Over the course of a year, your fish pond may accumulate organic debris like leaves, grass, twigs, or fish waste. While a good filtration system should help to remove some of this debris, some of it will break down into muck. This, in turn, will release nutrients into your water and may cause algae or water clarity problems. Regular maintenance tasks help prevent future problems from compounding throughout the pond season.
Spring Cleaning
Just as you would give your home a spring cleaning, it’s useful to do the same for your fish pond. This is a good time to check your plumbing and filtration systems and be sure to remove any debris or unwanted plants and animals before your prime summer months. While some pond enthusiasts enjoy performing their own maintenance, you can always hire a professional to take care of these tasks for you instead.
Winter Hibernation
Newer pond owners often inquire about the safety and health of their pond during the winter months as well.
Your pond’s fish will be dormant in the winter months once water temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This is also the time at which you should stop feeding your fish, as the enzymes required for the digestion of most fish food is lacking once the weather turns cold. In very cold water, your fish simply won’t eat.
So long as your pond does not freeze all the way to its bottom and an air hole is provided on its surface, your fish will survive the winter. For instance, if your pond is at least two feet deep your pond likely will not freeze any deeper than eight inches, which leaves 16 inches for your fish to hibernate in throughout the season.
