There are several basic steps which you can take to ensure that your pond always looks at its best and avoids any potential problem areas.
1) Regular Care – It goes without saying that the more care and time you invest in your pond the happier with the result you will be. This however does not mean that you have to go crazy, simply set aside a weekly time for you to care for your pond and stick to it. By looking after your pond once a week you will get used to how your pond should look and will be able to quickly identify anything which looks out of place, thus avoiding problems before they actually occur. Also, be sure to test the water on a weekly basis for PH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels.
2) Cleaning Procedures – Regularly take out any dead or dying plants. During the autumn months it is advisable to use a net suspended over your pond to catch any falling leaves. Clean out all the filters and pumps as indicated by the manufacturer. Make sure that the water is regularly cleaned to maintain healthy fish.
3) Fish Care – A big part of fish care involves not feeding the fish unless the water goes above 10°C. Even when this happens, you should only feed the fish a small amount as any food they leave, will actually rot in the pond causing possible future problems. If you notice a fish which is behaving in a strange way, such as only swimming alone, this may be an indication of illness and is something which you need to keep an eye on.
