How To Keep Pond Water Clean Healthy

HOW TO KEEP POND WATER
Clean &
Healthy
Y our pond is a beautiful ecosystem to a host of
living things and you want to ensure that the
habitat is healthy for the sake of both your fish and
plants. Not to mention, a pond with clean water is so
much prettier to look at than a murky water garden.
Most pond owners are aware of the importance that

good water quality plays in a pond habitat. But not
knowing how to get or keep water quality can prove
challenging to some pond owners. Our handy tips
will help you keep pond maintenance to a minimum
so you can spend more time relaxing and enjoying
your water garden! 
3
CHOOSE THE RIGHT SIZE PUMP
FOR YOUR POND
P umps are the heart of any water feature, continually

circulating water and providing aeration to create the
basis for a stable ecosystem. Proper pump sizing is critical to
the health and function of your water feature and you want
to be sure you’ve selected the correct pump.
To provide optimal water quality, you want to circulate the

entire pond’s water volume a minimum of once every hour.
If your pond contains 1,000 gallons of water, you need a
pump that will push a minimum of 1,000 gallons per hour.
Other variables come into play when choosing the proper
pump, like the height of your waterfall and the length of
pipe that runs from your pump to the waterfall.
Select Your Pond Pump at
aquascapeinc.com/pond-pumps
Aquascape makes it easy to

choose the right pump with
our handy, online pond
pump selection guide
to make sure you’re using
the right pump type and size
for your pond needs. 
5
CHOOSE PROPER FILTRATION FOR YOUR POND
A good biological filtration system, paired with a mechanical filter (such

as a skimmer) to remove solids before the water enters the biological
filtration unit, is the most effective way to filter water. Designing and
implementing an efficient circulation and filtration system ensures that the
water is oxygenated and pond debris (including leaves, floating algae, and
anything else that’s blown in) will be swept from the pond’s surface and
deposited into an easily emptied skimmer basket.
Aquascape ponds incorporate a BioFalls® biological filter that serves as

the start of the pond’s waterfall. The waterfall activity adds much-needed
oxygen to the pond. Ideally, your skimmer should be placed on the opposite
side of your pond. Aquascape skimmers provide room to house your
pump, along with a basket that catches leaves and debris for easy clean-up. 
7
MAINTAIN A HEALTHY FISH POPULATION
P ond owners love their fish and so it’s easy to over-populate your
pond – especially if your fish have babies! Make sure you have
no more than 10" of fish for every 100 gallons of water in your
pond. For example, if you have one 10" fish, your pond should be
no smaller than 100 gallons. If you have two 10" fish equaling 20
total inches of fish, your pond should be no smaller than 200
gallons. If you have 20 fish at various lengths that equal 300" when
combined, then you need a 3000 gallon pond. This is important
because you want to avoid excessive fish waste, which can cause an
unhealthy imbalance in pond water.
Calculate How Much Water Is in Your Pond:

(Length x Width x Average Depth x 7.48) x 0.8 = U.S. Gallons*
*Length, width, and depth are measured in feet
DON’T OVER-FEED YOUR FISH
O ne of the many joys of pond ownership

is interacting with your fish. Many
people train their koi to eat straight from
their hand! However, when you feed fish
more than they can eat, the uneaten food
is left to decay in the pond. This can prove
problematic to the quality of your pond
water. Be careful not to feed your fish more
than once per day, and no more than they
can eat in two to three minutes. Remove all
excess, leftover food so it doesn’t deteriorate
in your pond.
If you want happy and healthy pond fish,

choose a high-quality fish food such
as those provided by Aquascape. We offer a
variety of fish foods that contain probiotics
to aid in digestion and reduce fish waste. 
9
CREATE A PROPER BALANCE OF PLANTS
P lants absorb excess nutrients in the pond and help filter

the water. In addition, plants like waterlilies and water
lettuce help to shade the pond and keep the water cooler
during hot summer months. During the peak pond season,
you want to ensure that 40% to 60% of the surface area of
your pond is covered or shaded by plants. On the contrary,
too many plants can cause oxygen deficiencies at night
due to the cellular respiration when the plants take in
oxygen and give off carbon dioxide.
11
Y ou’ll enjoy the beauty provided by a wide range of pond plants, which fall
into four basic categories. Waterlilies are a favorite for the beautiful color
they add to a pond. Hardy lilies return every year if properly over-wintered.
Tropical waterlilies will die during winter months in most climates and are
typically treated like annuals. Marginal plants thrive in shallow water near the
edges of the pond. They include both flowering and non-flowering options and
help to soften rock edges while providing filtration benefits. Floating plants such
as water lettuce and water hyacinth float on the surface of the pond with their
roots dangling in the water. Finally, oxygenators are planted at the bottom of the
pond and help provide hiding places for fish. 
See How to Plant Your Pond at
aquascapeinc.com/water-gardening/plants/
tips-planting-pond
13
CLEAN DEBRIS FROM YOUR POND BEFORE IT HAS
A CHANCE TO DECAY
D ecaying leaves and debris, combined with fish waste and leftover fish
food, can cause ammonia levels to spike in your pond. High ammonia
levels can stress your fish and cause illness. Be sure to remove dying leaves
and plants, and remove uneaten fish food before it has a chance to decay.
During the summer months, you shouldn’t find a lot of leaves and plant
debris in your pond, but be sure to trim any dying leaves from aquatic plants.
During the fall season, make leaf control easier by installing Aquascape
Protective Pond Netting over your water feature before leaves begin to
drop from the trees. Beneficial microbes such as Aquascape Beneficial
Bacteria can be added to your pond on a continual basis to help keep pond
water healthy and clean. 
15
KEEP YOUR POND COOL DURING
THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER
W hen pond water exceeds 75º Fahrenheit,

it has a more difficult time retaining
acceptable levels of dissolved oxygen. Shading
your pond with aquatic plants such as waterlilies,
water lettuce, and others, will help keep water
cool. As an alternative, you can add Aquascape
Pond Tint to shade the water and keep it cool.
Fish need oxygen to survive. If
you see them at the pond’s surface
gasping for air, add an aerator or
AquaForce® Pump to increase
oxygen levels in the pond during
times of extreme heat. 
17
HELPFUL RESOURCES:
Automatic Dosing System
T he Automatic Dosing System is a revolutionary product that

automatically adds a choice of specially formulated Aquascape
water treatments to ponds, waterfalls, and fountains. Easy to install,
you’ll no longer have to follow a weekly maintenance routine of adding
beneficial bacteria to keep your pond clean and healthy. The Automatic
Dosing System does it for you! Eliminate the guesswork and time of
manually adding water treatments to your pond. Four treatment
options are available for ponds and two options are available for
waterfalls and fountains. The Maintain treatment should be used
throughout the pond season. If issues arrive, replace it with one of the
other three appropriate treatment pouches. You’re going to love the
convenience of the Automatic Dosing System!
Pond Pump Selection Guide
Finding the proper pump for your water feature doesn’t have to be a
struggle. Try our online Pond Pump Selection Guide to select the
right pump for your water feature needs. You’ll find a range of sizes
and options. Whether you’re purchasing a new pump or replacing an
old one, you can’t beat Aquascape pumps for durability, reliability, and
efficiency.
Water Treatment Options
From simple barley straw to Algaecide and more, Aquascape offers

a wide range of simple-to-use water treatments to solve any water
quality issue you might be facing.
19
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to receive our free monthly e-newsletter, Pondside Monthly.
At the beginning of each month, you’ll receive helpful tips SIGN
and articles related to all things water gardening!
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HOW TO KEEP POND WATER

Most pond owners are aware of the importance that

P umps are the heart of any water feature, continually

To provide optimal water quality, you want to circulate the

Aquascape makes it easy to

A good biological filtration system, paired with a mechanical filter (such

Aquascape ponds incorporate a BioFalls® biological filter that serves as

Calculate How Much Water Is in Your Pond:

O ne of the many joys of pond ownership

If you want happy and healthy pond fish,

P lants absorb excess nutrients in the pond and help filter

W hen pond water exceeds 75º Fahrenheit,

T he Automatic Dosing System is a revolutionary product that

Water Treatment Options

From simple barley straw to Algaecide and more, Aquascape offers

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