General Pond Care
Always treat pond water before adding livestock. Chlorine and chloramine in tap water will kill fish. Use Laguna Water Prep for fast and effective dechlorination.
Keep sharp objects well away from pool liners.
Install the pump on bricks or blocks to minimize clogging.
The maximum height of your fountain should be approximately half the width of your pond.
Allow for 1 inch of fish per square foot of surface area. With improved filtration from a fountain or waterfall, it is possible to increase to 2 inches.
It is recommended to keep large koi and carp in large, well filtered ponds.
The pond should be at least 3 ft (1 m) deep and have vertical sides projecting above the surface to prevent the fish from jumping out!
Oxygenating plants provide oxygen only during daylight. Fish may suffer stress during warm, still nights unless additional oxygen is provided. Water agitation created by a splashing fountain or waterfall is ideal.
Although most pumps operate from your normal electrical supply, the installation should be a planned and permanent one incorporating a circuit breaker. Always use cables and connectors designed specifically for outdoor and water garden use. Have your system installed or checked by a qualified electrician.
Restarting Ponds after winter
The snow's beginning to melt, signaling Spring's arrival. As the warmer weather approaches, more time will be spent outdoors getting preparations underway for a new season. A time of rebirth and renewal - including the restart of a garden pond or pool. It's not difficult to renew your pond, if you follow these easy steps:
1) Cleaning.
The most important task in preparing a pond for the new season is to eliminate any leftover organic residue. Use a pond net or skimmer to remove leaves, twigs and debris from inside the pond.
2) Refilling.
Early spring is a good time to consider a partial water change, depending upon the pond's condition (and what was done in the autumn to prepare it for winter). The winter run-off may contain pollutants that may be carried into the pond, thereby creating havoc with the pond's environment. Use your pump to partially drain the pond. Before refilling the pond, let the water run a few minutes to flush the pipes. Once the water is replaced, make the new water safe by adding Water Prep to eliminate chlorine and chloramine, as well as to neutralise any harmful metals.
3) Starting the Pond.
The best time to start the biological system in the pond is right at the beginning of the season when pond temperature is above 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit). Pond Detox provides powerful beneficial bacteria designed to eliminate ammonia and nitrite as they are produced. Algae Control is a second bacterial preparation that, like Pond Detox, is completely safe to add to the pond's ecosystem. It impedes algae growth, without employing algaecides or other toxins.
4) Starting the Equipment.
Pond equipment should have been cleaned and packed away for winter. If not, then make sure that they are cleaned of dirt and debris before replacing into position. Thoroughly rinse all reusable filter material before replacing. If pumps were allowed to run over the winter, they should be removed and cleaned. Reassemble any hoses and other water runs and inspect for damage. Repair and replace as required, then test to ensure everything is in working order.
5) Adding the fish.
Fish that have been kept indoors for the winter will need time to adjust to the pond's environment. A sudden change in temperature and pH level can have an adverse affect on the fish. That is why it is important to allow them to acclimatise gradually. Never "pour" or drop the fish into the pond. The first step is to net the fish as gently as possible and place it into a plastic bag for transportation. Once at pondside, the bag should be untied (don't "pop" it) and allowed to float on the pond's surface. Wait about 10 minutes, or until the temperature of the bag and the pond water are about equal, then add a small amount of pond water to the bag and leave for another 10 minutes or so. Repeat the process once or twice more before gently allowing the fish to swim out of the bag and into the pond.
6) Watch your fish carefully for a few days.
Moving can have a traumatic effect on fish, so watch them carefully to ensure that they are adjusting to their new surroundings and that there are no losses. Also check ammonia and nitrite readings regularly to ensure that the biological filter is establishing rapidly and effectively.
Winterizing Your Pond
WHEN SHOULD FISH BE BROUGHT INDOORS:
When the pond is less than 24" in more temperate areas such as England and New England.
When the pond is less than 42" - 48" in cold climates such as Canada.
When the pond is a patio pond.
OUTSIDE CARE OF YOUR FISH:
As the water temperature of your pond falls, the fish will require less food. Watch their food intake and adjust your feeding. Stop feeding your fish completely when the water temperature of your pond reaches an average of 45 F. At 45 -50 F the fish hibernate at the bottom of the pond. Regardless of the outside temperature or if the fish come to the surface during the winter do not feed them. They are surfacing for oxygen not food. If you feed the fish during this period, the food will not digest; it will rot and will kill them. Begin feeding the fish when the average temperature of your pond is above 45 F degrees.
Skim your pond at least once a week, removing any leaves or plant matter. Installing pond netting will keep unwanted leaves out. Leaves or plant matter left in the pond will deteriorate over the winter producing organic waste. A patch of leaves left in the deepest part of the pond can help to provide shelter when overwintering fish outdoors.
A 10% to 20% water change is recommended. Add Laguna Water Prep to neutralize harmful metals as well as provide a protective "coating" to the fish's fins and scales.
Add Laguna Pond Clean and Laguna Pond Detox at this time. Adding these beneficial bacteria will help break down waste.
Disconnect your UV sterilizer; clean & store it in a cool dry place.
Disconnect your waterfall.
Disconnect, clean and drain your external filter. Remove all the media. Buy new biological media and foam for the spring. It is not necessary to remove the external filter. Drain the filter using the drain plug located on the bottom of the box. Do no keep water in the external filter over the winter, it will freeze and could damage the filter.
Completely take apart and clean your pump, especially the impeller. Check the owner's manual for instructions. Storing your equipment without cleaning it could result in damaged equipment or a broken impeller when you restart them in the spring. Treat the O-rings and Impeller shaft with Laguna lubricant to keep them moist and protected over the winter. If you use your primary pump as your winter pump, completely clean your pump before the winter. If you are using a secondary smaller (winter) pump, you should have cleaned the winter pump after last winter.
Until the pond freezes, you will need to continue cleaning your PowerFlo filters.
Choose one of the following ways to keep your pond from freezing over. An air hole needs to be kept open to allow for gases to escape. If your pond completely freezes over the fish may die.
Use the original or a secondary smaller pump and take off the fountainheads. Position the pump and internal filter off the bottom of the pond so the top of the pump is below the water level. Consider evaporation. Do not circulate the warmer water from the bottom of the pond with the colder from the top. The bubbling effect will keep the water from freezing around the pump. Raise the internal filter off the bottom of the pond. The ideal location for the pump and filter would be about the halfway point of maximum depth.
Buy a smaller pump and do the same as above or hang it over the pump just under the water surface.
Install an air stone with an indoor/outdoor air pump. You will need to winterize the pump and cords. Hang the air stone off one end of the pond just under the water level and let it bubble. Not the best option but if your pond is close to the house, you can have the air pump in the house and run tubing to the pond with a 8" or 12" air stone.
Install a pond heater. This can be an expensive option either in the purchase of the heater or the wattage used. Be informed. Our Laguna pumps use less electricity than most pond heaters.
It is not recommended to keep the waterfall going. Cold winds could freeze the waterfall in odd positions and could drain your pond. If you have a windy winter the waterfall may freeze and the pond may ice over.
Trim lotus and lilies & drop them to the deepest part of the pond. Other hardy plants (grasses, cattails, and iris) do not need to be trimmed back, you can leave them on the shelf or drop them to the bottom of the pond. They should survive on the shelf. Remove and discard oxygenators and floating plants (lettuce and hyacinths). If you are limited on space, you can bring your plants inside. Place them in boxes (or plastic tubs) lined with trash bags and place them in your cellar. You do not need to provide any light. Keep the plants damp. Check your plants at least once a week to be sure they are damp. Bring tropical plants inside, they will not survive the cold. Tropical Lilys will not survive New England winters.
Snails and clams will not winter over.
INSIDE CARE OF YOUR FISH:
Your fish can survive in a tub in a garage or in the basement. Remember the tub cannot freeze over and the water temperature needs to be below 50 degrees in order for the fish to hibernate. Do not feed but circulate the water or use an air stone.
You can keep your fish in a tub or baby pool in your house. Filtration and feeding is necessary. Bring in your oxygenator plants and snails/clams too.
You can keep your fish in a tank. Goldfish and Koi are fish that create larger amounts of waste and thus require strong filtration to maintain a healthy environment. Rule of thumb, goldfish need 3 gallons of water per inch of fish; koi need 5 gallons per inch of fish. Buy a filter that moves at least twice the quantity of water in the tank. (Example: 50 gallon tank = 100 gallon per hour filter). It is better to over filter than under filter. Hagen's Fluval outside canister or Aqua Clear Power Filters come in many sizes. You may continue to use your current Laguna Pellets, but reduce the amounts during the inside period to minimize waste production.
Bring some pond water inside with your fish, add more water. Treat the water with Laguna Water Prep. Important: add Laguna Pond Detox before you add your fish. Fish will automatically begin producing waste and you need beneficial bacteria in your tank or container to counteract it.
Perform a partial water change every two weeks and make sure to treat your water with Laguna Water Prep. Watch the dosage - Laguna Pond products are concentrated for pond use. Add Laguna Pond Detox (beneficial bacteria) to the water when you do a water change and when you change your media. The more beneficial bacteria you have the less bad bacteria you will have. Adding Laguna Pond Clean keeps the slime and sludge from building up. Control the amount of light and the food given. Increased light and food increases the algae growth. Make sure to change your carbon in your filter monthly.
Enjoy your fish for the winter.
