Ponds must be treated now, warns aquatic expert

Warmer weather brings about changes within the water of the garden pond and it is essential for gardeners to take action now to prevent an aquatic disaster later in the year, according to a leading garden pond expert.

Tiny organisms in the water and on the plants within your pond will react to the warmer weather by producing waste much earlier than last year and unless this excess waste is managed, plants and fish may suffer.

"The warmer weather sees a shift in activity within the pond among the fish and other potentially harmful micro-organisms including bacteria, fungi and parasites," Rupert Bridges, fish expert and technical adviser at aquatics specialist Tetra, told the Newcastle Journal.

"This combination, if left untreated, can cause major upset and imbalance to the wellbeing of the pond and the fish. This is partly due to the increase in activity among your fish as they start to feed again and the production of waste increases."

There are ways to prevent excess waste building up in a garden pond: a simple spring clean with a pond vacuum can help to remove any sediment that might pollute the water.

Spring is also the ideal time to clean off any pond filters lying in the water and to cut back, divide and replant any vegetation which has rapidly expanded in the past few months.

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