have it stirred up frequently during the summer as the fish root around.
So now what?
You know your backyard pond better than anyone else and are the one that gets to enjoy it regularly. If you're able and willing to perform a spring maintenance on your own-- do it! If you're looking for a professional to handle the spring maintenance hassle for you, give Dreamscapes a call!
Located in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Dreamscapes Watergardens installs koi fish ponds and pondless waterfalls (disappearing waterfalls) all over the Central Pennsylvania area. For more information on koi ponds and waterfeature installations, please contact us directly!
Dreamscapes also carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August. If you think you need it, we have it!
Retail Hours: April 5th-October 27th 2018:
Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
Saturday: 9am-12pm
October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT
Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | info@dreamscapeswatergardens.com
Dreamscapes Watergardens services the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania, PA
Located in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Dreamscapes Watergardens installs koi fish ponds and pondless waterfalls (disappearing waterfalls) all over the Central Pennsylvania area. For more information on koi ponds and waterfeature installations, please contact us directly!
Dreamscapes also carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August. If you think you need it, we have it!
Retail Hours: April 5th-October 27th 2018:
Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
Saturday: 9am-12pm
October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT
Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | info@dreamscapeswatergardens.com
Dreamscapes Watergardens services the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania, PA
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