Pierre Cruise

A fish pond is a great addition to your garden. For one, it serves as a source of relaxation because of the water element. It also ties everything in your garden to form the perfect nature spot right at the comfort of your own home.

If you are a current pond owner, you know what I am talking about. You probably have more to add, since you get to experience the benefits of having your own pond everyday. The delights of having your personal little slice of Mother Nature in your backyard is too good of an offer to pass, but the dreaded part is keeping the pond clean and well-maintained.

Here are some easy steps on how to clean and maintain your fish pond:


Skimming

Your pond is an open water area where things might fall on. Leaves, dead insects, and other things that should not be in your pond need to be skimmed. Skimming is a two-part process: one requires a pool skimmer, and the other requires a more manual approach.

The first step is to do the manual skimming process, where you use your hands to pick up any debris that might have gotten into the pond. In this process, you can also pull out plants that might have crowded on the pond.

Once you have taken out all the bigger debris, you can now use the pool skimmer on the surface of the pond. You can purchase one or create your own by stretching an old pantyhose over a sturdy clothes hanger. Make sure that the whole surface of pond has been skimmed before proceeding to the next step.

Brushing

The next step is to clean out the algae and sludge from the areas around the pond. Algae are naturally seen in and around water. This not only poses as an accident waiting to happen, as it makes the surface slippery, but it also makes the area look untidy.

The best way to clean out algae from the surrounding areas of your pond is by brushing it away. Simply take a brush and some warm water and scrub those algae out. After rigorous scrubbing and everything is not covered in green anymore, wash the entire area with lukewarm water.

Maintain

After cleaning out everything, check to see if the water level is enough for the fish to move around. Low water level will make your pond look like a big gaping hole with fish in it, while high water level will cause your pond to overflow.

These simple maintenance steps will help you enjoy your pond all the more. Take a day every other week or once a month do these steps, and avoid having to pay someone to do it for you. Do you have more tips on effectively cleaning a garden fish pond? Tell us more through your comment below!


Pierre Angela Cruz is a Marketing Consultant for Open Brook, an excellent source of information and reviews about outdoor and patio furniture. Follow her on twitter @cruisepyer.