What should you do with your pond in spring?
The #1 thing to do with a pond or waterfall is to enjoy the seasonal ups and downs! Pumps can’t run frozen water but each season brings its own beauty!
If you will be caring for your backyard pond this spring, make sure you have a couple items in stock.
1. Cold water bacteria to give your pond a jump start on staying clean and clear!
2. A net to scoop spring tree buds and flowers out.
3. We also like using SAB to help prevent algae growth.* It binds with phosphates in the water so the algae can’t use it to grow out of control. SAB comes in a powder and is easy to apply.
4. Pre-order pond plants or floating flowers for the season!
How to add fish to your pond:
If your fish are in storage but you want to put them in your fish pond this spring, this is what we recommend.
- Start your pond. At a minimum, remove large debris or talk to us about a deep clean!
- If new, clean water is being added, make sure you also add detoxifier if the water is city water. Chlorine will burn the poor fishy gills and they will suffocate by a slow, painful death!
- Add Pond starter beneficial bacteria to the pond to kickstart a healthy ecosystem OR super-charge the bacteria process by squeezing the filter pad from your fish tank into the pond.
- Add some pond water to the fish storage tank. Slowly acclimate the fish by mixing the water bit by bit until the temperatures are the same. Sudden temperature changes are a sure way to hurt your pond fish! A swing down in temperature is harder on fish than a swing up in temperature. Make sure the pond water is similar or warmer to the fish tank water.
- Gently place fish in pond.
- It may be a few days before the fish are hungry. If the fish act hungry, give them a few pieces but go easy. Do not over feed them.
-Minnesota Waterscapes Team Spring 2025
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