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How to maintain and cultivatea garden pond

Water careFood quality

Algae-free biotopesHealthy fish

+extra

tipsfor

theKoi

pond

+extra

tipsfor

theKoi

pond


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1 Advice forregular pond maintenance

1.1 How to improve water

parameters that are unsuitable

for fish and plants ........................ 4

1.2 How to avoid

annoying algae growth............... 4

1.3 How to re-stabilizepolluted water .............................. 5

1.4 For prevention: for a

healthy pond climate................... 5

2 Natural foodfor your pond fish ................... 6

3 What to do when algaestrikes the sera algae checklist............... 10

4 What to do forfish diseases ............................... 14

5 sera water informationHow do water parametersdevelop, and how to test the

water

5.1 What creates hard water? .......... 16

5.2 The development of acidic

and alkaline water ........................ 17

5.3 What if the bacterial breakdown

of pollutants is not effective

anymore? ....................................... 18

sera table of water values .......... 20

6 Filter systems............................. 21

7 Pond maintenancethroughout the seasons

Spring.............................................. 24

Summer .......................................... 27

Autumn........................................... 29

Winter ............................................. 31

8 How to keep Koi ....................... 32

Contents


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sera ensuresbiologically clean pond water

You just enjoy your little paradise

Clear and clean water is crucial for the liv-

ing conditions of animals and plants in andaround a garden pond. Water changes,

sunlight, rain and material that have

dropped into the pond (e.g., leaves) cause

changes in water conditions.

If natural pond regulation is insufficient for

buffering the changes, it will lead to strong

algae growth and harm the plants and fish.

sera has compiled some maintenanceadvice for helping you to enjoy the garden

pond throughout the year and preserve itas an attractive eye-catching element in

your yard.

With the sera range of products, youre

ready for pond care according to naturesrequirements!


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Tap and rain water contain substances

such as chlorine or copper, which are too

aggressive for pond fish. Water hardness

that is too high or too low (see page 16,

please) is also harmful. sera KOI PROTECTand sera pondmorena neutralize pollu-tants and provide optimal, appropriate liv-

ing conditions for fish. If the carbonate

hardness is below 5dKH it should be

increased to between 5 and 10dKH using

sera GH-KH plus to ensure safe bufferingof the pH value.

On page 16 you can find out

how to monitor the carbonatehardness.

Especially in summer, abundant nutrient

availability and strong sunlight make heavyalgae growth a real danger. Proper pond

water maintenance prevents algae forma-

tion. We recommend sera KOI PROTECT andsera crystal for conditioning your pondwater. With its protective colloids and the

Vitamin B Complex, sera KOI PROTECTensures water conditioning according to

the fishes requirements. sera crystalbinds water turbidity which makes it easy

to filter them out. When using sera crystal

please ensure a sufficiently high KH valueas to stabilize the pH value.

Using a sera UVC Pond Clarifier reliably pre-

vents the growth of annoying floatingalgae. Bound algae should regularly be

removed from the filter to prevent unnec-

essary water pollution by decomposition.

Thread and floating algae can be reliably

combated by sera algenstop*. The pondwater should be well aerated during the

treatment as the dying algae consume a

great deal of oxygen.

4

Youwillfindmoreinformationonhowtoavoidalgaegrowthinthechapter,Whattodowhenalgaestrikes,(seepage10).

1.1 How to improve water parametersthat are unsuitable for fish and plants

1.2 How to avoid annoying algae growth

1 Advice for regular pond maintenance

*Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.

*


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1.3 How to re-stabilize polluted water

1.4 For prevention: for a healthy pond climate

Water hygiene is very important. Avoid any

further water pollution. Feed only high

quality food such as sera KOI SPIRULINA.If the pH value is too high, stabilize and

lower it with sera pondmorena and long-term sera biopeat granulate.

The pond surface must be powerfully agi-

tated. This can be achieved with sera foun-tain- and pond filter pumps which are also

ideal for running decorative water foun-tains. You will find more information about

the sera pond filters in the sera guideHow to build a garden pond.

Control the fish stock

in the pond. Your fish

may have multiplied

considerably! Reduce

the stock if the pond

is over populated.

If acute toxic symp-

toms occur, carry out

a major partial water

change immediately.

While doing this, re-move as much sludge as possible. Con-

dition the fresh water with a double dose

of sera KOI PROTECT and sera pondmorena.

Advice for regular pond maintenance 1

The combined application of sera pond-morena and sera biopeat granulate pre-vents formation of unwanted algae and

many fish diseases, and ensures biological-

ly clean water. sera pondmorena is a humicacid concentrate and is therefore immedi-

ately effective. sera biopeat granulatereleases the humic acids slowly into the

water.

These are the advantages of this water care:

clean water

prevention of algae growth

enhanced healthy plant growth, andtherefore inhibited algae growth andbetter oxygen supply

prevention of fish fungal diseases

stabilization of the pH value


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Correctly feeding the fish is a pre-condition for keeping them success-fully. The nutritional requirementsare different, depending on spe-cies and age of the fish. The na-tural feeding habits must also beconsidered when choosing the food. seraprovides a wide range of foods for yourpond fish, including flake food and float-ing pellets for all pond fish as well as spe-cial foods such as the rapidly sinkinggranulates for the popular sturgeons andsterlets.

Food quality plays an important role onwater pollution by fish waste. Poor quality

or badly processed foods are only partly

digested by the fish. This leads to nutrient

deficiencies in the fish and greater water

pollution through its waste.

sera pond fish foods provide a healthy andvaried diet for your pond fish with plenty

of vitamins, minerals, trace elements and

herbs. sera pond fish foods also contain

large amounts of provitamin inositol,which aids digestion and therefore

inhibits additional water pollution.

All our ingredients are preserved through

careful manufacturing processes. Yourfish prove it sera foods taste great!

2 Natural food for your pond fish

sera KOI JUNIOR is a granulated food forfeeding young and growing Koi. This pre-

mium quality food sinks slowly, meeting

the nutritional requirements of young Koi,

who prefer to feed near the bottom. seraKOI JUNIOR is high in wheat germ, plusnatural carotene from the Spirulina algae.

The careful blend of ingredients and vita-

mins add to your Kois splendid colors and

healthy growth.

Feedingadvice:Feedsparinglyseveraltimesa day when p

ossible, buton

lyasmuchasthefishcanconsume within approx.

5minutes.


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Natural food for your pond fish 2

sera KOI SPIRULINAis a specialty granu-

lated food that con-

tains 20% Spirulina.

This helps ensure the

optimal development

of natural colors, clear

color separations, and

excellent condition ofyour magnificent Koi.

sera KOI SPIRULINA is alsorich in easy-to-digest wheat germ, crus-

taceans and herbal oils making it the ideal

choice for spring and autumn feeding.

sera KOI SPIRULINA is also perfect forenhancing brilliance in your valuable

Japanese Koi and fish with extraordi-

narily good inherited traits.

sera KOI COLOR is a nutritious, protein-richstick food for all larger pond fish, especial-

ly Koi. The colorful Koi need powerful

nutrition. sera KOI COLOR was developedto meet the nutritional requirements of

the Koi while naturally enhancing their

vibrant red coloring.

sera KOI ROYAL granulated food is a premi-um staple diet, rich in high-quality wheat

germ. Natural carotene

helps increase the splen-

did colors of the fish.

sera KOI ROYAL is ideal asa staple diet for all Koi

when the water tem-

perature is above 8C(46F).

sera granulated food for Koi isavailable in the following granule sizes:MINI 2 mm (sera KOI ROYAL only)MEDIUM 4 mmLARGE 6 mmThe granule sizeof sera KOI JUNIORis 2 mm


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sera mix royalis a select blend of

flakes, pellets, and gran-

ules for all pond fish. The

pellets and granules are

rich in wheat germ, fish

protein, tasty herbs, ad-ded vitamins, and natural

carotene from Spirulina

algae. Smaller fish can take

advantage of the same valuable nutrition

in our carefully processed flakes, made

from high quality grain products, insects,

and crustaceans.

8

2 Natural food for your pond fish

sera biogranulat is a low-in-fat floatinggranulated food, perfect for feeding as

a staple diet to all medium-sized and

large pond fish (6 cm / 2.5 in and up). To

meet the nutritional requirements of

the different pond fish, we recom-

mend feeding sera bio-flakes and sera biogranu-lat simultaneously. Theamount depends on the

stock level in the pond.

Low-in-fat sera bioflakes

provide a complete diet

for all small- and medium-

sized (up to approx. 8 cm

/ 3 in.) fish in your garden

pond.

sera goldy is a high quality, low-in-fat flakefood with natural minerals and added vita-

mins for all goldfish and other pond fish. It

is the ideal choice for helping the fish gain

strength in autumn and

spring or when recover-ing from an illness. In

the latter case, add

drops sera KOI MULTI-VITAMIN onto the foodbefore feeding the

fish.

All your pond fish can

eat our high quality Koi foods but yourKoi need it especially. Goldfish food is notprepared for the Kois special nutritionalrequirements.


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3 What to do when algae strikes the sera algae checklist

Algae belong to the natural food chain inwater. Many small organisms feed onthem, and we should intervene only if thealgae growth becomes overbearing. Here

we have compiled and explained the mostfrequent problems, as well as their causesand treatment methods:

The pond water is an opaque green color for months (algae bloom)

The pond water is heavily burdened and

polluted. Causes for this type of wa-

ter pollution are over-

feeding the fish andnot removing rot-

ting leaves and plant

parts. Remove the

causes and carry out a

partial water change.

Condition the fresh

water with sera KOIPROTECT and sera KOIBIOCLEAR.

We highly recommend using a sera UVCPond Clarifier to combat floating algae.

The sera UVC Pond Clarifier reliablydestroys annoying floating algae (green,

cloudy water) and parasites. This con-

tributes to maintaining clean, healthy

pond water.

Rainwater from the roof has been added

to the pond. Water collected from a roof

surface is heavily saturated with environ-

mental pollution. Use well-water or tap

water.

Topsoil or garden-soil is in the pond.

Nutrient-rich topsoil significantly pro-

motes algae growth. Remove any topsoil

from the pond and replace it with gravel.Also, do not allow the rain to wash topsoil

into the pond. You will find advice on how

to design the pond edges in the sera guideHow to build a garden pond.

filter

UVC


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What to do when algae strikes 3 the sera algae checklist

Do you fertilize the marsh or bog plants

with garden fertilizer, peat, or grass

clippings?

These fertilizers are high in nitrate and

phosphate, which pollute pond water.

Remove them from the pond and

perform a large partial water

change. Condition the fresh water

with sera KOI PROTECT, sera pond-morena, and sera biopeat granu-late. Fertilize your pond withnitrate- and phosphate-free seraflorenette T tablets.

Are you feeding your fish cor-

rectly?

Do not feed if the temperature

drops below 8C (46F). Above this,

young Koi can be fed sera KOI ROYALMINI, while Koi and other large fishcan be fed sera KOI SPIRULINA andsera KOI ROYAL. Small fish can begiven sera goldy. At 12C (54F) and

higher, medium to large Koishould also receive sera KOICOLOR, while young Koi are

given sera KOI JUNIOR. All ourhigh quality foods can be fed to

goldfish and other species dur-

ing the warm season. Select the

appropriate grain size when

choosing. Low-in-fat sera goldyColor and sera goldy Royal areperfect of small and fancy gold-

fish. Feed two or three times aday, but only as much as the fish

can eat in a few minutes. Never

use breadcrumbs or inexpensive

foods. These can lead to nutritional

deficiencies, as well as water pollu-

tion problems.

Are there enough submerged plants in

the pond (e.g., hornwort, waterweed?

Check your plant stock for health.

Submerged plants are nutrient competi-

tors to algae, and they provide oxygen (see

sera guide, How to build a garden pond).Stock the pond with several rapidly grow-

ing submerged plants. Plants are able to

consume nitrate and phosphate only when

they are provided with trace elements, so

use sera florenette T as fertilizer.

Clean water also enhances healthy plant

growth. sera crystal binds water turbidityin the pond making it easier to remove the

particles. Be certain to agitate the water

well to enhance the oxygen supply. Prior

to adding sera crystal, check, by using thesera kH-Test, that the carbonate hardnessis at least 6dKH, although 8dKH is better.

The coagulated particles can be collected

from the surface or drawn through the fil-

ter after they sink. Clean the filter

immediately if it becomes clogged.

fig.: floating algae


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What to do when algae strikes 3 the sera algae checklist

The pond water smells bad

The pond water has turned. Too much

sun irradiation and nutrient oversupply,

such as overfeeding, lead to rapid algae

growth. The algae die and rot as soon as

the nutrients are consumed, withdrawing

oxygen from the water at the same time.

Plants can no longer grow under these

conditions. Carry out a one-third water

change. Repeat this partial water change

in one or two days.

Remove sludge and dead plant parts with

the water change and condition the fresh

water with sera KOI PROTECT and sera bio-peat granulate according to the instruc-tions for use. Add more submerged plants,

such as hornwort. These plants are nutri-

tion-competitors for the algae. You will

find further advice about planting in the

sera guide How to build a garden pond.


*


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Spring virus (spring virosis) and the similar

looking Erythrodermatitisare promoted by

rapidly changing environmental condi-tions (varying water quality or tempera-

ture). Affliction is the worst in overstocked

and/or heavily polluted ponds. Feeding

poor quality food, or food from open or

translucent containers, weakens the

fishes resistance to disease and can

promote a disease breakout.

We recommend using sera cyprino-pur, according to directions, to pre-

vent spring virus (spring virosis).Feed your fish sera KOI SPIRULINA,sera KOI ROYAL and sera goldyearly in spring at water tempera-

tures of 8C (46F) and up.

For additional vitamins, we rec-

ommend adding a few drops of

sera KOI MULTIVITAMIN to the food afew minutes before feeding. Or offer

sera activant tablet to supportstrength and vitality in your fish.

In cases of an acute disease outbreak the

fish should be fed sera KOI BAKTO TABSaccording to the instructions for

use. Its highly active agent is

taken up through the digestive

tract and is active from the

inside, directly at the loca-

tion of the infection. For

overstocked ponds, install

additional sera pond filters

and reduce the stock to anappropriate level.

4 What to do for fish diseases

The fish has bleeding sores and ulcers, bloated belly and isnot swimming properly(sometimes, not all symptoms are visible)

If the pond water is checked regularly andcarefully maintained, fish diseases rarelyoccur. If your fish should become ill, serawater treatments can safely and reliably

help. Here we have compiled a few com-mon pond fish diseases with their symp-toms and suggested corrective measures.

Small parasitic crustaceans (commonlyknown as fish lice) are the cause.

Using sera cyprinopur will remove para-sites from the fish. Follow directions for

use.

14

The fish are affected with almost round shape, jelly-like parasitesof approx. 5 mm (0.2 in.) in diameter or they have bleeding sting marks


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What to do for fish diseases 4

You will find further information on treating fish diseases in the seraguide How to keep your ornamental fish healthy.

The fish are infested by parasites(small white spots or skin slime)

The fish breathe heavily withopen gill lids and scrub themselves

These parasites are secondary para-

sites, i.e., ones that can be found in

almost every pond; however, they

are not able to harm healthy fish.

The secondary parasites can only

multiply if an animal is infected

by another disease or is under

stress. White spots also often

develop after stress caused by

catching, transporting or anew surrounding. Other caus-

es are, for example, an infu-

sion of large amounts of

fresh water (especially in the

case of well and rain water), considerably

decreasing water quality, and unbalanced

or low-in-vitamins nutrition. sera omnisanreliably interrupts all parasitic activities

within a few days.

These symptoms are typical for

skin and gill flukes. Add seraectopur according to instruc-tions for use. If the fish are not

better after three days, use seraomnipur for additional support.

The water quality is good, the fish do not

scrub themselves and have no detectable

disease. In this case an internal disease

caused by virus or bacteria is pos-

sible. Fish that have stoppedeating are a distinct sign of this

disorder. Often they rest apa-

thetically in the water or even

lie on their side. Only rarely are

all the fish affected right away. In

most cases the disease will relate

to one particular fish species.

They are infectious. Treat with

sera KOI BAKTO TABS as soon as

possible.

gill fluke

(microscopic

photo)

Howto keep yourornamental fishhealthy

includinga

n

extensive

diagnosis

chart

RecognizingDiseases

Identifyingcauses

andeliminating them

ScientificConsultant:DieterUntergasser

Howto keep yourornamental fishhealthy

Treatment andrecovery of yourornamental fish

preventionand cure

Treatment andrecovery of yourornamental fish

preventionand cure

The fish behave strangely

Especially in garden ponds it is often diffi-

cult to recognize fish diseases. seraomnipur makes treating most commonornamental pond fish diseases possible.

The composition of sera omnipur isdesigned to target specific parasites ingarden ponds. Besides treating para-

sitic diseases, gill, and skin flukes

(Dactylogyrus, Gyrodactylus), seraomnipur is also highly effective attreating bacterial infections such as

fin rot. Furthermore, sera omnipurcombats fungus (Saprolegnia, Ach-

lya) and accelerates the healing of

external injuries and wounds.

Diagnosis problems


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5 sera water information

rain

mineral-richsoil

ground water

high total hardness

high carbonate hardness

How do water parameters develop, and how to test the water

We recommend checking the pond water

regularly to prevent water parameters

from reaching critical limits. Maintaining

healthy water conditions inhibits the likeli-

hood of algae and fish diseases develop-

ing. Testing the water with sera test kits is

simple to perform, even by the novice. The

highly accurate monitoring tests are based

on either counting reagent drops until a

color change occurs or comparing the

sample to a color chart for measurement.

Total hardness (GH)

The total number of seragH-Test reagent drops con-

sumed when the color

changes from red to green

provides the total hard-

ness (in dGH) value.

Carbonate hardness (KH)

The total number of sera kH-Test reagent drops con-

sumed when the color

changes from blue to yellow

provides the carbonate

hardness (in dKH) value.

5.1 What creates hard water?

If rain water seeps into limestone or mineral-rich layerof soil, it dissolves:

calcium carbonate+ magnesium and + hydrogen carbonate

= total hardness (GH) = carbonate hardness (KH)

The optimum values for keeping

pond fish are between

6 16dGH and

5 10dKH.

Measuring the water hardness and other water parameters is easy:


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sera water information 5

rain

peat-contain-ing soil

groundwater

rain

lime-contain-ing soil

groundwater

pH 5weaklyacidic

pH valuedecreases

pH 3acidic

pH 5weaklyacidic

pH valueincreases

pH 9weaklyalkaline

5.2 The development of acidic and alkaline water

The acidity or alkalinity of water is express-

ed by the pH value. The more acidic the

water, the lower the pH value. On the other

hand, an increase of alkalinity in the water

raises the pH value. The pH ranges from

0 (strongly acidic) to 14 (strongly alkaline).

Neutral water has a pH value of 7.0.

The pH value of tap water is adjusted by

your waterworks department while

preparing your drinking water. Tap water

normally has a weak alkalinity pH value (7.5

8.5). Acidic water would damage the

water pipes.

Rainwater is usually acidic, with a pH value

below 5.0. Often it shows a pH value of 3.5,

which is extremely acidic. If the rainwater

seeps through peat-containing soil, it dis-

solves humic acids as well as the acids that

are already present. Well water from this

area would clearly be acidic.

In contrast, when rainwater seeps through

heavy limestone soil, the acids are bound,

after this the water becomes hard and

alkaline.

Extreme pH values, too acidic or too alka-

line, are detrimental to fish and plants. A

pH value between 7.0 and 7.5 is optimal.

Bear in mind that even in rural areas, largeamounts of acidic water with a pH value

as low as 3.5 can get into the pond with-

in 15 minutes after a heavy rainfall. To pro-

tect fish from the harmful effects of acid

rain, condition the water with sera KOIPROTECT and sera pH-plus, if necessary.Remember too, to check the carbonate

hardness regularly and increase if neces-

sary.

The following sections are mainly relevant to pond owners

who use ground water from their well.


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5 sera water information

How to easily monitor the pH value:

Fill 5 ml of pond water into the sera meas-urement vial. Add 4 drops of the

sera pH-Test reagent and com-pare the color of the solution to

the color chart enclosed with

the kit.

You can get quicker and more precise

results by using the electronic sera pH

meter. We also advise checking theammonium/ammonia level with the seraammonium/ammonia-Test kit if the pHis above 7.

First, check the carbonate hardness

with the sera kH-Test. Carbonatehardness is the influence of pH sta-

bility in the water. If necessary, use

sera GH-KH plus to increase itslevel between 5 and 10dKH.

Second, use sera pondmorenaand sera biopeat granulateto achieve a stable low pH

condition. For a stronger

change use sera pH-plus toincrease the pH value or

sera pH-minus to decreaseit.

How to adjust the pH value correctly:

Bacteria break down fish excrements and

other waste products in the pond. If the

action is disturbed, harmful substances

accumulate in the water. Ammonia and

nitrite are very toxic to fish. Nitrate pro-

motes the growth of unwanted algae.

The level of free, toxic ammonia is calculat-

ed from the measured ammonium/am-

monia concentration and its pH value. Forthis purpose, an appropriate chart is

included with the sera ammonium/am-monia-Test. A free ammonia concentra-

tion of over 0.2 mg/l (ppm) is dangerous to

fish. An immediate partial water change is

necessary.

The sera nitrite-Test shows if thewater quality is good, critical, or

harmful. Nitrite levels over 0.5 mg/l

(ppm) require an immediate partial

water change. If the

nitrite concentration iseven higher, there is acute

danger for the fish.

5.3 What if the bacterial breakdown of pollutants is not effective anymore?


19/3519

sera water information 5

The sera nitrate-Test informsyou of the nitrate level in your

pond water. Nitrate concen-

trations over 50 mg/l (ppm)

are harmful to fish, especially

juveniles, and additionally

promote algae growth.

The sera phosphate-Test allows youto detect the phosphate level

of the pond water. Phosphate

concentrations above 1 mg/l

(ppm) strongly promote algae

growth.

It takes only a few minutes

to check if the oxygen level

is too low for your fish, when

you use the sera oxygen-Test.Oxygen levels should always

be at least 4 mg/l (ppm) O2.

sera oxypur is a fast andlong-term solution to rais-

ing the oxygen level whennecessary. We recommend

a general increase in water

circulation to improve oxygen

assimilation from the air.

The sera aqua-test setcontains a practical combination of gH,

kH, pH and nitrite (NO2) tests.

Protein substances, such as food left-overs, and fish excrement feed the

bacteria and are broken down. By this

action, depending on the pH value,

either harmless ammoni-

um or toxic ammonia

is formed. Ammo-

nium is formed

when pH value is

below 7.0. Stronger

ammonia occurs as

pH values rise.

Nitrosomonasbacteria process

ammonium/ammoniaand oxygen to nitrite.

Nitrobacter bacteriaprocess nitrite andoxygen to nitrate.

Well-balanced planting

of submerged and bog

plants keeps nitrate

and phosphate levels

down. Fast growing

species such as horn-

wort (Ceratophyllum

demersum) are best.

How the nitrogencycle works:

excrements

protein

disintegration

urine

urea

ammonium/ammoniaNH4/NH3

nitrite NO2

nitrate NO3


20/35

date

w

eather

time

temperature

water

temperature

air

KH

GH

pH

conduc-

tivity

O2

NH4/

NH3

NO2

NO3

PO4

seratableofwater

values

Regularcontrolb

ecomesmucheasierwhenthemeasuredresultsarerecordedin

atable.Anexamp

lelookslikethis:


21/35

Filter systems 6

You may combine different sera pond fil-ters, water pumps and UVC Pond Clarifiersaccording to the size of your pond.The sera Bio Pond Filters purify the waterbiomechanically and biologically in a sev-eral step system.

The filter media is already included withthe pond filters. To increase filter perform-ance, we recommend using sera siporaxpond (white rings) as shown in the filterpictures. sera pond filter connection noz-zles steplessly fit all hose diameters.

sera pond filter systems according to the construction kit principle

serafilter sponge

serabiofibres

serabiopur

Cross sectional drawingof the filter tub

The sera pond filter W 1500 is suitable forgarden ponds up to 10,000 liters (2,650 gal.)

or larger if the water is very clean. It con-

tains: Filter sponge, sera biofibres and sera

biopur. The large filter tub provides plentyof settling space for bacteria that break

down waste products, so the water is

cleaned both mechanically and biologically.

21


22/35

The sera 3 chamber biofilter is suitable for

particularly large garden ponds and Koiponds from 10,000 liters (2,650 gal.) to maxi-

mum 15,000 liters (3,960 gal.). You can

remove dirt and deposited sludge without

removing the filter media. The sera 3 cham-

ber biofilter contains: honeycomb struc-

tured plastic material, filter mat and lavarocks. You can increase filter performance by

additionally using sera siporax pond in the

third chamber (white rings in the picture).

UVC

3 chamberbiofilter

22

6 Filter systems

filter

UVC

The sera Bio Pond Filters are available in3 sizes for garden ponds holding up to

5,000, 8,000 or 10,000 liters (1,320, 2,110 or

2,650 gal.) of water. The sera Bio Pond

Filters contain: Filter mat, bio-rings, inlet,outlet and overflow tubes. You can

increase filter performance by using serasiporax pond (white tubes in the picture).


23/3523

Filter systems 6

Unwanted floating algae (cloudy, green

water) and disease-causing bacteria are

destroyed by UVC irradiation. In combina-

tion with the sera pond filters, algaeand bacteria are then easy to remove.

sera UVC Pond Clarifiers are availablein several sizes depending on the vol-

ume of your garden pond.

Power packs for the garden pond:The sera Pressure Filter and UV SystemThe sera Pressure Filters T and seraPressure Filters T + UV System have espe-

cially high filter volumes of 11, 25, 40 or50 liters (2.9, 6.6, 10.5, or 13.2 gal.). Although

they are suitable for ponds up to

12,000 liters (3,170 gal.) they can easily be

buried to avoid obstructing your view.

Access for filter maintenance and cleaning

remains simple, even if it is buried. The seraPressure Filters T and sera Pressure Filters T+ UV System consist of heavy-duty ABS-plas-tic and are equipped with connectors for all

common hose diameters.

Two new UV pond clarifiers, the sera UVSystems 11 W and 24 W, guaranteelong-term clean pond water. They are

weatherproof and can be buried, prohibit-

ing the technical equipment from disturb-ing the natural beauty of the pond. Both

models tolerate pressure up to 0.4 bar

(e.g., 4 m / 13 ft. waterfall height). This

allows use of the outlet water for addition-

al filters, spouts, fountains, or brooks.

Norms: TV GS IPX6 CE


24/3524

SpringPond maintenance begins with the firstwarm sunbeams. In spring (April, May) thepond needs special attention. To ensureyou will always enjoy clean water and

healthy fish, we would like to share someadvice for pond care in spring.

Water test:

Check the water quality with the seratests. You will find further advice in the

chapter sera water information (seepage 16).

Feeding:When the water temperature is

constantly above 8C (46F), feed

the fish with easy-to-digest food

(sera KOI SPIRULINA and sera KOIROYAL for adult Koi and otherlarge pond fish, sera KOI JUNIOR

for young Koi, sera SturgeonGranules for sterlets and sera goldyfor smaller pond fish). Enhance

their vitamin supply and ener-

gy with sera KOI MULTIVITA-

MIN and sera activant. You

will find more valuable tips on feed-

ing in the chapter, Natural food for

your pond fish, (see page 6).

March

7 Pond maintenance throughout the seasons


25/3525

Pond maintenance throughout the seasons 7

Preventing and combating fish disease:Essential to your spring routine is a pre-

ventive treatment against spring virus

(spring virosis). To accomplish this,

add a full dose sera cyprinopurdirectly into the water according

to the instructions for use.

Repeat this preventive measure

three more times. Simultane-

ously, supplement the food with

vitamins daily for one week.

Simply add 3 drops of sera KOIMULTIVITAMIN onto the food andallow it to soak in the refrigerator

for 10 minutes before feeding. Ifyour fish already show disease

symptoms, read, What to do for fish

diseases, (see page 14). Treatment for this

must start before any other pond mainte-

nance!

Spring cleaning and water care(Perform only when the watertemperature is above 12C / 54F):Remove leaves, dead plant parts

and sludge and change about

one third of the water.Exercise extreme care as

you work, as the fish hardly

move at this time and can

be easily injured. Condition

the fresh water according to

the fishes requirements

with a double dose of seraKOI PROTECT and sera pond-morena (depending on thetotal water amount).

Prevention of algae:By using sera KOI PROTECT, serapondmorena and sera biopeatgranulate, you help provide bio-logically clean water and prevent

the growth of annoying algae before it has

a chance to take hold. Further information

is described in the chapter, What to dowhen algae strikes, (see page 10).


26/3526

Plant fertilization:sera florenette T and sera pondflorena provide your pond plantswith all important nutrients for

healthy growth and colorful flow-

ers. Please refer to the instructions

for use to find out how much and

how often your pond plants

should be fertilized.

Total and carbonate hardness:Water hardness fulfils a very

important task in the garden

pond because it stabilizes the

pH value. In ponds, total hard-

ness should be between 6 and16dH and carbonate hardness

between 5 and 10dH. The pH

value will fluctuate if the hard-

ness is lower, leading to consider-

able stress for the fish. Monitor

the hardness regularly using the

sera gH-Test and sera kH-Test.Increase carbonate hardness with

sera GH-KH plus.

Oxygen:Clean the pond filter. If the sera pond filter

is regularly overtaxed (flow rate

goes down frequently), or if the

oxygen level is below 4 mg/l

(ppm), as monitored with the

sera oxygen-Test, we recom-mend increasing the filter size.

You will find more information on

this topic in the sera guide, Howto build a garden pond. The oxy-gen level can be raised by using

sera oxypur in acute cases.

Water test: see March

Water maintenance:After heavy rainfalls, add a supplementary

dose of sera KOI PROTECT according to theinstructions for use. Carry out a partial

water change if the pond is small or over-

stocked.

Plant fertilization: see March

Total and carbonate hardness: see March

Regular feeding:with sera KOI SPIRULINA, sera KOI ROYAL,sera KOI JUNIOR or sera goldy


Water maintenance: see April



Cleaning:Remove all decayed plant parts and leaves.

Feeding:Young Koi and sterlets are fed with seraKOI JUNIOR, adult Koi with sera KOI SPI-RULINA, sera KOI ROYAL and sera KOICOLOR. Other pond fish should be fed serabioflakes, sera biogranulat and sera mixroyal. Goldfish are fed sera goldy, seragoldy Color and sera goldy Royal. Pleaseadhere to the feeding information on the

labels.

You will find additional advice in the chap-

ter Natural food for your pond fish, (see

page 6).

April


May


27/3527

SummerIn the summer, all life in and around thegarden pond grows and thrives. Due tostrong sunlight and high nutrient supply,algae may multiply rapidly. We recom-mend testing the pond water regularly.

Water test:Because of the quantity and variety of ani-

mals and plants living in your pond, the

water parameters change rapidly. The

chapter, sera water information, (seepage 16), explains how easy it is to carry

out our sera water tests, and how thishelps life under water.

Water maintenance: see April

Prevention of algae:To prevent algae, condition the water

with sera pondmorena. The light

spectrum required will be takenaway from the algae by the light fil-

tering effect. For supporting sera pond-morena we recommend adding sera bio-peat granulate with its long-term effect.

For the acute control of algae we recom-

mend sera algenstop*. Please payattention to the information for use.

You will find further information in

the chapter What to do when

algae strikes (see page 10).

Total and carbonate hardness:Carbonate hardness is broken

down when algae is growing

heavily, but also by the plants

because of their high carbon

dioxide requirements (known as

biogenic decalcification).


Cleaning: see May

Feeding: see May


June


*


28/3528

July


Prevention of algae: see June



Plant maintenance:Prune heavily growing plants to provide

sufficient space for other plants. Do not letfloating leaf plants cover the entire pond,

restrict them to a certain area. Remove

decayed plant parts and leaves.

Feeding: see MayIf the water temperature becomes very

high, feed sparingly with sera bioflakes or

sera biogranulat. These foods are especial-ly easy for the fish to digest.

Water maintenance:Replenish evaporated water regularly.

Condition the fresh water with sera KOIPROTECT. Follow the instructions for use.Small or overstocked ponds require a par-

tial water change.

Cleaning of the pond filter:

The filter needs cleaning when its flowrate decreases considerably. After clean-

ing, reactivate the filter biologically with

sera KOI BIOCLEAR.



29/3529

Autumn

To maintain healthy pond fish and plantsduring the winter months, you mustbegin preparation in autumn.

Be alert for fish diseases:Observe your ornamental fish regularly

and carefully. If you suspect a disease,

refer to the chapter What to do for fish

diseases (see page 14), where the symp-

toms and treatment of common fish dis-

eases are explained.

All maintenance procedures described forthe month of July also apply for August.

All maintenance procedures described forthe month of July also apply for Septem-ber.

Feeding:Start feeding sera KOI SPIRULINA, sera KOIROYAL or sera goldy, plus vitamin supple-ments as additional preparation for winter.

Drip sera KOI MULTIVITAMIN onto the foodand allow it to soak in the refrigerator for

10 minutes. Repeat this supplementationonce or twice weekly. This ensures your

fish can gather enough strength to survive

the long winter period.


August

September


30/3530

October

November

Plant maintenance:On a bright sunny day, carefully remove

leaves, decayed plant parts and sludge.

Prune the height of the reed mace and

other tube-like stalk plants to just above

the water surface. By doing this, the plants

co-assist with the gas exchange that helps

support the oxygen supply to the hiber-

nating animals.

Water change:Carry out a larger water change (about 2/3

of the pond contents) and siphon-off

dead leaves and sludge with a pond va-

cuum cleaner. Condition the fresh

water with a single to one-and-a-

half-fold dose of sera KOI PROTECTand sera pondmorena.

Feeding and vitamin sup-plementation:This helps the fish strength-

en and prepare for winter,

feed the same as in March as

long as the water tempera-ture is above 8C (46F).

Preparing hibernation:(1): If the fish hibernate in the pond, the

sera pond filters or fountain and pond fil-ter pumps prevent freezing over com-

pletely when combined with a device that

keeps a part of the surface ice-free. The

sketch on page 31 shows you how to install

the pond filter. Do not break the ice under

any circumstances!

(2): We recommend letting the fish hiber-nate in an aquarium, as large as possible, if

the pond is less than 1 meter (3.3 ft.) deep.

In this case, the aquarium water tempera-ture should be between 14 to 18C (57

64F), but no higher. You will find further

information on optimal pond depth in the

sera guide How to build a garden pond.

Water maintenance:It is important to condition the water,

with sera KOI PROTECT, especially if fishhibernate in the pond. Also, see April.



31/3531

WinterThe pond rests in winter, letting naturerecover in its long hibernation. Fish andother inhabitants in the pond can easilyendure the winter only if it is well-pre-pared during autumn, and the pond isdeeper than 1 meter (3.3 ft.).

December, January, February

The water movement keeps apart of the pond ice-free

sera pond filter(place in a depth between 40

and 50 cm / 16 and 20 in.)

pond liner

Hibernation:The only maintenance needed in winter is

to ensure a portion of the water surface

remains free from ice, by using either thesera pond filter W 1500 or a filter pump.Adjust the outlet nozzle directly below the

water surface. The surface area around it

remains in motion and ice-free, and the

pond is supplied with oxygen. Do not

break the ice under any circumstances!

The fish can be badly injured by the sonic

waves. In any case they will be frightened

towards the colder upper water layers and

consume more oxygen.

Under no circumstances should you placethe pond filter or the pump on the pond

bottom or in deep zones. The warmer

water near the pond bot-

tom will mix with the

colder water from the

rest of the pond, and the

fish will be unable to

hibernate further. The

optimal setup of pond

zones is explained in

the sera guide How tobuild a garden pond.



32/35

Koi are often referredto as, Kings of thegarden pond. Anyonewho deals intensivelywith these magnificent,tame ornamental fishwill soon understandthe enthusiasm of Koikeepers.

With good care, Koi can

grow very large (ap-

prox. 1 m / 3.3 ft.) and

they live for a long time,

more than 70 years.Apart from the pond

size, conditions for Koi

are these:

choose high quality and well-balancedfoods

ensure optimal water quality be consistent with disease prevention

through careful water maintenance

and observation of your fish providing optimal hibernation condi-tions

32

8 How to keep Koi

In the

sera guide Howto build a garden

pond you will

find tips for build-

ing and decorat-

ing a Koi pond.

The temperature

Compared to the original form of the carp,

Koi need slightly warmer water to keep

active and lively.

Water temperatures between 18 and 25C

(64 and 77F) are best. Many Koi ponds are

heated to maintain a water temperature

of about 20C (68F), year-round.

Of course, Koi can also be kept in ponds

that are not heated. In this case, the fish

hibernate at the bottom of the pond from

late autumn until spring.

As soon as the water temperature in

spring is above 8C (46F), start feeding

regularly.


33/3533

How to keep Koi 8

After the long winter rest the Koi are still

weak and must be fed energy-rich and

easy-to-digest food. sera KOI SPIRULINAand sera KOI ROYAL are ideal for this pur-pose. Young Koi should be fed sera KOIJUNIOR or sera KOI ROYAL MINI. sera KOIMULTIVITAMIN can be dripped onto thefood as an additional vitamin supply.

When water temperatures rise during the

spring, we recommend alternating seraKOI SPIRULINA, sera KOI ROYAL and sera KOICOLOR when feeding.

Feed sparingly, only as much as the fish

can eat within in few minutes, but several

times a day.

In warm summers, when the water tem-

perature exceeds 25C (77F), it is best to

feed very sparingly, several times a day.sera KOI ROYAL and sera KOI COLOR areideal for this.

When the water temperature drops in

autumn, it is time to prepare the fish for

hibernation. By feeding sera KOI SPIRULINAand sera KOI ROYAL, as well as by addingsera KOI MULTIVITAMIN, you will help yourKoi to form enough reserve for the long

winter.

When the water

temperature drops

below 8C (46F),

stop feeding, even if

the Koi still eat. With

these low tempera-

tures the food is no

longer digested. It

remains in the intes-

tines, and it can

harm the fish. Inheated ponds, the

fish must of course

be fed throughout

the year.

Feeding


34/3534

8 How to keep Koi

Oxygen

Disease prevention

The carbonate hardness

A carbonate hardness of 5 10dKH is ideal

for Koi, just as it is for other pond fish. This

ensures sufficient pH value stabilization,

and your ornamental fish have constant

conditions. You can find further informa-

tion about monitoring and increasing the

carbonate hardness in the chapter, serawater information, (see page 16).

Koi require more oxygen than other pond-

fish, for example, goldfish: therefore it is

important to especially consider these

aspects for Koi ponds:

The pond should be designed in such a

way that no leaves or conifer needles

can fall in, if possible. Rotting plant parts

consume a large quantity of oxygen,

which is then not available for the fish.

At higher temperatures the oxygen con-tent in the water is lower than in cooler

water. At the same time the Koi need

more oxygen for their digestion.

Never overstock the pond with Koi.

Introduce only a few fish at a time and

always consider the final size of an adult

Koi.

Feed sparingly. Uneaten food pollutesthe water and promotes algae growth.

We recommend regularly checking the

oxygen level with the sera oxygen-Test todetect potential problems before they

happen. sera oxypur can be used as animmediate measure for oxygen shortage.

To correct the problem, watch for and alle-

viate any of the causes we have listed

above.

Koi should regularly be checked as a dis-

ease prevention measure. Besides visual

signs (e.g., injuries, bloated belly, protrud-ing scales, bloodshot wounds or ulcers,

white spots, or parasites), every change of

behavior (e.g., the unusual passiveness of


35/35

How to keep Koi 8

a generally assertive fish), is a clear warn-

ing. Observe during feeding time because

the fish come to the water surface and are

more readily visible.

Further investigations, such as a skin swab,

should only be done when you are clearly

suspicious of a disease! We discourage you

from performing a routine skin swab, as

is sometimes recommended. It causes

unnecessary stress on the fish and great

danger of skin injury while catching it.

You will find further information about fish

diseases in the sera guide How to keepyour ornamental fish healthy.

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