 | AQUA MEDS® MAINTENANCE GUIDE | |||
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Easy to follow step by step koi and pond care
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Your “Pond Water Thermometer” RULES your pond, NOT your calendar! |
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Please click on the Hi-Lighted treatments for more important details
1. As soon as my pond water reaches 40° degrees and stays at that temperature for ten days, day and night, it's time to treat with Aqua MedZyme™ every other week until my pond water temp drops below 40°F in the fall.
2. When my pond water temperature reaches 45°F and stays at that temperature for ten days, day and night, it's time to turn on my pond filter for the season.
Treat with Aqua Prazi™ for Flukes at 50°F. Three days after the first treatment, treat again to kill the newly hatched flukes.
There are two types of flukes are live-bearers and egg layers. You can’t kill the eggs with the first treatment, you have to wait for them to hatch.
3. Every year you’re going to have one or two warm days in the early spring that won't last this time of year in most states. The cold weather will return!
You never want to disturb or feed your fish on these "warm days", even if you see your fish swimming. Your fish are very weak and their immune system is not working. Cold weather will return, causing cold pond water.
"Never start working on my pond until my pond water temperature NOT my air temperature reaches 55 degrees F and stays at that temperature for at least TEN days, day and night.
Plus, make sure my fish are active and have been eating for at least a week before I do anything with my pond".
Would you like to do something that would be very beneficial to the health of your fish on these unusual warm spring days?
Do a 10% water change!
The sooner you can do a 10% water change the better. The first clear day you have a chance to do a 10% water change, do it, even if you're not ready to open your pond.
Take advantage of all these clear days for ten percent water changes. However, don't do a large water change on these clear days.
This time of year a ten percent water change is much less stressful on my fish than a forty percent water change all at one time this time of year.
Note: Remove 10% of my pond water and add the fresh water very slowly so I don't change the temperature of my pond water.
Add the total amount of DeChlor before adding the fresh water. Halfway into filling my pond, I would add another full treatment of DeChlor & More.
A double dose of DeChlor & More will not hurt my fish and it will help remove excess ammonia from my pond water.
Attention: You do not want to change the temperature of your pond water. It takes time to very slowly add the fresh water to your pond. Instead of waiting for their pond to refill, I've had pond keepers do other things to pass the time.
The problem was, they forgot they were refilling their pond, only to return to an overflowing pond of dead fish, killed by the chlorine in their tap water.
4. At 50°F start treating with Pond Support™ every other week all season, until my pond water temp drops below 50°F in the fall.
One of the benefits of using Pond Support™ is, it contains the beneficial bacteria and carbonates I need to jump start and maintain the "life supporting bacteria" in my pond filter all season.
Plus, Pond Support™ has many other valuable benefits for the health of my fish and the condition of my pond water. I can also add Aqua Meds Sludge Remover™ at this time if needed.
5. When my pond temperature reaches 55°F and stays at this temperature for ten days, day and night, I will do a 25% water change.
6. Now it's time to start feeding my fish:
Once I start feeding my fish, test for ammonia, nitrites and pH every day for at least the first three weeks.
It could take two to three weeks for my filter to "kick in". This is when testing and water changes are very important to keep the ammonia, pH and nitrites safe for my fish.
Note: 10 to 20% water changes every week, all season, are very important to keep my fish healthy and my pond clean and clear.
• Week One: Start by feeding Cheerios® (or a low protein diet) to gently start my fish’s weaken digestive system.
Very small feedings, I don't want to overload their digestion system or add extra ammonia to my filter this time.
• Week Two: If your fish show any signs of a bacterial infection feed a medicated for ten days, all they can eat in three minutes, twice a day, no other food. NOTE: if your fish show no signs of a bacterial infection the medicated food is not necessary.
• Important: No food should be left over in the bottom of my pond after feeding.
• This also is a good time to clean the sludge from the bottom of my pond.
• Week Three: Start feeding my regular food, small feedings, just once a day, until my filter "kicks in". When I have (0) readings for ammonia and nitrites" then I know my pond filter has "kicked in". pH should be 7.2 or higher.
7. When my pond water temp reaches 60°F and stays at this temperature for ten days, day and night and my fish are eating and active, I will do a 50 to 75% water change to help remove the old winter pond water for the spring.
Unless you have "Well Water" be sure to use a good water conditioner like DeChlor & More™ to remove chlorine, ammonia and Chloramines before adding the fresh water to your pond.
Add the total amount of DeChlor before adding the fresh water. Halfway into filling my pond, I would add another full treatment of DeChlor & More.*
A double dose of DeChlor & More will not hurt my fish and it will help remove excess ammonia from my pond water.
Attention: You do not want to change the temperature of your pond water. It takes time to very slowly add the fresh water to your pond. Instead of waiting for their pond to refill, I've had pond keepers do other things to pass the time.
The problem was, they forgot they were refilling their pond, only to return to an overflowing pond of dead fish, killed by the chlorine in their tap water.
- Now it's time to treat my pond for organic debris and green water", if needed?
• Treat for organic debris with Organic Control™, 24 hours later treat for green water with Clear Shine™
8. When my pond temperature reaches 75°F and over, start treating with Summer Blend™ to help my pond filter handle the increase of the bio-load of ammonia at this temperature and above.
9. Important: The warmer the water the less oxygen it contains. Plus, the metabolism of your fish and all the bacteria "good & bad" is at its peak, meaning they are using much more oxygen at these higher temperatures than normal.
This is the time to increase the aeration in your pond. Very Important!
Fall Koi and Pond Maintenance
10. Option: when my pond water drops to 65 degrees in the fall I can retreat for flukes with Aqua Prazi™. Feed a medicated food only if my fish shows a sign of a bacterial infection. These treatments will insure my fish are free from flukes and any bacterial infection before going into their long winters nap.
NOTE: Between 60* and 65* is a good time to do another 50% to 75% water change so your pond water is fresh going into the long winter. Please read #7 above about doing major water changes.
11. When my pond water temp drops below 55 degrees for ten days, day and night, stop feeding.
Start treating with Arctic Blend® at 50 degrees. Treat every other week all winter long. If I have any Arctic Blend® left over in the spring use it up, it's better to buy fresh in the fall for the long winter.
12. When my pond water drops below 45 degrees shut off and drain all your pipes, pumps, filters and U.V.
DO NOT shut of my aerator.
Very important: an aerator helps remove the toxic gases and keeps your pond from freezing over all winter long.
In the winter, place my aerator within six inches of the surface of my pond water.
At this depth it will not circulate the cold water around your fish however, it will remove the toxic gases that can build up in your pond during the winter.
In the spring drop your aerator down to the deepest part of your pond to improve the oxygen level in your pond.
Which is best? Pond Aerator or Pond Heater? Some ponds need both.
Following the temperature of your pond water and doing the important 10 to 20% water changes once a week will keep your fish happy and healthy and your pond clean and clear all year.
If you have questions about our Aqua Meds® Maintenance Guide or need help, I'm here.
Thank you for your time,
Mark
mark@aquameds.com
Pond Keeper’s Comment:
Rick, I just wanted to give you an update. Our normal Buffalo winters are brutal. But this winter (2013/14) has been the worst winter we had in many years. When I opened my pond this spring, I was so happy to see I had not lost one fish. Many of my friends lost some or all of their fish. I contribute my no losses to your Aqua Meds maintenance program. Thanks again, George W. Buffalo, NY
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