This post is a little different from most. Instead of advice for a wide audience, it is advice for one client (they know who they are). However, the general guidance should be helpful to anyone who has a well executed water feature.
Maintaining Your Water Feature:
Your water feature consists of a long stream, with multiple outlets, and a pond. The shell is gunite (shotcrete) that has been decorated with boulders and mortar to create a dynamic water feature. Filtration is built into the feature and all the major components are over engineered so that maintenance will be as minimal as possible. Here are the key things to know:
Filtration.
Your pond makes use of the bio-filtration. This means that water quality is sustained by good bacteria that colonizes in the stream and pond. The primary element is the bottom filter, where water is drawn through aggregate at the bottom of the pond. Most likely this element will stay clear of sludge and debris as it does its job. However, in the event that it seems to silting in we can add good bacteria to help clear it. If needed, the pond can be drained and the bottom filter can be cleaned by hosing the aggregate down while pumping the dirty water away.
There is also bio-filtration built into the stream in the form of planting pockets. Over time you will see some of the grasses grow roots that extend out into the water. This is a good thing.
The pond has a skimmer that performs both mechanical and bio-filtration. It pulls in surface debris and also has brushes and filter pads. The brushes and filter pads are simply a home for good bacteria. There is no need to clear sludge from them unless it is inhibiting the flow of water to the pump. The skimmer net should be emptied every 6-8 in spring, summer, and winter. Check it weekly in the fall.
In the pump house we have installed a Zapp UV Clarifier. Water slowly travels past a UV bulb in the device, where the UV light destroys bacteria and algae. Algae is dormant in the winter, so the UV clarifier can be unplugged. Turn it on in early April and off by the middle of October. When the clarifier is turned on in the spring ensure the bulb has not gone bad. If it has, refer to the manual and replace the bulb. One replacement bulb is already on site for you.
What if algae develops in the pond? Small amounts of algae, especially in the streams and on rocks on the pond, should be expected. This is not necessarily a bad thing. However, if the water begins to turn green or if large amounts of string algae are present we have a problem. An excess of algae usually means the water features system is out of balance: the water is too warm, water lacks oxygen, water has too much organic material in it, good bacteria is missing, etc. Because there are so many factors, please contact us if you get an algae bloom.
Pumps.
You have two Sequence Artisian Pro 2 pumps, located in the pump house. Both carry a three year warranty from the manufacturer. These pumps should operate with little fuss for many years. They are continuous duty pumps, meaning they do not need to be shut off unless you are going to service them.
Each pump has an integrated filter basket. This should be cleaned out in the fall. Other than this yearly cleaning the pumps do not require any maintenance.
Key Things To Remember (TL;DR)
Clean the skimmer weekly in the fall, less often the rest of the year.
Clean the pump baskets in the fall, and check periodically the rest of the year.
Protect the skimmer from freezing during stretches where temps stay below freezing.
Turn the UV clarifier off in the fall and on in the spring. Expect to swap the bulb out every couple years.
Contact us anytime you have a question or concern.
Cleaning.
As mentioned above the skimmer and pump baskets should periodically be cleaned. During fall there may be leaves that fall into the pond and then evade the skimmer. These can be scooped out with a pond cleaning net. The streams can be hose down, pushing silt and debris into the pond. If they are not too dirty the pond filtration should take care of it.
Every couple of years the pond may get dirty enough that it should be drained and cleaned. This will probably take parts of two days and a crew with pond cleaning pumps. We can do this for you or refer you to someone else.
Fish.
Your feature was not specifically designed for fish, but can easily handle a small population. Keep in mind that fish add significantly to the organic load- potentially increasing algae. They also limit what you can treat the pond with and make cleaning more difficult.
Plants.
A number of plants are already installed in the water feature. Feel free to add bog plants, grasses, and water plants to the stream, pond, and outlet bowl. A ledge in the pond is specifically built for water lilies. Hughes Water Gardens is my favorite place for buying bog and water plants.
Water Flow.
There are ball valves in the pump house and at some of the outlets that enable the flow of water to be adjusted. These are all currently set to maximize the beauty of the feature and minimize splash. If you ever feel that more adjustment should be done please let us know.
Cracks & Leaks.
The gunite shell should not develop cracks for decades. The mortar that coats it will not last as long. Keep in mind that the mortar is purely decorative and is not what keeps the water in the water feature. In the years ahead we will likely need to refresh the mortar in some areas.
It is expected that you will lose water, mostly to to evaporation and splash, especially during the summer months. For this reason we have installed a valve that adds water to the pond when it is needed. This valve is located near the skimmer. These valves can become stuck open, flooding the pond. Fixing them is simple, just give us a call if the pond is overfilled.
What if you are losing too much water? It is likely that the plumbing is to blame. Whatever the case, give us a call so we can come and trouble shoot it.
Freezing.
Your pond is not susceptible to freezing, partly because it has a gunite shell and partly because our winters are mild. The pumps are protected and actually generate warmth. The most vulnerable element is the skimmer. If water freezes hard in the skimmer it can expand and crack the skimmer.
So what if we are going to have a string of days that do not get above freezing? Put the provided pond heater in the skimmer to keep water from freezing in it. Splash will be freezing on the paths that cross the stream, so you may choose to just shut the pond down. If you do, go ahead and throw a moving blanket over the pumps to protect them. Everything else should be fine!
Questions about your water feature?
Please reach out to us anytime you have a question or concern. Ben and Joe will be happy to help!