Seasonal Preparation Tips

Have you checked the bottom of your Pond?
Cleaning it up now and keeping it clean may eliminate the big Spring clean-out.

We always like to avoid draining the Pond in the Spring.
It is too much work, not good for the Pond Fish (or your back) and puts the Pond back to "brand new status" with all the potential problems of aging it and getting it balanced all over again.

It is much better to take a little bit of time now to prepare properly!
Check the pH to make sure the Beneficial Bacteria colony can flourish as long as possible - add some if necessary.
In far northern area where leaves may be falling already Pond Netting should be used to keep as much leaf debris off the bottom as possible.

Nutrient levels (in other words: fish poo) can get out of hand in cooler weather making that awful stringy stuff grow all over the place. Adding Barley Extract can help prevent that (and prevent some rock scrubbing).

How to hand feed your Pond Fish

How tame are your Pond Fish? Are they eating out of your hand?
It is not as difficult as you might think to train Pond Fish to do just that...

Here are some tips:
- Do not feed the Fish for a day or two to insure they are really hungry
- Present as small a silhouette as possible (squat or kneel instead of standing)
- Take some Pond Fish Food in your hand and make a fist around it
- Hold your fist in the water and let the Fish Food get wet and the flavors leak
- Release one stick/pellet of Pond Fish Food at a time and let it float
- Do not move your hand once the Pond Fish start to investigate

After a few days the Pond Fish will even start to try to get into your fist to get to the Food quicker. Have patience!