Step 1 – Cleaning your Pond
The most important task in preparing a pond for the spring season is to eliminate any leftover organic residue. Use a pond net or skimmer net to remove leaves, twigs and debris from inside the pond. The Laguna Skimmer (currently on sale at BackyardStyle.com provides a fast and convenient way to clean your pond.
Step 2 – Re?lling your Pond
Early spring is a good time to consider a partial water change of up to 50%. Use your pump to partially drain the pond. Before re?lling, let the water run a few minutes to ? ush the pipes. Make new water safe by adding Laguna Water Prep to eliminate chlorine and chloramine, as well as to neutralize any harmful metals found in tap or well water. BackyardStyle.com offers 3 sizes of Water Prep.
Step 3 – Starting the Pond in the Spring
The best time to start the pond’s biological system is right at the beginning of the season when pond temperature is above 50 °F (10 °C). Laguna Bio Booster provides powerful bene? cial bacteria designed to eliminate ammonia and nitrite as it is produced. Laguna Phosphate Control is a second bacterial preparation that, like Laguna Bio Booster, is bene? ial to add to the pond’s ecosystem. It contains micro-organisms that help reduce phosphate levels in pond water naturally reducing algae without employing algaecides.
Step 4 – Starting the Pond Equipment
Pond equipment should have been cleaned and packed away for winter. If not, then make sure to clean all dirt and debris before restarting or placing in position. If pumps were allowed to run over the winter, they should be removed and cleaned.
Step 5 – Adding the Fish to your Pond
Fish that have been kept indoors for the winter will need time to adjust to the pond’s water conditions. A sudden change in temperature and pH level can have an adverse effect on the ? sh. That is why it is important to allow them to acclimatize gradually. Never ”pour” or drop the ?sh into the pond. If the ? sh have over wintered in the pond, do not start feeding them until they are active and/or the pond temperature has reached approximately 47 °F (8 °C).
Watch your ? sh carefully for a few days. Moving can have a traumatic effect on ?sh, so watch them carefully to ensure that they are adjusting to their new surroundings and that there are no losses.
