Spring is not too far away for our Northern hemisphere friends

Many ponds meet serious problems when weather starts to warm up as it does in Spring. The problems encountered are often bacterial disease problems such as ulcers (this is probably most common) identified by sores appearing on sides of your fish which even develop into holes. Treatment is difficult and expensive and often leads to other problems because antibiotics are involved.

There is only 1 product I am aware of that prevents this type of disease. It is called KoiZyme in USA and Genesyz in UK. It does not cure diseases caused by aeromonas and pseudomonas bacteria (those responsible for many problems) but reduces their population to very very low and non-dangerous levels using a well known biological process called "Competitive Exclusion".

STOP PRESS

I've recently become aware of another breakthrough in reducing the bacterial infection problems that can occur in ponds ... it's called Viresco Aqua or Viresco Koi

Other problems to look forward to are green ponds - one simple reason if you have an UV - your lamp needs changing. These UV lamps do not last more than 8,000 hours (less than 1 year). They may still shine but they are not emitting UV in sufficient concentration to be effective.

Often with the increased feeding rate that will start to happen in Spring your filter may not be able to handle a sudden and large increase in ammonia. Do things gradually is the simple message.

I hope you have been feeding your fish during winter unless they were totally motionless in water below 8 degrees.

Seasonal Tips

If you are contemplating a major clean out, this is one of the best times to do it, although personally Id have done it before the tadpole explosion. If you do it. rescue as much wildlife as possible and leave any debris draining away on the side over night so that beasties can make their way back into the pool. Also treat any fresh tapwater with pool conditioner.

The plants will be coming into new growth. There is still time to divide and replant if you want. You can also feed with a slow release pellet in each basket.

Pool lights can come back out now.

Check the water quality. Many serious fish keepers will do a partial water change of up to one third in order to dilute any build up of salts and chemicals they may have been adding.

As the water temperature gets nearer to 10C (50 F) you can start feed the fish their normal food. A bit of live daphne would be a special treat or chopped worms, yummy!

Some Good Pond Tips ...

Sick and tired of cleaning the pump's sponge ... I bet? The real solution is to buy a pump which does not need a sponge. Since most of you already have a pump with a sponge this is nonsense of course. You need to understand why a pump has a sponge ...... it is to prevent particles getting into the pump's works and creating problems. It has nothing to do with filtering the water. Sshhhh but listen carefully, if it was me then I would consider doing the following: Raise the pump as far as possible off the bottom so that it far away from any likely solids and then take the sponge out. If you have a good make of pump it is highly unlikely that damage will occur .... just don't say Tony told you to do this if you mess up the rotor. Be aware that your guarantee may be nullified.

If you cannot get Alfagrog (SUPRA in USA) what do you use? Many readers do not seem to be able to get the marvellous Alfagrog biomedia in their country. Other good alternatives (by good I mean better than plastic tubes and similar) are the following ...

• Ceramic rings

• Lava rock

• Open cell foam

I spoke to an enterprising reader the other day who had a filter chamber of about 10 cubic feet filled with plastic coke bottle tops .... he must have drunk a lot of coke.

Pesticides in and around a pond

Pesticides can get into a pond by run-off from rain water for example or by indiscriminate spraying (as reported by a reader recently who had been subjected without warning to municipal spraying) can do great damage to the fish .... and what people may not be aware of damage to the bacteria in a biofilter making the biofilter under-perform. Be careful and avoid fertilizers and insecticides getting close to the pond water

Here's A Couple Of Good Pond Tips ...

Tip1 Increase biofilter surface area no cost ... In any box biofilter using plastic rings, tubes, balls and so on you can improve the area for colonisation by bacteria as follows: Use smaller diameter tubes or spheres. Break the tubes or spheres into small pieces using a hammer. Mix tubes with spheres and broken pieces of media. In essence you need to reduce the free air space inside a biofilter box. However do not pack too closely together. Good flow might then be impeded. Try to maintain a fairly loose bed of biomedia.

Tip 2 Need a temporary pond? ... You can create a temporary holding pond using a wooden crate with a thin liner placed loosely inside. Such temporary holding ponds can be used to treat sick fish, quarantine a new fish or be used for just holding fish while you clean the pond out. You might also consider any large plastic mesh basket and place a liner inside. Remember to change water portions frequently if the fish stay there for any length of time.

Tip 3 Need to closely examine your fish? ... If you need to observe fish closely get yourself a transparent polycarbonate, or PVC tank or vessel and let the fish swim around in it. You will need to be able to observe at close quarters from the top and sides.