The next "pond development" may be that the water turns green! It's been clear all winter. What happened? The lengthening of the days means more sunlight to feed the micro algae and they really respond to the sun and the warming temperatures. Is the algae harmful to fish? No it isn't. Time to clean the pond? Wait until Derby Day.

By Derby (or within the first two weeks of May), the trees and most shrubs will be finished with their spring bloom. All the pollen and debris will have settled to the ground or to the bottom of the pond. Now it's time to clean. And, ponds should be cleaned at least once a year. If the debris and sediment -- fish waste, grass clipping, leaves, last year's leftover food, etc. -- that have accumulated at the pond bottom are not removed annually, you may lose your fish. In July's summer heat, pond sludge will rise to the surface. It then prevents oxygen from entering the water, and pond residents can actually suffocate.

Pond Cleaning. Begin with an inexpensive, child's wading pool readily found at many discount stores. Use your filtration pump to pump enough pond water into the pool to fill it. Then net your fish and put them into the pond water-filled wading pool. Pump the remainder of the water from the pond. Then, put in the pump in the wading pool to circulate the water where the fish are. This will help reduce shock and help insure their survival.

Remove all the sludge from the pond bottom. This natural, organic material makes an excellent fertilizer and can be used on flowerbeds and around trees and shrubs. The algae on the pond sides need not be removed -- just hose it down. The goal is to remove as much green, micro algae as possible. The algae on pond walls and rocks are actually a food source and some fish graze on it.

This is also the time to re-pot water plants. Water lilies in particular must be divided and repotted every year or two. Once the root reaches the size of a turnip and is woody, the plants may no longer bloom or the blooms will be stunted.

Now it's time to refill the pond. Then add a chlorine remover. The temperature of the water coming from your hose will be much warmer in May that it might have been in March or April. When you clean your pond too early in the year, the cold water can send your fish into shock and maybe even cause them to die due to the stress.

Clean all green algae from pump and filter surfaces. Hook up water falls, fountains and filtration. Now it's time to net the fish and put them into the pond. Should you "rinse off" the fish, too Absolutely not. The chlorine in the water pouring from your hose will prove lethal!

Time to consider adding to your aquatic fauna collection? Not yet. With the new, clean, warm environment, fish will begin to spawn. This means new fish on the way without a trip to the store.

All the micro algae is gone, so you're set! Wrong! The micro algae will return with a vengeance when temperatures reach 70 to 80 degrees. There are many, good chemical treatments you can use on a biweekly basis to keep algae under control. Or, you may want to consider a new, advanced, natural way to eliminate micro algae … an ultraviolet sterilizer. This revolutionary approach to algae control is an addition to your filtration system. It continuously eliminates algae. With the ultraviolet sterilizer, you no longer add algaecides or clarifyors. The equipment actually pays for itself over a period of time. You have a clean pond and your fish have a chemical-free environment.

If you are adding a pond and don’t know where to start, come to Feeders Supply. We have everything you need -- from rigid and flexible pond liners to filtration to numerous plants and a great selection of pond fish and the food they need. And, we'll be happy to provide the fish keeping information and advice you need to make your backyard pond a successful aquatic ecosystem and an ongoing pleasure!