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If you have a build up of sludge in your pond you should consider a pool cleaning. Pump approximately 20%-25% of the volume of your pool into containers, being careful not to stir up the sludge and cloudy the water. Pump the pool down until you can easily catch the fish, putting them into the containers of water. Cover the containers so the fish won't jump out. Put your plants in plastic bags and put in a shady area. Finish pumping out the pool. Scoop out the sludge (this is great to put on your garden). Hose down the pool and pump out that water - don't scrub the sides of the pond. The algae on the sides will help balance the pool after cleaning. Fill 3/4 full, add Chloramine Buster or other product to remove chlorine. Put fish in bags, add some of the old pond water and float the bags 15-20 minutes to acclimate the fish to the temperature change. Add the pond water in the containers to the pond. Put plants back in the pond. Fill to the correct level. Add Clear Pond to replace the bacteria.

Algae problems? Free floating algae, the kind that turns your water to pea soup, can be controlled by balancing your pool. The algae that grows on the sides of the pond are a sign of a healthy pond. Long stringy algae (blanket weed) needs to be removed by hand to keep it under control.

  • Approximately 70% of the water's surface needs to be covered. Water lilies, water hyacinth, water lettuce or surface covering shallow water plants, such as floating heart, can be used.
  • Don't over crowd with fish. Start with one fish inch per 10 gallons of water, this allows for growth. Maximum ­ one fish inch per gallon with bio filtration.
  • Feed you fish only what they will clean up in 15 minutes. Net out any uneaten food. They can be fed several times a day.
  • Add anacharis or other underwater oxygenating plant. One bunch per 2 square ft. of surface area. If you have a bad algae problem add 1 bunch per one square ft. of surface area.
  • Add Clear Pond®, a beneficial bacteria.
  • Use a good biological filter. We recommend Cyprio filters.
  • Don't drain and clean your pond because of green water. It will naturally go through a green stage before it becomes balanced. By June it should have balanced, if you still have green water you need to try the above recommendations.

  • Fertilize your lilies and bog plants. Lilies need one 21g or two 10g fertilizer tabs each month to keep them blooming. Bog & shallow water plants need to be fertilized in spring and mid summer with one 10g tab.

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