Pond accessories include any number of items that improve pond performance, reduce maintenance or add convenience to a garden pond. These items go beyond the basic essentials like pumps and filters and are not always necessary, but they can be helpful and add to the ease of care to a backyard pond.
A simple way to protect a pump is with a pump sock which is a sponge like material surrounded by a cover that goes over the intake of the submerged pump. It protects the pump from debris, and reduces clogging letting your pump push water.
Discharge kits connect to the pumps outlet to an external pond hose usually for inside a skimmer. It makes it easy to disconnect the discharge kit from the pump for easy cleaning and when you need to store your pump. Similarly, external pump kits are usually used from a skimmer to an external pump.
Filter screens will be used for the intake of a submersible pump or external pump to keep debris from clogging and damaging the pump.
Waterfalls look best when water flows over rocks, not under them. An easy solution is to spray black waterfall foam into cracks and gaps between rocks to fill and seal the waterfall path. Waterfall foam can also be used in stream beds
Ponds have electrical requirements, and a control center helps get electricity to a pond and manage electric controls. Pond control centers have cords up to 50 feet, so the nearest GFI outlet can be as far as 50 feet away. To meet code, and for safety, pond electricity must plug into a ground fault interrupter, or GFI receptacle.
Another electric control device is a low water cut-off switch. Water will evaporate from ponds over time and needs to be topped off periodically. A low water cutoff switch protects the pump by turning it off when the water gets below a certain level. This could save your very expensive pump and the money in your pocket.
Fish pond accessories such as skimmer and waterfall covers made to look like stones make ponds more attractive by camouflaging equipment. They can add to the landscaping of your water garden.
A thermometer is useful to monitor water temperature for ponds that are in a really hot climate or very cold. Looking at a pond thermometer will also let you know when to feed your koi and what type of koi food you should be feeding them.
Garden Ponds range from simple to complex. Although more equipment and accessories may seem to add complexity to a system, many garden pond accessories actually simplify pond maintenance and prolong pond equipment life.
