1-800-381-7179  
FREE SHIPPING and LOW PRICES
Email Email Signup
0
items
Cart Go to Shopping Cart
SHOP NOW
Pet Meds & Vaccines »
Flea & Tick »
Heartworm & Wormers »
Supplements »
Healthcare »
OUR BRAND »
SALE »
Clearance »
Navigate to:   HomeArticlesPondsFall & Winter Pond CareOptimize Pond Filter Performance

Free Shipping on orders over $49

Customer Service
HELP DESK
1-800-381-7179


Optimize Pond Filter Performance


Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff
During spring and summer, a skimmer filter does an excellent job of removing floating debris before it settles to the bottom. However, during autumn, when the volume of debris (namely
leaves) increases, the skimmer filter is often taxed to its limit and requires the pond owner to actively remove the excess leaves.

WE RECOMMEND:
Pond Netting - Virtually invisible multi-purpose nets catch leaves before they get in your pond.
Pond Vacuums - Vacuum devices remove debris and algae from pond water and tackle any pond job quickly and efficiently.
Microbe-Lift Autumn/Winter Prep - Specially formulated to accelerate the decomposition of organic material during the cooler autumn and winter months.
Black Magic Carbon - Aggressively removes colors, organic pollutants, toxic compounds, and medications that cause water discoloration and foul odors.
Small or manageable numbers of leaves can be removed using pond rakes and skimmer nets. This not only alleviates the demand placed on the skimmer filter, but manual removal of the leaves also prevents the skimmer filter from getting clogged and maintains proper water movement vital for the health of the pond.

Cover Your Pond with Nets
Many pond owners quickly realize that removing leaves can become a tedious and seemingly unending task, especially if there are several large trees on the property. The best way to maximize leaf-removing efforts is to prevent leaves from falling into the pond in the first place. Pond netting, draped over the entire pond, provides a protective screen that keeps the majority of leaf litter and debris out of the pond. Simply unfasten the pond netting and remove fallen leaves in bulk. Repeat this process until all the leaves have dropped from the trees and the area around the pond is raked free of leaves.

Clean Out Decomposing Leaves
Once the immediate threat of falling leaves has passed, remove the few remaining leaves that may have slipped through the pond netting using a pond rake or net. Perform a small water change and use fresh chemical filter media, such as activated carbon, to remove odors and discoloration. A pond vacuum is excellent for removing smaller organic debris that may have settled between rocks. Also, condition the pond with bacterial additives specifically formulated to work in cooler water temperatures. The beneficial bacteria will help process organic materials more efficiently and eliminate unpleasant odors.

TOP VIEWED ARTICLES
Fall & Winter Feeding Tips 
Winter Pond FAQs 
Cold Weather Pond Care 
PRODUCTS RELATED TO:
Fall & Winter Pond Care
PondBuilder Inc. Cascade Falls
PondBuilder Inc. Cascade Falls
As low as $79.99
TetraPond Pond Sticks
TetraPond Pond Sticks
As low as $14.29
Pondmaster Pro Biological Filter Falls
Pondmaster Pro Biological Filter Falls
As low as $134.99
Click here for a more printer-friendly version of this article.  
Click here for a pdf version of this article.  

 

 
 
SHOP NOW
Need Help? Click here »
Call Us: 800-381-7179 »
Email Us »
Live Help »
Shipping »
Catalog Quick Order »
DOG
CAT
PET PHARMACY
FISH
Pond
Bird
Wild Bird
Small Pet
Ferret
Reptile
Horse
ORDERING INFO
Shipping Rates & Info
Track Your Order
Auto Delivery Service
Gift Certificates
Easy Buy Bundles

FEATURES
Article Library | Video Library
Puppy Center | Kitten Center
Kid's Learning Center
Business Partner Program
Paws for a Cause Program

EMAIL
New Puppy Email Series
Email Reminder Service
Sale Email Alerts
Manage Email Subscriptions
Wish List

SEARCH for Products or Articles:      POPULAR SEARCHES »
Free Catalog FREE CATALOGS
Request one of our eight pet supply catalogs here
FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS
Sign up for pet care tips & secret sale alerts!
ABOUT US
Our History
Who We Are
Get to Know Us
Our Name Brand
Awards & Honors
MORE INFO
Visit Our Retail Store
Tell a Friend About Us
Employment
Link to Us
Site Map
BillMeLater PayPal Ways to pay

LiveAquaria.com PetEducation.com Other Sites
Drs. Foster & Smith BBB Business Review VETERINARY-VERIFIED INTERNET PHARMACY PRACTICE SITES(CM) Online Veterinary Pharmacy Services Drs. Foster and Smith has earned Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites(CM) (Vet-VIPPS(CM)) accreditation through the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®). bizrate Customer Certified Site - DrsFosterSmith.com Reviews at Bizrate BizRate Circle of Excellence Award McAfee Secure sites help keep you safe from identity theft, credit card fraud, spyware, spam, viruses and online scams

Copyright © 1997-2013, Foster and Smith, Inc. - 2253 Air Park Road, P.O. Box 100 Rhinelander, Wisconsin 54501 - All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy