How to Clean a Pond in Five Steps

Overview

Ponds always need to be managed to stay clean and healthy. This blog will outline the five steps you can take to effectively clean and maintain your water body. The steps are:

1. Apply pond dye
2. Treat nuisance algae
3. Manage plant growth
4. Reduce nutrients
5. Consider aeration

By following this guide and all product labels properly, your pond is sure to be in pristine condition.

Step 1: Apply Pond Dye

Pond dye is best applied right away in the spring as temperatures begin to rise. It is recommended to reapply as needed throughout the season, typically every 30 to 60 days. Lake Restoration’s dyes are food-grade, safe for humans and animals, and have no restrictions on them.

A common misconception regarding pond dyes is that darker colors will filter more light. However, this is not the case. Rather, the filtering abilities of each dye are what make them better or worse than others. For example, our Bright Blue dye only has blue in it, whereas our Sapphire Bay premium dye has blue and yellow to filter more colors on the light spectrum.

Step 2: Treat Nuisance Algae

Using algaecides whenever there is active algae growth in your pond will keep the ecosystem balanced and healthy. Algaecides are first applied when algae begin to grow, and reapplied when algae regrow, which can be as soon as 10 to 14 days after treated blooms have died off. Copper-based algaecides, such as Mizzen, are most effective.

There are some types of fish that are sensitive to copper, in which case other algaecides may be used. Trout, koi, and channel catfish are all copper-sensitive fish, so a sodium percarbonate algaecide such as Cape Furl is the next best option when these fish are present.

It is important to note that if an algae bloom is covering the whole pond, no more than half the surface should be treated at once, then the other half 2 weeks later. This is because as algae die, they deplete the oxygen supply to the pond, which could cause a fish kill if all treated at once.

Step 3: Plant Growth Management

There are many kinds of aquatic weeds that grow in all sorts of conditions, but most of them can be treated with just an herbicide. Best applied as weeds are actively growing, herbicides sink through the water column and attach to the weeds to kill them. In most cases, they need to be reapplied approximately every 4 to 6 weeks or as weeds regrow. Broad spectrum herbicides, such as Dibrox, will control an extensive list of aquatic weeds, and can simply be mixed with water and sprayed onto the surface of the treatment area. Always be sure to thoroughly read product labels before applying.

Step 4: Reduce Nutrients

Ponds naturally collect nutrients and can become highly nutrient-rich. The number one nutrient aquatic plants need to grow is phosphorus. Reducing nutrient density in the water is a proactive treatment for ponds. Managing nutrients can reduce the amount of algaecide and herbicide treatment that is needed.

PhosControl and SparKlear are the best pond nutrient treatments. PhosControl locks up excess phosphorus in the water column. SparKlear beneficial bacteria and enzymes digest and dissolve organic build-up, and can help reverse the effects of pond-aging.

Step 5: Consider Aeration

Pond aeration helps keep your pond ecosystem clean and healthy by increasing dissolved oxygen and moving the water consistently.

Dissolved oxygen levels increase in aerated waters. Using a fountain will expose more water to the air, resulting in more oxygen mixing and dissolving into the water. Typically, higher rates of dissolved oxygen will reduce the number of algae blooms that occur in a water body. To effectively sustain essential life in the pond, organisms need healthy levels of dissolved oxygen.

Stagnant water is where the most growth occurs. A Vitaflume aerating fountain not only produces a beautiful pattern to enhance your pond’s appearance but also moves and aerates water. When there is movement in a pond, weeds such as duckweed, watermeal, and other submerged or floating plants have a more difficult time growing as rapidly as in still waters. A good way to think about this is that there are no plants growing right at the edge of the ocean. This is because of the waves crashing around, which keeps the weeds from having a stable environment to grow.

Conclusion

While your pond will always need some sort of maintenance, it doesn’t have to be a painful process. Adding pond dye, treating algae and weeds, reducing nutrients, and adding aeration are ways to reduce your overall workload regarding the pond’s care. Following the five steps outlined in this guide will ensure you have a healthy, pleasing pond with a thriving ecosystem.