Restarting your pond
The weather is getting warmer and it’s time to get the pond pumping again, tending to everything from equipment to fish and plant growth! Let’s get started.

Preventative Maintenance
Look for rocks in the edging, waterfalls and streams that may have shifted during the winter months causing loss of water by diverting water out of your pond. Examine all hose connections and pipe work for loose fittings. Vac or skim remaining debris. Check for leaks!. See finding a leak article in Library

Filtration
If your pump has been in dry storage, place it in shallow water and test to make sure it’s working properly before submerging it into the bottom of the pond. If your pump spent the winter idle in the pond, remove it, clean out any pre-filters or intakes, and test to make sure it’s fully operational.

Give your filters a spring cleaning, too. Gently rinse any biological media in a bucket of pond water. Depending on your type of filter, its biological media can be anything from plastic cylinders/spheres to spaghetti-like strands. Biological media should never be washed under the hose; chlorine contained in the water kills the beneficial bacteria. Also never scrub the media clean; simply rinse off any excess sludge or debris. Leave the beneficial bacteria intact so it can become active again, restarting the biological process. All foam pads can be sprayed clean using your garden hose. Restart the pump and filter 1-2 weeks before resuming fish feeding.

Cleaning
Make sure the pond is reasonably clean prior to warm weather. You can remove any sediment with a pond vacuum or sturdy net. Now’s an ideal time to perform a 25% water change. When topping-up your pond, remember to use a water conditioner, such as TetraPond AquaSafe®, to neutralize harmful chlorine and chloramines from tap water.

Plants
Once the danger of frost has passed, remove any frosted or dead plant material from marginal or bog plants as well as any insulation. The spring is also an ideal time for adding new plants to your pond. Plant coverage up to 60% will help keep the pond cool,clean and beautiful to behold.

Fish
When fish become more active and water temperatures are consistently between 45 °F - 50°F, you can begin a regular feeding schedule. To transition fish out of winter, feed Spring & Fall Diet, a specially formulated wheat-germ food for slower metabolism.

When water temperature stabilizes above 50°F, you should introduce your favorite staple food. We highly recommend color enhanced foods and or high growth foods. Koi are easily trained and will come to you daily.

Enter our "My Water Feature" Contest and have your pond featured in our newsletter!

Whether you have a pond, water garden, waterfall or fountain, chances are you want to show off your pride and joy. Pondarama.com is offering a unique opportunity to showcase your water feature right here in our  newsletter. E-mail us up to 5 images of your finished project, along with a short description of your design or construction experience. Each issue will feature one water feature that strikes our fancy from those submitted. * Send your submission with the following in the subject line to...

Water Feature Contest, c/o BJ@pondarama.com

Please include your name, geographical location and description. If your pond is chosen, a Pondarama.com representative will contact you prior to publishing to verify your information. All photos will be added to our Parade of Ponds

* Winners will be contacted for consent prior to posting your photos in newsletter.


Our Water Feature Contest Winner!

Congratulations George & Susie Greenstein of Port Saint Lucie, Florida

George & Susie built this 2000 gallon pond because they wanted something different and relaxing to enjoy on their patio, in their corner of paradise. They've enjoyed it so much that they have expanded it twice in the last four years. This pond is a home to 11 native and imported koi, a channel catfish almost 24 inches long, and is adorned by water lilies, Cork Screw, Pickerel Rush, Golden Strike Rush, Cannas and more. Complete with a waterfall and lighting, it is a paradise to enjoy year-round.

Dear Bettyjean,
My folks were honored to receive Pondarama's award for their pond. My friends and I are very lucky to live in such a beautiful and natural environment. It is many times nicer than the tank we use to live in! Regards,
Whitey & Friends