Taking care of your pond can be a very confusing task. In order to help you with your pond maintenance questions, we have provided this area for you.

For your pond maintenance we recommend you have a filter, pump, and bottom drain. A filtration system in your pond will lessen the amount of maintenance for you to do. Although a clear pond can be built without a filter, most people use filtration to clean the pond for them. The bigger the filter you get, the longer it lasts between cleanings. Bigger filters can also handle larger fish loads.

We recommend two filters for the water gardens, a mechanical skimmer to protect and hide the pump and skim off the dust and debris, and a biological filter to keep the water clean and safe for fish. Skimmers are related in pond area and biological filters in pond volume. Without a skimmer, ponds accumulate considerable bottom sludge each year. Mechanical filters should be cleaned whenever they slow the flow of water to the pump, which is usually once a week. Smaller, in-pond filters may have to be cleaned daily. Biological filters should not be cleaned except when they are so blocked that the water flow is diminished. A large biological filter is generally only cleaned once per year.

Putting a pump in your pond will help move the water in order to create fountains, waterfalls, and move water through filters. They are highly recommended to keep your pond clean and create moving water.

Bottom drains promote better pond water recalculation through the filters, so they keep your pond water clearer and safer for fish. They are a must for koi ponds and recommended for any water garden, especially for the water gardens over 3 feet deep. They can be added to a pond very easily if using a PondSweep skimmer.

Many people ask us about how to get rid of green water or string algae in their pond. If you have green water, you can get rid of it by creating a living ecosystem in your pond. Plants, filters, pumps, seed bacteria, and a decorative gravel addition to your pond should eliminate most of the green water. The fewer fish and the less they are fed, the fewer nutrients there will be for algae growth.

As for string algae, we are looking to control the algae, not eliminate it. Long string algae are tireless pond workers, helping to keep the pond water clear and feeding the fish. It is an important part of any living ecosystem. Good pond filters and pond care is usually all that's needed. However, if it becomes excessive it can be removed by hand. There are also mild pond additives that suppress the growth of string algae.

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