Pond Country New Pond Ownership Manual

Welcome to the Pond Country Lifestyle!

Congratulations on your new purchase and welcome to the Pond Country Lifestyle! This owner’s manual provides information and resources to help you understand and enjoy your new pond. While we also build large and commercial projects, our mission is to make beautiful water features that are affordable for everyone! We believe everyone deserves to experience the joy of low-maintenance ecosystem ponds.

Our helpful manual provides information to ensure your understanding of aquatic plants, pond fish, the mechanics of your pond, and much more.

Enjoy your new pond!

Enjoy your exclusive benefits as a new member

You, our customer, are the most important part of our business. We value your business and as a customer of a Pond Country-built pond, you now enjoy exclusive membership into our V.I.Pond Star program. This benefit includes better discounts & sales along with a special members-only phone number access for service & support of your new pond.

Special benefits include:

• 15% off pond repair & maintenance services

• Save up to 20% off Aquascape products everyday such as treatments, fish food, plant supplies, & more

• Special member-only sales & discounts throughout the year

• Complimentary beverage when visiting retail stores (when available)

COMPONENTS OF ECOSYSTEM POND

• SKIMMER

• BIOFALLS

• POND PUMP

• PIPING

• LINER

• UNDERLAYMENT

Skimmer

Your new skimmer filter is designed to remove debris from your pond and capture it in your debris net or basket. This component helps to keep your pond clean and clear throughout the year and reduce maintenance. The skimmer also provides a safe place to run your pump, increasing the life of the pump.

BioFalls®

The BioFalls filter included in your pond provides effective biological filtration, keeping your pond looking beautiful all year long. Your BioFalls filter comes complete with filter mats and Aquascape BioBalls™ which provide surface area for beneficial bacteria to colonize. The filter also provides an excellent way to distribute water evenly for the start of your waterfall or stream.

Pond Pump

Your pond pump provides water movement and circulation. Proper water flow throughout the pond helps to maintain necessary oxygen levels, optimize water quality and minimize maintenance required throughout the year.

Piping

The PVC flex pipe included in your pond kit allows your pump to push the pond water from your skimmer to your BioFalls for effective filtration. Using durable PVC flex pipe ensures years of trouble-free use and prevents leaks in the plumbing.

Liner

Your 45mil EPDM pond liner takes the worry out of owning a water feature with its 20 year guarantee, ensuring years of trouble-free enjoyment. Not only does your pond liner retain the water in your pond, it is exceptionally durable, capable of withstanding thousands of pounds of stone and gravel.

Underlayment

Underlayment is used to protect pond liner from rocks, roots and other sharp objects that may damage your liner. The soft, non- woven geotextile allows for any gasses to escape properly, preventing future issues. This line of defense ensures the safety of your liner year after year.

HOW IT WORKS

• MECHANICAL FILTER

• BIOLOGICAL FILTER

• ROCKS & GRAVEL

• WATER CIRCULATION

• FISH

• AQUATIC PLANTS

The Ecosystem Pond Approach

Your ecosystem pond works with nature, making it simple and easy to keep your new water feature looking beautiful with minimal effort. Creating a well-balanced ecosystem reduces maintenance and supports healthy fish and plants while transforming your backyard into an incredible, all-natural, low-maintenance paradise. In order to have great success with your new pond, it helps to understand the critical role each component plays in the ecosystem.

Skimmer

Plants

Rock & Gravel

Skimmer

(Mechanical filtration)

Your new skimmer filter removes debris from the pond, providing efficient mechanical filtration and keeping your pond clean and clear.

Fish

(Biological filtration)

The BioFalls filter with included BioBalls and filter mats provide surface area for bacteria to colonize, maintaining your pond effectively by keeping it clean throughout the year.

BioFalls®

BioFalls®

Rocks & Gravel

The rocks and gravel in your new pond play a crucial role in your ecosystem, providing surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow. The bacteria helps break down excess nutrients in the water and dissolve organic debris on the pond floor. The rocks also protect your liner against damage from UV light, animals, small debris, people, etc.

Water Circulation

Water movement and circulation is another extremely important component to the ecosystem pond approach. Proper water flow throughout the pond maintains necessary oxygen levels, optimizes water quality and minimizes maintenance in your pond.

Pond fish are an integral part of your ecosystem. Fish minimize algae growth by grazing on excess string algae growing in the pond. In addition, fish waste provides important nutrients for your aquatic plants. Fish

Aquatic Plants

Aquatic plants are the foundation of every water garden or ecosystem pond. Aquatic plants help balance your entire pond ecosystem, minimizing maintenance and maximizing optimum water conditions. Plants absorb nitrogen, ammonia, nitrates and other minerals that can lead to unsightly water conditions.

Nitrogen Cycle

As a new pond owner, you may be interested to learn how your new pond functions. Fortunately, you don’t need a degree in environmental science to understand this process. The nitrification process, or nitrogen cycle, is a biological process that changes ammonia to less toxic forms of nitrite, and then to a usable form of nitrate. The nitrate is used by your aquatic plants, allowing them to grow and thrive.

The large amount of surface area on the biological filter media, as well as the rocks and gravel, allows for the colonization of beneficial bacteria that are responsible for the nitrification process. Organic debris, uneaten fish food and fish waste will form ammonia as a by-product. Without the nitrogen cycle, ammonia levels would constantly increase, leading to issues with water quality and fish health. Regular addition of beneficial bacteria such as Aquascape Maintain for Ponds helps to support this process.

ADDING PLANTS

• WHY AQUATIC PLANTS?

• MARGINALS

• WATER LILIES

• LOTUS

• PRODUCTS & TIPS

Why Aquatic Plants?

You may be asking yourself, “Do I really need to add plants to my pond?” The answer is yes.

Aquatic plants are the foundation of your new pond, helping to balance your entire pond ecosystem. Valuable filtration is provided through the removal of nitrogen, ammonia, nitrates and other minerals that can lead to unsightly water conditions. Aquatic plants also provide extensive beauty, quickly naturalizing the environment and softening the edges while providing shelter and shade for your aquatic creatures.

Ponds containing aquatic plants are more likely to have clear water, minimal waste, healthy fish, sufficient oxygen and a natural look. A wide array of plant choices allows you to express your creativity through your aquatic plantings. The Southeast’s largest selection of marginals, water lilies, lotus, floaters, and more are available at a Pond Country retail store near you!

Plant Zone Map

North Carolina sits within mostly the Zone 7 & 8 areas of the planting zones.

• The Piedmont area (including the Triad & Charlotte) of North Carolina is Zone 7.

• Knoxville, TN also sits within Zone 7

• Zones are determined by average minimum temperature in the winter months. Each zone is separated by 10 degrees and is published by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Types of Aquatic Plants

Aquatic pond plants are grouped into two basic categories: tropical and hardy. Hardy plants are able to over-winter in colder climates, allowing you to enjoy them year after year. Tropical plants, on the other hand, are more suited for warmer climates and often used as annuals in colder climate zones. Most hardy and tropical pond plants can be categorized into four categories: water lilies, marginal plants, floating plants and oxygenators.

Marginals

Marginal plants grow around the edges or “margins” of your pond, thriving in wet soil or shallow standing water. Many marginal plants are perennials, coming back year after year for your enjoyment. Popular marginals include: Water Garlic, Iris, Canna Lily, Thalia, Cardinal Flower, Rose Mallow Hibiscus and more.

Water Garlic Iris

Canna Lily

Thalia Cardinal Flower Hibiscus

Types of Aquatic Plants

Water Lilies

Water lilies are among the most popular aquatic plants and are often the centerpiece of the water garden. These plants grow from the base of the pond and send up leaves and blooms to the surface of the pond. Water lilies not only provide your pond with breathtaking beauty and valuable shade, but they also keep the pond balanced and provide shelter for your pond fish.

We recommend that you cover one-third of the pond’s surface with floating leaves, such as water lilies. Water lilies are available in a wide variety of flower colors to suit your preference, including yellow, red, pink, white and even blue!

The lotus is an aquatic perennial plant that is known for its gorgeous and fragrant flowers that emerge from water through a long stem. This stem is one of the main differences between it and a water lily, whose flower floats upon the water instead of blooming in mid-air. Lotus need abundant sunshine and love the summer.

Like most aquatic plants, they go dormant in winter and do not bloom. Caring for a lotus isn’t a hard task, they merely require frequent fertilization.

Like any other plant, with a little TLC, it will become a gorgeous centerpiece of your pond.

Plant Products

Pondtabbs® Aquatic Plant Food

Pondtabbs® water soluble tablets combine controlled nitrogen release with rapid nutrient availability to provide optimum feeding for all your aquatic plants. Handle Pondtabbs® with dry hands and insert tablets with your finger deep into the soil around the crown of the plant and space them uniformly around the plant if using multiple tablets. Schedule each fertilization treatment according to each plant type as mentioned below.

• Marginals - fertilize with plant when installing in gravel along border shelf of pond

• Water Lilies - fertilize 3 times a year with 3 tablets

• Lotus - fertilize once a month with 2 - 3 tablets

Pond Plant Potting Media

All natural, non-toxic alluvial planting media. A fine-grained soil perfect for supporting your aquatic plants. Potting Media contains no peat moss or compost and is safe for fish.

Floating Plant Island

Floating islands are ideal for displaying plants in deeper areas of the pond or where there are no plant shelves. The floating planter keeps the soil intact and lets water in, while protecting plants from fish. Constructed to stay afloat at the surface of the pond, floating islands provide stunning options for displaying plants within the pond.

Learn more about placing plants by visiting pondcountry.com or ask one of our pond experts.

ADDING FISH

• WHY POND FISH?

• KOI

• GOLDFISH

• FISH FOOD

• FISH CARE

Why Pond Fish?

Adding pond fish to your pond is important for several reasons. Not only do pond fish add movement, color and personality to your pond, but they also play a large role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Pond fish, such as koi and goldfish, add a level of visual interest to the pond by displaying their impressive colors as they move through the water.

Fish minimize algae growth by grazing on excess string algae growing in the pond. In addition, fish waste provides important nutrients for your aquatic plants. There are numerous varieties of fish you can keep in your pond. Koi, goldfish, imported Japanese koi, and more are available at a Pond Country retail store near you!

Popular Varieties of Pond Fish

Koi are one of the more popular types of fish kept in ponds and are often considered the ‘jewels of the water garden.’ Koi are available in a wide variety of colors and patterns and can range in price.

Domesticated cold-water carp are able to adapt to a variety of climates and have been bred for their color since the 18th century. Butterfly is a variation of koi that are highly sought-after for their long flowing fins.

All koi are typically larger in size and have protruding barbs on the lip. They grow larger and live longer than goldfish, sometimes reaching as large as three feet in length and living up to thirty years. The longest living koi, known as Hanako, was reported to live to 226 years old!

Comet goldfish are variety-colored cold-water carp characterized by their longer, flowing fins. They are a resilient species able to handle many water conditions, making them a great first fish for your pond.

Shubunkin are calico goldfish with a blue shimmering body and long flowing tails. Shubunkin

Koi

Standard Koi

Butterfly Koi

Sarasa Comet

Breeder

Our domestic koi & goldfish are supplied exclusively from Blue Ridge Koi & Goldfish Hatchery. Blue Ridge is the industry leader in high quality koi breeding and was the farm that introduced standard & butterfly koi to the United States.

Blue Ridge, in business for over 50 years, breeds premium koi for color, patterns, plus body & fin conformation. They operate a closed facility with cutting edge bio-security procedures in place to guard against outside diseases and to ensure strong, healthy koi & goldfish.

When purchasing koi from us, you can be assured of the highest quality and healthiest fish available anywhere in the USA.

Why Quality Fish Food?

If you want happy and healthy pond fish, you need to feed a high-quality fish food. Aquascape & Blue Ridge fish food are affordably priced and formulated to provide your pond fish with the nutrition they need to thrive.

All Aquascape fish foods contain probiotics that aid in digestion and reduction of fish waste, while the high-quality protein optimizes growth rates. Aquascape fish food products will not break apart during feeding, helping to maintain clear water conditions. Blue Ridge food contains a special blend of vitamins and minerals that promotes resistance to stress & immunity to disease.

Keep your fish healthy by feeding them a well-balanced diet.

Fish Care Questions

How many fish can I have in my pond?

Pond fish generally require at least 10 gallons of water for each inch of body length. For example, a 6-inch fish should have at least 60 gallons of water to itself. This ensures an appropriate amount of fish to maintain a healthy ecosystem pond. It is always best to start with a couple of fish and slowly add new fish as adding a lot of fish at once can cause issues with water quality. An overstocked pond leads to issues with fish health, water clarity and water quality. Sick fish can be difficult to treat, so it is best to avoid these types of issues from the start!

Will my fish live through winter?

If all appropriate steps are taken, your pond fish should have no problem living through the winter in your pond. One of the most important factors in winterization is the depth of the pond. The ideal depth for over-wintering your fish is at least 18 inches to two feet, providing enough space for the fish to hibernate comfortably. Another important factor is to keep a hole in the ice for gas exchange. Keeping a hole in the ice throughout the season allows oxygen to enter your pond and harmful gases to leave the pond, providing a safe environment for your finned friends. A hole can be effectively maintained using a pump, aerator or deicer. Pond Country carries a variety of products that can be used for this purpose. Some pond owners continue to run their waterfall throughout the winter. You should simply check on your pond throughout the season to make sure everything is working properly.

Fish Care Products

Protect Treatment

While we carry a selection of medicine if your fish ever gets sick, we strongly recommend Aquascape Protect Treatment to prevent any ailments or infections. This special formula reduces fish stress, prevents parasites & bacterial infections, and accelerates the healing of any wounds or abrasions.

Pond / Fish Net

Aquascape Pond Nets are a great tool for your pond. They are ideal for general pond maintenance and handling smaller fish. Successful removal of debris significantly cuts down on maintenance and improves water quality. A versatile, quality pond net makes maintaining your pond simple and easy!

WATER

TREATMENTS

• WHY TREATMENTS?

• AUTOMATIC DOSING

• CLEARING WATER

• ALGAE REMOVAL

• AERATION

Why Water Treatments?

Adding water treatments on a regular basis keeps your pond clean and healthy, and Aquascape’s line of products makes the task easy and manageable. While many water treatments are only used as needed, we recommend a few products that should be used regularly throughout the season.

Adding water treatments on a regular basis keeps your pond clean and healthy, and Aquascape’s line of products makes the task easy and manageable. Take any guesswork out of a treatment schedule by utilizing your Automatic Dosing System. All treatments and more are available at a Pond Country retail store near you!

Maintain

The Maintain treatment reduces maintenance and fish loss, using a combination of beneficial bacteria and enzymes. This powerful combo sustains optimum water quality, resulting in a clear, low-maintenance pond.

The Automatic Dosing System

The Aquascape Automatic Dosing System for Ponds automatically adds water treatments to your pond, eliminating the guesswork and routine of adding them manually. In order to maintain optimum water quality, water treatments should be added consistently on a regular basis. The Aquascape Automatic Dosing System accurately and consistently applies your choice of specially-formulated Aquascape water treatments, providing ideal water conditions. A choice of four treatments provides pond owners with options for a wide variety of pond issues. The fully-programmable control panel is easy to use and allows the system to be adjusted to precisely suit the size of your pond, automatically adding the correct amount of treatment to your pond.

Clean

The Clean treatment contains a powerful combination of sludgeeating bacteria and enzymes that help to optimize water quality by significantly reducing sludge caused by fish waste, uneaten fish food, and leaves and debris.

Clear

The Clear treatment helps clear your discolored water and maintain crystal-clear water in your pond. Clear makes controlling buildup of debris and unsightly water conditions simple and easy.

Protect

The Protect treatment helps decrease fish stress during seasonal changes or pond cleanouts. Protect is made from natural plant extracts that reduce stress and prevent parasites and bacterial infections in your fish.

Types of Water Treatments

Keep your pond’s ecosystem balanced with a regimen of maintenance products. Keeps water consistently clean, clear, & healthy.

Product family includes:

• Beneficial Bacteria

• Cold Water Beneficial Bacteria

• Pond Starter Beneficial Bacteria

• Pond Detoxifier

• Beneficial Bacteria Bubble Tabs

Summer and warm weather naturally brings the emergence of “green water” aka algae blooms. These products will quickly eliminate this issue.

Product family includes:

• Algaecide

• EcoBlast™ Granular Algaecide

Naturally prohibit future algae growth with:

• Barley Straw Extract

• Barley Straw Pellets

This product family can quickly fix your pond’s cloudy water issues while maintaining a healthy and clear pond ecosystem.

Product family includes:

• Rapid Clear Flocculant

• S.A.B. Stream & Pond Cleaner

• QuickFix Pond Gummies

• Activated Pond Carbon

These products eliminates pond sludge caused by fish waste & other decaying material. Keeps rocks, gravels, & filters clean.

Product family includes:

• Sludge & Filter Cleaner

• Sludge Cleaner Bubble Tabs

• Pond Sludge Remover Packs

Pond Aeration

Pond Aeration Kit

2 or 4 outlet options and PRO version available.

Pond aerators help increase water circulation and oxygen levels in your pond. These quiet & energy efficient devices are simple to use and maintain. You can choose between 2 & 4 outlet versions depending on the size of your pond. The outlets allow air to be diverted into multiple areas of the pond. Aerators are great to have in the winter to feed oxygen to hibernating fish during icy periods in the season.

Pond De-Icer

Pond Powerhead

Like pond aerators, pond powerheads increase circulation and helps areas of a pond with low water flow. There is no plumbing required, just simply set in your pond. It also makes a great “playground” for koi as they love to swim against its waterflow current.

In more extreme winter weather with severe icing conditions, a pond de-icer can come out handy by maintaining a melted hole in the pond to allow pond oxygen levels to increase to hibernating fish. Its integrated thermostat helps conserve energy and save electricity.

KEEP IT

BEAUTIFUL

• SPRING

Even though ecosystem ponds are extremely low maintenance, you can take certain steps throughout the year to ensure a healthy pond. With each season come environmental changes including debris load, temperature and precipitation. With these steps, you can optimize your pond for each season and provide ideal water conditions in the spring, summer, fall and winter.

Spring (Typically March - May / Water temps 50º+)

Spring is an important time to get your pond ready for the entire year. Aside from emptying the debris from your skimmer regularly, you should take proper steps to establish the biological process in your pond. Begin feeding Aquascape Premium Cold Water Fish Food Pellets which is digestible in lower temperatures. We recommend adding Pond Starter Bacteria for the first 2 - 4 weeks while also starting your Autodosing System with the Maintain treatment.

It is common to see some minimal algae growth as your pond’s ecosystem is getting started in spring. Treat as needed with our selection of algae-fighting products as listed on page 18.

Avoid the yuck! We deal with the muck!

Visit our website at pondcountry.com/cleanout for details on our annual cleanout services

Summer (June - August)

Summer is most likely the season when you will spend the majority of time with your pond; fortunately, summer maintenance is minimal. We recommend emptying your skimmer net or basket as necessary. Continue to use the Maintain treatment in your Autodosing System to support the biological balance of your pond.

Hot summer days can increase the rate of evaporation of pond water. Eventually, you may need to top off the pond with fresh water once a week. Make sure you detoxify the new water as mentioned in the water treatment section of this Owner’s Manual. This makes the new water safe for your fish and plants.

You may occasionally see some algae blooms during extreme temperature changes in the summer, treat with algae-fighting products as needed.

Fall (September - November)

Fall brings the falling of leaves. Excess debris like fallen leaves and sticks can lead to issues with water clarity and quality. In areas where high levels of debris are common, we recommend temporarily covering the surface of your pond with Protective Pond Netting.

As water temperatures dip below 50ºF, you can start adding Aquascape Cold Water Beneficial Bacteria to your pond. At this time, you should stop feeding your normal fish food and start feeding Aquascape Cold Water Fish Food, helping to ease your fish into the cold weather ahead.

As you prepare for winter, trim back any aquatic plants in your pond. Eliminating this growth before it dies off will decrease the amount of debris you see the following spring. Other tasks include draining and cleaning the BioFalls plus continuing to use Maintain treatment through the season. For any discolored water that occurs from falling leaves & debris, use carbon or Rapid Clear flocculant for better water clarity.

Busy schedule? No problem. We can help!

Visit our website at pondcountry.com/fallprep for details on services such as winter prep & netting

Winter (December to February)

Your pond can be extremely beautiful throughout the winter season! Fortunately, winter maintenance is minimal, requiring only a few simple steps to ensure a successful season. If a unusual deep freeze occurs, you must maintain a constant hole in the surface of the ice, allowing for proper gas exchange in your pond. This can be accomplished by using a pond de-icer, coupled with an Aquascape Pond Aeration Kit.

If your water feature contains a shallow stream or waterfall, we recommend checking throughout the season to eliminate ice damming if necessary. These simple steps optimize the health of your pond throughout the winter. Continue to apply Cold Water Beneficial Bacteria once a week throughout the winter. Disconnect your Autodosing System unit and store it in a garage or shelter. Some pond owners elect to do a complete pond drain & clean on an as-needed basis.

ENHANCE

• ENHANCEMENTS

• LIGHTING

• DECORATIVE ADD-ONS

Many pond owners continue to make improvements to their pond as it matures, enhancing the water feature in countless ways. This allows for an incredible outlet of creativity, as you are able to express yourself through the natural beauty of your pond. Both aesthetic and functional additions further transform your outdoor space into a true aquatic paradise.

Lighting

Add new or additional lighting to your water feature to bring it to life at night. Aquascape LED Garden and Pond Lighting is extremely energy efficient and allows you to enjoy your water feature at any time, day or night. Several LED lighting options are available, including waterfall lights and spotlights of several power options.

Decorative Add-Ons

What makes your pond unique? Individualize your water feature with decorative aspects including ornamental spitters, fountains, fire boulders, and more. Whether you prefer a basalt fountain, the beauty of a flame in the evening, the possibilities are endless. Don’t be afraid to express yourself!

Fountains Fire Spitters

All of these decorative enhancements and more are available at a Pond Country retail store near you!

Ask our service manager about our hassle-free inclusive service offerings:

ENHANCE

Busy schedule? You can enjoy the peace of mind of having a beautiful working pond no matter what life may throw your way.

Our ParadisePond monthly maintenance service frees up your time while we do the work for you. We will visit twice a month during the ecosystem season (March - November) and one visit per month December - February.

Monthly tasks include:

• Topping off water level

• Look for leaks

• Check water quality

• Replace autodosing treatment

• Clean skimmer basket & filter

• Check waterflow rate & more.

Annual cleanouts are necessary to maintain a clear healthy pond and may only be needed every other year for a well-maintained pond.

Cleanouts are scheduled starting in January and runs through April.

Over the cold months, muck can build up in your filter and pond bottom. This can cause ammonia spikes harmful to fish.

Cleanout tasks include:

• Drain your pond

• Safely move your fish

• Remove debris

• Pressure wash rocks & filters,

• Replace missing gravel

• Check lights

• Fertilize aquatic plants

• Apply starter beneficial bacteria

• Apply detoxifier & more

Fall & Winter Prep service is needed for preventing an over-abundance of waste building up in your pond over winter.

Additional enhancements can be made to prepare your pond for colder weather such as aerators & pond de-icers.

Prep tasks include:

• Cleaning the biofilter

• Cut back aquatic plants

• Remove excess debris

• Salt your pond for fish health

• Install pond netting & more