What do you need to know when you have problems with your pond?

We show you how to recognize problems with your pond and give clear step-by-step solutions for these problems.

Thread algaeThread algae
floating algae pond removalFloat algae
floating algaeAlgae
Clear pond with oxygen plantsClear the pond
Pond plants do not growPond plants do not grow
Heron in your garden by the pondHeron Dispelling

- 5 tips from Simon on pond problems -

1. Oxygen plants against algae

It's what many pond owners fear: green water or green strands in the water. In either case, you're dealing with algae. Fighting it is possible, but prevention would be better. Simon swears by placing an ample amount of oxygen plants in your pond. Especially in the less deep places (zones) where it warms up faster, it is good to plant them. This is because oxygen plants consume all the food (CO2) present, leaving nothing for algae. In return, the plants release oxygen to the water and help keep your pond clear.

2. Keep out heron? Help your fish

 

Very nice that all kinds of animals are flocking to your pond, just what you had in mind. Except for that greedy heron. Keeping out a heron is a challenge; it's easier to give your fish some help. Place a piece of PVC pipe that your fish can fit into at the bottom of the pond, and they will disappear into it as soon as the heron appears at the water's edge. Another good idea: grow water lilies in your pond. The fish - and frogs - can then hide nicely under the leaves of the lily.

3. No clear water in the pond


It can happen that the water in your pond is no longer clear. There are several possible causes that lead to this. One is that the water does not contain enough nutrients. The water is too acidic and there is little CO2 present. You can fix this very well by adding new oxygen plants to the pond and/or by boosting pond bacteria. You can try one of two first, or both at the same time. After this, be patient because it will take several days to weeks before you see results.

4. Choose a mix of pond plants


Anyone building a pond can choose from many different plant species. They can be divided into groups: oxygen plants, marsh plants, aquatic plants, floating plants and water lilies. Simon advises every new and existing pond owner to make a nice mix of all these pond plants. It is precisely the diversity that will allow your pond to keep itself in biological balance. Of course, within each category you choose the species you like, especially in water and marsh plants there is plenty of choice. If you choose too many plants of one species or miss another - for example, many oxygen plants but no marsh plants - this can cause your pond to fail to find the right balance.

5. Poorly growing pond plants


It's a common problem in new ponds in particular: the aquatic plants don't want to grow properly. Simon's motto? Be patient. Especially when a pond has just been constructed, it is working hard to find a good balance. The growth of pond plants is related to this. However, especially with an existing pond, you can go through this checklist: pond bacteria have been added, the plants are at the right depth (or possibly slightly shallower), there is sufficient light, and the pond plant clay has been applied. If you've done all this, your pond plants will soon start growing again.

Solutions for all types of pond challenges

Learn all about the different types of problems you may encounter and how to solve them in the most natural way.

Frequently asked questions about pond problems

Het kan voorkomen dat het water van je vijver steeds groener van kleur wordt. Hoogstwaarschijnlijk heb je last van <a href=”https://www.vanderveldewaterplanten.nl/zweefalgen/”>zweefalgen</a>. Om het water weer helder te maken, kun je drie dingen doen:</p>
<ol>
<li>Plaats meer zuurstofplanten in het water. Ze zuiveren het water door zuurstof af te geven en voedingsstoffen op te nemen.</li>
<li>Zorg voor meer waterplanten in je vijver zoals snoekkruid of gele lis. Ze geven CO<sub>2</sub> af aan het water, een belangrijke voedingsstof voor zuurstofplanten.</li>
<li>Voeg extra mineralen toe in de vorm van vijverplantenklei. Ook mineralen vormen een voedingsstof voor zuurstofplantjes.</li>
</ol>
<p>

Did the pond water become cloudy because there was no biological balance? When you've added new oxygen plants (and possibly other pond plants) and boosted the water with an extra dose of pond bacteria, it can take a few days to several weeks for the water to become clear again. After all, the plants and bacteria need time to do their work.

Een kleine vijver houd je helder op dezelfde manier als bij andere vijversoorten: je kunt niet genoeg vijverplanten hebben staan. Kies een mooie samenstelling van zuurstofplanten, moerasplanten, waterplanten en waterlelies plus een bodem van vijversubstraat en je helpt je kleine vijvertje al een heel eind. Geschikte planten voor een kleine vijver zijn gele lis, een kleine waterlelie en hoornblad. Simon stelde <a href=”https://www.vanderveldewaterplanten.nl/assortiment/vijverplanten-pakketten/”>speciale plantenpakketten</a> samen voor zowel kleine als grote vijvers.

Zodra het vijverwater steeds groener wordt, heb je last van zweefalgen die de kop op hebben gestoken. Grijp zo snel mogelijk in, want als je te lang wacht zijn je vijverplanten niet meer te redden. <a href=”https://www.vanderveldewaterplanten.nl/zweefalgen/”>Lees verder wat je kunt doen tegen zweefalgen</a>.

Leaking pond

Leaking pond

Problem:

We lined our pond with foil years back when it was constructed, but we think it is slowly draining. How can I detect the leak?

Solution:

This is an annoying problem. The first thing to do is to locate the leak.

  1. If the water level remains at a lower but the same level, the hole in the wall will sit above the current water level. This is beneficial. Refill the pond by several inches and now look along the pond edge to see if the leak can be found. You do this, for example, with a colored liquid like milk, so you can see where the water flows, so to speak; this will be at the leak. You stick the leak just like an air mattress using a repair kit available at the store.
  2. If the hole is in the bottom then the pond will drain equally to completely. Here you will have to wait for the leak to be found. If the pond is almost empty, you can try the same tactic with the milk again in the little bit of water left.
  3. Finally, in older ponds, it is possible that the liner has worn out and water is slowly seeping out. This is more common in ponds with PVC pond liner, because it has a shorter lifespan than rubber liner; about 5 to 10 years versus at least 30 years. In this case, the entire pond will have to be drained and re-lined. Check out the step-by-step plan for (re)lining a pond.

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