Going on holiday - A few Dos and Don'ts

Nothing too technical here, just a few basic common sense suggestions.

If your neighbour or friend is good enough to look after your pond whilst you are away, do not expect them to have the same level of knowledge about ponds as yourself. Do put each day's feed in a clearly marked (Mon, tue, wed etc.) receptacle such as a plastic bag or tub. Explain to them that this is the correct amount of food your fish expect and they should not be tempted to alter the measures or "top-it-up". Do make sure that any pre-filters, are cleaned, vortex units are purged and sediment chambers are emptied before you go away. Do Not leave this to the last second, just before you go, do it a day or so before, just in case!

Do not medicate your system for at least seven days before your departure as it can set up chemical, oxygen and/or bacterial imbalances in your filters etc.

If you treat for blanket weed or algae Do allow a minimum of 14 days before your departure as any dead or decaying algae or blanket weed MUST be removed from the system. Dead and rotting material can block fillters, pipes, drains etc. and also dramatically reduce oxygen levels in the water. Whenever possible Do leave a contact telephone number so you can be reached in the event of any problems with your pond or fish. If this is not possible leave them the telephone number of an aquatic outlet you can trust.

Do make sure there is nothing in the pond that is likely to block your system such as:

• Frog spawn
• Snails
• Duck weed
• Leaves
• Litter

It is always a good idea to regularly use a test kit to check the condition of your pond water. This will help you to discover any impending problems before they catch you out.

If you have some useful hints and tips you feel would be useful to others please email them to us at: tips@kockneykoi.co.uk.