How To Achieve Perfection

From the very beginning, it is very important to achieve a balance or harmony in this new environment. No two ponds are going to be the same, however the way the balance of the pond works does not change.

One of the main ingredients in this balance is the submerged aquatic plant. Their main task at hand is to clean up nutrients in the water and to provide needed oxygen during the daytime hours for plants and fish. These plants also are a safe haven for small fish and provide a food source.

Reducing the dreaded green algae bloom is paramount in its make-up. This single celled suspended algae turns any water green and can eventually have your pond looking like a bowl of pea soup. Having enough of these plants will starve out much of the algae bloom and help to keep the water in balance.

These plants also oxygenate the water during the daylight hours. At night, however is a different story. Now the plants produce carbon dioxide instead of oxygen. This really is not a problem unless your pond is overstocked with submerged plants and fish. If this is the case, you may have to remove some of the submerged plants as the population grows and the night temperatures get warmer.

Green water is also regulated by the amount of direct sunlight that the pond receives. Algae loves hot, direct sunlight and grows at an alarming rate when supplied. So, it is an easy fix by reducing the amount of light that reaches below the pond surface. We are speaking of shade! Please note that placing allot of trees or bushes to shade the pond is not a good idea. Falling leaves and debris can make things worse and ruin the water quality. It will also shade too much light from your water lilies. These aquatic plants are the ones that will provide much of the needed shade to the pond. Another type would be the floating variety of plants. They also do a great job of shading the pond for sunlight.

Fish are also a very important element in the ponds overall balance. They are needed to keep pests under control. The waste that they produce is used up in nutrients it supplies to the plants.

Plant Types

There are a few main plant types that should be in every pond. They all serve a purpose and should be cared for properly. The Marginal, Waterlilies, Submerged plants, Floaters and Bogs plants all help to keep the balance. Bog plants are not essential in the pond process, but it can help to shade later in the day and shape the overall appearance of the pond.