Weekly Tip #4

Stock a new pond gradually.

A garden pond is a living ecosystem where the toxic waste excreted by fish and other organisms in the pond must be broken down by beneficial bacteria in a pond and filter system at the same rate at which it is being produced. It takes time for the bacteria population to react to an increase in waste and if too many fish are added too quickly the waste builds up quicker than it can be broken down, making the pond toxic, which stresses your new purchases leading to their disease or death. Add fish gradually over a number of weeks, monitoring water quality at every stage.

Weekly Tip #3

Are you considering buying fish to replace some recent losses?

Be sure that you have established the reason for losing the fish (disease, poor water quality, old age, predators etc) before introducing any replacements or you may experience similar problems again. Ensure a clear two week period between losing any fish through disease and only restock once you are happy with the behavior and health of the existing stock. If you are thinking of simply adding to your existing collection then make certain that the new additions will not cause the pond to become overstocked.

Adding too many fish would tip the balance of a well managed pond increasing the likelihood of water quality and disease problems and reducing growth rates.

Weekly Tip #2

Choosing Your Pond Fish

Find a store offering a wide variety and selection of pond products and fish and particularly someone who is knowledgeable and will put giving good advice a priority ahead of making a sale. Before considering buying any additional fish for your pond you should consider whether your pond is ready for its first fish (if a new pond) or is ready for some extra fish if an existing pond.

Choosing Fish for a New Pond

Before stocking a new pond, ideally it should have been planted and the pump and filter running for at least a week. Fresh tap water and the new pond materials used in its construction create a very unnatural, almost sterile environment. Allow the water to mature and be circulated through your filter for as long as possible before stocking. You can speed up this process by seeding your biological filter with a bio-starter available at Pickering Valley Feed such as Microbe-Lift, Organica, and Pond Flush.

Weekly Tip #1

Prevent String Algae with Barley Straw

Barley straw works by fostering large cultures of colorless, odorless, harmless, bacteria that help keep your pond clean and clear. No toxics here. Barley straw is safe for fish, plants, snails, frogs, kids, dogs, livestock, songbirds, pesky herons, etc. Barley straw also boosts overall bio-filter capacity by increasing surface areas for native beneficial bacteria. The bacterial growth on the barley straw naturally retards the growth of many green algae including string algae (hair algae), also called pond moss and when floating on the surface, pond scum.

Barley straw may be placed in the pond at any time during the year. Once applied, barley straw should be maintained in the pond throughout the entire year. Maintaining straw in the pond thru the winter months will minimize the perennial early spring algae bloom.

Your straw should be replaced after every 6 warm months, or when the volume of straw has decreased by 75%.