Interpet

If there is something wrong with your fish; they look ill or are dying, or there are water quality problems, we strongly advise that you test your aquarium water.

Use the images and descriptions below to determine what's wrong, then click through for treatment advice.

Affinity Ice Vent Pond Heater in an Affinity Living Feature Pool

Will my fish survive winter if the pond freezes?

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Yes, if you prepare the pond properly.

Pond fish will very happily live in a UK pond all year round as long as there is sufficient oxygen and water quality is good. To make sure this is achieved, it is necessary to keep an area of the pond surface ice-free all the way through winter. This will ensure that the necessary gaseous exchanges can continue to keep your pond and fish healthy. Without a “vent” area, poisonous gases will build up under the ice creating unhealthy water quality, these gases are caused by the breakdown of organic waste within the pond. Your fish also require oxygen to survive which enters through the surface of the water as the pond circulates. Without a “vent” this cannot be achieved and will result in low oxygen levels in the pond. It is also advised to keep your filtration running through the winter to ensure waste is removed from the pond to prevent pollution. Waterfalls and fountains can drop the water temperature, so re-directing flow away from waterfalls is good practice.

How can I stop my pond freezing over?

The most efficient way to keep an ice free area of your pond is to introduce a pond heater like the Affinity Ice Vent Heater. It is not essential to heat the whole pond as pond fish will happily live in wintery water, however the heater will prevent an area of the surface freezing. Under no circumstances should you smash ice on the surface of the pond or use hot/boiling water to melt ice. This can cause serious trauma to your fish. If you need to make a hole in the ice do so by pouring warm water gently in one location to create an opening.

The Affinity Ice Vent Pond Heater has a unique convection chamber design resulting in it needing less power to run (just 50 watts) compared to other heaters, saving you money.

Find out more about the Blagdon Affinity Ice Vent Pond Heater in the video below:

What else can I do to help my fish?

To help your fish further, you can re position your pumps and filter outlets to create a warmer bottom of the pond and a cooler top. Once the water temperature drops below 4°c, warm water becomes denser and moves to the bottom of the pond. Fish will naturally swim in the warmer part of the pond during winter and adjusting your pumps and filters can ensure they are happy and “warm” until the following spring. Raise pumps from the base of the pond to ledges and move filter outlets under the pond surface and direct their flow horizontally so cold water is not pushed to the bottom of the pond. This will create a temperature divide within the pond, whilst still retaining circulation and filtration for healthy fish.

Understanding the Pond Environment

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When starting or maintaining a pond, it is important to understand how the environment works. Whether you are keeping a wildlife or fish pond, the natural processes will be the same however factors like fish stocking levels will change how much pressure you are putting on these processes, and how you can support them.

 

One of the main biological processes in any water system is the nitrogen cycle. This cycle is how waste products like fish waste, plant decay and general organic sludge are broken down and processed by a variety of different useful bacteria. These waste materials are broken down through the nitrogen cycle to remove toxic chemicals and turn them into healthy nutrients which plants use to grow. The nitrogen cycle works like this:

nitrogen-cycle-diagram-1

The various good bacteria used to process waste in this cycle are naturally occurring in water, gravel and surrounding soil. As your pond matures, the levels of bacteria will slowly increase in line with the amount of waste produced. In the early stages of your ponds development, the levels of bacteria will not have built up sufficiently quickly to support the life in your pond so supportive treatments like Bio Start can be used to boost bacteria levels.
There are also various ways to support the rapid and healthy development of these essential bacteria populations:

  • Eau natural – Bacteria will develop on any surface in the pond to help process waste. This will not be sufficient for an ornamental fish pond where the population of fish are sustained by feeding. This additional food adds nutrients to the pond system and means it is essential to have a biological filter to maintain water quality – see below. Having a strong plant presence in the pond will also help to balance the water quality as they will use nitrates and phosphates for growth.
  • Pond pump – the addition of a pump aids the biological balance of the pond by introducing oxygen stopping it becoming stagnant and smelly. Pumps are often used to create fountains and water falls which circulate water and break up the surface of the water, adding oxygen. To ensure the correct level of circulation (moving water from the bottom of the pond to the surface) your pump should have a flow rate (described in lt/hr) of half the pond’s volume per hour e.g. 1000litre volume pond = 500lt/hr pump circulation. This will not be sufficient for an ornamental fish pond where the population of fish are sustained by feeding. This additional food adds nutrients to the pond system and means it is essential to have a biological filter to maintain water quality – see below
  • Pond filters – filters are designed to specifically help create healthy water quality in your pond. Pond filters can be housed outside or inside the pond depending on the style of pond and space available. Filters require a pump to circulate pond water through the media (in-pond filters often have a built in pump). There are a variety of creative ways to disguise external filters like creating waterfalls or well-designed planting. A pond filter contains a specific high surface area biological media which make the ideal home for the bacteria which carry out the nitrogen cycle. The water is circulated through the biological media and supplies the bacteria with a steady supply of waste chemicals and the oxygen they need to process them. Filters will also have media to remove visible waste (mechanical filtration) to keep the pond water clear.

The other thing to remember is that ponds are an open environment meaning they can be polluted by outside sources like: run off from heavy rain, garden chemicals, detergents, concrete etc. It is important to be aware of possible pollutants as they can change the quality of the water and make it unhealthy for fish and wildlife.

Here are a few top tips to keep your pond environment working properly ensuring it remains healthy for fish, plants and wildlife

  1. Filter bacteria take a long time (up to 8 weeks) to get established on their own you can speed the process significantly when setting up a new pond by adding a bacteria and enzyme product like Bio Start or Clean Pond Pods to get the process started. The bacteria will also be dormant for most of the winter so may need a helpful boost in spring.
  2. Check that your pumps and filters (if installed) are running properly, check the flow and remove any blocages.
  3. Every month:
    1. Maintain your filtration systems and pumps by rinsing the various elements in pond water to clear blockages. Foams will need replacing every now and then
    2. Trim dead plants to encourage new growth.
    3. Remove floating matter with a net and bottom debris with a pond vacuum to prevent excess waste
  4. Top up any evaporation in your pond to dilute waste, always treat the new tap water with a de-chlorinator like Fresh Start as chlorine and chloramine in tap water is designed to kill bacteria which prevents the spread of disease in humans but will decimate the biological filter essential for a healthy pond. Chlorine and chloramine can also damage sensitive gill membranes of fish and other wildlife.
  5. Manage waste levels by using a pond filter and using products like Sludge Buster or Clean Pond Pods which include bacteria that will eat waste.
  6. Most of the toxic chemicals are completely invisible to the naked eye so you need to test your water regularly to check for chemical irregularities. This way you can catch problems early before they have severe effects on the health of your pond.

Seasonal Pond Maintenance Guide

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Spring

Spring is the time where your pond comes back to life after the dormancy of the winter months. Not only is your pond enjoying the warmer weather, but it is likely that you are too, so starting to make sure your pond is looking beautiful and healthy is important when you start spending more time in the garden.

Blagdon’s Tips

Fish:

Your fish will begin to become more active as temperatures begin to rise. After the relative hibernation of winter, fish can become weakened and it is important to support them by supplying the best possible water conditions. Start by reigniting the effectiveness of your biological filter by using products that host good bacteria and enzyme cultures like Bio Start and Clean Pond Pods.We would also suggest using a treatment of Stress Away and adding Pond Guardian Pond Salt to support your fish’s immune system as disease organism populations can respond more quickly than the fish to increasing water temperatures. If you notice any abnormal fish behaviour such as clamped fins, flicking or symptoms of disease, treat the problem promptly but also test your water to see if there is an underlying water quality issue.

As the pond temperatures begin to rise over 10oc you can start feeding your fish regularly again with good quality and easily digestible pond food. It can be hard to work out how much food your fish need, as a guideline give them as much as they can eat in about 5 minutes. If food is remaining after 5 minutes, remove it from the pond with a net.

Plants:

Cut back the previous year’s growth early in March/April when new growth begins to appear. Start feeding with a good quality plant food, this is especially important for successful water lilies. Plant foods like Flora Boost are specially formulated as low nitrate and low phosphate which will encourage healthy plant growth but limit algae blooms and green water problems. Spring is also the time to introduce new plants to the pond, as this will give them time to establish in time for summer. Divide and re pot overgrown marginal plants to encourage variety and seasonal interest.

Maintenance:

The increase in light and nutrients in your pond in Spring can often lead to an algae bloom or green water problems. Now is a good time to replace your UV lamp or add a UV to your pond to eliminate green water issues. Ensure all dead leaves and plant matter is removed as the rising temperature will speed up their decay. Thoroughly clean your biological filter media in pond water and rinse or replace mechanical media such as: polymer wool and open cell foam.

Cutting_Away_Plants Green_dirty_pond

Summer

Summer is when your pond should be at its best with lush plant growth, happy, active fish and lots of wildlife making it a wonderful area in the garden for you to enjoy.

Blagdon’s Tips

Fish:

Your fish will be at their most active in the summer months as the water temperature is higher. As temperatures rise make sure your fish are getting sufficient oxygen, if oxygen is lacking you will notice the fish gathering near water flow areas or gasping at the surface as this is where oxygen levels are at their highest. Increase oxygen levels by encouraging water flow at the surface of the pond with fountains, waterfalls or moving filter outlets to above the surface. Additionally, consider introducing an air pump and air stone to the environment to provide extra surface agitation – this is particularly important on those hot close thundery days. Summer is the best time to introduce new fish as your biological filtration is matured – however do not overstock your pond as this will increase the chance of fish health problems (see how many fish can I have in my pond?). Introducing now will also give the fish time to gain strength and adjust to a new outdoor environment before the winter.

Plants:

Continue to feed plants regularly to encourage healthy plant growth. Cut back dead leaves to stop them contaminating the water. Encouraging plant growth will also increase surface cover which will prevent blooms of algae like Blanket Weed and green water algae. Add floating plants like water hyacinth, water soldiers, water chestnut and water lettuce to increase shading and rapidly remove excess nutrients (and they’re pretty).

Maintenance:

Regularly maintain your filters and pumps monthly or as the flow reduces indicating maintenance is required, cleaning/replacing foams and removing blockages to keep water clarity and a healthy environment.
Pond_waterfall Adding_pond_fish[1]

Autumn

Autumn is the time to start preparing your pond for Winter making sure your fish stay healthy over the colder months.

Blagdon’s Tips

Fish:

Fish should be prepared for Winter by feeding them with a high quality food. As the temperature drops, below 10oc you should stop feeding your fish. Treat the pond with Pond Guardian Tonic salt to support the fish as the temperature drops and reduces the freezing point of water.

Plants:

Cease feeding plants. As the trees surrounding your pond begin to lose their leaves, it is important to stop them polluting the pond water this is best done by using a cover net to keep them out or alternatively remove them manually every day. Net out half hardy/non frost resistant floating plants which are unlikely to survive the winter.

Maintenance:

Give your pond a good tidy up, removing sludge from the bottom or planting shelves using a pond vacuum. Make sure filters and pumps are running well and use treatments like Sludge Buster or Clean Pond Pods to put healthy bacteria into the pond to help with processing waste. Add an energy efficient heater like a Blagdon Affinity Ice Vent to prevent freezing. When temperatures drop below 4oC in winter, warm water sinks so the bottom of the pond becomes the warmest place where the fish tend to gather. To prevent mixing the cold surface layers and lowering the overall pond temperature reduce pump flow rates and move them to a shelf within the top 30cms (12 inches) of water in Autumn.

Leafy Pond Cover Net Netting Leaves Pond

Winter

Winter is the time where your pond is at its quietest but it is important to still pay attention to the pond regularly to keep your fish healthy.

Blagdon’s Tips

Fish:

Generally, pond fish do not need feeding in the winter, unless there is a long mild period where water temperature rise consistently above 10 oC. Ensure there is sufficient oxygen in the pond by ensuring the pond is never fully frozen over by using an energy efficient heater like an Affinity Ice Vent this is much more successful and convenient than the old trick of using a tennis ball or hot water to retain an ice free area, which are in reality only short term solutions. NEVER break the ice on your pond with something like a hammer as the shock waves may kill the fish.

Maintenance:

Continue to remove dead plant matter from the water to prevent pollution. When the surface of the pond is frozen, leave the pump running for circulation but turn off fountains and waterfalls to prevent the pond emptying.

Ice_Vent

Testing your Pond Water

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Testing the water in your pond should be a regular part of your maintenance routine. Bad water quality will hugely affect the health of the pond and is the cause of many pond and fish problems. Water quality problems are the most common causes of fish stress and disease so should be avoided at all cost.

The main tests you’ll need to do regularly are Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and pH which are all naturally occurring in your pond as part of the Nitrogen Cycle. To really understand how and why these chemicals occur, and also why they fluctuate, it is important to understand the pond environment.

Testing regularly will highlight any abnormalities in your pond which can lead to an unhealthy environment and outbreaks of disease. Results can be used to prevent problems and find solutions to worrying changes in your pond. Once you have tested your pond you can find advice on your next steps by using the Diagnose What’s Wrong page.

The below explains how to use Blagdon Complete Pond Dip Test Kit to monitor levels of Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, pH, Carbonate Hardness and General Hardness in your pond.

Ammonia


1. With dry hands, remove 1 strip from the tube without touching the pads.
2. Dip test strip into the pond for 5 seconds.
3. Wait for one minute, then compare strip to results chart on the packaging.

5-in1 Mixed Test

1. With dry hands, remove 1 strip from the tube without touching the pads.
2. Dip test strip into the pond for 1 second.
3. Compare strip to results chart on the packaging:
Immediately:

KH Hardness, Nitrite and Nitrate

After 1 minute:

pH and GH Hardness.

Results

Nitrate

Nitrite

Water Hardness

Low pH

High pH

Measuring Blagdon Liquid Treatments

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Blagdon pond treatments offer a great solution to a variety of pond problems, from duckweed and water quality problems, to fish disease and infection. With a wide range of treatments, Blagdon can support you for the lifetime of your pond.

Use our Diagnose What’s Wrong page to identify your fish and pond problems quickly, simply and confidently or browse through the range using the product drop down menu.

Remember that you can also use our dosage calculator to make sure you’ve got the right dose for your pond.

Use the video below to confidently measure your treatment:

Volume Calculator

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Volume

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