Saturday, June 7, 2014

By Sally Delacruz


Home ponds are usually additional features to outdoor living. They can transform a place into a serene paradise thus creating a space where people can relax and unwind. This way, the home owners are able to enjoy spending their time outdoor with family and friend. However, there is so much about pond maintenance New Jersey citizens should know. Whether people own large or small ponds, it is advisable to make sure that they are maintained periodically.

There are some specific times when maintenance should be done. These include the winter, summer and fall. Each of these periods involves different approaches. The summer for instance is usually the most problematic time. The extreme heat from the sun makes the fish more active than usual. They eat more food thus producing more waste. For this reason, it is vital to make sure that aeration and filters in the ponds are functional.

During the summer months, oxygen should be the main thought. Always ensure that all aeration devices are able to run on a 24 hour-basis. Since warm water has less oxygen, it is significant to make sure that the levels are topped up. By so doing, one will enable the friendly bacteria to thrive thus helping to keep nitrates and ammonia levels down.

It will also be essential to carry out regular pH checks during the summer months since the biological activities at these times are usually pronounced and the pH can alter within a short period of time. Consider pacing a net over the water to help save loads of efforts and time from leaves and debris during the fall season.

In fall, it is important to get rid of the debris that accumulates at the bottom of the pond. Nonetheless, it is imperative for a person to be cautious so as not to interfere with friendly bacteria that tend kill harmful toxins found in the water. The surface should be cleaned carefully and where necessarily, more friendly bacteria added to replace those removed by accident.

The metabolic processes of the fish also tend to slow when the temperatures inside the ponds fall. This means that they feed less. When this happens, it is important to regulate their feeding. The amount given should be reduced to avoid accumulation of solid waste in the water. These can turn into toxic substances thus threatening the lives of fish inside the pond. Regulating the feeding process will also minimize the maintenance work.

During winter, the most important thing is to make sure that the water will not freeze over. When this happens, there can be a significant damage to the environment and the water creatures as well. During this state, the toxic gases that are usually produced are not able to escape. On the other hand, the oxygen cannot enter the water hence creating a risky habitat for the fish.

At this time, the fish will become extremely lethargic thus will hardly require any food. Therefore, it is essential to keep the feeding down to bare minimum during this time. De-icers can be used to keep the water in liquid state.




About the Author:



0 Comments:

Post a Comment