1) Clean up any debris from your pond.  If there is a large amount of debris and sludge build-up, it is a good idea to do a full pond clean-out.  To perform a full clean-out, you must remove any water from the pond by placing a clean-out sump pump or siphon hose in the deepest part of your pond, and drain it into the surrounding landscape.  Once the pond is drained, clean out any debris/sludge by hand and with a pressure washer or garden hose.

 

 

3) Reconnect your pump and filter.  Rinse your filter before restarting your pump.  Do not use any form of soap or bleach on the filter pads.  If pads are badly worn or torn, they should be replaced.

 

4) Add beneficial bacteria to your pond.  Once you have consistent water temperatures of 55 degrees or higher, you should add bacteria to your pond to help keep your water clear.  We recommend using Aquascapes brand 'Aquaclearer Extreme' and 'SAB Extreme'.

 

5) Add aquatic plants.  Adding aquatic plants is a great way to balance your pond's ecosystem.  They provide valuable biological filtration that removes nitrogen, ammonia, nitrates and other minerals from pond water.  In the end, this helps keep your water clearer, and helps to minimize maintenance!        

 

We offer a large selection of Aquascapes brand products for your pond.  Here are a few products that you might try this year:

EcoBarley Liquid Extract: This barley straw extract will break down pond sludge and keep your water clean and clear.

Aquaclearer Extreme and SAB Extreme: Beneficial bacteria, as mentioned in Step 4.

Pond Foam Free: This product safely eliminates foam that will often build up near waterfalls or in areas of the pond that contain fast-moving water.

 

Let us know if you have any questions on anything you've read here, or if you'd like more information on any of these steps. 

Our maintenance department would be happy to help you with your spring pond start-up.  Click here to contact us!