Pond Keeping Solutions

How To Make Your Own Half Barrel Pond

2009-10-06T13:04:00.000-07:00

Before starting the half barrel pond project it worth giving some consideration to the plant life and animal life that the pond will be home to.

Strangely enough a half barrel isn't needed in order to construct a half barrel pond! It is quite possible to use a rigid plastic barrel liner, clay container or even a concrete container.

Many people tend to go for the rustic look afforded by a wooden half barrel merely for aesthetic reasons.

What you will need to decide is whether or not you want to line the barrel using apond liner. It is not essential however!

Place the liner inside the half barrel, fill with water and trim off excess liner, slightly below the top edge of the barrel. A pond liner measuring 5 ft x 5ft should suffice in the vast majority of cases.

If on the other hand you want to do away with a rubber pond liner or pvc plastic liner in order to save some money then try the following alternative.

Firstly prepare the barrel (usually a whiskey or wine barrel) by filling it with water and throwing in a few water hyacinths, whose roots act as a filter system. You will need to empty and replace the water, along with the water hyacinths every few days.

Continue to do this for a couple of weeks or until you can no longer smell the old contents.

Whether you chose the easy option (using a rubber pond liner inside the barrel) or opted to save money and prepare the pond using the method above you are now ready to prepare the half barrel pond for future habitation by fish and plants.

As with any pond the colonies of natural nitrifying bacteria need to be present, in order to break down ammonia compounds produced by your fish and other aquatic life, such as frogs, toads etc.

Recommended Plants To Use In A Half Barrel Pond

To achieve a balanced ecosystem the following aquatic plant varieties are good to go with ...

Pygmy water lilies, hardy or tropical lilies
Oxygenating plants
Floating plants such as the water hyacinth, water lettuce or duckweed
Tall bog (marginal plants) such as rushes, Canna, horsetail, lobelia, reeds and cattails.

A word of warning - Duckweed grows rapidly and will quickly try to cover the entire surface of any small fish pond unless controlled. You can either remove some of it by hand or let your pond fish eat it; goldfish like to nibble at it.

The full article can be read at ...
http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/build_half_barrel_pond.html

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FAQ & Answers Part 6 - Fish Problems

2009-10-06T12:59:00.000-07:00

Why Have My Fish Got White Spots On Their Body?

This is probably a fungal disease and immediate expert advice should be sought. Fungal infections are often spread amongst the fish population at a rapid rate.

In the early stages it is often possible to cure using topical remedies or anti biotic courses. The infected individual will usually need to be quarantined and treated in isolation.

My Fish are Gasping for Air at Pond Surface

This is particularly common in hot sunny weather when the water temperature is higher. Warm water is physically not able to hold as much oxygen as cold water.

It is also more difficult for atmospheric oxygen to dissolve into pond water in these conditions. When you see your fish gulping this is not a good sign and is a sure fire indicator that you need to introduce more oxygen into the pond.

The best way to do this is to add a pond air pump, fountain or waterfall to your existing set up.

I'm Sure I Had More Fish Yesterday Than Today!

Your pond has probably become a favorite haunt of a predator of some description, targeting an easy meal. Herons and other birds such as king fishers are the usual suspects but snakes and other animals have been known to take fish.

Watch early morning activity and late afternoon activity close to your pond. There are many predator scarers on the market, some better than and more effective than others.

Herons are a common pest and how to stop herons eating your fish? is a common question. The best solution is to use a fake heron, as heron's are territorial and will more than likely stay away from a competitors patch.

The full article can be read at ...
http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/PondkeepingFAQpart6.html ...

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FAQ & Answers Part 5 - Pond Algae

2009-10-06T12:54:00.000-07:00

Welcome to part 5 of my 6 part frequently asked pond keeping questions and answers series. Today I would like to discuss how to keep pond water free from algae as well as taking a look at some other common pond problems ...

How Do I Prevent My Pond From Going Green?

The best way is to install an Ultra Violet Sterilizer (UV Clarifier) that has enough wattage for the size of your fish pond. An 8 watt pond UV light is usually adequate for a fish pond up to 5,000 litres.

Water turns green or brown usually as a result of the build up of microscopic algae cells (4 microns across) in the pond.

This is further increased when there is a lot of sunlight. The algae feed on increased nutrients in the pond, present during the warmer summer months.

Due to the microscopic size these single celled algae can not be removed from the pond by a pond filter at this stage.

When pond water containing algae is pumped through an ultra violet clarifier it is subjected to UV light which breaks down the cell wall, killing the algae. This causes the algae to clump together.

As large amounts of algae clump together they form a much larger mass which is easily removed by your pond filter.

Does A UV Clarifier Need To Be Maintained?

A UV light truly is one of the best inventions for a pond keeper. It is surprising knowing this fact that not that many pond keepers know of its existence. A UV clarifier doesn't need that much maintenance to be honest.

There is one thing that does need to be done however to maintain its effectiveness. You must change the UV bulb after around 8,000O hours of use. This works out at once a year. This is a good rule to follow.

However if your pond starts to develop a build up of algae in the interim then it may be a good idea to change the bulb before 8,000 hours are up.

How Do I Get Rid of Blanket weed?

The single best solution I have come across, far better than barley straw in my opinion is a new product called Viresco. This is an excellent product for breaking down organic sludge that forms on the pond floor.

If left to build up this sludge will start to give off poisonous ammonia. A tell tell symptom of this is excessive bubbles rising up from the pond bottom.

The full article can be read at ...
http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/PondkeepingFAQpart5.html ...

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FAQ & Answers Part 4 - Pump Selection

2009-10-06T12:49:00.000-07:00

Welcome to part 4 of my frequently asked pond keeping questions and answers news letters.

Today I would like to answer some common questions relating to fish pond pumps and what to look out for ...

What Does Pond Pump Maximum Head Mean?

This is a fancy term used to describe the amount of pressure the pump can deliver i.e. how high it can pump water.

This bit of information can be misleading and should be used as a guide to get an idea of exactly how high a specific pump model is capable of pumping to.

The reason that I say misleading is because at maximum head there is no flow. So if a pump says that Max Pump Head is 3ft then at 3ft the pump runs out of power and there will be no water flow.

It is important to be aware of how much water the particular pump model can handle at various practical heads or height differences between the water surface and the inlet of a waterfall or fountain.

Head is the difference in height between the pond surface and the inlet of a waterfall or fountain for example.

If the outlet pipe from a pump was lifted 50 cm above the pond surface then x amount of water would flow out of the pipe. As you increase the amount of lift needed (height required) there is a reduction in the water flow until a point is reached where there is no water coming out of the pipe.

Choice Of Fish Pond Pump Is Very Important

The majority of retailers selling pumps sell their range usually on the cost of the pump, often misleading buyers into going for a cheap pump in the belief that they are saving money.

This is false advertising as the major factor when choosing any garden pond pump is its power consumption. This factor is far more important than its purchase cost.

What you need to remember is that a pond pump needs to run 24/7/365 and a bad choice can be expensive in terms of running costs.

When choosing a pump make sure to look at the power consumption and try where ever possible to compare this against other pump models to see which is the most economical.

The full article can be read at ...
http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/PondkeepingFAQpart4.html ...

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FAQ's & Answers - Part 3 - General

2009-10-06T12:43:00.000-07:00

Welcome to part 3 of my FAQ's & Answers Newsletter series. Today I am going to try to answer some common questions relating to garden fish ponds and keeping ponds in general ...

I Want a Garden Fish Pond. What Do I Do?

The first thing that you need to do is to find a reliable source of information and products to ensure that you get what is adequate for your budget, size of garden, size of pond, type of fish to be kept etc.

A bad installation can be expensive to fix and also costly to maintain.

If you are not sure ask someone who can give you good advice. If the advice is sound and makes sense and can be backed up by example or published information then it is probably good advice.

What Do I Need To be Aware Of When installing A Pond?

The actual installation of the pond is often the most difficult part of the project. If you know what you are doing then this shouldn't be a problem.

However if this is your first pond then I would recommend getting help from an expert who has experience in installing ponds and landscaping in general. Your local garden centre is normally a good starting point.

If you decide that the DIY approach is for you then take your time, get the pond to fit well into the excavated hole, create good back fill and edging support where necessary.

The majority of small ponds are usually preformed liner ponds. Make sure that the pond is level in the hole using a spirit level. Failure to do this will definitely result in a lopsided pond once water is added.

Medium sized and many large ponds are constructed from black plastic liner with butyl rubber and EPDM rubber being amongst the best materials to use. Look for a long guarantee; at least 15 years or more.

How Much Does A Pond Cost?

This is an impossible question to answer as it depends upon the size of the pond, equipment to be used, labor costs etc.

As a rule of thumb go for a smaller pond and spend the rest of your budget on an economical pond pump, biofilter and UVC.

That way you are less likely to be disappointed with the final outcome.

The full article can be read at ...
http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/PondkeepingFAQpart3.html ...

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FAQ's & Answers - Part 2 - Fish Food

2009-09-22T03:13:00.000-07:00

What Is The Best Type Of Food For My Fish?

The quality of a fish food is determined by the raw ingredients used. High grade fish food has a low ash content, low moisturecontent and a high protein content.

If you see a claim such as "97% digestible" it means that only 3% is made up of ash and moisture, leaving the remaining 97% as high quality carbohydrate or protein.

Always buy the best food you can afford. This will give you goodwater quality and your fish will reap the benefits.

When looking for food always analyze the contents and stay away from products that don't display this information.

Choose the following: A high protein content food with ash levels of about 5%, moisture levels of between 5-8% and 35% protein or higher.

To review high quality, well priced fish foods click the linkbelow...
http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/koi_goldfish_food_review.htm

Is It Safe To Use Lights In My Pond?

Providing that you are using submersible pond lights that have beendesigned for under water use then they are definitely safe.

They utilize only 12 volts making them extremely safe. They are also fairly cheap to buy and come in a myriad of differenteffects, including: floating globes, underwater spotlights, ingroundspotlights, coloured lenses etc.

To review popular pond lighting products click the link below ...
http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/pond_light_review.htm

The full article can be read at http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/FAQpart2.html ...

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How To Make Your Pond Into A Wildlife Haven

2009-09-18T06:49:00.000-07:00

To many a fish pond is simply that, a fish pond. To those who have been following this wonderful hobby for a while will know that this is only the tip of the iceberg.

A fish pond or probably more correctly a water garden is home to may forms of natural wildlife.

An even bigger diversity of wild life can be attracted by paying attention to the aesthetics and the design.

Birds for example require shallow areas in which they can take a welcome bath or gain a much needed drink of water.

Running water from a cascading stream will certainly create a haven for many of nature's insects. This combined with a clean gravel bed will make a nice place for them to lay their eggs or build a home.

How To Encourage Wildlife

Why not consider adding pond plants to your fish pond. Not only will this help to keep algae under control and add valuable oxygen to the pond it will also attract frogs and birds.

A great way of not only adding effect to the flow of water in ponds that include a waterfall or stream is to place a large boulder in the centre. Not only will this add wonderful sound and character to the flow of water but it will also create a great perch for wild birds to rest on.

The full article can be read at:
http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/pondtowildlifewatergarden.html

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How To Keep Trout In A Pond

2009-09-18T06:45:00.000-07:00

How To Successfully Keep Trout In A Garden Fish Pond

Whilst not the most popular choice of fish to keep for the majority of pond keepers it is definitely possible to successfully keep trout in a garden fish pond, providing that you stick to certain rules and ensure that their requirements are taken care of.

Why Are Trout Different To Other Pond Fish?

The first thing to be aware of is that we are talking about keeping trout and not breeding them; in order to breed they require running water that is cool and extremely oxygen rich. This is not viable for the vast majority of pond situations.

Whilst not able to successfully spawn they will still exhibit breeding behavior by producing eggs, milt and in the case of male trout, competing for female attention during the spawning period (autumn to winter to spring).

A trout's diet needs to contain a higher percentage of oils than other species and the amount fed also needs to be higher.

In the remainder of this article I will outline the important differences that need to be taken into consideration along with the type of equipment I would advise you to consider purchasing, if you intend to keep these magnificent fish.

The full article can be read at
www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/keeping_trout_in_pond.html

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A Garden Pond Is Different To A Water Garden

2009-09-18T06:39:00.000-07:00

What Is The Difference Between a Pond and A Water Garden?

In simple terms a pond is a hole dug into the ground and filled with water. There are different construction materials used as the lining from rubber to concrete and preformed pvc ponds.

The addition of fish, whether Koi, goldfish or some other variety turns it into a fish pond. If only Koi are added then to the purist it is known as a Koi pond.

A pool designed with the intention of attracting as much natural aquatic life including frogs, toads, newts, various insect species, birds etc is described as a wildlife pond. To the neutral these are probably the most interesting as they mimic nature.

A water garden on the other hand is a combination of some or all of these with a specific emphasis on the addition of various species of aquatic plants. These plants take centre stage and everything else simply makes up the numbers.

Now pond plants serve a very important function within any water garden and this is what I would like to talk about in a bit more detail ...

The full article can be read at
http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/Pondtowatergarden.html

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Essential Tests For Garden Fish Ponds

2009-09-18T06:28:00.000-07:00

First of all you need to know the approximate volume of water in your pond before you are able to determine the number of fish your pond can hold, the amount of water that equates to say a 15% water change and before you are able to use feeding products and pond-maintenance products properly.

Why Test Pond Water pH?

There are many different factors that affect the quality of the water. In terms of fish ponds the pH is commonly talked about! A pond will be either neutral (pH of 7), acidic (pH less than 7) or alkaline (pH greater than 7).

Factors such as acid rain, minerals leaching from soil, rotting vegetation and aquatic life waste matter all have an effect upon the pH of the pond. In general an acceptable pH range is between 6.8 to 7.8 for the majority of aquatic plants and pond life. Extreme pH levels either below or above this range should be treated quickly.

Factors Causing Low pH In Garden Ponds

As the aquatic community within your pond grows you will notice that the pH becomes acidic i.e. below a pH of 7. This is normal as long as it isn't allowed to dip below 6.8, as this causes stress related problems within many fish species, particularly Koi.

The full article can be read at ...
http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/newpondwatertesting.html ...

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Seasonal Fish Pond Care

2009-09-18T01:15:00.000-07:00

Fall Fish Pond Care

As the pond water temperature reduces there is a reduction in your fishes metabolic rate. These once ravenous creatures are becoming less hungry and in order to keep the pond as free from fish waste as possible, due to increases in uneaten fish food, feed less and feed a colder water fish food.

Fall brings with it a common nuisance for the vast majority of pond owners, the fallen leaves that miraculously manage to find their way into your pond, if you haven't covered it with a pond net.

Winter Pond Preparation

The vast majority of pond inhabitants are fairly dormant during the winter months. It is very important however to ensure that the pond isn't allowed to freeze over. There has to be a way for carbon dioxide and toxic hydrogen sulphide to escape if you don't want fish fatalities. It is also important as oxygen will continue to be allowed to enter into the pond.

The full article can be read at http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/seasonalpondcare.html ...

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Prepare Your Pond For Winter

2009-09-18T01:02:00.000-07:00

Well autumn or fall depending upon your preference is upon us water gardeners. The colder nights and days are drawing in for those of us who live in the colder UK climate or Northern states of the USA and Canada.

The past few months have seen a lot of activity in our ponds which has been a privilege to witness.

Autumn Pond Preparation Prior to the onset of winter

Significantly reduce the amount of food fed to your fish as their slower metabolism prevents them from digesting food properly.
Some suggest that you stop feeding altogether. I don't agree. Instead feed small amounts of low protein, high wheat germ winter fish food once a day. Wheat germ is easier for fish to digest in cold water temperatures.
Make a final partial water change of 25% and carry out a final pond water quality test.
Winterize your aquatic plants before the colder weather hits.

Read the full article at:
http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/Fallinyourfishpond.html

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Choosing Garden Pond Filters, Pond Pumps & UV Equipment

2009-05-14T06:59:00.000-07:00

Choosing the right product the first time around will save time, effort and money! There are 3 essential pieces of pond keeping equipment needed to ensure that you achieve your goal of a crystal clear, clean and healthy pond environment for all your pond fish to live in: Firstly a biological pond filter, also known as a Garden Pond Filter, a UV Sterilizer, also known as a UV clarifier or simply as a UV or UVC and a reliable Fish Pond Pump, but not a swimming pool pump or sump pump. Adding Pond Plants will provide additional benefits ...

Click here to visit athis site and read the many water gardening related articles ...

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Remove Toxic Pond Chemicals From Fish Ponds

2009-05-07T12:01:00.000-07:00

As the warmer temperatures arrive with the onset of spring, your pond fish come alive. This produces more liquid and solid metabolic waste, as a result of the increased feeding. This leads to a rise in the impurity of the pond water, particularly from the increased levels of ammonia.

In natural lakes and streams this does not create a problem due to the volumes of water involved and the small population of fish relative to the size of the lake. In a backyard fish pond however it is critically important to remove the build up of ammonia.

The single best way to stop ammonia and nitrite problems is to use a correctly specified garden pond filter. If however you do not have a biological pond filter then an ammonia detoxifier is the next best thing.

The damaging effect of ammonia is even worse in ponds with a high pH. For this reason it is important to monitor your pond water for ammonia, pH and total hardness on a regular basis.

If you discover that the ammonia levels in your pond water have increased, try to reduce the pond water pH down to around neutral (pH 7). In practice a neutral pH is almost impossible to achieve but try to get as close as possible.

A quick fix solution to problematic ammonia levels is Pond Care Ammo-Lock. Pond Care AMMO-LOCK 2 also neutralizes the harmful levels of ammonia that can occur in pond water from overfeeding and overstocking of fish. The patented formula instantly neutralizes chlorine and is responsible for effective chloramine reduction.

The ammonia is converted firstly into nitrites and then into nitrates by Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter nitrifying bacteria.

The full article can be read at http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/garden-fish-pondcontaminants.htm ...

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Why Are My Koi Jumping Or Flashing?

2009-05-07T11:58:00.000-07:00

Are your Koi jumping or scratching themselves against the available surfaces in your pond? Have they lost their appetite? If so then these are classic symptoms of excess TDS (total dissolved salts), poor water quality, pond fish parasite infestations or they are spawning.

Koi , although extremely good swimmers and jumpers, when it suits do not normally exhibit this type of behavior as a matter of course. Remember that it is normal however for your Koi to scratch or itch themselves.

If on the other hand all the pond fish are doing this at the same time then something is wrong.

When a Koi carp is seen jumping it is normally for one of the following reasons:

They are trying to get more oxygen into their gills.
A jumping Koi may be the end result of a parasite infection or as a result of gill filament damage.
Fish ponds with excess heavy metals, such as Copper and irritating chemicals such as chlorine, will sometimes manifest itself in your Koi jumping.
During the mating season and when spawning, Koi can be seen jumping with joy. A tell tale symptom however will be foaming on the pond surface and eggs.
Poor pond water quality problems such as excess TDS (Total Dissolved Salts) may cause your Koi to jump. You are more likely to see them swimming erratically, lifting their heads out of the pond water or scratching or itching themselves against the pond walls (flashing).

The full article can be read at http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/garden-fish-koiflashingjumping.htm ...

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Koi Carp or Goldfish For My Fish Pond

2009-05-06T10:02:00.000-07:00

If you have a small preformed pond or a relatively small liner pond then I would recommend that you choose fish that do not grow as quickly or eat as much fish food as fancy Koi.

Goldfish and shubunkins are much hardier pond fish compared with Koi, which are a sensitive carp family member that is relatively susceptible to fish stress.

If your pond volume is anywhere up to 500 gallons then goldfish are far easier to care for and are much less hassle and stress.

Disadvantages of Koi Fish

Unfortunately Koi grow quickly and consume large amounts of food, given the opportunity. This creates water quality problems, particularly with regard to ammonia build up and increased pond algae.
Koi carp are also more expensive to buy and keep than the equivalent sized goldfish. A Koi can eat 3 times as much as the equivalent sized gold fish.
If you have a backyard pond containing potted aquatic pond plants then you may also want to reconsider keeping Koi. These curious creatures like to dig at the soil and roots of these water plants. If you are not careful you could end up with floating plants everywhere.
Koi are strong swimmers and will actively try to jump out of the pond.
Shallow ponds also leave them, along with other pond fish susceptible to predators such as herons and raccoons. They literally have nowhere to escape to.

Goldfish on the other hand will not disturb your potted pond plants and find great comfort amongst Lilies, Lotus, Iris, and submerged annual varieties. They use the floating lily pads as a way of hiding from predators and the hot summer sun.

It is far better in my experience to plan ahead and ensure that the size of the pond you intend to build is capable of holding the species of pond fish you intend to keep. Koi need a pond that is at least 4 feet deep.

The full article can be read at http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/garden-fish-koiorgoldfish.htm ...

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Preven Herons From Eating Your Koi And Goldfish

2009-05-06T02:04:00.001-07:00

Herons are capable of eating copious amounts of fish, on a daily basis. An adult heron can easily consume up to 1lb of fish per day. This equates to roughly 3 x 7 inch long Koi that cost about $70 each. Grown herons consume almost a pound of fish daily. That amounts to about three, seven-inch, $70 koi of the lower-priced variety.

As the heron rests on a post or tree it keeps its eager eyes out for movement of any description. A jumping or flashing pond fish is more than probably going to draw its attention sooner or later.

Being a creature of habitat and also territorial a heron will scour its territory and keep a mental note of where it can get an easy meal. Rest assured if a heron has managed to get one of your pond fish, it will be back looking for more.

The fish stealing raids normally take place in the quiet early morning or early evening.

I am an animal lover and although herons, king fishers and other predatory birds may steal my fish I still don’t want to harm then. I would much rather deter or hamper their efforts. They are after all just trying to live, much like you and I.

The full article can be read at http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/garden-fish-heronstop.htm ...

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Benefits Of Fish Keeping Clubs And Koi Clubs

2009-05-06T01:55:00.000-07:00

Areassuring thought for many an individual is the knowledge that there are plenty of other people interested in the same likes as yourself. This certainly applies to pond keeping and fish keeping. Just take a look on the internet at the number of aquatic societies, Koi clubs and Koi societies listed.

Why Join A Koi club or Aquatics Society?

A major advantage of belonging to a club or society is the pool of resources available to a member. You will be able to get relevant advice and help about almost anything related to your hobby. I guarantee that at some stage another member has had the same issue or problem as you.
There is guaranteed to be a member who can get you better deals on products or has knowledge of the latest products available.
Koi clubs and Fish keeping societies often invite guest speakers to talk about a particularly relevant topic or invite authors or famous faces in the hobby to offer guidance, advice and support.
Well organized Koi clubs and fish keeping societies will often have a full itinerary for the forthcoming year, prepared well in advance.
If you are into field trips or days out to visit other clubs or places of interest that relate to your hobby then joining a club or society also has a great social aspect to it. You never know you may meet a future partner or a life long buddy.

How do you I find or join a Fish keeping Club or Koi Club?

In these modern times the easiest way to find out the nearest fish keeping society or Koi club in your area is to take a look on the internet.
You could start by visiting your nearest aquarium retailer or koi dealer. They often have posters and fliers, advertising local club membership requests and activities.
Local libraries and book stores will also often advertise membership requests from local aquatic societies and fish keeping clubs. These clubs are always thrilled to receive new members.

The full article can be read at http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/garden-fish-koifishclubsocieties.htm ...

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Do You Know Your Pond Volume And Pond Depth?

2009-05-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Pond depth is one of those factors in pond building that is much talked about and misunderstood, particularly by those people who "mix" with dedicated koi keepers. So often you must ask yourself do I want a koi pond in which I want to raise large Koi or do I want a garden fish pond containing koi?

For most garden ponds 3 feet is deep enough and even less suits many situations. Koi ponds need 5ft to 6ft depth.

In cold climates shallow ponds freeze and in hot climates they get very warm. In shallow ponds you see MUCH more of your fish and their behavior.
Most aquatic plants prefer shallow ponds but many water lilies require 3 feet of water to grow to their best showing.

If you have a pond and the depth is not constant you can make a very good estimate by taking a stick and mark it in intervals of say 3 inches with an indelible ink pen. At 10 different places in the pond insert the stick and record the depths (get 10 numbers). Add the numbers together and divide by 10.

If your pond is of equal depth and the same cross section then you can accurately measure the pond volume using your pond pump. Using the pond pump and a pipe time how long it takes to fill say a 5 gallons container to the 5 gallons mark (not much more not much less). Now pump water out of the pond for say 5 minutes
Record the depth after pumping out water.

Volume of pond = (S x V x T2) DIVIDED BY (D x T1)

S = depth of pond in inches or any unit before pumping starts
D = inches or any unit of water pumped out of pond i.e. difference between start depth and final depth.
T1 = time to fill the container
T2 = time pump was run to pump out water
V = volume of container

Another Way To Measure Fish Pond Volume

Most homes in the USA have a water meter! This makes pond volume measurement simple if you start with an empty system. Just make sure that while filling the pond nobody uses then toilet, takes a shower does the washing up etc. All you have to do is then record the start and finish readings from the meter to get a very accurate indication of pond volume.

The full article can be read at http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/garden-pond-volumedepth.htm ...

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How To Succeed With Garden Fish Ponds

2009-05-03T10:44:00.001-07:00

What You Need To Know Before Building A Fish Pond ... A fish pond is more than a beautifully designed landscape feature with fish. It is a balanced eco system that requires specialized pond keeping equipment to maintain the overall eco balance and clean pure pond water.
Proper Koi Ponds Versus Garden Fish Ponds ... Breeding and Keeping Koi to professional breeding standards is a very expensive business and necessitates the need for professional pond filtration equipment, not to mention a large pond, usually in excess of 10,000 gallons.
Aerators And Oxygen The Secret Of Large Pond Care ... Large ponds are not just a bigger version of a small fish pond. They are a totally different creature that needs a totally different understanding.
Pond Keeping Tips And Answers ... This page will provide you with some simple pond keeping and water gardening general advice and tips, to help you avoid the common mistakes that many pond keepers make.
What Every Pond Keeper Ought To Know Before Emptying Their Pond ... From time to time you will need to carry out routine maintenance work on your pond, whether it is a preformed pond, liner pond or concrete Koi pond.
Fish Ponds Are Cheaper To Install Than Large Koi Ponds ... To grow large Koi you will need specialist Koi pond keeping equipment. To achieve healthy, large Koi you will need a large pond and ensure that the pond water is free from ammonia.
Backyard Pond Liners For Backyard Pond Construction ... Using rubber pond liners to construct your garden pond is the most versatile way of building a garden pond.
Garden Fish Pond Liner Selection Advice And Tips ... Unless you are intending to build a large Koi pond with the bottom drains and other specialist equipment needed to successfully keep these ornamental Koi, then a liner pond, constructed from EPDM rubber or butyl rubber is your best bet.
4 Good Reasons To Know Your Pond Water Volume ... To correctly specify the right pond filter you will need to know your pond volume. It is the volume of pond water together with the fish load that determines the pond size required and the amount of pond filter media required.
Planning and Preparing For A New Pond Build ... These are prime objectives that you need to be aware of when building and maintaining a garden fish pond.
New Pond Problems ... As soon as a new pond is stocked with fish, a continuous 'trickle' of ammonia is released into the water. As the trickle continues, the concentration of ammonia starts to rise until the pond's water quality is in danger of stressing your fish.
Backyard Water gardens And Pond Maintenance Tips ... Aquatic water gardening is a rapidly growing hobby and form of relaxation in the USA, much like the UK where it has been popular for many years.
Problem Solving And FAQ's For Pond Keepers ... Common answers and solutions to many pond keeping and water gardening frequently asked questions.
Garden Fish Pond Keeping Refresher Hints And Tips ... The aim of building a pond is create a focal point and pleasing distraction from life’s everyday routine and hassles.
Are You A Pond Keeper Or A Koi Pond Keeper? ... What exactly is it that differentiates the average hobbyist pond keeper from a Koi professional?
Which Pipe Fittings To Use In Fish Ponds ... Pipe fittings and selecting the right sizes can be confusing. 99% of garden ponds contain at least 2 components that need connecting and in some cases more than 3 items of equipment.

The full article can be read at http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/garden-pond-pondarticles.htm ...

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Large Ponds Are Too Big For Biofilters And UV Products

2009-05-03T10:36:00.000-07:00

Large ponds are not just a bigger version of a small fish pond. They are a totally different and need a totally different understanding. Trying to use a biological pond filter, simply will not work due to the volumes of water involved.

The addition of large amounts of oxygen allows even large ponds to be circulated. It also encourages wind effects. The addition of 2 large fountains or floating aerators will also do this.

Without oxygen added in this way your pond will accumulate debris that will settle at bottom and the pond will eventually silt up. Oxygen breaks down organic debris and allows the nitrification process to take place.

If you are the owner of a very large pond and do not cater for the addition of the large amounts of oxygen you will certainly end up with dead fish in summer, as the pond water temperature rises.

What is Bioaugmentation?
According to Wikipedia, Bioaugmentation is the introduction of a group of natural microbial strains or a genetically engineered variant to treat contaminated soil or water. In lay terms, with regard to pond keeping is is the addition of pond water treatments or pond water additives in order to cure a particular problem. Examples include adding pond algaecides, pond sludge removers etc ...

All bioaugmentation products work best when combined with oxygen rich pond water. These products are designed to combat the three forms of nutrients commonly found in pond water, namely: carbon (organic), nitrogen and phosphorous nutrients.

Large ponds with excess nutrients will be characterized by excess algae, weed growth and pond sediment build up.

The full article can be read at http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/garden-pond-largepondcare.htm ...

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Why Use A Tankless Pond Water Heater

2009-05-01T12:24:00.000-07:00

Do You want to let my Koi hibernate over the winter period and stop feeding or do I want to keep the pond water warm, encouraging them to continue eating, growing and developing?

If you decide that you want to continue feeding then you will need to use a pond water heater to maintain the required conditions. If you have a smaller pond, containing small Koi and mainly goldfish then you will at least need to maintain a small hole in the pond surface to allow dangerous gases to escape; a pond deicer is the best choice here.

In large Koi ponds, pond water heaters are in fact highly sophisticated automatically controlled gas fired tank less pond water heaters. In smaller backyard fish ponds immersion or tank water heating is often used.

Professional Koi pond keepers will often use gas fired tank less pond water heaters to maintain a constant ambient temperature for their Koi. These units keep the temperature constantly at around 15 Celsius (60 Fahrenheit). This is ideal for the Koi as it prevents there body from hibernating and allows them to continue feeding to maintain their size and to develop and grow.

As Koi hibernate they stop feeding, resulting in loss in body mass and overall size. There is also a weakening of the Koi’s immune system, making them more susceptible to fish disease problems and fish health problems.

For smaller fish ponds or koi holding tanks a submersible pond water heater that rests on the pond floor is probably your best bet. These electric immersion pond heaters have been designed in such a way that they must be constantly immersed and the controller must be protected from the elements.

As a general guide line you can work on the principle that 1 kilowatt (1000 watts) of electricity is sufficient to heat approximately 250 US gallons by 10 degrees Fahrenheit (approx 8 degrees Fahrenheit for Imperial gallons) and maintain that pond water temperature.

The full article can be read at http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/garden-pond-tanklesswaterheater.htm ...

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Are You A Pond Keeper Or A Koi Keeper?

2009-05-01T12:21:00.000-07:00

What exactly is it that differentiates the average hobbyist pond keeper from a Koi professional whose knowledge and skill in rearing and breeding these magnificent fish is much sought after. There are several differences in my opinion.

Class 1. The professional Koi keepers. People like Peter Waddington and Nigel Caddock who are extremely passionate and enthusiastic about their large Koi ponds. These people are at the front end of almost anything to do with Koi carp. They study and develop theories and systems to assist in the development of the hobby as a whole.
Class 2. Somewhat down the scale are the the large show prize winners. Those individuals who are financially able to buy prize winning Koi and benefit from the joys of entering them in competitions and perhaps even winning.
Class 3. The avid koi keeper who sees keeping koi as an entertaining interesting and challenging hobby on which a fair amount of money can be spent. This koi keeper type would enter important koi shows, perhaps win some of the lesser prizes quite often and rightly pride him/herself on the efforts and rewards of the hobby.
Class 4. The koi keeper who keeps ONLY koi in the pond but has no desire (yet) to enter or win competitions. The person is motivated by wanting to see how the smaller koi grow in the pond environment. This person is probably someone who may turn out to be a class 3 member one day and then class 2 and then maybe even a class 1 Koi keeper.
Class 5. The average garden pond keeper; people like you and me who strive for a perfectly healthy, crystal clear pond with healthy pond fish in it. The species of fish kept does not have to be a prize winning Koi. In fact the type of fish does not really matter at all; goldfish, koi, rudd, golden orfe are all acceptable.

The full article can be read at http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/garden-pond-pondkeepertokoikeeper.htm ...

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Seasonal Pond Care Articles

2009-05-01T12:15:00.000-07:00

Spring Time Pond Keeping Maintenance What Do I Need To Do? ... Spring is a time of year that can initially be a bit of a surprise to your Koi and other pond fish. It is at this time of year that they are most susceptible to fish health problems, as their fasting period has left them with a reduced immune system.
Seasonal Fish Pond Keeping Hints And Advice Spring Time Has Arrived ... Spring is the time of year that life comes back to your garden fish pond. Koi and gold fish are on the prowl looking for much needed food, after their semi hibernation during the cold bleak days of the past winter.
The Fish Pond Keepers Guide To Northern Hemisphere Spring Water Garden Ponds ... Spring is the time of year that those little amphibious monsters crawl out of their leaf heaps to get it on.
Pond Keepers Guide To Preparing Your Garden Pond For Winter ... Fall is the time of year that routine maintenance to pond keeping equipment and aquatic plants needs to take place. It is also the time of year to be aware of the do's and don'ts of keeping your Koi, goldfish and other pond fish healthy and safe over the forthcoming winter season.
The Pond Keepers Guide To Cleaning Your Water Garden Fish Pond In The Fall ... In a normal water garden fish pond which does not have the advantage of a bottom drain there will be a gradual build up of organic matter and solid fish waste over a period of time. If left it will start to decay, producing toxic gases and starve your pond of oxygen.
Winter Ponds Tankless Pond Water Heaters Keep Koi Ponds Warm And Safe To Feed ... Do I want to let my Koi hibernate over the winter period and stop feeding or do I want to keep the pond water warm, encouraging them to continue eating, growing and developing?

The full article can be read at http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/garden-pond-seasonalarticles.htm ...

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Specify Pond Pump Flow Rate

2009-04-30T12:09:00.000-07:00

In a fish pond with a waterfall, the pond pump flow rate refers to the amount of water required to give you the desired water fall effect. You will need to know the correct pond pump flow rate and the desired pump head for your application.

If you use a pump that is under powered then your waterfall will simply not look like a waterfall but more like a dripping tap. On the other hand too much water will create quite a noise and cost you more in electricity costs.

Always choose ribbed hose as it does not kink and allows water to flow around bends and curves. The aim is to reduce the flow restriction to the minimal possible.

When you are looking at pumps you will normally see the maximum pump flow rating, printed on the outside of the box. This to all intent and purpose is not practical as this figure describes the particular pond pump’s ability when it does not have any pond hose connected to it.

A decent pond pump will always show the volume that can be pumped at different head heights.

What Is Pond Pump Flow Rate?

A pond pump flow rate is the amount of pond water that can be pumped through your pond system to get the waterfall effect you're looking for. The pond pump flow rate must also take into consideration your pond filter system. If you have a fish pond, without a waterfall then a good flow rate for your pump would be about half the fish pond total volume every hour.

If you are running a waterfall in your garden pond, you'll need to determine the pump head before selecting a pump. As a quick summary, pond pump head is the height (measured from the SURFACE of the water) to the inlet of the waterfall. In other words, this is the height to which the water must be lifted in order to operate the waterfall.

The full article can be read at http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/garden-pond-pumpflowrate.htm ...

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