As the days get longer the temperature start to rise, spring is the time when the garden pond starts to
come to life. Your fish become more active & start to look for food & the plants begin to grow
again. While the water temperature is below 10ºC (50ºF) it is still advisable to feed your fish an
easily digestible wheatgerm food.
While your fish may be hungry it is important to feed them
sparingly as filtration bacteria that breakdown poisonous fish waste will still not be present in
high numbers after the cold of winter. These numbers can be boosted by adding
Evolution Aqua Pure Pond Balls
or one of the other bacterial products.
Late spring is the ideal time to replant your pond. We will have a good range of healthy young
plants. This will give the plants the maximum time for growth before the onset of the colder
months.
It is particularly important to test the water for pH, ammonia, nitrite & nitrate throughout spring.
The increase in the fish’s metabolism, coupled with more frequent feeding, can cause water
quality problems. On top of this the filter is not yet working efficiently and there may be
decomposing vegetation from plants that died in the autumn. If you detect a water quality
problem, stop feeding the fish for a few days and carry out a water change of no more than
25%. Remember to add a water conditioner when using tap water, this will neutralise
chloramines that could otherwise harm your fish.
Over the winter pumps, filters & Ultraviolet clarifiers may have been switched off or neglected.
Now is the time to check these are in full working order. Clean & check your pump, not
forgetting the impeller. Wash out the sponges in the filter & replace if over two years old. If your
pond is fitted with a UV check it for signs of frost damage, clean the quartz sleeve, replace the
UV lamp and sealing rings. The lamps only have an effective life of between six & twelve
months. Replacing it now will prevent early green water caused by sunnier days. If you have
been using a pond heater remove this, once there is no chance of a hard frost.
During the spring it is important to keep a close eye on your pond fish for disease. At this time of
year the fish’s immune system is at its lowest level leaving it open to attack by pathogens. It can
be worthwhile adding a broad-spectrum treatment in early spring that protects them until the
immune system is fully functioning again. NT Bacterad is an effective
broad-spectrum treatment.