Wall Water Features - Pond Help

Pond Help - green stuff!?

Hi there, I recently moved house and there is a v small garden pond (maybe 2ft x 3ft and 1ft deep). There is a little waterfall which drops water from a small pipe in the wall into the pond below. Now this has been switched off for probably 9 months while there was nobody living here. There's a thick layer of green cress-like stuff on the top of the water. Should I clear the green stuff off and clear the dead leaves out of the bottom (as much as possible)? Switch the water feature on and hope it filters? Or get someone in to deal with this professionally? Also, once rectified, do these ponds need the water switched on all the time to run efficiently, or can they be left off? Thanks so much for your time and help! :) Lisa

Public Comments

two options I have. The green stuff is algae. You can buy some algae eaters (lil fish) at wal-mart or wherever and throw them in and see if they can fix the algae issue. If that doesn't work a preofessional is def what you need! Pond has to be on at all times excluding cleaning times
Even w/ a filtration system I recommend changing the water and the filters. What kind of water (fresh, tap) to use depends on what you intend to use the pond for. If it has been out of service that long expect a really bad smell from filtration system. If system runs good after service leave it running and filters do they're job. Replace filters periodically (according to manufacturer's recommendations. Or hire a Pro.
It sounds to me as if the green stuff is duckweed, a noxious weed, not algae. Remove it completely if you can...and it will take many times to get it all. Perhaps it will freeze in the winter and you can get rid of it all. Then clean out the pond completely, including the filters. Replace any filter media. Jump start your pond ecosystem with a good pond starter like Microbe-LIft PL. Here's how to clean a pond in an article I wrote. http://www.pondlady.com/Articles/cleaning_pond.html
Pond growing plants, whether weeds, Algae or desirable, need light and nutrients in order to grow. If you cut either of these elements, then you reduce the growth - this is after your cleaning up. Clearing the decaying vegetation will remove nutrients, that are feeding the weeds into growth. As has been said, there is a tiny little pond plant, called Duck Weed, that has a couple of leaves, and sends roots an inch or so into the water that it floats on top of, it looks very much like cress - see it here - http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/ccn/info/Science/SWCS/VIEW/PIC/duckweed.jpg http://www.thefuelman.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/duckweed.jpg. As each 2 or 3 leaves is a separate plant, they all need to be removed, to stop them multiplying - which they do at an incredible rate, and dead ones will cause re-growth this year or later. I'd sieve them out with a good net, and compost them, and then remove any more as and when they show up. So you've removed the mass of weeds, and some debris, and you can turn your attention to the water pump and or filter - sometimes they are combined. Good circulation of the water will allow it to hold more oxygen, and be less stagnant, and the equipment may or may not still be working. Once you've cleared the debris, I'd turn it on, and see if it still seems to work, as you may save yourself a fortune compared to getting someone to look at something that may be functionally perfect. Depending on the product you could then check what spares it needs. Filters need regular replacement, but they typically use different additives, that a pond/aquarium type stockist would have. As it's been off all year, I'd replace what you can, so that it starts working at full efficiency. Whilst you've removed the major debris, the filter etc will work on reducing the smaller suspended particles etc - if it's just a pump, without a filter, this doesn't get done of course. Water contains beneficial bacteria that help process the waste and keep the water fresh. You can buy mixes of these, and add them to your pond whenever you wish, and they only cost $3 or $4, so aren't high cost. There are tons of products, such as this one, and Pet stores sell them for fish keepers etc too. http://store.petside.com/product/biological-additives/6439/pondcare-pond-zyme-plus-with-barley.html Unless you're keeping fish in your pond, you don't need to leave pumps and filters running 24/7, but regular use, such as daily for a few hours, will make a big difference to the quality of your water. Once your pond is healthier, you could consider adding some miniature water lilies, which love sunny spots. They reduce light entering the water, thus cutting Algae levels, and mosquito breeding. You plant these in small baskets, and could do this in the spring time, or whenever you wish. http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/plants/RosettePlants/images/WaterLilyWFPR_P254.jpg Your pond could hold a 'Pygmy' water lily easily, and potentially some other pond plants, that you could add. But, that's later, after you've done your bit to clean up, if and when you choose to - it's great to have water in the garden, whether or not there are plants adding to its beauty. Hope this helps. Good luck! Rob