All ponds need routine maintenace, no matter their size.
No matter how large or how few fish live in them, ponds can get dirty quickly. The water can become cloudy, green or even stagnant. Stagnant pond water not only has a bad odor, but also is a potential breeding ground for biting insects like mosquitoes. Regular pond maintenance can help keep the water clean and clear. Pond maintenance tips are the same for any type of pond, whether it is for commercial fish farming, for swimming or to raise large domestic fish like koi, according to Cornell University.
Instructions
1. Check for the cause of any cloudy water. Scoop pond water up with a clean, clear glass jar. Put the jar of pond water in sunlight for 4 to 5 days. Algae will move about constantly in the water and will turn the sides of the jars green or brown. Silt will all settle at the bottom of the jar and will not move about.
2. Treat the pond for excess silt. Throw in 100 lbs. of hay to treat silt caused by clay soils. Treat a pond with hay no more than five times a year, treating as needed. For other types of soil, add agricultural lime or agricultural gypsum as the manufacturer suggests.
3. Check the sides of ponds for erosion, which could add silt to the pond water. Mammals like muskrats or beaver will cause holes or crumbling sides. Repair the sides of the pond with tight-fitting rocks like rock rip-rap or fencing that does not rust. The rocks or fencing will discourage animals from digging. Hire a pond contractor to do the work if necessary.
4. Remove excess leaves and pond weeds with a pond skimmer or rake. Rotting leaves or weeds can cause the pond water to turn brown and cause a large buildup of ammonia that can be fatal to any fish or creatures living in the pond water. Rotting leaves and weeds can also help trigger a population explosion of algae. Taking leaves off of the pond's surface is enough. Digging to the bottom of the pond is not necessary.
Related posts
Building a pond can give you a place to go for restful activities and respite.Lining your outdoor pond with clay offers the advantage of using a non-polluting material. However, natural clay pond...
A farm pond is a living entity.A half-acre fish pond has a surface area of approximately 21,760 feet. If the pond is just 5 feet deep, this means that there is over 100,000 cubic feet of water in...
Everyone loves a pond. Fortunately, today you can build your own without digging a huge hole and then having to learn basic concrete skills. The two easiest pond types to build are the preformed a...
Prevent yellow grass and keep grass green.Causes of yellow grass include billbugs--their larvae feed on the grass, causing yellow patches--or chinch bugs--they eat the grass sap, also causing yell...
If you own a farm and have always dreamed of having a pond so you could fish, swim, or boat whenever you liked without leaving the comfort of your own land then you have probably contemplated buil...
