How To Care For A Garden Pond

<h1>How To Care For A Garden Pond</h1>Author: <a title="Derek Rogers" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/derek-rogers/10689.htm">Derek Rogers</a> A garden pond is a truly lovely feature to have. Many people enjoy sitting in their garden, relaxing and watching the fish swim through their pond. It's a great thing to do in order to clear your mind and just have a little 'down time.' But, how do you truly care for your garden pond in order to ensure a long time of enjoyment from it? Here are some great tips that will tell you how to do just that. 
 
Pumps and Filters - 
 
One of the most important things you can do to keep your pond up and running is to purchase a pump and filter which can be purchased easily, either online or at most aquatic centres. This is also extremely important if you have fish in your pond. Without a pump and filter, which cleans and keeps the water moving, your pond water will become dirty, full of algae and bacteria and stagnant. A pump moves the water, constantly recycling the water that is in the pond, while the filter cleans the water and ensures that the water is clear and a happy habitat for pond fish. The most important part of the filters job is to act as a mini sewage system for the pond. In simple terms the media within the filter creates a huge surface area, which becomes home to many millions of helpful bacteria. 
 
Without a pump and filter, some fish will die. Koi fish are a good example of fish that really need the perfect environment to live. 
 
Surface Issues - 
 
Another way to care for your garden pond is to ensure that all leaves, branches or twigs are promptly removed from the surface of the water. Many times people place their ponds in backyards or gardens that have trees and shrubs. When you do this, the wind can easily blow debris into your pond. Ensure that your fish are happy and cozy and that your water stays clean by removing this debris. You can utilize a net in order to do this, but most people simply scoop it out with their hands. 
 
Water Change - 
 
After the winter, it is usually recommended that pond owners to a partial water change. This will remove the stale, sometimes dirty and murky water and replace it with cleaner, healthier water. You shouldn't remove all of the water in your pond. Most people do about 20% to 50% in order to maintain a clean and healthy pond. Simply ensure that you do not damage the fish when you do your water change. Always leave enough water for them to swim comfortably in and so they will not get lodged on rocks or other objects in the pond and be above the surface of the water. 
 
Taking care of your pond is very important if you plan to enjoy it for a long time. Most people put a lot of time and money into getting their ponds in the first place, so utilizing these tips and ideas for caring for your pond will help you protect your investment.About the Author: Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For garden pond care, he recommends Seapets, one of the UK's leading online shops for <a href="http://www.seapets.co.uk/view-subcategories/category/8.html" target="_new">garden ponds</a>.Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/how-to-care-for-a-garden-pond-319863.html" title="How To Care For A Garden Pond">How To Care For A Garden Pond</a>

A garden pond is a truly lovely feature to have. Many people enjoy sitting in their garden, relaxing and watching the fish swim through their pond. It's a great thing to do in order to clear your mind and just have a little 'down time.' But, how do you truly care for your garden pond in order to ensure a long time of enjoyment from it? Here are some great tips that will tell you how to do just that.

Pumps and Filters -

One of the most important things you can do to keep your pond up and running is to purchase a pump and filter which can be purchased easily, either online or at most aquatic centres. This is also extremely important if you have fish in your pond. Without a pump and filter, which cleans and keeps the water moving, your pond water will become dirty, full of algae and bacteria and stagnant. A pump moves the water, constantly recycling the water that is in the pond, while the filter cleans the water and ensures that the water is clear and a happy habitat for pond fish. The most important part of the filters job is to act as a mini sewage system for the pond. In simple terms the media within the filter creates a huge surface area, which becomes home to many millions of helpful bacteria.

Without a pump and filter, some fish will die. Koi fish are a good example of fish that really need the perfect environment to live.

Surface Issues -

Another way to care for your garden pond is to ensure that all leaves, branches or twigs are promptly removed from the surface of the water. Many times people place their ponds in backyards or gardens that have trees and shrubs. When you do this, the wind can easily blow debris into your pond. Ensure that your fish are happy and cozy and that your water stays clean by removing this debris. You can utilize a net in order to do this, but most people simply scoop it out with their hands.

Water Change -

After the winter, it is usually recommended that pond owners to a partial water change. This will remove the stale, sometimes dirty and murky water and replace it with cleaner, healthier water. You shouldn't remove all of the water in your pond. Most people do about 20% to 50% in order to maintain a clean and healthy pond. Simply ensure that you do not damage the fish when you do your water change. Always leave enough water for them to swim comfortably in and so they will not get lodged on rocks or other objects in the pond and be above the surface of the water.

Taking care of your pond is very important if you plan to enjoy it for a long time. Most people put a lot of time and money into getting their ponds in the first place, so utilizing these tips and ideas for caring for your pond will help you protect your investment.

Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For garden pond care, he recommends Seapets, one of the UK's leading online shops for garden ponds.

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Article Tags: Garden, Garden Ponds, Seapets, Pond Care

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1. Debbie Hewitt (20:41, 19.06.2009)

I've had my small, 30-35 gal garden pond installed in it's current location for about 3 years. It is sunk into the ground w/flat rocks around the edges for natural feel/look. I do not put koi in it, but multi-colored goldfish, as they're only 27 cents each. At closing of the pond each winter, the fish or passed onto a friend and I begin anew each spring. However, for the 1st time ever, my fish are dying in droves. I did everything the same: replaced about 80% of the water w/new water, cleaned pond & filter, let water sit for 2 days to allow chlorine to evap., added Chlorinator and tested...it was perfect. I added 10 mixed sizes of gold fish, same as previous years. At first they were thriving but then about 1 mo. later, they began dying. I tested the water, it was still perfect, I cleaned filter anyway. The lilly plant was growing and thriving as well. The fish have ample shade from the sun from the floating lilly leaves. It dawned on my, however, that I have a large lavender bush near the pond & it bushes out over the pond, w/a few of the flowers falling into the water and some stems, as well. I thought that maybe the essential oils from the lavender were building up in the pond and were killing the fish, and it just wasn't registering on any of the identifiers in the water test kit. I tied the bush back so that none of the flowers or stems can fall into the water again, I cleaned the filter again, skeined it the entire pond maticulously for any little flower bud or leaf, put some clarifier in, waited 2 days, tested again, and it was perfect. The next day (yesterday), I added 8 various sized gold fish per directions of adding fish to ponds (none of them were larger than 2" head-to-toe). I got up this morning and 6 of them were floating dead. I tested the water again & it's still registering w/all 5 numbers in the safe range. Do you or does anyone have ANY idea as to WHAT is going on w/my pond and why my fish are dying? I could understand if a lizard or frog or bird or whatever were eating them, but something's just not right in the water and it's killing them. I've had this pond for 3 years, and a larger pond at a previous home for over 5 years to total 8 years experience w/them and I've NEVER had this problem before. Can you help? the 2 living fish that I have left are counting on you, lol (that is, if they're still alive...they may be dead at the bottom under a rock as far as I know). Thanks, Debbie (Missouri)

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