TINY CHANGES = REMARKABLE RESULTS

A few days after New Year’s, I saw a phrase that really struck a chord in me. It was “Tiny changes = remarkable results.” They meant it in relation to the overwhelming numbers of New Year’s resolutions of course, but I immediately thought about how it could relate to pond ownership.

Do you know the number one reason most people fail at their New Year’s resolutions? They make too many. That’s right. Not because it was too hard, or they were too sore. Not because they couldn’t find the time or the inclination, but because they tried to do too much.

The little negative guy that lives in everyone’s brains, took charge of the wheel, and said, this is just too much. I’m putting this puppy in park. If they had only started with one small resolution, and built on it, then they might have had some success.

Right about now, you’re probably thinking, “Oh no, another New Year’s resolution blog!??!!!?” But no, that is not where I’m going. I want to talk about how this can relate to your pond.

Imagine using the same concept of “tiny changes” you resolved to turn your pond around. I’m not talking, Saturday you head to the pond, loaded for bear, change the filter, replace the skimmer, (for a Helix of course) cut back all the plants, do a huge water change, add 7 pounds of bacteria, all in one day. Although if you do, kudos to you.

I mean, do one tiny thing today. Put your beneficial bacteria next to your fish food. That way, when you feed your fish, you’ll remember to add your beneficial bacteria.

It’s practically insignificant, right? Put the bacteria by the food. But guess what. Suddenly, you’re adding the bacteria every week like you’re supposed to, because it is right in front of your face, and by the end of the summer, the bottom of your pond is so clean and debris free, you see literally every piece of gravel, or every dimple on the liner.

It seems to good to be true, but it really isn’t. Ponds flourish with routine maintenance. And it shows. So, a tiny change like religiously adding the bacteria can make a huge difference after just a few months.

Perhaps you set up a water change kit on your pond. It can be as simple as a tee with a ball valve and a reducing connection to a garden hose. When you go out to feed the fish, you open the ball valve, put it the hose on a tree or bush to water while you feed, then shut the valve when you’re done, and let the autofill top the pond off again.

Do this a couple times a week, and you will literally be shocked at the improvement in water clarity, quality, and fish health. It won’t be more than maybe 50-75 gallons of water per change, but the effect can be life altering to your pond.

Maybe you get an extra pad for your skimmer. Set it by your food. Each day when you feed, switch the pads. When you pull the old pad out, rinse it so it is ready for tomorrow. The reduction in debris over time will be dramatic, especially if you have one of those pads that the water can bypass when it gets full.

These are a few examples of tiny changes that can dramatically change the water quality in your pond. Pick one to try, and let me know how it works for you!