Category: Pond Maintenance

Backyard Pond Creation Schedule.

Creating and maintaining a backyard pond can be a rewarding project. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help ensure that you cover all the essential aspects of pond installation and care:

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Planning and Design

  1. Determine Purpose and Size:
    • Decide if the pond will be for aesthetic purposes, wildlife habitat, or recreational use.
    • Choose an appropriate size based on available space and intended use.
  2. Location:
    • Select a location that receives a balance of sunlight and shade.
    • Ensure the site is away from large trees to minimize leaf litter and root interference.
  3. Check Local Regulations:
    • Verify if any permits or regulations apply to pond construction in your area.
  4. Budget:
    • Plan your budget, considering costs for excavation, liner, filtration, plants, and maintenance.

Materials and Equipment

  1. Pond Liner:
    • Choose between flexible liners (e.g., EPDM or PVC) or pre-formed liners.
  2. Pond Pump:
    • Select a pump that suits the size of your pond and includes a filtration system.
  3. Water Filtration System:
    • Decide between mechanical, biological, or UV filters, depending on the pond’s needs.
  4. Pond Skimmer:
    • Install a skimmer to remove debris from the pond’s surface.
  5. Water Heater (Optional):
    • In colder climates, consider a heater to prevent freezing and maintain fish health.

Installation

  1. Excavation:
    • Dig the pond to the desired depth and shape, including shelves for plants.
  2. Install Liner:
    • Lay and secure the pond liner, ensuring it is smooth and covers the entire excavation area.
  3. Add Equipment:
    • Install the pump, filter, and skimmer according to manufacturer instructions.
  4. Add Water:
    • Fill the pond with water, allowing it to settle and adjust the liner as necessary.
  5. Install Edging:
    • Use stones or other materials to create a natural edge around the pond.

Adding Plants and Wildlife

  1. Aquatic Plants:
    • Choose a mix of submerged, marginal, and floating plants to provide oxygen, shade, and habitat.
    • Plant in appropriate areas: shallow shelves for marginal plants and deeper areas for submerged plants.
  2. Fish and Wildlife:
    • Select fish species that are compatible with your pond’s climate and size.
    • Consider adding beneficial microorganisms to help establish a balanced ecosystem.
  3. Water Treatments:
    • Use water conditioners to neutralize chlorine and other harmful chemicals.
    • Regularly test water quality (pH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates).

Maintenance

  1. Regular Cleaning:
    • Remove debris and leaves from the pond surface and skimmer.
    • Clean the filter and pump as needed.
  2. Monitor Water Levels:
    • Check water levels regularly and top up as needed to compensate for evaporation.
  3. Check Water Quality:
    • Test and adjust water parameters to maintain a healthy environment for plants and fish.
  4. Winter Care:
    • In colder climates, prepare the pond for winter by removing leaves, reducing feeding, and ensuring ice does not form completely over the surface.
  5. Inspect Equipment:
    • Regularly check and maintain all pond equipment to ensure proper functioning.

Safety and Aesthetics

  1. Safety Measures:
    • Ensure the pond is safe for children and pets, possibly adding a barrier or cover if necessary.
  2. Lighting:
    • Install pond lights to enhance the appearance of the pond at night.
  3. Decorative Elements:
    • Consider adding features such as a waterfall, fountain, or decorative stones to enhance the pond’s aesthetic appeal.
  4. Wildlife Considerations:
    • Provide a safe habitat for local wildlife and prevent the pond from attracting pests.

By following this checklist, you can ensure a successful and enjoyable backyard pond experience.

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How To Keep Your Water Quality High in Water Gardens & Garden Ponds

How To Keep Your Water Quality High in Water Gardens & Garden Ponds

If you are searching for information on “How To Keep Your Water Quality High in Water Gardens & Garden Ponds” you probably have a backyard pond that could use some attention. Poor water quality can ruin the look, cause an odor, and even dramatically affect the health of your Koi or Goldfish. For the best pond equipment available in the Phoenix area call The Backyard Pond at 623-878-6695.

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Water Quality Contents:

Whenever you think of water quality in garden ponds and water gardens, you think about two things: clarity and the ability to support aquatic life. Lack of clarity isn’t an issue for aquatic life, but it does limit the ability to enjoy and see our goldfish and koi. As a pond owner you should be concerned with both of these things.

Although it is true that you can keep koi and goldfish in ponds without filtration, it does limit the number of fish that you can have. When in the wild, fish have a lot of water that help keep toxins from their waste from building up to a dangerous level. Most hobbyists will want to have more fish than what their pond will support. Koi and goldfish will put waste into the water as ammonia, mainly through their gills. Adding the issues of organic compounds from plant matter, soil and fish feces that may be in the pond.

Garden Pond Waste Removal

To be able to get good water quality there needs to be a form of waste removal. There are two methods that are used in garden ponds and water gardens which are biological and mechanical filtration.

Mechanical Water Filtration

Mechanical filters will physically remove solids in the water by trapping the debris in some sort of sponge, mat, or brush. Mechanical filters are quite effective but often need to be frequently cleaned to remove the debris. Many biological filters are also considered a mechanical filter, depending on how they are used. For instance, the Signal in-pond filter 800 is both a biological and mechanical filter when used in a pond where this is the only filter. But, it is mainly used as a mechanical filter when you use it with another type of biological filter in larger water gardens or garden ponds. The mechanical filtration in many ponds comes in the form of a pond skimmer.

Biological Water Filtration

Biological filters are a very effective way of removing toxins from the water by breaking down ammonia into nitrates and nitrites. This is done by using naturally occurring bacteria that is called nitrobacter or nitrosomonas. Ammonia is broken down into the natural body of water, but because of the limited space around and in the pond, you will have to watch this. There needs to be an efficient place for bacteria to thrive and live. Inside of the biological filter is the place where there will be a material that the bacteria can be exposed to large quantities of oxygen and food. The best material for doing this is a fiber matting media that allows there to be a large surface area for the bacteria to colonize and also a void area that allows large amounts of water to go through carrying food for the bacteria.

Filter materials that are that are considered too dense will clog up the filter and not allow the water to go through. You are also able to increase the efficiency by adding concentrated solutions of enzymes and bacteria like Micro Lift NiteOut and Microbe Lift PL. Being able to provide plenty of oxygen to the bacteria by using air stones or towers in the filter help to increase the efficiency. There are other types of organisms like Blood Worms that will colonize in biological filters and break down organic compounds.

Biological filters in ponds need to run continuously during the seasons. If they have been down for more 3 hours, then the good bacteria will start to die. Biological filters need to be cleaned by using only chlorine free water to help avoid killing or removing the bacteria. Also the filter should not be over cleaned, rinse only the media that will let allow good water flow through the filter. The brown stain on the filter is actually the living bacteria.

Water Changes

The nitrates will be a result after the break down of ammonia and nitrites are food for the plants or food for algae if there aren’t plants available. If you plan to keep koi or goldfish and no plants, then you will need to do partial water changes to remove the nitrates and other types of compounds from the water. If you are able to keep plenty of aquatic plants, the large water changes aren’t really necessary, although the small water changes around every 5 weeks and about 20% of the water should be fine.

Ultra Violet Water Sterilization

There are certain times of the year or if the balance of biological filters, plants, or fish is off you could end up with green water due to single cell algae.

The best method of being able to guarantee clear water against this issue is using UV sterilizer. This device will use a germicidal UV lamp that will be placed in a pipe that allows water to pass around and will reduce algae by 99% when it is fitted in the right sized pond. Although, using a UV sterilizer doesn’t need to be used without the right type of biological filtration because the dead algae need to be broken down by the filter. UV sterilization doesn’t help with string algae. For that you should use OxyPond Cleaner, AlgaeFix, or Algaway and strive to have a well-balanced system that uses the methods below to keep the string algae lowered.

Types Of Algae

There are various types of algae. There are different textures and colors. The green velvet type that is found on the sides of ponds is beneficial that provides food and oxygen for koi and goldfish. This type of algae will help to give natural appearances to ponds. If you can’t tolerate this type of algae, you will have to get rid of your fish and use Fountec. This will remove this algae and is safe for all animals except fish and is safe for plants.

If you sometimes have issues with algae and other types of particles that interfere with the clarity of the water, then you may need to consider flocculants like AccuClear. This product works by causing particles to clump together and then fall to the bottom of the pond, where it can be removed by vacuuming or siphoning the bottom or having your mechanical filter remove the debris.

Another good product to use is packaged enzyme and bacteria combinations that will help to break down the sludge as well as other types of organic compounds.

Balancing pH In Your Pond

For your fish to be healthy and to help control the algae, the pH of your pond needs to be monitored by using a pH testing kit. The pH needs to be between 6.8-8.0 and the ideal being 7.0-7.8. If the pH is above 8.4 and below 6.6 then it is best to not try and adjust it.

If you have to adjust the pH of your water, then you will need a pH UP or pH down liquid that will raise or lower the pH.

How you can balance your pond water

A major concern for pond water is being able to maintain and achieving clear water. When a garden pond or water garden is first put in, there is normally a rush to fill them full of aquatic plants and fish, but it is vital that you consider the natural processes of the ecosystems. In nature, ponds will have a certain time for everything to adjust and interact while the pond evolves. Even though the suspended algae in water is to be expected many people want to keep it to a minimum. Constructed ponds will require a bit of help to avoid the issue of excess algae. One of these methods is to stock and then arrange the pond in this method:

  • Remove the dead organic stuff from your pond.
  • Add biological filtration and UV sterilizer.
  • Keep rain run off out of the water. It will carry soil, chemicals, and fertilizers which will prevent the pond from balancing.
  • If the pond is in full sun, there needs to be 50 to 70% shade of the pond surface. This needs to be done with floating plants such as water. If the pond is less than full sun, less coverage will be needed.
  • Use Anacharis for every square foot of the surface that are under 50 square feet and one bunch for every 3 square foot for ponds up to 200 square feet. For ponds that are over 200 square feet, use one bunch for every 4 square feet.
  • Use no more than one inch of fish for every square foot to begin with. After the pond has been fully established or with well filtered water, you may add more fish. Feed only what the fish are able to eat in 5 minutes. Uneaten food will lead to algae

Phoenix Area Pond Supply

If you are looking for live fish, live plants, pond filtration, pumps, or anything else you need to start or care for your water garden or garden pond The Backyard Pond has everything you need. We serve residents of the greater Phoenix area with the best selection of Koi, plants, and all the supplies you need. Stop by or give us a call at 623-878-6695 with your questions.

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Backyard Pond Maintenance

How To Maintain A Backyard Pond In Phoenix

Having a pond in your backyard is a great centerpiece of your landscaping. However without proper maintenance it can become the monster lurking in your yard. Here are a set of steps for how to maintain a backyard pond.

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Elements of a Backyard Pond

The type of maintenance required for each pond is different, partly because different yards will have more or less trees, sunlight, and other variables. Even different styles and materials the ponds are made with will mean more or less cleaning. Most ponds share common elements, here are a few of them.

Pond Edge Materials – The edges of most ponds are lined with an edging material. Usually concrete pavers or even stones are lined between the water and the rest of your landscape. This isn’t just for a great aesthetic look, but helps prevent contamination. The water running off your lawn may be fertilized. The chemicals found in lawn fertilizer are not good for these ponds, especially if you have Koi fish.

Pond Liners – The soil in your yard is meant to drain water away from the roots of your plants. When you have a pond you generally want to keep the water where you put it, and a PVC or rubber liner is how we get the job done.

Pond Sand Bases – Before the liner goes down a layer of sand is laid. This is so that your liner has a soft even place to rest. Without this you might have sharp rocks that will pierce your liner and leak your water.

Seasonal Backyard Pond Maintenance Routines

Depending on the size of your pond you will require more or less often maintenance. It might seem crazy but the larger ponds are actually easier to take care of. This is because they can cope with changes to chemistry and ecology. Here we have listed out the ways to take care of your backyard pond in each season.

Spring Backyard Pond Maintenance

  • If your liner has more than an inch of debris or muck you are going to need to drain the pond and hose off the liner. Cleaning the bottom of the pond keeps your filters and pumps working, and makes them last longer.
  • While you have the pond drained it is a good chance to look for any potential leaks. Limbs or branches from trees can fall and pierce the liner of your pond. Pond liner repair kits are inexpensive and effective. This will prevent water from leaking out, or contaminants under your liner from entering your ecosystem.
  • Replace the filter and make sure the pump is working. Replace any piece of your pump or filtration system that isn’t working.
  • Top off the water level in your pond. Do so by placing the water trickling into the bottom of the pond. This helps stir up the minimum amount of debris.
  • Get rid of any debris or leaves from the pond. This debris as it decomposes releases harmful chemicals into ponds. The Nitrate levels need to be controlled for these close ecosystems.
  • Consider adding some plants to help increase the level of oxygen in the water. In addition to aeration of the water from falling water you can put oxygenating aquatic plants into your pond.
  • If you have potted plants you can divide them. This keeps them growing well and getting bigger.
  • Switch the feed you are using for your fish in the spring. You will want to make sure that you are using a high-carbohydrate type food. This will help them increase activity.
  • After all potential for frost has passed you can add any submerged or potted plants to your pond. If you install them too early you run the risk of algae getting out of control.

Summer Backyard Pond Maintenance

  • Stay on top of the water level. Letting the water get too long concentrates salt in the water and is harmful to the fish, pond, pump and filtration system. Try to add a little every week or two instead of having to add large amounts every month.
  • Plants grow best in the summer and can get out of control. It’s important to remove dead leaves to keep the water clean. Plants or flowers that are overgrowing should also be trimmed back. This will help keep the water cleaner and require less maintenance.
  • Keep an eye on your pump intakes and filters. A weekly check should be done and clean them out if they are starting to get clogged.
  • Watch The Water Chemistry. Kits should be bought to keep track of the water quality. Much like operating a hot tub the chemistry in the water dictates how safe it is. Pond chemistry sticks should be used that properly measure for chlorine, ammonia, and chloramines. High levels of any of these chemicals can be harmful to, or kill your fish.
  • Watch the fish for odd behavior or sores. It can be a sign of water chemistry being off.
  • Use aquatic-plant fertilizer tables on your potted plants each month of the summer. This helps keep them healthy and growing well.
  • If your yard is prone to pests on the plants use non toxic methods to control them. Algae can grow out of control if you don’t control it. Use a long-handled bristle brush, pole, or rake to get rid of your algae.

Fall Backyard Pond Maintenance

  • Fall is known for falling leaves, and decaying leaves in your pond raise ammonia levels. If you only have a few trees and can skim the leaves out of your pond with a net or skimmer you should be fine. If you have a lot of trees near the pond a net should be set in place. They can be bought inexpensively and secured in place with tent spikes, bricks or rocks.
  • Cut back on the feeding of your fish. Once the water reaches 50°F stop feeding your fish entirely. During the winter digestion in fish enters an almost hibernation like state. The amount they need to eat is more than supplied by bugs and other things they can find naturally in the pond.
  • Take any plants that won’t cope well with colder temperatures. Arizona rarely has serious freezes. But plants that won’t survive cooler nights should be brought in.

Winter Backyard Pond Maintenance

  • In Arizona freezes are not common. However if there is a freeze coming, clear your water lines and any pond fountains.
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Pond Cleaning

How To Clean A Pond

If you are searching for “how to clean a pond“, this post by The Backyard Pond can help! It doesn’t matter how hard you try, you will have to clean your pond at some point. Cleaning your pond can greatly increase the lifetime of your pond (and your Koi fish, if you have them) and let you enjoy it for years to come.

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Cleaning Your Pond

There will come a time that you will need to clean your pond. You may be preparing your pond for the summer or winter, or maybe you been a little lax on the upkeep and maintenance. There are steps you can take to clean your pond and make it look “newish”.  A clean pond gives a new environment for the bacteria in your biological filter and fresh water for the fish. The amount of cleaning required will usually depend on the size of your pond and location of it.

Remove Your Koi Fish From Your Pond

This is far from a clean job, so you shouldn’t wear your Sunday best. Take into account you’re going get dirty, the smell may be unbearable and it might be a bit cold. You’re going to need a fine mesh aquarium net, a garden hose with a spray adapter, and a holding tank (if you plan on removing your fish) big enough to store your fish while cleaning out your pond. You also may need to use a pond vacuum, pond cleaning gloves, if you have access to them.

If your pond is a smaller one, you can simply scoop your Koi out with the aquarium net to transfer them into the holding tank. If you have a larger Koi pond, it might be simpler to just let the fish be. If you do plan on removing them, fill the holding tank with pond water from you pond so an abrupt change in water temperature or water quality won’t shock your fish.

 Get Rid Of Surface Debris

More often than not you’re going to see an assortment of sticks and leaves floating on the surface of the pond. Use the net to scoop out all of the debris. This is an easy part but don’t think this is it, you’re far from done. You’re going to get messy soon enough.

Drain The Koi Pond

Use a pond pump to drain the water out of the pond. If you leave your fish in the pond, you clearly don’t want to pump out all of the pond water.

Draining will expose the sides of the pond and makes it a lot easier to remove the algae and other gunk. Depending on the type and strength of your pond pump and the size of your pond, it could take a couple of minutes or in some cases longer than an hour.

Make sure to send the pond water to an area in your yard that has really good drainage. Also try and take at least an hour-long break after you drain the pond and let the sun to dry out the newly revealed algae.

Remove Any Pond Plants and Any Accessories

Remove the pond pump, pond plants and anything else that can be removed. Remove any water lilies and other pond plants in autumn, if you still have plants in your pond at the beginning of spring, take them out too. Use the garden hose and an old toothbrush to really clean all the accessories and their hard to reach places. This is an ideal time to clean or replace the filter on your pond pump. Some pumps have a mesh bag, I yours does simply spray it off with your hose.

Clean the Pump

Now is a great time to clean out your pond’s pump. There are various different types of algae that can thrive in your ponds’ ecosystem. While some of it is valuable for the pond and a natural part of its ecosystem, while string algae is not. You’ll know when you are seeing string algae if it’s stringy, clearly, and if you are capable of just pulling it out of your pond. It tends to stick to bottom of ponds and grow upwards in long strands. They get caught up in your pump and other mechanical systems very easily, and the best and easiest way to clean it is to take the pump out and physically clear away the algae. You can use a brush to scrub any growth on the outside of the casing, but if any sting algae has gotten inside, you will need to take out the pump from the pond altogether.

 Get In There And Clean Your Backyard Pond

Use a hose with a spray attachment and forcefully spray away the algae growth on the sides of the Koi pond. Be sure to spray the waterfall and the rocks that line the outside of the pond.

Then, use the net to scoop out the muck and sludge that’s been sitting at the bottom of the pond. This is going to be the messy part. You’re likely to come across a lot of smelly slime, partially decayed plant material and maybe even an incidental lizard or fish.

Once you are done cleaning the pond, it’s time to put the pond back together. Connect the pond pump back up, and replace all of your pond plants and accessories.

Fill The Pond Back Up

Use the garden hose to refill the pond to the desired water level you like. Once the pond is full, turn on the pump and let the water to circulate for a couple of minutes. Most likely you’re going to use tap water. Tap water has chlorine in it, so you may have to add a dechlorinator to safeguard the fish.

Add Your Fish

The new, fresh water in your pond is more likely colder than the water in the holding tank, so give your fish a little time to acclimate. To protect your fish you will want to dump some of the water out of the holding tank and replace it with the new pond water, and repeat the process a number of times.

Phoenix, Arizona Koi Pond

If you already have a Koi pond or if you are thinking about installing a pond and would like a little help or advice with budgeting and design considerations, talk to the Phoenix Koi Pond Experts in Peoria, AZ at The Backyard Pond. Call us today at 623-878-6695 and see what we can do for you.

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How To Maintain A Backyard Pond In Phoenix, AZ

How To Maintain A Backyard Pond In Phoenix

Having a pond in your backyard is a great centerpiece of your landscaping. However without proper maintenance it can become the monster lurking in your yard. Here are a set of steps for how to maintain a backyard pond.

623-878-6695
Get a Quote

Elements of a Backyard Pond

The type of maintenance required for each pond is different, partly because different yards will have more or less trees, sunlight, and other variables. Even different styles and materials the ponds are made with will mean more or less cleaning. Most ponds share common elements, here are a few of them.

Pond Edge Materials – The edges of most ponds are lined with an edging material. Usually concrete pavers or even stones are lined between the water and the rest of your landscape. This isn’t just for a great aesthetic look, but helps prevent contamination. The water running off your lawn may be fertilized. The chemicals found in lawn fertilizer are not good for these ponds, especially if you have Koi fish.

Pond Liners – The soil in your yard is meant to drain water away from the roots of your plants. When you have a pond you generally want to keep the water where you put it, and a PVC or rubber liner is how we get the job done.

Pond Sand Bases – Before the liner goes down a layer of sand is laid. This is so that your liner has a soft even place to rest. Without this you might have sharp rocks that will pierce your liner and leak your water.

Seasonal Backyard Pond Maintenance Routines

Depending on the size of your pond you will require more or less often maintenance. It might seem crazy but the larger ponds are actually easier to take care of. This is because they can cope with changes to chemistry and ecology. Here we have listed out the ways to take care of your backyard pond in each season.

Spring Backyard Pond Maintenance

  • If your liner has more than an inch of debris or muck you are going to need to drain the pond and hose off the liner. Cleaning the bottom of the pond keeps your filters and pumps working, and makes them last longer.
  • While you have the pond drained it is a good chance to look for any potential leaks. Limbs or branches from trees can fall and pierce the liner of your pond. Pond liner repair kits are inexpensive and effective. This will prevent water from leaking out, or contaminants under your liner from entering your ecosystem.
  • Replace the filter and make sure the pump is working. Replace any piece of your pump or filtration system that isn’t working.
  • Top off the water level in your pond. Do so by placing the water trickling into the bottom of the pond. This helps stir up the minimum amount of debris.
  • Get rid of any debris or leaves from the pond. This debris as it decomposes releases harmful chemicals into ponds. The Nitrate levels need to be controlled for these close ecosystems.
  • Consider adding some plants to help increase the level of oxygen in the water. In addition to aeration of the water from falling water you can put oxygenating aquatic plants into your pond.
  • If you have potted plants you can divide them. This keeps them growing well and getting bigger.
  • Switch the feed you are using for your fish in the spring. You will want to make sure that you are using a high-carbohydrate type food. This will help them increase activity.
  • After all potential for frost has passed you can add any submerged or potted plants to your pond. If you install them too early you run the risk of algae getting out of control.

Summer Backyard Pond Maintenance

  • Stay on top of the water level. Letting the water get too long concentrates salt in the water and is harmful to the fish, pond, pump and filtration system. Try to add a little every week or two instead of having to add large amounts every month.
  • Plants grow best in the summer and can get out of control. It’s important to remove dead leaves to keep the water clean. Plants or flowers that are overgrowing should also be trimmed back. This will help keep the water cleaner and require less maintenance.
  • Keep an eye on your pump intakes and filters. A weekly check should be done and clean them out if they are starting to get clogged.
  • Watch The Water Chemistry. Kits should be bought to keep track of the water quality. Much like operating a hot tub the chemistry in the water dictates how safe it is. Pond chemistry sticks should be used that properly measure for chlorine, ammonia, and chloramines. High levels of any of these chemicals can be harmful to, or kill your fish.
  • Watch the fish for odd behavior or sores. It can be a sign of water chemistry being off.
  • Use aquatic-plant fertilizer tables on your potted plants each month of the summer. This helps keep them healthy and growing well.
  • If your yard is prone to pests on the plants use non toxic methods to control them. Algae can grow out of control if you don’t control it. Use a long-handled bristle brush, pole, or rake to get rid of your algae.

Fall Backyard Pond Maintenance

  • Fall is known for falling leaves, and decaying leaves in your pond raise ammonia levels. If you only have a few trees and can skim the leaves out of your pond with a net or skimmer you should be fine. If you have a lot of trees near the pond a net should be set in place. They can be bought inexpensively and secured in place with tent spikes, bricks or rocks.
  • Cut back on the feeding of your fish. Once the water reaches 50°F stop feeding your fish entirely. During the winter digestion in fish enters an almost hibernation like state. The amount they need to eat is more than supplied by bugs and other things they can find naturally in the pond.
  • Take any plants that won’t cope well with colder temperatures. Arizona rarely has serious freezes. But plants that won’t survive cooler nights should be brought in.

Winter Backyard Pond Maintenance

  • In Arizona freezes are not common. However if there is a freeze coming, clear your water lines and any pond fountains.
623-878-6695
Get a Quote

Backyard Maintenance Ideas

Backyard Maintenance IdeasHaving a pond in your backyard is a great centerpiece of your landscaping. However without proper maintenance it can become the monster lurking in your yard. Here are a set of steps for how to maintain a backyard pond.

623-878-6695
Get a Quote

Elements of a Backyard Pond

The type of maintenance required for each pond is different, partly because different yards will have more or less trees, sunlight, and other variables. Even different styles and materials the ponds are made with will mean more or less cleaning. Most ponds share common elements, here are a few of them.

Pond Edge Materials – The edges of most ponds are lined with an edging material. Usually concrete pavers or even stones are lined between the water and the rest of your landscape. This isn’t just for a great aesthetic look, but helps prevent contamination. The water running off your lawn may be fertilized. The chemicals found in lawn fertilizer are not good for these ponds, especially if you have Koi fish.

Pond Liners – The soil in your yard is meant to drain water away from the roots of your plants. When you have a pond you generally want to keep the water where you put it, and a PVC or rubber liner is how we get the job done.

Pond Sand Bases – Before the liner goes down a layer of sand is laid. This is so that your liner has a soft even place to rest. Without this you might have sharp rocks that will pierce your liner and leak your water.

Seasonal Backyard Pond Maintenance Routines

Depending on the size of your pond you will require more or less often maintenance. It might seem crazy but the larger ponds are actually easier to take care of. This is because they can cope with changes to chemistry and ecology. Here we have listed out the ways to take care of your backyard pond in each season.

Spring Backyard Pond Maintenance

  • If your liner has more than an inch of debris or muck you are going to need to drain the pond and hose off the liner. Cleaning the bottom of the pond keeps your filters and pumps working, and makes them last longer.
  • While you have the pond drained it is a good chance to look for any potential leaks. Limbs or branches from trees can fall and pierce the liner of your pond. Pond liner repair kits are inexpensive and effective. This will prevent water from leaking out, or contaminants under your liner from entering your ecosystem.
  • Replace the filter and make sure the pump is working. Replace any piece of your pump or filtration system that isn’t working.
  • Top off the water level in your pond. Do so by placing the water trickling into the bottom of the pond. This helps stir up the minimum amount of debris.
  • Get rid of any debris or leaves from the pond. This debris as it decomposes releases harmful chemicals into ponds. The Nitrate levels need to be controlled for these close ecosystems.
  • Consider adding some plants to help increase the level of oxygen in the water. In addition to aeration of the water from falling water you can put oxygenating aquatic plants into your pond.
  • If you have potted plants you can divide them. This keeps them growing well and getting bigger.
  • Switch the feed you are using for your fish in the spring. You will want to make sure that you are using a high-carbohydrate type food. This will help them increase activity.
  • After all potential for frost has passed you can add any submerged or potted plants to your pond. If you install them too early you run the risk of algae getting out of control.

Summer Backyard Pond Maintenance

  • Stay on top of the water level. Letting the water get too long concentrates salt in the water and is harmful to the fish, pond, pump and filtration system. Try to add a little every week or two instead of having to add large amounts every month.
  • Plants grow best in the summer and can get out of control. It’s important to remove dead leaves to keep the water clean. Plants or flowers that are overgrowing should also be trimmed back. This will help keep the water cleaner and require less maintenance.
  • Keep an eye on your pump intakes and filters. A weekly check should be done and clean them out if they are starting to get clogged.
  • Watch The Water Chemistry. Kits should be bought to keep track of the water quality. Much like operating a hot tub the chemistry in the water dictates how safe it is. Pond chemistry sticks should be used that properly measure for chlorine, ammonia, and chloramines. High levels of any of these chemicals can be harmful to, or kill your fish.
  • Watch the fish for odd behavior or sores. It can be a sign of water chemistry being off.
  • Use aquatic-plant fertilizer tables on your potted plants each month of the summer. This helps keep them healthy and growing well.
  • If your yard is prone to pests on the plants use non toxic methods to control them. Algae can grow out of control if you don’t control it. Use a long-handled bristle brush, pole, or rake to get rid of your algae.

Fall Backyard Pond Maintenance

  • Fall is known for falling leaves, and decaying leaves in your pond raise ammonia levels. If you only have a few trees and can skim the leaves out of your pond with a net or skimmer you should be fine. If you have a lot of trees near the pond a net should be set in place. They can be bought inexpensively and secured in place with tent spikes, bricks or rocks.
  • Cut back on the feeding of your fish. Once the water reaches 50°F stop feeding your fish entirely. During the winter digestion in fish enters an almost hibernation like state. The amount they need to eat is more than supplied by bugs and other things they can find naturally in the pond.
  • Take any plants that won’t cope well with colder temperatures. Arizona rarely has serious freezes. But plants that won’t survive cooler nights should be brought in.

Winter Backyard Pond Maintenance

  • In Arizona freezes are not common. However if there is a freeze coming, clear your water lines and any pond fountains.
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Raising Goldfish In A Backyard Pond

Raising Goldfish In A Backyard Pond

A backyard pond, especially one with aquatic plants and fish, such as koi or the less expensive but equally colorful goldfish, adds appeal to your landscape. The Wakin goldfish, a Chinese native, can reach 18 inches in length and, like koi, is a friendly fish, especially around feeding time. In a pond, the comet goldfish, a more common species, can grow to be 6 to 10 inches long. Some kinds can be left in the pond over the winter, while others must be taken inside. Goldfish can live for more than a decade if they are properly cared for. To maintain its inhabitants healthy, a goldfish pond requires regular maintenance.

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Make sure you have a good filtration system in place. Filtration is required to remove part of the waste produced by the fish, as well as the decomposition of plant matter in the water. Every few weeks, clean the filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Goldfish are vulnerable to ammonia and nitrate buildup in pond water due to insufficient filtering. Every other day, check the water for nitrates. Nitrate levels in goldfish culture should ideally be nil. High waste product levels can also be produced by having too many goldfish in your pond — each goldfish should have about 3 to 4 square feet of water surface, assuming the fish are of average size – about 6 to 10 inches.

Use plants to cover around 75 percent of the pond’s surface to reduce algae production. This will block sunlight from reaching the water’s surface, encouraging algae development. Some algicides are poisonous to goldfish, therefore don’t use it in a pond with them. Water plants provide shade, which keeps the pond water from becoming too heated. The temperature of the pond water should be between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit for goldfish to grow.

Skim the pond for leaves and debris on a regular basis. Algae have no feeding source if dead organic debris is removed every few days. Algae in a pond not only looks unappealing, but it also depletes oxygen levels in the water, which goldfish require to survive.

Feed your pond’s fish with goldfish food prepared exclusively for them, as directed on the package. Don’t overeat. Goldfish metabolism speeds up in the summer, when the pond water temperature is around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and they can be fed twice a day safely. Food that isn’t consumed pollutes the pond.

Fertilize your pond plants according to the instructions for each species of plant. Water lilies (Nymphaea), for example, need fertilizer on a regular basis to thrive. Trim or divide any plant material that appears to be overgrown or unhealthy on a regular basis. Healthy plants give your pond’s goldfish areas to hide from predators like raccoons and blue herons, as well as to escape the sun’s heat.

During the hot, dry summer months, top off the pond’s water to repair evaporation losses. The goldfish will be stressed if there isn’t enough water, making them more prone to sickness. The water must be chlorinated before being added to the pond, or the fish may perish. Before adding water to the pond, dissolve dechlorinator tablets in buckets of water according to package guidelines.

Maintenance in the Winter

Check to see whether you have a goldfish that can stay outside in the winter. Some varieties demand warmer temperatures than those seen in most parts of the country during the winter. Comet goldfish, for example, require water temperatures of 68 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas wakin goldfish can stay in the pond as long as there is an air hole. Make a hole in the ice or use a pond heater to keep the pond open when the surface freezes over. A hole in the surface ice, in either case, permits gases to escape. In addition, winterize the pond by turning off the filtration system and relocating plants to the deepest part of the pond. Do not add food to the water at this time since goldfish that endure cold will hibernate at the bottom of the tank in a dormant state.

If your pond is going to freeze solid, bring your goldfish and plants indoors. If your goldfish needs to come indoors, provide them with a dechlorinated indoor habitat. Remove the plants, pot and all, from the water and bring them inside.

Throughout the winter, keep removing debris from the pond on a regular basis.

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How To Clean A Pond

How To Clean A Pond

If you are searching for “how to clean a pond“, this post by The Backyard Pond can help! It doesn’t matter how hard you try, you will have to clean your pond at some point. Cleaning your pond can greatly increase the lifetime of your pond (and your Koi fish, if you have them) and let you enjoy it for years to come.

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Cleaning Your Pond

There will come a time that you will need to clean your pond. You may be preparing your pond for the summer or winter, or maybe you been a little lax on the upkeep and maintenance. There are steps you can take to clean your pond and make it look “newish”.  A clean pond gives a new environment for the bacteria in your biological filter and fresh water for the fish. The amount of cleaning required will usually depend on the size of your pond and location of it.

Remove Your Koi Fish From Your Pond

This is far from a clean job, so you shouldn’t wear your Sunday best. Take into account you’re going get dirty, the smell may be unbearable and it might be a bit cold. You’re going to need a fine mesh aquarium net, a garden hose with a spray adapter, and a holding tank (if you plan on removing your fish) big enough to store your fish while cleaning out your pond. You also may need to use a pond vacuum, pond cleaning gloves, if you have access to them.

If your pond is a smaller one, you can simply scoop your Koi out with the aquarium net to transfer them into the holding tank. If you have a larger Koi pond, it might be simpler to just let the fish be. If you do plan on removing them, fill the holding tank with pond water from you pond so an abrupt change in water temperature or water quality won’t shock your fish.

 Get Rid Of Surface Debris

More often than not you’re going to see an assortment of sticks and leaves floating on the surface of the pond. Use the net to scoop out all of the debris. This is an easy part but don’t think this is it, you’re far from done. You’re going to get messy soon enough.

Drain The Koi Pond

Use a pond pump to drain the water out of the pond. If you leave your fish in the pond, you clearly don’t want to pump out all of the pond water.

Draining will expose the sides of the pond and makes it a lot easier to remove the algae and other gunk. Depending on the type and strength of your pond pump and the size of your pond, it could take a couple of minutes or in some cases longer than an hour.

Make sure to send the pond water to an area in your yard that has really good drainage. Also try and take at least an hour-long break after you drain the pond and let the sun to dry out the newly revealed algae.

Remove Any Pond Plants and Any Accessories

Remove the pond pump, pond plants and anything else that can be removed. Remove any water lilies and other pond plants in autumn, if you still have plants in your pond at the beginning of spring, take them out too. Use the garden hose and an old toothbrush to really clean all the accessories and their hard to reach places. This is an ideal time to clean or replace the filter on your pond pump. Some pumps have a mesh bag, I yours does simply spray it off with your hose.

Clean the Pump

Now is a great time to clean out your pond’s pump. There are various different types of algae that can thrive in your ponds’ ecosystem. While some of it is valuable for the pond and a natural part of its ecosystem, while string algae is not. You’ll know when you are seeing string algae if it’s stringy, clearly, and if you are capable of just pulling it out of your pond. It tends to stick to bottom of ponds and grow upwards in long strands. They get caught up in your pump and other mechanical systems very easily, and the best and easiest way to clean it is to take the pump out and physically clear away the algae. You can use a brush to scrub any growth on the outside of the casing, but if any sting algae has gotten inside, you will need to take out the pump from the pond altogether.

 Get In There And Clean Your Backyard Pond

Use a hose with a spray attachment and forcefully spray away the algae growth on the sides of the Koi pond. Be sure to spray the waterfall and the rocks that line the outside of the pond.

Then, use the net to scoop out the muck and sludge that’s been sitting at the bottom of the pond. This is going to be the messy part. You’re likely to come across a lot of smelly slime, partially decayed plant material and maybe even an incidental lizard or fish.

Once you are done cleaning the pond, it’s time to put the pond back together. Connect the pond pump back up, and replace all of your pond plants and accessories.

Fill The Pond Back Up

Use the garden hose to refill the pond to the desired water level you like. Once the pond is full, turn on the pump and let the water to circulate for a couple of minutes. Most likely you’re going to use tap water. Tap water has chlorine in it, so you may have to add a dechlorinator to safeguard the fish.

Add Your Fish

The new, fresh water in your pond is more likely colder than the water in the holding tank, so give your fish a little time to acclimate. To protect your fish you will want to dump some of the water out of the holding tank and replace it with the new pond water, and repeat the process a number of times.

Phoenix, Arizona Koi Pond

If you already have a Koi pond or if you are thinking about installing a pond and would like a little help or advice with budgeting and design considerations, talk to the Phoenix Koi Pond Experts in Peoria, AZ at The Backyard Pond. Call us today at 623-878-6695 and see what we can do for you.

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Koi Pond Maintenance Tips

Koi Pond Maintenance Tips

When you are searching for “Koi Pond Maintenance Tips” near you in Phoenix, Arizona, The Backyard Pond can help! Call us at 623-878-6695 for more information.

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Koi Fish Pond Maintenance

Having a Koi pond in your backyard or garden can help you find a quiet and serene corner in your yard where you can spend some time among nature and get some fresh air. Keeping up with the application of beneficial bacteria, checking your pond pump for debris, and changing your UV bulb on a regular basis are only part of the upkeep. Utilizing pond tools such as scissors & pliers, collapsible skimmers & fish nets, a heavy duty pond net, and a pond water test kit to name a few.

Some Tips to Maintain Your Koi Pond

Maintaining your pond is important not only for the ponds’ sake but also for the benefit of your Koi fish. Below you will find a small list of some of the key factors in maintaining your Koi pond. This is not a dedicated list, there are other considerations to take in account for your pond not only to last a long time but to keep your Koi fish happy, and more importantly healthy.

Perform Consistent Water Checks To Avoid Common Problems

    Check your water levels daily as evaporation can fluctuate the water levels, and fill as needed. If you find that you are losing more water than you should, you should check for any leaks, this is not only bad for your pond but also for your wallet. Repair any tears in the liner with a patch from a scrap of liner. Fix any cracks in your pond with a readily available fiberglass repair kit.

Maintain The Right Temperature

Even though your Koi can manage temperatures between 35 and 85 F degrees, it’s a good idea to keep your fish in water that ranges somewhere between 65 and 75 F degrees. Because we live in the Valley of the Sun, it is best to find a way to shade your pond from the brutal summer heat.

Create Shade Over the Pond

You may need to create a shade over the pond, not only to keep temperatures down, limit algae growth, but also to protect the Koi themselves. There are several types of shades you can use to shade your Koi pond. Try to avoid placing your pond near trees, as roots and debris can compromise your pond. A couple of examples you can use are pergolas and shade sails. There are also dedicated pond covers available.

Avoid Over Feeding

Over feeding your Koi fish is not only expensive, but can actually harm your fish. Overfeeding can also be bad for the health of you pond itself. Chemical balances in the pond need to be carefully monitored as some are good for the pond and some are bad. Uneaten food can cause low oxygen levels, algae bloom, cloudy water and worst of all mold. Food that has not been eaten can also get caught in your pond filters and clog them.

Properly Maintain All Your Koi Pond Equipment

Make sure all of your supplies and equipment are up to date and in properly working condition. These should, but not always include the filtration system, the high powered pond pump, the ultraviolet sterilizer, and the aeration system. With proper care, you’ll have a greater chance of keeping the water sparkling clean and your Koi happy. It is also a good idea to check your filters also as they can get clogged and not flow correctly.

Invest In A Filtration System

A good filtration system will greatly benefit your Koi pond. Koi live their entire lives in the pond, it is where sleep, eat and do their business. Mechanical filters are like vacuum cleaners, they clean unwanted debris from the water. Biological filters, on the other hand, use bacteria to detoxify the water. Both of them work, but it is up to you to choose the best one for your pond. You also have to factor in the size of your pond when choosing a filter. It is a good rule to double the size of your filter according to the size of your pond. A 1000 gallon pond should have a 2000 gallon filter. The filter is ultimately there for the benefit of the Koi, so also take into account your Koi population.

Keep Your Koi Population Under Control

Keeping your Koi population under control is vital to your Koi, the more the merrier is not always the case.  Some Koi can get out of control during breeding season and it can soon get out of hand. To many Koi can disrupt the natural balance in the pond, putting your Koi in jeopardy. One method of population control is to re home the Koi you do not want. You might think that is too much effort and would rather take them down to a nearby pond or community watering hole and letting them go. Please don’t do this, these bodies of water contain their own ecosystem, and entering new species will disrupt it. The best way to re home your Koi is to find a local club or chapter, they can give you advice and you can make new contacts and friends as a result.

Cleaning Items Within The Pond

Cleaning your pond will keep it looking nice and also help keep your Koi healthy. You will need some supplies to clean your pond such as a small brush as you will be scrubbing the rocks or tiles, a sizeable bucket (if you are removing the Koi to clean the pond), a pond skimmer net, scissors & pliers, fish nets, and a pond water test kit. Another good idea is to get a leaf net as this will keep bigger debris from falling in the pond itself. They are a little more expensive, but some Koi enthusiasts use a pond vacuum.

Remove Harmful Debris

Debris entering your Koi pond, not only makes you work twice as hard to keep the pond clean, but it is also harmful to your Koi. Debris in the pond can also cause poor water quality. Small particles can make your Koi sick when eaten and larger particles could get caught in the filter reducing water flow.

Caring for Your Pond

Maintaining your Koi pond not only keeps your Koi fish healthy, but also keeps your pond looking great throughout the year. By beginning with the right set-up, your Koi fish will prosper and bring you joy for many years to come.  Koi fish are clearly one of the best fish types for your backyard pond.

Taking  Care of Your Koi Pond in Phoenix

When you are interested in purchasing pond supplies or pond accessories in Peoria, Phoenix or anywhere else in the Valley, stop by our store today. We can also install, service and maintain your Koi fish pond, give The Backyard Pond a call at 623-878-6695.

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Why Is My Pond Green?

Why Is My Pond Green?

If you are searching “why is my pond green?” you are most likely looking for information about why it happened and how to fix it. This post covers

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The only reason that a pond would turn green is because of algae that is growing in it. Firstly, algae in a pond isn’t always a bad thing. A thin, healthy algae layer on the surface is a vital part of having a good pond. It can prevent high levels of nitrates by consuming nitrates as food and putting off oxygen.

When Algae Is A Problem

  • Whenever the healthy algae blooms, it will turn the water cloudy to green to where the water is so green that you can’t see into the water.
  • Whenever you have the bad type of algae, called filamentous algae, it doesn’t always affect the color of the water, but it can grow in stringy masses or clumps to where it can overtake the pond.

In the situation where healthy algae has bloomed and turned your clear water green, here is what happened. The healthy algae that collects on the sides of the pond and never grows more than a fourth of an inch has decided to reproduce. Similar to a flower giving pollen, this algae will release millions of single cell algae. These cells are too small for a filter to pick up.

Controlling Algae Reproduction

So, how can you control the reproduction of algae? The best and efficient way is to install an UV light on the filtration system. The way that a UV light works is easy. As the water goes through the UV light it will be exposed to the light inside of the unit. The light waves are harsh enough that is destroys algae DNA, and kills it. Once the algae have died and starts to decompose it will begin to stick to each other. After the algae collects together, the mass becomes large enough for the filter to collect them or they go to the pond bottom. Once you have installed a UV light, the process takes about a week before the water is clear.

Stringy Algae

In the other situation, the pond water is clear but there are stringy algae all over and is rapidly growing throughout the pond. Algae becomes a problem when it breaks loose and floats around. Additionally, these algae will fill the basket and it will need to be cleaned constantly or it will stop the filter. This is due to filamentous algae. These algae introduced to a pond whenever you add plants. If a single spore is on a plant, it will create a problem.

The stringy algae can come in many forms. Some will grow slowly but some are fast growing and invasive. Some may not be obvious at first, but it will grow about 3 inches long on the pond walls. This type of algae will line your basket quickly to where it will affect the water flow but the basket has little debris in it. It is impossible for good algae to plug a basket as it is so small.

How can you control filamentous algae?

UV lights will have little effect on it because the algae grows on pond walls and never reaches the light. In mild cases, you can get the algae off the walls by hand when it gets ugly looking. In severe cases, it is best to use an algae control liquid. Algae Control is a great product that works well. It is a herbicide or weed killer. When dosed right, it is effective but you have to know how many gallons your pond is to use it properly. If you overdose the pond by 20% can kill your fish. It is suggested that you under dose the first couple of times that you use it, if you are unsure of how many gallons your pond is. 1-2 doses will normally kill the algae. It is recommended to use the half the dose every 2 weeks, instead of once a week as a maintenance. Keep your filter running to provide oxygen to your pond while treating because as the algae begins to decompose, it will take a lot of the oxygen out of the water. You have to pay attention when you use this product, but it is the most effective and easiest way to remove filamentous algae.

Tips about UV Lights

  • Ensure that you have plenty of circulation in your pond. Is it circulating together? If you have dead areas in the pond where the water doesn’t move, then those areas will grow algae and as the water moves in the pond, it will cloud the water.
  • Ensure that the UV light is sized for your pond. A light that is too small will not clear your water.
  • Ensure that your filter system is going 24/7. If you are only using it part of the time, you could see that keeping the water clear is hard.
  • The right sizes UV light with a good filter will clear your water all year without any real effort besides changing the lamp yearly. They work so well that it is recommended to never have a pond unless you have a UV light.
  • Ensure that you don’t exceed the recommended water flow through the unit. If you send fast moving pond water through it, it shortens exposure time, which reduces the ability to kill algae. You may need to install a bypass for the lamp. This allows you to control how much water goes through the unit. Proper water flow is
  • Ensure that you are changing the UV lamp yearly. After a year, many lamps are only work about 60% of capacity. The lamp could be on, but it may not have the ability to kill algae.

Pond Maintenance & Supply in Phoenix

If you have a green pond and need to get it under control we can do it for you, or help you choose the right products and tools to get the job done. We are a full service pond and koi pond company serving the entire Phoenix valley.  We will help you maintain your pond, get rid of unhealthy levels of algae, and promote the overall health and beauty of your pond.

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