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Common Garden Pond Problems
Garden ponds seem so tranquil and relaxing but the reality is that they can actually be rather problematic. While adding a garden pond to your landscape can provide you with the place where you can relax, listen to the trickling water and enjoy some great pond fish and other creatures, they can also be just another thing to maintain. However, for some people it’s well worth it. Here’s some common pond problems and how to solve them.
Leaking
If you notice that the water levels in your Pond is decreasing rapidly this could be due to leakage as opposed to evaporation. If the leak is at the bottom of your pond this can be a pain as you will have to drain the whole pond and insert bentonite clay into the leak with a sheeps foot roller. This can be expensive but is the most secure way of repairing leaks. The bentonite can expand from 12 to 15 times its original size with us creating a leak proof seal. It also will still allow the exchange of nutrients between sediments in the pond.
But not all leaks are at the bottom of your pond some could be in the plumbing. To check for this keep the pump running and inspect the hoses for weeks. If this is the case then you can simply replace that section of hose.
Other times water may just be coming out over a low spot in the edge. To finance you have to inspect the edge of the pond moving rocks and other barriers until you find a low spot in the liner. Once you do simply readjust to keep the water from splashing out.
PH
Having the appropriate PH in your water is vital to the health of your fish therefore you need to test regularly with a PH test kit. A PH of 7 is neutral anything higher is alkaline and anything lower acidic. The perfect pH for a pond is between 7 and 7.5.
You should never let your pH get above 8 or below 6.8. A PH that is too low will cause stress for the fish and wreak havoc with your biological filtration. A PH that is too high is also harmful to your fish as well as your plants. PH levels can vary due to the amount of waste, acid rain and soil runoff so you need to check weekly. If you do find a pH levels are not ideal you can buy products to bring pH back to the correct level.
Algae
Algae growth in your pond is normal but you don’t want to let it get out of here. Too much algae can steal nutrients needed by your plants and fish as well as make your water cloudy or green. One reason to have plants in your pond Is to control algae growth as they compete for the same nutrients. The plants will actually strangle out the algae so this Is a very effective way of controlling it.
Overfeeding your face and your pond can also cause excessive algae growth as well as making the water quality poor for your fish. To help control algae you want to make sure you keep good water quality and you might consider ultraviolet sterilization as well as a mechanical filter. Periodic water changes may also be necessary and are not a bad idea at all considering you can help the overall quality of the water.
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