In your landscape
 

        How do i maintain my water garden?
 

        Maintenance in a water garden in most efficiently achieved if the plant, animal, and layout selection have all initially
        been done correctly.  This natural ecological balance is what would occur in nature, and it causes several things
        to take place.

        Firstly, everyone wonders when they should clean their pond to remove fish waste.  Ideally you don't have to at all!
        Any waste from plants or animals should be consumed by bacteria, snails, and zoo plankton.  These organisms then
        convert the waste into a form the plants can use as fertilizer.  These plants then continue to grow and repeat the cycle.
        For this entire cycle to take place, you need the perfect amount of fish, plants, snails, and the proper depth and
        amount of sunlight.

        Filtering the water also helps, but it is misunderstood.  Most water garden filters are biological filters (or bio-filter).
        They do not actually intake the water and "filter" it through some type of screen or sponge to remove unwanted
        material.  Instead, they simply speed up the natural process of decomposition.  They do this by consisting a
        container filled with a coarse material such as gravel.  This container acts as a home for beneficial bacteria.
        The pond water is then pumped through this container and the bacteria feeds on algae or other unwanteds.
        These are another great way to reduce physical labor in the process of keeping your pond crystal clean.

        Another way to reduce algae problems in ponds is by reducing the substances that causes it.  Generally, algae is
        caused by an excess in nutrients.  To reduce nutrients in your pond you can simply reduce the feeding of fish, reduce
        the number of fish, or the fertilization of aquatic plants.  Adding more plants would also dramatically decrease the
        available nutrients.  Since more of these excess nutrients would be absorbed by the plants, they also aid in the filtering
        process.

        It is best to stay away from chemical treatments.  If you kill algae with chemicals it will die and sink to the bottom
        of the pond.  These plants will then decay, releasing a new batch of extra nutrients.  These nutrients then give rise
        to a new batch of algae.  So in the long run you would have to add more chemicals every two or three weeks
        to prevent this cycle.

        Preparing for Winter:

        The main thing to remember when preparing for winter is to keep debris from accumulating on the bottom of the
        pond.  If this debris, mainly leaf litter, accumulates it will create a deadly toxin that will kill plants and fish over winter.
        Many actually cover their pond with thin mesh netting during the period of heavy leaf dropage.

        Shallow water plants should be placed down deep.  This is usually done when it begins to become cold.  At this
        time, stop feeding plants and fish.  Also, no bacterial applications should be made from this point on.