As soon as fish become active within the pond, be sure to feed them accordingly. After feeding your fish, insure that follow these steps:
Check all electrical components around the pond
Find your heater, turn it off, remove, clean, and store it for the spring and summer months
Re-connect any water pumps to the pond insuring that they are submerged if instructed
If you have any plants growing within the pond, please do the following:
Trim, move, re-plant, or replace any water lilies or overcrowded pond plants
Start planting new aquatic plants after cleaning has finished
Fertilize any new plants according to manufacturer's directions
If you notice some dead fish within the aquarium, contact your local pet store and ask what they recommend you do and/or remove the dead fish using proper safety protection.
Summer
Ensure that you are continuing to feed your pond fish according to manufacturers directions; also, continue to re-plant, trim, and weed all pond plants. To re-fill your ponds water supply, please follow the directions below:
In hot, humid conditions, the water level can drop by 1 - 2 inches per a week
Low water levels can seriously harm fish and plants, so be sure to re-fill your ponds water supply frequently
*If you are planning to go away for a long period of time, have a friend or family check-up on your pond weekly.
If you notice any blanket weed, be sure to remove it promptly with a stick or rake. Also, all deadheaded flowers need to removed before they set seeds in your pond.
Fall
Ensure that you are continuing to feed your pond fish according to manufacturers directions; also, continue to re-plant, trim, and weed all pond plants. When the weather begins to cool, stop maintenance on the pond plants, but continue to remove debris from the pond regularly. When leaves begin to fall from nearby trees, place a mesh netting over the pond to stop leaves from falling into it. Also:
Remove, clean, and store the submerged water pump
Install the heater
Winter
When Winter rolls around, just follow these few steps:
When fish aren't active, stop feeding them
Stop planting
Insure that ice DOES NOT form on the pond as this is lethal for your ponds health
*It is not the ice that is deadly, but the build-up of gasses under it.
Please consult your local pet store shall you have any questions. Fish Assist is not responsible for the death of fish or damaged property. Still have questions? Click here for e-mail assistance.