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Two pond contractors discussing repair strategies on a residential pond installation site. Caption: Expert pond contractors assess and strategize on maintaining the pristine condition of a backyard pond.

Pond Algae Help!

Worried about the algae in your backyard pond?

Algae is a natural part of a pond, and having less of it is just a matter of getting the pond in balance by using beneficial bacteria and growing plants. People sometimes report that they didn’t have the problem the year before but they do now, and they want to know why. 

Certainly, we don’t want the algae to get the upper hand, but if it pops up, it is normal. Why it came up this year versus last year is basic—there were excess nutrients in the pond. 

String algae can really get crazy! It looks stringy under the water, but when it floats on top it looks globby or slimy.
Koi, rocks, and water lilies in backyard pond.
In this picture, you can see there is some fuzz on the rocks. (The lilies are growing quite nicely and have had some gorgeous blooms, though it was too early in the day when the picture and the lilies hadn’t woken up yet!)

Solutions:

First, don’t freak out! Continue adding bacteria, and wait for it, and the plants, to wake up and get going. Remember, there is no magic wand when it comes to nature. Help get your pond in balance by following our advice. You can also take a flat broom or skinny rake and get the algae out when it becomes too much, but once the pond is in balance, algae won’t be so much of an issue.

Different kinds of beneficial bacteria for your backyard pond.

After a few weeks, you may need to consider other options:

  1. Ask yourself, how often are you feeding the fish? If we feed too much in the spring the system has a harder time processing the nutrients. You may be able to cut that in half. We all like to feed our fish and the more we feed them, the more nutrients are in the pond. If you want to talk about how often you are feeding them, give us a call. 
  2. More plants use up more nutrients in the pond. Putting a new small plant in will not fix the problem, but adding plants that will grow larger and larger every year will help in the long run. Planning ahead and cultivating a variety of plants with multiple colors and textures will help use up more nutrients, and they will grow to mature plants in a couple of seasons. Make sure you get Zone 5 plants so they will overwinter here in Colorado.
  3. Provide more shade for your backyard pond in the heat of the summer. More plants add more shade. Lilies are great for shade. However, if your pond is too deep or too shallow for lilies, floating plants are a great option. There are floating islands, hyacinth and water lettuce that readily propagate on their own. They do not overwinter but provide great shade in the meantime. If they tend to go into the skimmer, tie them to a rock with some fishing line. You will hardly be able to see it. They use up excess nutrients too! 

***Another way to provide shade is simply to put up shade. We have a patio umbrella that we use to give the pond more shade. 

  1. Consider water loss. If the string algae is really going nuts, do a water test to confirm you aren’t losing water. Sometimes too much freshwater can cause string algae to flare up. Here’s a link to a leak test! 
  2. If there is no leak, you could use an Iongen. An Iongen releases copper ions into the water and they adhere to the string algae. This kills it off. Caution must be taken as the Iongen will hurt floating plants and potentially fish. Make sure that if you have fish you follow the directions exactly and keep it at a low level.

What about Barley Straw? 

We often get questions about barley straw. Does it really work and what is the best way to use it? 

Barley straw is really just a straw that gives off a particular strain of beneficial bacteria as it composts. This bacteria is excellent at keeping down algae! It is completely safe for fish and animals. 

The best time to put in barley straw is in early spring because it can take 4 weeks for it to start breaking down. The good news is that once it begins breaking down, it will work in your pond the whole season.

Bags of barley straw for your backyard pond.

How to use barley straw:

To use this treatment effectively, you’ll need to:

  • Calculate the gallons of water in your backyard pond (If you don’t remember how to do that, Click HERE for the formula.)
  • Obtain a “bale” (the bales are small, not like a bale of hay) of barley straw. These can be ordered over the internet and come in a variety of sizes from 6 ounce to 1 pound. They are usually 9–12″ x 5–6 ” and come in a mesh bag. 
  • Follow the instructions as far as how many bales for your size pond. Normally, it takes 1 or 2 bales placed near the waterfall or aerator. 
  • Remember, adding barley straw to a pond system out of balance will help, but it will be far more effective as a preventative measure in a pond that has all 5 elements of a healthy pond.

Alternatives

Different types of barley straw (bundles, pellets, extract) for your backyard pond.

You can also purchase barley straw extract. This works, although we like that the actual straw is like a slow-release treatment. 

Quickfix pond gummy for your backyard pond.

Have you used a POND GUMMY? These guys are great! It comes in this little yogurt-like container and you peel off the top and put it in the BioFall or Skimmer. (Don’t smell it!)

Pro Tips:

Slow down on the fish feeding.

How often are you adding bacteria? Once a week at least! 

Be patient! The pond may go through a spike in algae even after a cleanout. Keep dosing with bacteria as it comes back into balance.

How else can Colorado Pond Pros help?

Have more questions? Like, how to take care of Koi pond algae? Give us a call! We are always happy to discuss making your backyard pond even better. We also have a pond blog to give you more information than you ever thought you needed to know! 

Want a backyard pond installed? Well, that’s our specialty! Need help with pond maintenance ? We’ve got that, too. Contact us today!

Ash in the pond?

When there is a nearby fire, ash may end up in your pond. There is a difference between forest fire ash and ash from destroyed homes, garages, and businesses. The ash from a forest or grass is natural and will contain high amounts of potassium, but the ash from non-organic material will contain plastics and all sorts of harmful chemicals. 

Ash affects ponds in these ways:

  • It raises the pH of the water
  • It may create foam
  • Toxic chemicals in the ash could be detrimental to living creatures in the pond 
  • Debris in the pond (ash or otherwise) can clog equipment 
  • Even if the equipment is not clogged, filter pads can be completely gunked up (Yes, that’s a technical term) 

What about the equipment? 

It would take A LOT of ash to actually gunk up the pond equipment, but that is certainly possible. If your system has taken on a lot of ash, make sure to pay attention to your equipment. Loud noises, indicating the equipment is struggling, mean that the pond may need to be cleaned out right away. 

How does the ash affect water quality? 

If there is visible ash settling in the yard, that same amount is ending up in the backyard pond. If the pond water looks sort of like coffee, there is too much ash in that water!

Ash from natural materials, like a forest fire, has a high potassium content. This potassium is a nutrient. If the nutrient load in the water is more than the plants can consume (and it likely would be in the case of a large amount of ash suddenly in the pond), algae will be right there to pick up the slack. I recommend adding extra cold water bacteria to help the situation. Remember that the bacteria is not working at full capacity when water temperatures are below 50 degrees. However, bacteria alone will not fix an ash problem. 

If there are no fish in the pond, plan a full cleanout for the pond in the spring, and don’t be surprised if the string algae go nuts between now and then. 

Koi and goldfish can be fairly hardy, but adding something unknown to the water that changes water chemistry could be detrimental to the fish. If the ash contaminates the water in the winter you may not see the effects on the fish right away as their metabolisms are much slower in the winter. Remember that it is not just the higher potassium that we need to worry about here. There can be toxic chemicals in the ash as well. 

Ash and Fish Health

If there are large amounts of ash, you will need to take action. What is a large amount of ash? Good question. When you see ash in the yard around the koi or gold fish pond and you feel like it is a lot, we consider that a large amount of ash. 

Here are some guidelines and to-dos:

  • The very first thing we do if our pond is inundated with ash is make sure there is plenty of oxygen for the fish! We already have aerators in the pond, but if we didn’t we would add them immediately. If the fish were stressed as the chemical balance of the pond changed, the best thing to do is make sure they have plenty of oxygen. 
  • In the spring or summer, when water temperatures are above 50 degrees, a full cleanout is a good idea.
  • In the winter (which it is right now!), a complete cleanout is risky for the fish, but so is leaving the ash in there with them! We recommend starting with a partial water change of 20% of the volume unless the ash is so bad that the pond looks like a giant mess. Remember to use a dechlorinator and treat the water with cold water bacteria. 
  • If a cleanout needs to be done, keep in mind that it cannot be done if the temperatures are below roughly 45 degrees. It could kill the fish. While fish MAY get through it just fine, winter stress is difficult for them as they are coldblooded and their immune systems are not really online during the winter. If the pond has to be cleaned out, then it has to, we want you to understand the risks. If you decide the cleanout is the way to go, contact us about our pond cleaning services!
  • After a water change, test the pH of the water. Healthy pH levels in ponds with fish should be between 6.5 and 8.5. A pH of 9 is too high. Keep in mind that city water from the hose may have a high pH. Testing the hose water for pH lets us know what we are starting with even if we have no control over it. 
  • Keep an eye on fish behavior. When the water temperatures are below 45 degrees they should be at the bottom of the pond not moving very much. If they are gasping at the top of the pond for air, getting sucked into the skimmer, or exhibiting other weird behavior, another water change might have to be done. 

We have many clients whose homes are in or near the Marshall fire area. Our hearts go out to anyone who has suffered loss due to this horrible fire! 

If you’re ready for a new backyard pond, need a renovation of your pond landscaping or some pond maintenance, give your Colorado Pond Pros a call! And to learn more about ponds, read our blogs This Wacky Weather and How It May Affect Your Fish and Should You Run Your Pond Over the Winter? And for some fun videos and before & afters, subscribe to our YouTube channel!

Backyard Pond Waterfall Service

High Winds and Your Pond

High Winds and Your Backyard Water Feature

Did you have high winds at your place this week? We sure did. In fact, there were areas in Colorado that recorded winds over 100 miles per hour. Boulder had gusts of 104 mph!

As a result, our pump was making some weird noises. Upon inspection, we found that leaves blew into our very clean pond and clogged our skimmer basket. We removed the net recently, not realizing there would be this crazy wind blowing in all sorts of debris. There were newspapers in the pond and branches, too! Not only did we need to clean the skimmer basket but we had to pull the pump out to make sure small debris hadn’t gotten through to clog the pump directly.

We highly recommend checking on your pond!

  • Remove debris that has blown in like leaves, newspapers, and kiddie pools.
  • Clean out the skimmer basket or net. 
  • Check to make sure the filter pad isn’t clogged with leaves.
  • If waterfall flow seems low and the water level is fine, the pump may need to be pulled so the intake can be checked for debris.

Pro Tips:

Remove all leaves from your yard so they don’t blow in!

Put away things like kiddie pools, umbrellas, and other blowable items because you never know when we will get crazy wind! 

If you add quite a bit of water (technical term for “20% or more”) remember to use a dechlorinator at the same time to protect your fish. No fish? Then you won’t need a dechlorinator!

We can’t predict when high winds are going to run amok, but we can do what we can to prepare for the chaos. 

If you need help with pond maintenance for your backyard water feature, call Colorado Pond Pros, your local pond experts.
For more on backyard ponds, check out our blogs This Wacky Weather and How it May Affect Your Fish and Pond Care While Traveling. And follow us on Instagram!

backyard water feature

What exactly is “Winterization” and does your system need it?

The word “Winterization” can be confusing. Each pond or water feature needs to be ready for the winter whether they are being shut down or just serviced so they are ready to run for the whole winter. I am going to break it down into “Winter Ready” meaning the feature will be running for the winter and “Winter Shut Down” meaning the feature will NOT be running all winter.

Do you usually run your pond through the winter (meaning you let the pump run)?

Yes? Then the pond needs a Winter Ready visit. What happens in a Winter Ready visit?

  • Remove the fall net if the leaves have been removed from the yard.
  • Clean out the skimmer box and filters.
  • Plants -Cut back brown plants up to 50% of the pond.
  • Remove UV light to be stored inside – note- MOST UV LIGHTS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY YEAR, even if it is stored, it may not work the next year. 
  • Remove, IonGen and Autodose, move to indoor location.
  • Turn pressure filter setting to winter. 
  • Add cold water bacteria.

Do you usually shut the pond down for the winter?

Then the pond needs a Winter Pond Shut Down.

  • Remove the pump to be stored where it won’t freeze.
  • Place aerators in the pond.
  • Remove the fall net if the leaves have been removed from the yard.
  • Clean out the skimmer box and filters.
  • Plants -Cut back brown plants up to 50% of the pond.
  • Remove UV light to be stored inside – note- MOST UV LIGHTS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY YEAR, even if it is stored, it may not work the next year. 
  • Remove, IonGen and Autodose, move to indoor location.
  • Turn pressure filter setting to winter. 
  • Add cold water bacteria.

All outdoor water features need care in the fall and throughout the winter. When care is taken in Autumn, ponds start off clean and ready to go in Spring. Homeowners can certainly do this themselves, but if you would like assistance just give us a call!

For more tips on pond cleaning and maintenance for the winter, check out these!

Should you run the pond over winter?

Important reasons to add water to the winter pond

Getting your pond ready for winter

Should your pond equipment be out in the weather? No!

Preparing the pond for the brutal cold: Are you ready?

get the pond clean!

Pond Cleanout – Before and After

Pond Cleanout – Before and After pictures are a great way to see the difference.

Are you wondering how much a difference a pond cleanout makes?  They say a picture is worth 1000 words!

Ponds are small ecosystems within themselves.  We strive to create a balanced ecosystem. When we do a cleanout we:

  • Remove any fish and put them in a portable pond that we bring
  • Remove water from pond
  • Pressure wash waterfall, stream, and pond
  • Remove all debris
  • Clean skimmer and biofalls
  • Cut back plants as requested
  • Fertilize water lilies
  • Divide lilies if they need it
  • Check for proper operation of all equipment
  • Restack disturbed rocks
  • Refill pond
  • Treat water with beneficial bacteria and detoxifier (for the safety of the fish)

Care of a pond after a cleanout

Please keep in mind that after a cleanout beneficial bacteria needs to be added 2 days afterwards and again in another 2 days.  We add some before we leave.   After that it will need to be added weekly.  Beneficial Bacteria is an important part of a pond’s ecosystem and keeps it from getting green!  

If your pond develops an algae bloom or becomes green and cloudy at some point after a cleanout, it does not mean that the cleanout wasn’t done well.  It simply means the pond is not in balance yet.  Give us a call to discuss how to get your pond in balance or refer to the paperwork our pond technicians left with you.

Please remember that the use of algaecide can also disrupt the balance of a pond.  It removes oxygen so that the algae dies, but it also kills beneficial bacteria and can even kill fish.  It makes establishing a balanced ecosystem difficult!  Check out more information about algaecide HERE.

Leaks or fish loss

Colorado Pond Pros has years of experience cleaning ponds. We treat your water feature as if it were our own!  Technicians must walk in, near and around water features when cleaning or other work is being done – it is unavoidable!  That being said, if we did not install your pond we cannot control the quality or manner of the installation of the lining or underlayment, the age of the pond, the quality of the existing electrical wiring, or the health / condition of fish before we arrive.  We cannot be held liable for fish loss or leaks due to these conditions beyond our control.

Does My Pond Need a Cleanout?

Life in outdoor water featuresDoes my pond need a cleanout?

Balanced ponds may need to be cleaned out every couple of years. Ponds that struggle with balance may need annual cleanouts.  Take a look at your pond.

◊  Is the water brown, black or unclear?

◊  Do you see muck or sludge on the bottom of the pond?

◊  Is your pump struggling to work because of excess debris around it?

◊ Were the fires particularly bad this year, dumping ash in the pond?

Ponds are ecosystems.  When they are in balance, the water should be clear. There may be a touch of algae here or there, but not an excessive amount. When the water looks good and the plants and fish are thriving, you still might need to have the gunk cleaned out.  Ponds in Colorado need to run all year long to help keep the water clean.  Leaving the water stagnant over the winter can breed a slimy composted sludge that has to be cleaned out in the spring.  Learn more about ponds in our Ponds 101.  Wondering if your pond needs a good cleanout?
Contact us and text us over some pictures –  we’ll help you figure out if a cleanout is right for your pond.

What exactly is a pond cleanout?

When we perform a pond cleanout we:

  • Remove the water from the pond
  • Safely transfer the fish into a portable pond that we bring
  • Pressure wash every surface of the water feature including streams and waterfalls
  • Clean out equipment like skimmers, biofalls and canister filters
  • Check all equipment for proper operation
  • Check for any lights that may need to be replaced
  • Remove the gunk from the pond
  • Cut back plant material as needed
  • Fertilize water lilies
  • Put clean water into the pond
  • Add water treatments to establish a healthy ecosystem balance and to protect the health of the fish
  • Replace any rocks that may have been disturbed during the cleanout
  • Return fish to the pond
  • Consult you about the ongoing maintenance of the pond so that it will be beautiful all year long

outdoor water features

Is a Cleanout Right for My Pond?

Pond Cleanout

If your pond has excessive decaying matter or sludge, it’s probably time for a cleanout.  Balanced ponds may need to be cleaned out every couple of years.  Ponds that struggle with balance may need them annually.  Pond Cleanout 

What is a full pond cleanout?

A full cleanout consists of removing the fish (we put them in an on-site portable pond during this process) and draining the pond by pumping out all the water.  The waterfall, the rocks, gravel, and bottom of the pond are pressure-washed, and the remaining gunk is removed.  Plants are trimmed as needed, the pond is refilled, and the fish are returned.

pond cleanout

Post Cleanout Care

One of the most important aspects is actually the caring for the pond in the weeks following  the cleanout.  Keep in mind that the ecosystem of the pond is essentially being re-started when a cleanout is performed.  Bacteria needs to be added right after a cleanout and every couple of days right after one to avoid an algae bloom.  Beneficial bacteria won’t do you any good if it doesn’t have anywhere to live.  Therefore, it is critical that beneficial bacteria have gravel in the bottom of the pond and/or bioballs in the waterfall so that they have a place to colonize.

If your pond develops an algae bloom or becomes green and cloudy at some point after a cleanout, it does not mean that the cleanout wasn’t done well. It simply means the pond is not in balance yet.

Please remember that the use of algaecide can also disrupt the balance of a pond.  It removes oxygen so that the algae dies, but it also kills beneficial bacteria and can even kill fish.  It makes establishing a balanced ecosystem  difficult!

A pond that has had proper care taken after a cleanout to rebalance the ecosystem, will continue to look great!

Want to read more about how to keep a healthy pond?  Click HERE!

Ready to sign up for your pond cleanout?  Click HERE to get started! bacteria and can even kill fish.  It makes establishing a balanced eco system difficult!