For earthen farm and fish pond owners, as well as storm water management pond and community pond managers: now is the time to plan for a low maintenance pond keeping schedule so you can have more time to enjoy these gems.
The overall strategy for big earthen ponds with
an average nutrient /pollutant load is to make the pond water quality
beneficial bacteria friendly so that native bacteria will move in,
thrive, and keep the pond clean and balanced.
DO check your ponds pH and Total Alkalinity (buffering capacity)
DO lime or otherwise buffer the pond if need be from above testing
DO service your pond aeration system if you have one:
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Change its air filters, and turn on if its been off all winter.
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If you have the older air stone type aeration head, pull them up and clean them.
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If you have the newer membrane type diffuser, no cleaning or service is needed.
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If the system has been off all
winter, start up gradually. An hour the first day, two hours the
second, etc., until its running full time. This is to prevent too many
toxins which may have accumulated on the bottom during the winter
from being released into the water column at one time.
DO seriously consider getting an efficient Vertex Aeration System if
you do not already have one. Beyond Buffering, the next most bacteria
limiting element is OXYGEN or the lack there of. Bacteria thrive in
high oxygen waters.
If
you build it, they well come. Build an oxygen rich environment and
native beneficial bacteria will colonize your pond in droves, digest
excess organics, clean it up, and keep it clean. Then, you have more
time to fish, or swim, or whatever it is that tickles your soul.
DO add barley straw in the spring as soon as the ice melts, if string algae (also known as pond moss or pond scum) had been a problem in the past. Barley straw bales can
be installed any time during the year, but since one application is
going to last all season, might as well get it started early. If
installed later it will work, it will just take longer.
