That is a nice pond. Love the umbrella palm & horsetail.

Sorry, I'm a noob, too .... so I'll leave the rest for those that have been doing it longer than me.

Hi mmarie! Welcome to ponding! That is a lovely pond. And such a cute baby! You're one lucky girl.

If the filter has filter media in it you could rinse that out once in a while, either with pond water or with well water (not with chlorinated town water). If it has a settling chamber with a drain, you can drain what's collected in the bottom. You'll have a good idea pretty soon of how often.

For the filter media, get a bucket of pond water and dunk the media up and down until most of the stuff has washed off. That's all you do. With well water, same method or gently spray with the hose. A healthy pond has a population of beneficial bacteria, so it should never be cleaned in a way that would totally remove them or kill them off. The string algae are usually a sign of a healthy pond, and removing them with something like a toilet brush is a good way to keep up with them. The other algae blobs can be removed with a pool skimmer or a net. We had a lot of that the first spring, but not anymore - I don't know why!

When you get a chance, supervising the little pond explorers or something, take a notepad out with you and write down names and numbers from filters and pumps, and some info about where they're situated. The approx. size is helpful too, what and how many plants and/or fish, and what is on the bottom (rocks?). It will be easier for us forum friends to give advice (and opinions) when we know those things!

You can try splitting one waterlily, it looks like you have enough of them to experiment a little...
- If you have plenty of lilies, repot a section in the same pot; if you want more lilies, divide and repot in multiple pots. When mine need to be divided I get a few cheap dishpans from the grocery store for extra pots.
- Lift a lily pot out of the pond, take it to a shadowy spot, and pop it out of the pot. The leaf stems and roots are brittle, so handle carefully, but overal they're sturdy plants, so don't agonize over it if bits come off. Find the ends of the rootstock that have the best growth on them, break those off - roots, leaves, and all - and repot. Throw away the middle.
- For soil you can go to the pond supply garden store for aquatic soil (clean clay bits), or use clean unscented cheap clay kitty litter, or dig some clean clay out of the yard. Plant the root so the growing points are on top of the soil, add a few inches of course sand, and if you have fish, a good layer of stones. Push some fertilizer tablets or tomato fertilizer stakes deeply in between the roots.
- Fill with water outside the pond and let it overflow some - this removes most of the loose clay particles and other stuff that will cloud up the pond.
- Sink the pot/pots back into the pond. Done!

Have fun and keep that camera handy!

:) Mary

That pond is gorgeous. The yard is too. Lucky you.

What you think are weeds may be nice plants. Post pics before pulling them up, the Parrot's Feather in the photo with your baby isn't a weed.
Actual weeds in a pond are rare other than string algae. Don't obsess about it, as a string algae pond usually has clear water.

If the lilies are healthy and blooming just pick off the dead blooms and pads. They don't have to be divided every year unless you want to increase them or they stop blooming or the pads are way up in the air in a hump instead of flat on the water.

Are there fish?

Thank you guys so much for all your input and compliments so far(I can't take any credit though cause I didn't build it but I will be maintaining and adding to it :)....I'm looking forward to getting all the answers and advice and learning how to take care of my pond. Ok I'm going to post some pics and answer some questions and ask some more LOL and hopefully the specifics will help with me knowing what to do from here.....

As for my filter.....I don't know where it is or what it looks like?? I took pictures of the following (close ups too) so maybe you can tell me what I am looking at (they may both be pumps??) Both of these are located in trap doors underneath my deck the pond starts up at the top and has a stream and fall that runs into the main part and Iknow there is a pump of some sort in the top area:
{{gwi:204425}}

{{gwi:204426}}

DETAILS (as I know them):
3 fish I think they are goldfish not koi
4 pots of lillies (dark pink,light pink, purple and yellow) at the bottom
The bottom is rocks
The water is very clear and the previous owner said it always is
I have yet to treat it with anything cause I'm scared to do so ie:bacteria (she left me a bottle) clarifier?, sludge remover(beckett crystal pond sludge remover)etc.

I am currently pulling out dead/yellow lilly pads and spent or dead flower (so I don't need to split em just keep them clean right) There are already sooo many I havent taken out the yellow ones here but you get the idea: (this was today) Also I have a small confession to make.....I DONT like getting in to do this. the little slugs that stick on your legs afterwards kinda freak me out a bit. There must be a better/easier way than bending over the sides...umm cause I have almost fallen in. :)

{{gwi:204427}}

I'm starting to learn in the pond what is weeds and what isn't but it is mostly around the pond that I know there are weeds and I don't want to let the DH go crazy with the weedeater cause I know I will have nothing left after that But, I've tried pulling by hand (as you can see to the right here) and It is exhausting. So these are weeds right (the grassy looking stuff):
{{gwi:204428}}

{{gwi:204429}}

And how often do you guys have to put water in your pond....I feel like I'm doing it about once a week or so. (i am in texas so it's HOT but is that pretty normal?) and it never fails....I put water in and it rains the same day! UGH!

Okay that is enough questions for now I'm going to drive you guys nuts on my first day.

Here is two for you to enjoy! (my girls are 1 and 3) and NOT camera shy LOL and the little one thinks she's striking a pose.

{{gwi:204430}}

{{gwi:204431}}

mmariemk,

Suggestion:

Go to the library, look up "The Pond Doctor" by Helen Nash. If you can not secure that for leading, then a "sunset" book on ponds/water gardens. Read up, learn some basic ponding techniques/tricks, and soon you will get the feel for your pond.

Then walk around, note your equipment and look up on the internet info on their features (+ -). You gain a better understanding of what that stuff can do and what it can't.
It may come a time when the previous owner comes by from their busy life and you actually just have coffee; you're that good.

Relax and enjoy; don't over love (overkill) your pond. It's my first year at this too. I have done the reactionary dance and have paid for my jumping too soon, too hard. Now I try to be proactive - see what is coming. Just learn what you can and live.
{{gwi:191161}}
LP

Here is a link that might be useful: The Pond Doctor

Good thinking!! YOU DEFINITELY DON'T (WANT) HUBBY TO GET AROUND YOUR POND WITH A WEED EATER. BIGGGGGGGGGGGGG MISTAKE. Glenda

I can't tell from your pics if those are weeds or not. The second one sort of looks like Bermuda grass which would be a weed in that area.

Those slug things are leeches. LOL There are tools you can buy or make to remove spent lily pads and flowers.

Relax and enjoy the pond. It is lovely.

Sounds like those "slugs" might be leeches. I wouldn't want them on me either. I ordered a device that has a handle and comes with 2 different attachments. One is a little scissor type thing to cut the lily stems off with and you can change the scissor part to a type of pliers or pincer to grasp things with from the pond. I also found these same tools at Petsmart. They work well on the lilies, but don't cut tough stems like Pickerel, Umbrella Palm and such. They aren't very expensive, less than $20.00. Glenda

I was thinking the same thing about those "slugs" Glenda. I suggest wearing gloves when you work in the pond, and it may not be a good idea for your little helpers to go wading in the pond, cute as it may be. Ponds can be full of bacteria and waterborn parasites. Just a suggestion!

Your pond is really very beautiful!!! Funny, that it looks right now, the way I'm intentionally trying to get my pond to look. I like the weeds. :D Order and cleanliness are nice and all, but I like my pond to have a very natural appearance - given it's setting mostly. But it's just what I like.
I don't really have anything to add to what the others have said, I don't know beans about pond equipment. I just stuck a little pump wrapped in foam in mine. Good luck though, and congrats on your new pond! These people here are very helpful and I'm sure you'll get the hang of it soon!

I am surprised someone hasn't commented on your baby playing in the water. Don't let them do this!
Chance of electric shock. Better to be safe. I shut down my pump when I get into the pond per this forum!

I just didn't get to it yet!! I don't even let my dog lay in the water that I drain out of the pond after he got some kind of fungus and I had to take him to the vet twice. If I ever get into the pond for anything, I always take a hot shower immediately after. And if I had any kind of cut or nick I would not get in it at all. Glenda

I never get in my ponds. I have rubber gloves with a sleeve that go all the way to my shoulder.

I always go in my pond. As soon as the water is warm enough, I'm wading around. I only wear my fake Tevas so I won't slip and go completely under, unless it's high summer. Then I don't care.
- I love the feel of my goldfish nibbling on my legs.
- The leeches are most likely vegetarians.
- I have my electrical equipment on GFI's.
- My pond is overpopulated with ridiculously healthy fish, and if they don't get sick, I won't either.
- My bacteria in my pond are good ones!
- And the Good Lord provided me with an immune system!

Come on! Water is for kids to play in. And grownups too.

:) Mary

mmarie, where in TX are you? There are a lot of clubs around here & I bet there is one you could join. Your pump looks a lot like ours, but that is dh's dept so I can't advise. If you are close to me, I'd be willing to help or maybe tell you where to turn for help.

I can't believe the seller put that much work into the pond & then didn't have time to tell you what to do. It's a lovely pond.

I get in my pond every spring to clean it out. I wear those water shoes that I find on clearance every year around august for a buck. Its a really cool feeling to be in there - the fish swimming around - while I scoop out the leaves and muck with my gloved hands (those latex medical gloves - I don't know why I bother - my manicure still gets ruined!). Its dirty - but what great fun on a hot spring day. Very zen. After my initial clean, I scoop out muck or leaves daily from the low spots with a fine fish net.

Thank you mary! A little common sense! I'm in and out of mine for maintanence, (however I do unplug my pump). Kids have been swimming in far worse for eons. Unless you have immune system issues, a bit of pond water won't hurt - take a shower!

S

OK!!! You guys were freaking me out a bit....I just figured since the pond was very very clear I didn't mind if they put their feet in at the very top where the water is moving. I wouldn't let them drink it or anything ofcourse. I never thought of "bad could hurt us bacteria" I just figured it looks cleaner than most lakes around here and we'd be fine. Ofcourse my oldest fell in (she could touch the bottom) and I scooped her right out but she did get some pond water in her mouth. I imagine it tasted pretty yucky cause she kept gagging and spitting it out. We do have pretty great immune systems though and I read a book by jordin rubin a couple months ago that said it is important for children and aldults to play in the dirt and get germy....it is good for the immune system.

As for electric shock....hmm never thought about that one. all the plugged in equipment is dry and on the deck? Should I worry about that? The previous owner sounded like she got in all the time to clean never mentioned turning the pumps off....and told me don't worry if when I clean it I get those wormys on me that they werent leeches?? HMMM! I wonder. I'll have to take a pic next time I'm out there.

My fish too seem pretty healthy...I even saw 3 babies in there yesterday...call me stupid but I didn't know how they got in there. Fish DO IT?LOL

I'm in pflugerville tx (right outside of austin) (marti8a) where are you?

Yeah, fish do it. But they don't really (Do It) do it. You will probably be surprised to find out how they really do it. Glenda

Bummer, I'm in the Dallas area.

I get in my pond all the time & have never gotten any kind of infection. If your pump is grounded you shouldn't get any shock either.

Fish spawn, they don't "do it" they don't have the right equipment. However, goldfish are extremely prolific. You'll soon wish they would stop.

How would you get rid of leeches? I hope you I don't get them.

As for the going in, people swim in lakes & such all the time With no harm ... I don't see much of a difference.

I get in my pond also. I just was told by this forum to unplug the pump before I get in!!!!!
So now I do. So do all you get in with the pump running?