Page 19 - AFD Pond Owners Handbook
P. 19

Pump Electrical Set-up
 TOP 10 METHODS TO     and Maintenance
 BALANCE YOUR ECOSYSTEM  Electrical
            Please read the following guidelines
 Aquascape Beneficial Bacteria:   Cover the water surface of the pond   for  proper  pump  installation  and
 1        performance. Failure to follow these
 Contains bacteria and enzymes that   by planting water lilies. Lily pads
 are specifically blended to be   float on the top of the pond,    guidelines  may  void  the  pump’s
 effective at reducing sludge,   shading the water.   liability warranty.
 uneaten fish food, fish waste, and          It is required that a ground fault
 excess nutrients that cause poor   5  Physical Removal: Physically remove   circuit  interrupter  (GFCI)  be
 water quality and clarity. Blended   clumps of string algae if it begins to   installed for the water feature by
 and tested to produce maximum   overtake the pond. Pull or cut away   a qualified electrician.
 results in ornamental ponds.   the algae where it is attached. Think        It  is  recommended  that  a
 of it as “weeding the pond.”   dedicated  outlet  be  provided  for
 ™
 ™
 2  Aquascape EcoBlast : EcoBlast     the water feature.
 is Aquascape’s #1 treatment for   6  Koi: Adding koi over 10 inches in        Please have the electrician refer to
 breaking down debris. It is   length will greatly reduce string   the pump’s electrical specifications
 fast-acting and works on contact.    algae. The koi, if not overfed, will   for the proper electrical operating
 It is not temperature sensitive    graze on the string algae in the   range  of  the  pump.  The  pump
 and can be used during cold   pond. Only feed the fish what they   will  need  to  be  run  within  these
 temperatures. Safe for fish.   can consume within a few minutes.   electrical  parameters  to  ensure
 Fish food that is not eaten by fish   proper  pump  performance  and
 Aquascape S.A.B. : This is formulated   will decompose in the pond and   best possible lifespan.
 ™
 3  to help reduce pond maintenance and   increase nutrient levels.        Electrical  testing  should  also   voltage  and  amperage  supplying
 promote the growth of beneficial   be  completed  under  full  load  at   the pump may be affected, causing
 bacteria and enzymes. S.A.B.    7  Fix Leaks: Tap water can have    the  outlet.  Make  sure  all  other   performance  problems  with  the
 ™
 will assist in the breakdown and   an abundance of nutrients in it.   electrical  devices  that  will  be   pump, and possibly reducing the
 reduction of debris in the stream,   Continually adding large quantities   in used in and around the water   pump’s lifespan.
 waterfalls, and pond.   of tap water to compensate for a   feature  are  plugged  in  and  in
 leak can actually promote algae   operation during full load testing  Maintenance
 your fish, you may need to use a UV   4  Plants: Since plants directly   growth. Fix leaks when they are   phase.  The pump should still fall   Proper maintenance of the water
 filter in order to clear up your water.   compete with algae for nutrients   discovered.  within the minimum and maximum   feature  will  also  ensure  the  best
 A  UV  sterilizer  kills  a  lot  of  things   and sunlight, they are probably the   voltage and ideal amperage range   p    e l b i s s o  s e f i l  p a    n    f o  h t    e  p u m      . p
 –  parasites,  beneficial  bacteria,   most important addition to your   8  Control Run-Off: Never use lawn   during full load testing.  Please  make  sure  to  consider
 insects, and most other microscopic   pond. Add a wide variety of plants    fertilizer or insecticides on trees        Hardwiring   the   pumps   is   the following:
 organisms living in the water.   to your pond. This not only creates    around your pond or on areas of   not   recommended   due   to       Do not allow the filters to become
 However,  the  UV  filter  is  totally   a natural look, but also will help   your property that will drain toward   complications   caused   when   e g g o l c  d   h t i w   d  e  a   s i r b  n  e s   d  i d  m e      . t n  Winter Care
 ineffective  when  it  comes  to  string   reduce the algae in different    your pond. Lawn fertilizer and   servicing or replacing the pump.    Conduct  regular  cleaning  and   If you shut your pond down during
 algae  and  may  even  inadvertently   areas of your pond.  insecticides will cause large algae        Please   have   the   qualified   seasonal  maintenance  according   the  winter  season  we  recommend
 promote an increasingly larger string   blooms, as well as severely threaten   electrician  contact  the  water   to your owner’s manual.  removing  the  pump  from  the  filter
 algae bloom.   Place water hyacinth and water lettuce   the aquatic life inside your pond.  feature  installer  or  place  of       Keep  water  flowing  freely  to  the   and  storing  in  a  bucket  of  water  in
 in your BIOFALLS  Filter. These floating   purchase  with  any  questions   pump  by  routinely  cleaning  the   a  frost  free  location.  The  water  will
 ®
 plants reproduce rapidly, using up   Remove Debris: Keep your pond free
 The Natural Way  9  of debris. Don’t let the skimmer   related  to  the  pumps  electrical   skimmer  debris  net  and  filter   help  maintain  the  life  of  the  seals
 Mother  Nature’s  prescription  for   enormous amounts of nutrients. A stick   debris net overfill with leaves.   requirements. Improperly installed   mat.  Be  sure  to  maintain  proper   on the pump while in storage. Please
 algae control is simple – make sure   placed across the front of the   Decaying debris in the skimmer will   and/or faulty electrical causing the   w  h t   n i   l e v e l   r e t a    e  w      . e r u t a e f   r e t a  note  that  the  pump,  depending  on
 ®
 you  have  a  balanced  ecosystem!   BIOFALLS  Filter will prevent the plants   contribute to unwanted nutrients.  pump to fail will void the pump’s    Avoid  allowing  the  pump  to  run   how long it has been out of operation
 Many  pond  problems  are  symptoms   from flowing over the front of the   2 year limited liability warranty.  dry  or  operate  in  low  water  level   over the winter may need to be “kick-
 of  imbalances.  There  are  several   waterfalls and into the pond.  Have Patience: It takes time for    situations.  started.” To test, plug the pump into
 products  that  can  help  keep  your   Plenty of bog and marginal plants   10  the bacteria to establish itself and   Extension Cord        Inspect and remove large debris,   the electrical outlet prior to installing
                                                                         the  pump  back  in  the  skimmer  and
                                            such  as  mulch,  sticks,  small
 pond in balance, in case it needs a
             Extension  cords  should  only  be
 Maintenance  little boost. We like to refer to them   such as cattails and iris take up large   benefit to your pond. In general, a        used to test the pump in the new   pebbles,  etc  from  the  bottom  of   visually inspect if the pump’s impeller   Maintenance


 colonize to the point of being a
 should be added to the pond. Plants
                                                                         is spinning. If the pump’s impeller does
 as complements to Mother Nature.
             water feature.
                                            the  Skimmer,  Snorkel   Vault,  or
                                                              ™
 new pond can take anywhere from
 quantities of nutrients. They are hardy
             Using an extension cord, especially
                                                                         not start spinning on its own unplug
                                            sump basin in order to prevent the
 two to six weeks for the bacteria
 and will be back each spring to help
             one over 25 feet long, may cause
 population to reach this point.
 you balance your pond.
                                                                         similar device to assist the impeller.
             irregular power to the pump. The   pump from becoming clogged and   the pump and use a screw driver or
                                            possibly damaged.
 18  The Pond Owner’s Handbook  www.afdpondsnj.com  www.afdpondsnj.com                         The Pond Owner’s Handbook  19
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