11

maintaining a clean pond. The main function of the filter is to trap the larger debris in the pond such as fish feces, plant leaves, and clumps of algae, sometimes called string algae. I developed a homemade pond filter for our 3000-gallon pond a couple of years ago that does a fantastic job of cleaning out the big stuff. I have some pictures on my Website that will give you a good idea of the “before and after” effects of this filter. You will find that there are quite a number of pond filters on the market today, some of them good and some not so good. From my experience, I really don’t think you will need one of the super duper gigantic bio-filters.

4. A ultra-violet light. A UV light, as they are usually called, is the second part of the solution for a clean pond. And you would find without one, your pond water would resemble pea soup, green and thick. The way the simple system works is this: The water pump pumps the water through the UV light. As the water passes over the light, it kills the algae, and then as the algae die they clump together, and then the filter collects the dead algae. With the pump, the UV light, and the filter all working together, the result will be nice clear water.

5. Pond Plants. Pond plants bring several benefits to your pond. Besides the obvious fact that they add to the overall beauty, they also help to oxygenate the water. This provides more oxygen in the water for your fish, if you have any, and also helps to control the growth of algae. Plants such as Water Hyacinths provide shade to help keep the water temperature down on hot days and also make good little natural platforms for the frogs and toads to sit on.

That briefly covers the main five items for success. Naturally you are going to add your own accessories and decorative effects in order to put your individual touch on your pond, but the items I just listed are absolute necessities.