Sean's Pond Keeping Blog

The Purpose of a Pond Skimmer Filter

2011-10-20T13:36:00.001-07:00

In its simplest terms a pond skimmer filter is a mechanical pond filtration system that removes leaves, grass cuttings and other vegetation that can be found, floating on the surface of your fish pond. They are particularly useful during autumn (fall) when trees start to shed their leaves; usually into your pond, unfortunately!

A pond surface skimmer doesn’t simply remove the pond surface debris so as to maintain the look and feel of your fish pond. By removing excess pond surface debris it also helps to ensure that the debris can’t fall to the pond floor and form sludge; thereby removing the opportunity for unwanted bacteria colonies to form. The build up of these heterotrophic bacteria encourages fish disease and the release of toxic gases, such as hydrogen sulphide.

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

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How To Choose A Solar Pond Pump For Your Pond

2011-10-19T14:24:00.000-07:00

Traditionally, garden pond owners have always used mains powered electricity as the power source to power their garden pond equipment; whether that is a pond pump, pond filter, pond skimmer or pond UV sterilizer etc. In recent years however many manufacturers are producing water gardening equipment that utilizes the sun’s natural energy as a power source.

This is especially the case when it comes to choosing a garden pond pump. As energy prices rise and people are becoming more frugal with their hard earned money there has been a dramatic rise in the numbers of solar garden pond pumps on the market; especially in the UK, where I live.

Yes I know what you are thinking “surely the UK doesn’t get enough sunshine to make a solar pond pump a viable option – wrong!). Believe it or not many of the leading solar pond pumps available to the UK water gardening market function very well, given the UK’s climate.

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

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Why Pond Vacs Are Essential For A Garden Pond

2011-10-19T14:09:00.000-07:00

Pond Vacuum Cleaners, more commonly known as Pond Vacs are a very practical and useful bit of pond keeping equipment. They are perfect for carrying out the mucky job of removing excess pond sludge caused by decaying fish food, rotting vegetation, dead string algae (hair algae). Unlike a domestic vacuum cleaner a pond vacuum cleaner has a more important function than simply tidying. The removal of slime (sludge) and other pond debris matter is essential to the well being of your pond environment so as to prevent the build up of excess ammonia, sulphur dioxide and a general increase in the build up of unwanted bacterial colonies.

By removing the unwanted sludge from the bottom of your fish pond you are helping to ensure that the delicate balance of your outdoor fish pond or indoor fish pool is maintained. Remember that it is seldom a possibility to completely empty the pond and relocate the inhabitants (fish, toads etc) simply because you want to carry out an extensive spring clean. It is far simpler and just as effective to use a pond vac cleaner to keep your fish pond a healthy, eco friendly home for its inhabitants.

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

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Koi Growth Explained

2011-03-24T16:24:00.000-07:00

Koi Growth & Koi Size Depends On Several Factors

Given optimum conditions (quality diet, adequate space, healthy pond environment etc) Koi will grow rapidly like their plainer colored carp cousins. Koi are after all fancy colored carp.

Koi growth and Koi size is determined to a large extent by the size of the pond in which they live. A 1000 gallon pond, for example isn't going to produce substantially large Koi.

I'm sure you have seen pictures of really large Koi, which surprisingly don't look elegant and graceful, but more fat and disfigured.

These fish known as Jumbo Koi, in the Koi keeping world, have been substantially overfed and under exercised.

To achieve healthy Koi that reach their full growth potential, coloration and vibrancy, you will need a large pond, a feeding regime that incorporates the best Koi foods and excellent biological filtration.

Professional Koi keepers ensure that their Koi are in tip top condition by introducing a current into their ponds.

This current ensures that there is always resistance in the water. This is akin to us human's running uphill on a treadmill. Koi like humans need to exercise and watch their diet if they are to remain lean and fit.

What Encourages Maximum Koi Growth And Koi Size?

The maximum size of your Koi depends upon both genetic factors and the size of the pond, in which they live. The diet Koi's diet is also a major part in determining the mass of the individual Koi. These factors along with excellent biological filtration with result in excellent results in terms of the mass of the Koi.

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

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Koi Digestion Explained

2011-03-24T16:19:00.000-07:00

So How Do Koi Carp Digest Their Food?

A Koi is an efficient eating machine; designed to absorb nutrients that are useful, and discard what its body can't utilize.

The koi food and koi treats that are sold to pond keepers world wide is totally and utterly different from the natural diet of Koi, living in the wild. The digestive tract of Koi carp is designed to assimilate far more stubborn substances than laboratory manufactured koi food. These foods however will help you to avoid obese Koi and sick koi fish.

Koi Food Digestion Explained

In Koi carp, food is efficiently broken down into what is advantageous and what isn't. Nutritious goodness is digested and absorbed. Anything that isn't useful is expelled through its vent (anus).

This mechanical and physical process is aided by numerous food receptors that are highly sensitive to the presence of food. Koi are equipped with extremely good eye sight, a fantastic sense of smell and excellent hearing.

These highly tuned senses help the Koi to easily discern if they are about to receive a meal. You may have noticed that Koi appear to be excited and rise to the surface when they see a human presence, near the pond. They believe they are about to be fed.

When fish food or a tasty morsel, such as insect larvae enters the Koi's mouth it comes into contact with pharyngeal teeth. These teeth are perfect for grinding down the food substance into much smaller particles; these particles then pass into the Koi's digestive system.
The full article can be read at http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/Koi_Digestion_Article.htm

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Keep Koi Skin Healthy

2011-03-24T16:15:00.000-07:00

Maintain Healthy Koi Skin

The majority of pond keepers who have Koi have them because of their beauty. Vivid colors and markings make these magnificent creatures a pleasure to behold.

In order to maintain this ornamental beauty it is important to ensure that you look after the Koi's skin in order to prevent serious skin infection on koi fishes.

I know! You are thinking that surely the color comes from the Koi carp's scales. It does, but contrary to popular belief, the scales are underneath a Koi's skin. This thin membrane is all that separates these delicate scales from the harsh realities of a pond environment.

By knowing what constitutes healthy skin you will also be able to spot early signs of possible disease and injuries.
What is the Purpose of Koi Skin?

As outlined earlier, the skin protects the delicate scales from the harsh realities of a fish pond; bacteria, rough objects, other fish. The skin acts as a barrier, providing a very important protective role by secreting mucus. This mucus fights off infection, bacteria and other fish skin problems.

When a Koi carp is stressed or living in a pond that contains poor pond water quality it produces extra mucus. This offers extra protection.

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

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Breed Koi In Your Garden Pond

2011-03-24T16:12:00.000-07:00

How To Successfully Breed Koi In Your Koi Pond

If you are really lucky, your Koi will breed and provide you with some new Koi to admire. Breeding Koi, however, isn't as simple as throwing together male and female Koi. They need the right conditions to be present. To ensure that this is the case you, as the pond keeper will need to do some preparation, in advance of their spawning season.

A male Koi reaches its optimum breeding condition at around 3 to 5 years of age; whilst a female Koi carp reaches her peak at between 4 to 6 years of age. The libido of Koi can be somewhat on the slow side. Believe it or not the best way to prepare your Koi for breeding is to condition them in about 1 year in advance.

The first thing you need to make sure of is that your Koi carp are healthy and well fed. Starting during the colder winter months you will need to place your Koi in what is termed a "hibernation cycle". This needs to be done for several months.

As the pond water temperature drops during the colder winter months, experienced in northern USA and northern Europe, your Koi will stop eating. As Koi carp spawn in spring they need to go through this cycle.

Preparing Your Koi Pond For Spawning

There are four main requirements needed in order to successfully breed Koi carp

Adequate media that provides a place where they can lay their eggs.
The right pond water temperature.
Privacy.
Good water quality.

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

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Japanese Names For Koi Carp

2011-03-24T16:08:00.000-07:00

So How Do The Japanese Name Koi?

To those who are new to pond keeping please note that Koi, belong to the carp family, and are indigenous to Japan.

Many of the leading Koi carp breeders and experts are Japanese; not too surprising given that they have been dealing with these beautiful fish for hundreds of years.

Fortunately, however, you don’t need a thorough grasp of spoken Japanese, to be able to understand the meaning of Koi names. You may find some of the pronunciation a bit difficult though.

The Japanese language is fairly logical and the names they have attributed to Koi carp describe the patterns and colors of each variety.

Japanese terms used to describe Koi

The Japanese use specific words and terms to describe particularly varieties and features of Koi fish; including color, pattern and undesirable patterns or features.

In the Koi keeping world the ultimate winner is the Go Sanke varieties, of which there are three:

Kohaku – A white Koi with a red pattern.
Sanke – A white Koi with a red and black pattern.
Showa – A black Koi that has a red and white pattern.

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

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Have I Got Male or Female Koi

2011-03-24T16:06:00.000-07:00

For the average pond keeper, differentiating between male and female Koi is no easy task. The task is a bit easier come spring time, however, with the onset of the mating season.

The task of identifying whether or not your baby Koi is male or female is almost impossible until he or she is mature enough to breed.

In the Koi world it is the female Koi that are larger than their male counterparts. In competitions it is usually female Koi that win the silver ware. Too bad fellas...

This is a generalization however because the size of a Koi depends upon several factors, including:

Pond size
Koi diet
The number of fish in the pond.

For professional Koi breeders, and those buying and selling Koi it is very important to be able to identify whether a particular Koi is male or female.

During the breeding season, male Koi carp will often exhibit small white bumps on their head, unlike their female counterparts.

During spawning the female Koi will release her eggs, ready for fertilization by male Koi. These eggs will need something to attach to.

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

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What is Pond pH

2011-03-24T16:02:00.000-07:00

Pond pH is a subject area that is frequently mentioned in pond keeping circles. Like Grammarian's i.e. those that study English Grammar, some people go one step too far and make the subject area all encompassing and mystical sounding.

In simple terms, the pH of any substance is a reading between 0 - 14; 0 being extremely acidic and 14 being extremely alkaline. A reading of 7 is what is known as a neutral pH.

Examples: Sulphuric acid has a very low pH and caustic soda has a high very high pH. A lower pH, indicates a stronger acid; the higher the pH, the stronger the alkali.

So from the above scale it can be deduced that anything with a pH of less than 7 is classed as acidic. pH is a logarithmic scale i.e. the difference between a pH of 6 and a pH of 7 is actually a difference of 10 points; not 1.

Common vinegar known chemically as acetic acid, whilst acidic is nowhere near as acidic or dangerous as Sulphuric acid. In fact acetic acid is commonly used in small doses on the famous English dish - fish and chips.

At the other end of the pH scale is caustic soda (pH of 14); a strong bases or alkali.

A weaker alkali is common baking soda or bicarbonate of soda (taken for upset stomachs).

When a strong alkaline solution is added to a strong acidic solution there is a tremendous amount of heat generated, along with vigorous activity, as a chemical reaction takes place.

So what has this got to do with my pond?

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

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Pond Plant Insects & Pond Plant Diseases

2011-03-24T15:52:00.000-07:00

I recently received an email from a subscriber to my newsletter series, who lives in Australia.

Robert, was looking for some advice relating to to some of his aquatic water lily. His lilies appear to be under attack from a fungal infection, of some description; most probably Water Lily Crown Rot.

It struck me that despite all the articles I've written regarding pond keeping, I seldom write about pond plants.

So here goes...

Pond Plant Health & Factors Affecting Aquatic Pond Plants

The sight of crystal clear water, fishing swimming around, and decorative pond plants is a truly wonderful sight to behold.

The aim of the majority of pond keepers is to maintain this relaxing, tranquil image in the forefront of their minds. The last thing anyone wants is a fish pond containing decaying and lifeless aquatic plants.

Not only is this unsightly, but it also impacts upon the pond water in many ways; including: increased pond sludge, increased levels of ammonia and nitrite, changes to the pH of the water, increased levels of heterotrophic bacteria etc. All these eventually affect the health of pond fish and pond life.

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

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Help! Some Advice Needed Regarding A Fish Pond Kit

2011-02-15T11:39:00.000-08:00

Today, I would like to share an email I received from Tony, a subscriber to my newsletter, who lives in the UK.

Tony is new to pond keeping and was looking for some advice relating to a fish pond kit that had been given to him by a neighbour.

"Sean,

I have just registered with your organisation and I need help and hope you can advise me. I would be most grateful for any assistance whatsoever as I am a complete novice in respect of ponds.

Last year as a birthday present I was given a complete pond kit after my neighbour, having a clear out, gave me an unused but shed soiled fibreglass pond. Now that I have got this pond liner in place I plan this spring to set it all up. I am not sure if I need a pond filter (I will eventually have fish) or whether the pre filter in the pump (part of the kit) will be adequate to deal with the water capacity which I have calculated to be 1500 litres.

The kit I have got is a Gardenline PLU 481 by Heissner UK who I am unable to contact as I presume they have gone bust or closed down. So I am struggling.

I am a pensioner so not a lot of dosh is available but I would like to get things up and running so my grandchildren and the rest of the family can enjoy this feature which forms an integral part of my small but rescued garden and is adjacent to an old concrete pond, put in buy a previous owner that is being converted to a marsh area; to attract wildlife.

I am getting older so I need to get this sorted soon otherwise I will have to abandon the project and fill the pond in.

If I do need another filter Argos have some in stock and wonder if a Fishmate 2500 litre pond gravity filter UVC will suit? (But what does the gravity description mean?)

Please help.

Regards,
Tony.

To see my reply go to http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/newsletters/Pond_Kit_Advice.htm

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Will My Pond Fish Suffer If They Miss A Meal?

2011-02-15T11:33:00.000-08:00

Today I would like to discuss how you can maintain the health and vibrancy of your Koi, goldfish and other popular pond fish varieties by feeding the right amount of fish food.

Your Body Digests Food Differently To Pond Fish

Unlike human beings, fish don't have a stomach as such. Instead they have one long intestine that extends from their throat to their vent (anus).

A Koi's digestive tract is more efficient the longer food remains in contact with its gut. The longer the contact, the greater the number of nutrients absorbed. In many ways this can be likened to the speed at which water containing microscopic algae cells passes through a UV clarifier. If water passes through too quickly then exposure time to UV light will be insufficient; rendering the unit pretty much useless.

These nutrients are essential for development and growth, fin and cartilage repair, maintenance of healthy bones and blood flow. In fact these nutrients are required for nearly every bodily function.

That is why it is important when choosing a fish food to always consider the nutritional content (protein and vitamins) as well as the shelf life and freshness. Avoid foods that contain plenty of fillers. They are of little calorific value and quickly pass through the fish's digestive tract.

Observe Pond Fish Behavior And Take Note
Pond fish will often appear to be constantly on the look out for a tasty morsel; this is especially true of koi carp (the pigs of the pond) who are fantastic foragers and often responsible for uprooting potted pond plants, in their quest for food.

You can't really blame them because they are acting according to their nature. They are looking for a favorite snack; some tasty insects. Ever the opportunist, they will often venture to the service hoping that some fish pellets have been added to the surface of their home.

The full article can be read at http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/newsletters/Pond_Fish_Food_Facts.htm Learn how to choose the right pond keeping equipment online, to save money, Guaranteed!

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Keeping Koi In A Koi Pond Requirements

2010-10-13T12:55:00.000-07:00

To grow large Koi and to adhere to good koi keeping practice you will need specialist Koi pond keeping equipment.

Keeping koi pond water clear and healthy is far more difficult a task than is required to maintain a small garden fish pond.

There are also specialist feeding regimes that will need to be adhered to. Here is a list of the basics needed if you intend keeping koi in a pond...

Correctly fitted bottom drains to remove debris from the pond floor.
Correct shape pond in order to prevent dead spots.
A Pond skimmer to remove organic matter such as leaves and other debris that falls into the pond.
A pond that is at least 5ft deep. The deeper the pond the better the chances of the Koi surviving the ice cold winter weather.
An external pond pump that is capable of producing high flow rates so that the rate at which water is pumped to the bead filter or vortex filter is high.
A pond heater for maintaining an ambient temperature during the colder winter months.

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

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Pond Liner Repair Kits & Concrete Pond Sealant Review

2010-10-13T12:45:00.000-07:00

During the summer months you may find that you will need to top up your pond with water, due to evaporation. If however you find that you seem to have to continually fill up then you have more than likely got a leak of some kind.

Fish ponds typically leak as a result of one of one of three things:

Leaks
Punctured or sagging pond liners
Water wicking i.e. when surrounding plant life absorbs water from your garden pond.

Pond liner leaks are easily patched with a fish pond liner repair kit, unless the damage is extensive in which case you will more than likely need a new pond liner. These fish pond liner repair kits are usually universal and will fix EPDM, Butyl or PVC liners.

For this reason I would always advise you to use some kind of pond underlay. Most quality liners come with a 25 or 35 year warranty and you may find that you are covered against the cost of the replacement pond liner by the warranty.

Concrete fish pond repair, providing the leak isn't too extensive can be fixed quite simply by G4 Pond Repair Sealant.

Firestone EPDM Fish Pond Liner Repair Kit

Firestone’s QuickSeam® pond liner repair kit has been specifically designed to work with EPDM liner. At the heart of the system is EPDM laminated tape. It’s quick and easy to apply.

These fish pond repair kits contain enough material to seam 25 linear feet and includes: seam preparation treatment, splice tape, scrubbing handle and pads, roller and wipes. Not for indoor use.

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

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Oase Pond Lighting Review

2010-10-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

Pond or lawn and garden lighting enables you to appreciate your pond or garden at night. Lights are available in a variety of styles and colors to help illuminate areas both in and out of the pond.

Under water and floating lights are used to highlight and enhance the features of your water garden or fountains at night. This allows you to extend the enjoyment of your pond past sunset.

Oase PondJet 3 Floating Pond Lighting

The Oase Pond Jet 3 Floating Pond Fountain Light can be used anywhere, even where muddy or deep pond floors do not allow for easy installation of a water feature pump. Water pattern is approximately 10' high and 10' diameter.

A Minimum water depth of 3ft to 4.5ft is needed for these Oase pond lights. Unit consists of Pump - Float - Nozzle assembly.

The Pond Jet Water Fountain Light Kit guarantees proper illumination ... 2400 GPH ... 260 Watts ... 75' cord ... 3 year limited warranty.

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

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Best Koi Goldfish Food Reviews

2010-10-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

Your koi, goldfish and other pond fish living in your garden pond will benefit significantly from a nutritionally balanced diet that provides them with the correct amount of proteins, vitamins and carbohydrates, needed for them to achieve their maximum potential in terms of size, health and coloration.

There are many fish food manufacturing companies who all claim that their koi goldfish food range is the best. Alas this is not true.

Always buy industry recognized brands as this will save you money in the long run.

I would always advise you to purchase floating fish food. Floating fish food pellets or floating fish food sticks as excess food can be easily removed from the pond, after about 5 minutes, before it sinks to the pond floor, polluting the water.

Pondmaster Integra Floating Pond Fish Food Pellets

Pondmaster Floating Fish Food Pellets have been specifically formulated to ensure the health of koi, goldfish and all other types of pond fish.

These floating pellets for koi & pond fish are a properly balanced fish food that encourages metabolic growth and repair to damaged worn out tissue. It also provides for energy storage during hibernation in the form of layers of fat.

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

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Submersible Pond UV Filter Reviews

2010-10-13T12:35:00.000-07:00

Emperor Aquatics Tadpole 25 Watt Submersible Filters

The Emperor Aquatics Tadpole Fish Pond UV Filter is a complete, submersible biofilter system, suitable for smaller fish ponds up to 1,500 gallons.

Place your Tadpole UV directly in the pond to trap solid waste and eliminate algae and green water. The Tadpole UV’s 500 GPH draws in dirty water through the filter pad, then through its internal 25 watt Ultraviolet sterilizer, trapping and holding solid waste while eliminating nuisance waterborne algae.

The pond pump, internal Prefilter and UV sterilizer are precisely matched for maximum performance! The Emperor Aquatics Tadpole Fish Pond UV Filter is easy to install, operate and service!

Sicce Ninpheo Pressurized 36 Watt UV Filter

The reliable and sturdy Ninpheo pond filter tops the pond filter line for durability and efficiency, and stands up to the rigorous demands of outdoor water gardening.

This new pressurized 36W UV light pond filter is available in the 50L canister with a great filtration capacity for small as well as very large ponds.

This Sicce Pressurized UV Pond Filter offers mechanical filtration (3 sponges of different densities together with an efficient UV sterilizer for crystal clear pond water.)

The full article can be read at http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Emperor-Aquatics-TadpoleUVfilter.html

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Fluidbead Ultimate Bead Filter Review

2010-10-13T12:23:00.000-07:00

The Fluidbead Ultimate System incorporates the class leading Fluidbead Stainless Steel Filter, Turbo Vortex, 1 HP 2 Speed Pump and the Elektra Pro UV10 (UV Sterilizer).

The Variable hydraulic backwash ensures a thorough cleaning, preventing any dirty debris from entering back into the pond system. This space saving bead filter is a compact unit measuring 18" footprint by 56" tall. It comes with a whopping 4.0 CU. FT. of biological bead filter media that beats the benchmark industry standard for bead filtration systems by 450%

A multi port valve allows medical bypass and rinsing after the back wash cycle. This makes cleaning the filter an effortless task with just an easy movement of the handle to the backwash position.

The lower portion of the Fluidbead Ultimate System houses the fluidized bed filtration. The water is in constant motion, providing high levels of oxygenated water and ammonia to the beneficial bacteria, living on the bio bead filter media.

Channelling or clogging is a thing of the past with these bead pond filters. The upper portion of the Fluidbead ultimate System holds the floating plastic bead filter media, that form bead packs to trap waste solids and particles. Water then flows back into the pond system.

By bringing these two proven filtration technologies together (biological bead filtration and fluidized bed filtration) in a single unit the range of Fluidbead Ultimate stainless steel koi pond bead filters provide the discerning pond keeper with a powerful tool for biological and mechanical filtration.

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

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Best Dirty Water Pump Reviews

2010-10-13T12:18:00.000-07:00

Whenever choosing a pump, whether that be a pond pump, solids handling pond pump (solid waste pump) or a dirty water pump (irrigation pump) an important yet often overlooked factor is the running cost (power consumption).

Many cheap to buy pond pumps end up costing you more in the long run to operate because they use more electricity and don't usually come with the level of reliability that you would expect.

The models shown on this page are energy efficient solids handling pumps and dirty water pond pumps designed for removing large solids and handling large waste, found in ponds, wells and pits.

Solids handling pond pumps have been designed to pump high volumes of water on a continuous 24/7 basis.

They are perfect for drainage applications and pumping water between containers and for small irrigation purposes.

Whilst they can be used as a submersible They are not the ideal for use in backyard ponds.

For backyard garden ponds I would recommend a submersible pond pump such as OASE Pond Pumps for smaller ponds or an external pond pump such as the Sequence Energy Saving Pump for large ponds, which use a high pressure bead filtration system.

Read the full article at http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Solids-Handling-Pumps.html

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Matala Waterfall Pond Pump Reviews

2010-10-13T12:13:00.000-07:00

It doesn't matter whether you have a large concrete pond or a pvc liner pond you will need a pond pump of some description. A pond pump is the heart and soul of any outdoor fish pond or indoor fish pond for that matter.

In general pond pumps for small to medium sized ponds tend to be submersible pond pumps i.e. they can be placed in the pond and are fully waterproof. In fact they are water cooled in many instances by the pond water itself. They require very little installation effort. Usually all you need to do is place the unit on a brick or two on the pond floor. This helps to prevent the pump from sucking up pond debris off the pond floor.

Submersible pumps are often hidden out of sight within a pond skimmer filter. In this application they usually supply a waterfall type filter as it flows back to the pond providing aeration and water circulation.

The submersible pump may be pulled from the water occasionally to clean its pre-filter or screen.

Submersible pond pumps are quieter running than the bigger and more powerful external pond pumps. And because they are below water level or hidden within a skimmer filter box they do not ruin the look or feel of the pond aesthetics.

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

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Sicce Fountain Pumps Review

2010-10-07T13:28:00.000-07:00

Why Fountain Pumps Are So Popular?

Pond fish as well as us humans love pond fountains. We love them because they add beauty and sound to what might otherwise be quite a plain old boring fish pond.

The fish love them because the splashing water helps atmospheric oxygen to enter the pond. This makes for a healthier environment for pond fish to live in.

Types of Fountain Display

The patterns of water formed are created by a fountain pump pushing water through a water fountain nozzle. There are many different pattern formations available including: Cascading, tier, bubble, Tulip etc.

How To Choose The Best Submersible Fountain Pumps...

There isn't a definitive answer to "How to choose the best fountain pumps" unfortunately. However you can't really go wrong if you stick to the following:

Avoid fountain pumps with sponges in the suction because they soon become blocked and reduce the flow of water through the nozzle.
Choose a branded product from an industry recognized supplier, who is willing to back up the product with a decent guarantee (2 YEARS OR MORE).
Make sure the fountain pump model comes with a variety of different fountain nozzle heads (spray nozzles) for different effects because variety is the spice of life so they say.

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

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Birds Infect Ponds With Parasites

2010-10-07T13:24:00.000-07:00

Have you ever witnessed your koi and gold fish rubbing themselves against the sides of the pond or rocks and other surfaces within the pond?

If the answer is yes then chances are your fish have been infected by some kind of parasitic infestation (parasite).

The problem is that many parasites can not be seen with the naked eye and to the uninitiated it would appear that perhaps this is normal behaviour for pond fish.

The flashing, flicking and jumping is common practice for the poor fish suffering from parasite infection and is their way of trying to remove the cause.

As is the case with most pond related problems heavily stocked ponds with poor water quality are much more likely to fall victim to severe outbreaks of fish pond parasites.

Fish pond parasites often find their way into your fish pond via bird droppings which fall into the water and subsequently infect fish.

The parasite will in the first instance infect a snail which in turn is eaten by your koi or other fish species.

The eye fluke is an example of one such parasite which may lead to blindness, depending on the extent of the infection.

Black spot disease is caused yet again by fish eating birds such as King fishers and herons who having eaten an infected fish continue the parasites life cycle by releasing eggs into the pond through their droppings.

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

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Little Giant Biological Percolate Filter

2010-10-07T13:18:00.000-07:00

These Little Giant Pond Filters have a corrugated design for extra strength anchoring, and anti-flotation.

The BioVort vortex separator plate creates a cyclone type up flow to help uniformly separate and evenly disperse debris across pond filter media and settle debris for less maintenance and better filtration.

The biological filter media consists of Matala media pads that provide mechanical filtration plus the ideal surface environment for beneficial bacteria growth.

This easy to mount, professional grade pond biological filter is not only an efficient biological filter but a decorative waterfall water feature as well.

Locating the Waterfall The Waterfall can be positioned adjacent to the pond fringe in a easy configuration.

Benefits...

Primary biological media bag and mesh bag included.
All pipe work and plumbing is hidden from view.
The design allows you to place plant baskets on the lid so as to make a natural disguise.
These Little Giant Pond Filters incorporate Biovort technology to ensure an even spread of pond water across the Matala filter pad biomedia.

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

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Best Way To Keep Algae At Bay

2010-10-04T17:09:00.000-07:00

The sure fire way to achieve clean pond water that is crystal clear and free from suspended green algae and the best way to clean algae from a pond is to use a UV pond filter or either an ultraviolet clarifier or Ultraviolet sterilizer.

Although UV clarifiers, UV sterilizers and biological pond filters are available as separate units, it makes far more sense to combine the two pieces of pond keeping equipment into a single unit.

The combination of the two units will often save you money and because the units have been designed to work together you will no longer need to worry about incompatibility issues, guaranteed!

Difference Between A UV Sterilizer & UV Clarifier...

A UV sterilizer sanitizes the pond water, killing pathogens and other water borne bacteria as well as using UVC light to destroy green pond algae, whereas a UV clarifier does not sterilize the water but has been designed solely to kill green algae using UV light.

UV pond sterilizers are normally used in large Koi ponds and tend to be much more expensive.

Common Types of Pond Algae...

There are several algae types commonly found in fish ponds. Some are much more easily controlled than others, whilst others are actually beneficial to your Koi and goldfish ...

1) The Good Algae ... The good algae are the small algae that you commonly see attached to nearly every available surface in the fish pond, including pumps, piping and the pond side walls. This algae type is fairly small and grows to about half an inch long and acts as a tasty snack for pond fish.

2) The Bad Algae - The filamentous string algae varieties, such as blanket weed, which can grow rapidly and reach several feet in length.

3) The Ugly Algae - The planktonic algae or single celled algae only measures 4 microns in size but in vast numbers your pond water becomes cloudy and often becomes quite smelly.

Learn how to control the various algae types by reading the full article here ...

http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/garden-pond-cleanfishponds.htm

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How To Maintain Algae Free Ponds

2010-10-04T17:01:00.000-07:00

If you own a garden pond then I am willing to bet that you have struggled with pond algae from time to time!

Pond algae is the scourge of pond keepers throughout the world. There are several treatments available to pond keepers, but the best way to control pond algae is to use a UV sterilizer or UV Clarifier...

There are several types of algae, found in a garden pond, including suspended algae and string algae, of which blanket weed is a common variety. This article is concerned with suspended algae and its effect on pond water.

In warm weather and in particularly heavily populated ponds you will often see algae blooms, that turn the once clear pond water into what resembles a bowl of pea green soup, hence the name pea soup algae.

What Is An Algae Bloom?

An algae bloom is caused by the rapid reproduction of plank tonic algae when there is a lot of sunshine and nutrients in the pond water.

The disadvantage of an algae bloom is that the algae die off and start to decompose on the pond floor. This significant increase in the level of rotting organic matter is bad for your pond as it increases the level of ammonia and reduces the level of oxygen.

Oxygen is used up as part of the decaying process. The end result is an increase in carbon dioxide. The decrease of oxygen levels and the increase in carbon dioxide is detrimental to the health of your pond in the following ways ...

Remember that oxygen is critical for the nitrifying bacteria that breakdown ammonia. It is also essential for pond fish and other aquatic life.

How Does A UV Sterilizer Prevent Algae?

The most effective way to control pond algae is to use a UV sterilizer or UV clarifier. The power of blue ultraviolet light that is generated at a particular wavelength is a miracle for pond keepers. UV light occurs naturally in nature and is one of the reasons we get sunburned on holiday.

The effectiveness of a UV sterilizer is affected by temperature to a large extent. At 40 C (104 F) it works at maximum efficiency. A drop in temperature to 20 C (68 F) results in a drop in efficiency to only 50%.

Manufacturers of UV sterilizers get around this rapid drop in efficiency by insulating the UV lamp with a quartz sleeve. UV light transmits through the quartz, so the maximum efficiency is maintained.

How Does A Pond UV Work In A Fish Pond?

As pond water containing the floating algae passes through the quartz tube it is bombarded with ultra violet rays, either directly or via highly reflective metal surfaces. The UV rays destroy the cell walls of the algae, causing what is known as flocculation to occur (the dead algae clump together forming a much large mass).

This makes removal by a pond filter or pond skimmer possible. Prior to clumping a single suspended algae cell measures about 4 microns across (4 millionths of a meter).

Other Methods Used To Control Floating Pond Algae

1) Pond Algaecides are not in my opinion a good idea for the following reasons: they need to be administered in precise doses; too much can harm nitrifying bacteria colonies and the health of pond fish. They only work for a short period of time.

2) A Veggie Filter, also known as a bog filter consists of pond plants that are deliberately starved of nutrients. The aquatic plants get their food source from the nitrates in the pond water. They compete with algae for these nutrients and as a result help to keep the pond algae under control. They do not guarantee algae free ponds however.

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

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How To Keep A Healthy Clean Pond

2010-10-04T16:53:00.000-07:00

It is important to understand that I don't just mean clean, crystal clear water. I actually mean a healthy, stable environment where the pond water chemistry is in equilibrium and the pond inhabitants are healthy, stress free and free from illness and disease.

What is the perfect environment for pond fish to live in?

To be honest I am not sure what the perfect environment is and I don't speak fish.

I can only assume that a perfect environment is one in which your Koi, goldfish and other pond fish varieties can grow, develop and live what appears to be a happy life! It is far easier to point out what will definitely make their life pretty miserable.

High ammonia levels in ponds combined with high nitrite levels and pathogenic bacteria will definitely make them want to relocate to somewhere else.

Unfortunately if this is the state of play within your pond then they will get their wish; unfortunately the place they will be relocating to is that great big fish pond in the sky, with halos and angels.

So how do you ensure that your fish live in a safe, clean, healthy pond?

The secret is to ensure that first and foremost the levels of ammonia and nitrite in your pond are kept under control. By reducing ammonia in ponds you are at least going to stop your pond inhabitants: Koi, goldfish, Rudd, frogs snails etc from falling victim to ammonia poisoning.

Controlling Ammonia In Fish Ponds...

Reducing ammonia in ponds is critically important. The secret to controlling ammonia in fish ponds is to use a biological pond filter, also known as a biofilter. A fish pond biofilter carries out the nitrogen cycle in your pond and removes these harmful chemicals by converting them into nitrate, which can be used by your aquatic plants as a food source.

It is important to regularly check your pond water using a pond test kit; check for ammonia, nitrite and pH at a minimum. The way a pond looks can be deceiving and does not necessarily mean that all is well below the surface.

Your pond may have crystal clear water and be free from algae blooms but that doesn't always mean it is a healthy environment for your fish to live in. On the other hand a fish pond with small algae blooms might look dirty but because ammonia and nitrite levels are under control, it is in fact as near to a perfect environment as possible.

How To Keep A Fish Pond Clean & Keep Pond Fish Healthy...

1) Use a correctly specified pond bio filter ... As stated above ensure that you use a garden pond filter that is suitable for the size of your pond.

2) Avoid Sand Filters ... When selecting the choice of pond filter make sure that you use a biological pond filter and not a mechanical sand filter, commonly used as a swimming pool filter.

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

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The Importance of Pond Filter Media

2010-10-04T16:49:00.000-07:00

A garden pond filter is only as good as the pond filter bio media used. Many models of biological pond filter can be significantly improved by using a pond bio filter media with a much higher Specific Surface Area (SSA).

Choosing the right pond filter media will not only save you lots of money but will improve your filter performance.

A biological pond filter is responsible for converting ammonia, found in garden ponds into much less toxic nitrates, in a series of chemical processes known as the nitrogen cycle or nitrification process.

The processes are carried out by Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter nitrifying bacteria that live on the pond filter media, housed in the pond filter unit. The higher the Specific Surface Area (SSA) of the filter media the larger the colony of beneficial nitrifying bacteria it can house. The larger the colony of bacteria to convert ammonia the better your pond water quality will be.

When choosing a garden pond filter look at the pond filter media included and choose a pond filter model with as high a SSA as possible.

A smaller filter model with a superior pond filter media will perform as well as a large filter model using an inferior pond filter bio media, such as thin plastic coils.

Click here to read the rest of the article ...

http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/garden-pond-biomedia-article.htm

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Has MY PVC Liner Pond Got A Leak

2010-09-25T10:29:00.000-07:00

I received a question from a reader of mine, based in Warsop, England, who was amazed at how much water his pvc liner pond was loosing, when he didn't appear to have a leak anywhere in his pond.

This is what David wrote ....

"Hi There,

I live in Warsop and have a 200 gallon pvc liner pond that is home to 5 small koi, 3 goldfish and a few parrots feather oxygenator plants. The problem I have is that my pond looses quite a lot of water, almost overnight in some cases. I lost 8 inches of water last Tuesday.

Sometimes when I fill the pond back up the water level remains constant for a couple of days and then disappears again!

I've checked the pond for leaks and can't see anything obvious. Unfortunately I haven't seen the bottom of the pond to see if there is a puncture there. I don't think this is the problem as the guy who installed the pond was doubly careful to make sure that he laid pond underlay down first.

I know that all ponds loose water through evaporation but as you know this summer has been particularly wet with a lot of rain. I read somewhere that evaporation is more of a problem in hot humid weather conditions.

Please can you shed any light on my problem?

Thanks
Dave Milton"

Click the link below to see what I said to David...

http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/QA2_leakingpondarticle.html

Learn how to choose the right pond keeping equipment online, to save money, Guaranteed! Go to http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/ to learn everything you need to know NOW!

Does Pond Temperature Affect Koi?

2010-09-08T13:28:00.000-07:00

I received a letter from Alan who lives in Newcastle in the North East of England. Alan was curious to know how his Koi and goldfish would react to sudden swings in pond water temperature.

My Response To Alan...

Pond fish are to the pond temperature in which they live as well as the quality of the water. During cold winter spells the metabolic rate of your fish drops, resulting in them eating less. This is a survival mechanism that helps them to survive.

As your fish pond starts to warm up so does the Koi's metabolism and other body functions.

Pond water temperature increases gradually

Unlike differences in air temperature that can vary from one day to the next and significantly during the day the pond water temperature in your fish pond isn't affected by such rapid temperature swings. Koi and other pond fish have the significant benefit of their environment (water) acting as a buffer against rapid air temperature swings.

This is due to water taking longer to cool down and warm up. This is particular true in larger, deeper fish ponds that have less pond water volume coming into contact with air temperature.

The longer the warm spell continues, the more likely your fish pond will rise up to those temperatures, but gradually so that your Koi and other pond fish don't experience the rapid temperature changes experienced by us humans due to air temperature.

As with most things in life the better your understanding the better the decision making will be. By knowing the correct pond temperature you will be able to make an informed decision about what type of fish food to feed your Koi and pond fish i.e. a summer fish food or winter based pond food for example.

Despite their resilience to pond water temperature variations they are not as adaptable to changes in pond water quality. Poor water quality is something they do not cope with. This is why the choice of fish food is important along with the amount and feeding occurrence.

Remember to monitor the pond water temperature and feed accordingly. Don't guess! Feeding the wrong food at the wrong times encourages poor water quality which can have an adverse effect upon your Koi's health and immune system.

You should wait until the water temperature has risen to 8-10C and your Koi are actively seeking food before offering them food

If the pond temperature drops will my Koi hibernate again?

Should the pond water temperature drop significantly then your pond fish will start to exhibit typical over wintering behaviour i.e. they will stop eating and stay at the bottom of the pond where the water is warmer.

This is a short term thing however as they will soon liven up once the warmer spring weather reappears.

Water reaches its maximum density at 4 Celsius (39 F). As the pond water cools down it becomes less dense and rises to the pond surface.

For this reason Koi know that by staying in the warmest layer of the pond i.e. the bottom then they are limiting the possibility of tissue damage and subsequent Fish Diseases. This is another reason why ponds should be at least 5 feet deep in order that stratification can take place.

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

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What Goldfish Need To Spawn In A Pond

2010-09-05T04:55:00.000-07:00

Goldfish are sociable creatures and live in small shoals, happily swimming around. When goldfish reach maturity they will spawn spontaneously with the other members of the shoal.

Breeding goldfish in your fish pond is relatively simple if you provide the following basic prerequisites...

Mature Goldfish - The variety or quality of goldfish is not too important as different varieties of goldfish will happily spawn with each other. A sexually mature goldfish will be at least 2 years old and measure between 6 to 8 inches in length. It is advisable for male goldfish to outnumber female gold fish.

Suitable Pond - When it comes to spawning only healthy and goldfish that have been well fed are likely to spawn. It is important therefore to ensure that you feed a nutritious Goldfish Food. The pond will also need adequate Biological Filtration and the water quality will need to be good.

Suitable Number of Aquatic Plants - A densely packed area of pond plants will significantly improve the chances of the small goldfish fry surviving the first few perilous months. The densely planted area acts as a hiding place for the small goldfish fry.

How Do Goldfish Breed In Your Backyard Fish Pond?

Breeding isn't a gentle act in the goldfish world. In fact the rough nature of the male activity will often leave the female goldfish with severe exhaustion or bodily damage.

Female goldfish when ready to spawn release pheromones into the pond water. The male goldfish are unable to resist and will start to chase and collide into any female goldfish (whether carrying eggs or not) in an attempt to get her to release her many thousands of tiny eggs.

As the female releases the eggs they are fertilised by the sperm of the chasing males. These tiny adhesive clear eggs will stick to any available hard surface within the pond including pond plants, pipe work, pond walls, pond pumps etc.

For many pond keepers, it is the appearance of little olive brown goldfish fry in the warmer weedy margins that provides proof of a successful spawning.

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

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Not All Goldfish Are Suitable For Ponds

2010-09-04T12:02:00.000-07:00

Modern goldfish varieties come in a myriad of colours, sizes and appearance. Who would think that a Lionhead goldfish shares much of the same genetic make up as a Comet goldfish? At first glance you would certainly see no connection.

Goldfish breeders have succeeded in altering the physical appearance of goldfish.

Every possible change in appearance has been experimented with at some stage. Classic examples of the changes and mutations can be seen in the goldfishes eye shape, colour, body shape, tail length, number of tails, fin shape etc.

Which Gold Fish Types Can Live In A Garden Pond?
1)Common Goldfish - Typically a very evenly pigmented fish with short and sturdy fins and tail. Often available in a number of different colour variations where other colours such as white and black appear on top of the original golden colouration.

2)Comet Goldfish - They have been bred so that they have a really long tail fin. In large fish the tail may be half as long as the body. A uniform, singular colour is unusual in Comets. They regularly have red and white patterns that can be seen more easily from above.

3) Shubunkin - Rather than the typical gold colour associated with many goldfish varieties the Shubunkin is blue with a black and orange mottling set on top of this blue base.

Fancy gold fish that are not suitable For Fish ponds

1) Orandas - When viewed from above, their double-tail looks like a butterfly. They can adopt a variety of colours, including calico, which resembles a Shubunkin.

2)Blackmoor - Similar in shape to an Oranda, this black fish has bulbous eyes that project from the head. They are in fact my favourite goldfish variety, despite their quirky and somewhat ugly appearance.

3)Lionheads - These have a development on their head similar to the mane of a male lion. They too have a twin tail, but lack a dorsal fin.

4)Bubble Eyes, Pom-Poms and Celestials - These are all fancy goldfish in the extreme where breeders have selected for wild variations in head and eye developments.

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

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Is Algae On My Pond Walls Good?

2010-09-04T11:18:00.000-07:00

I receive quite a few emails regarding pond algae, usually emails regarding how to get rid of planktonic algae (pea soup algae) or string algae.

Today I received an email regarding the pond algae that can be found on the sides of the pond and on pond filters, pumps and other surfaces within the fish pond. The reader wanted to know if this is a good or bad thing.

"Sean,
I've had our pond for about 2 months. All is going quite well. The water is clear the fish are active and content to be near the bottom. There is algae on the sides about 1/4 inch thick. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

The fish are eating it but I was considering getting snails at a friends suggestion.
Any input?

Thanks
Kevin"

My reply to Kevin...

"Hi Kevin,

Thanks for the email and hope you are well!

There are approximately 17000 species of algae. Some affect pond keepers and others don't.

The algae that you mention is perfectly harmless and is in fact beneficial to the pond eco system. Garden fish ponds usually contain one of or both of the following pond algae types ...

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

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Why Goldfish Are So Popular & Widespread

2010-09-02T14:18:00.000-07:00

Like many things in life that have survived the test of time the secret to the success of the common goldfish or in this case longevity is its simplicity and low maintenance requirements.

Just like the Coca Cola logo the goldfish is the fish that everyone recognises. Young children even from an early age see this tough little fish on the TV, at the fair or in mom and dads pond or fish tank. The goldfish is the fish against which other fish are compared.

The Goldfish - A Born Survivor ... Why Are They So Popular?

1)Readily Available - The goldfish is readily available throughout the world and is the fish of choice for the newbie pond keeper wanting to learn the responsibilities and skills needed to maintain a healthy pond. Many experienced pond keepers will keep them alongside their collection of much more expensive and harder to keep koi carp.

2)Low Maintenance - What makes the goldfish stand out is its ability to withstand and even thrive in average water conditions, often without adequate filtration and a readily available supply of oxygen rich water. How many other fish could survive in a gold fish bowl for example? The records of colourful fish being kept for their beauty dates back to the T'ang Dynasty in China (AD 700) where they were often kept in ceramic jars without pumps, air filters and air pumps. If it were not for the ability to survive in such conditions then goldfish would not be as widespread and popular as they are today.

3)Breed Easily - A goldfish reaches sexual maturity at around 6" in length and will readily spawn in a garden fish pond, splashing and bumping in weedy shallows, depositing thousand of tiny adhesive eggs within the string algae and weed. What is truly amazing with goldfish is the variety of colours that can result from a natural spawn. The majority appear at first to be brown and it is only over time that some of the fry will develop the traditional colouration of goldfish.

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

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How To get Your Koi To Spawn

2010-09-01T02:16:00.000-07:00

I recently received an email from a gentleman by the name of Julio who wanted some further information regarding breeding his Koi and other pond fish.

"Hi Sean:

I have been reading your advice for some time now and had good results in keeping my 500 gal pond free from algae and debris.

Now I have a question of another kind.

How do I go about reproducing my fish? I have some 20 koi and comet gold fish, mostly koi. from 12+ inches long to 5 inches long. The size determined by the date of acquisition.

My pond is concrete, square edged walls and bottom with pebbles in most of the bottom. Some aquatic plants in plastic containers, mostly water lilies, a tetra biofilter and tetra 500gph pump.

I tried planting hydrilla, easily acquired locally intending it to oxygenate the pond and , as it is planted at the bottom, serve for the eggs to adhere to its leaves and at the same time, serve as hiding place for goblins (baby fish). The problem is that the fish eat the hydrilla.

I do want the fish to reproduce!

I could use floating water hyacinths whose long roots could serve my purpose but for the problem of mosquitoes breeding at the bottom of their leaves.

What do you advise???"

My response to Julio!
"Hi Julio

It sounds like you have a great set up and good conditions for your Koi and other fish to breed. One thing that does bother me however are the pebbles at the bottom of the pond; these encourage areas for food and pond sludge to become trapped and generally encourage the build up of unwanted bacteria. The pebbles also make it harder to vacuum up pond sludge and other organic debris.

Anyway that isn't what you are asking. So here goes...

This might sound obvious but you do have a mixture of male and females I hope! Judging by the size of the Koi I would assume that they are mature enough to breed.

First things first I would like to point out that I am by no means an expert when it comes to breeding Koi but am aware of the basics, which I will point out for you in the following sequence of paragraphs. I also want to make you aware of the actual spawning process and it's pros and cons.

Breeding Koi is stressful to the female Koi
Far from being polite suitors male Koi are quite aggressive in their mating behaviour and will readily charge into and bash the females in order that they will release their eggs. Many female Koi are injured and become extremely exhausted as a result of the aggressive male Koi breeding behaviour.

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

Learn how to choose the right pond keeping equipment online, to save money, Guaranteed! Go to http://www.garden-pond-filters.com to learn everything you need to know NOW!

Why Trout Food Is Bad For Koi

2010-08-19T14:40:00.000-07:00

I recently received the following email from a newsletter subscriber of mine based in Canada. Verne Gilkes is the owner of Mountain View Koi Club and wanted to know my views about feeding koi food to trout.

"Hi Sean

I just noticed you are located in Wigan.

Several years ago I had the opportunity to visit the Nexus plant not long after the Nexus Filter was introduced to the USA at the Mid Atlantic Koi Show held at Quality Koi which was their Grand Opening as a Koi Farm.

Sean Your article on Koi Food is pretty straight forward for a koi keeper who knows how to treat his fish.

do Not know if you have people in England who feed trout food to their koi?
We have several here in our Koi Club and no matter what I tell them they think it is the greatest food going. Of course the koi will eat it, they will eat anything that has a flavor to it however it is very bad for them. It can lead to all sorts of problems down the road i.e. bladder problems as it is an animal based protein and fat food.

We visited one of our club members ponds for the first time two weeks ago. His ponds were impeccable however he had several fish that were in dyer straights. One we had to put to sleep as its gut was about to blow out because of a 3 inch ulcer and an Aka Bekko 16 inches had 12 ulcers 1 to 11/2 inch all over it's body. A third shiro utsuri 18-20 inches was so fat it could hardly turn around.

My personal feelings the problems were from feeding the trout food.

What do you think of feeding trout food to koi?
He has and sells frys. A couple of our members bought some of the frys. As I was examining the little guys they also had a fattish appearance to them. They were not the slender appearance of normal young frys.

One of the hurdles we have to clear is trout food is less than half the price of koi food.

What could you advise to convince these koi owners who are great water keepers and love their koi a lot to switch to some Quality Koi Food?

Happy Koi Keeping

Mountain View Koi Club, Vankleek Hill , Ontario, Canada - Contact Verne Gilkes mailto:gilkes@hawk.igs.net

To see my response go to http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/FeedKoi_TroutFood.htm

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Fish Ponds Don't Like Rain

2010-08-19T13:43:00.000-07:00

Rain a much needed commodity throughout the world unfortunately is not always great for your garden pond and its inhabitants, including fish and aquatic plant life.

Water Lilies are not much of a fan of moving water and hate being splashed with a real passion. Unfortunately rain does both to these beautiful plants.

The best quick fix is to move your Water Lilies to a protected area, perhaps under a hanging tree or shrub. Fertilize them and they will be back with a vengeance once the weather improves and the rain subsides.

Water Hyacinths hate high pH and rain often increases the pH in the Pond i.e. the pond water become more alkaline. Test pond pH and make any necessary adjustments. A few warm days and the Water Hyacinths will come right back to their glory.

There may be a sudden increase in the amount of string algae, including blanketweed because string algae loves a high pH.

This is not necessarily a good thing however as string algae is much harder to remove than floating algae also known as green water algae.

There is now however a fantastic British product that will eradicate your pond of this slimy pest. The product known as Viresco has been tested extensively, is low cost and is available for shipping world wide.

See the full article at ... http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/Rain_A_Pain.htm

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Transporting Koi The Safe Way

2010-08-19T13:31:00.000-07:00

What challenges Does Moving Koi Fish present?

Moving Koi fish can be a relatively straight forward procedure, including moving large Koi as long as you make the relevant plans beforehand.

Koi are ravenous creature that consume vast amounts of food and pollute their home with significant amounts of ammonia and solid waste. For this reason starve the Koi for at least 5 days before you intend to move them.

What Dangers Do Koi Carp Face When Moved To A New Pond?

As mentioned above primarily toxic poisoning if they are not starved beforehand. If they are not bagged securely and packaged correctly there is a chance that the bags may leak causing suffocation. The transportation method will need to ensure that the ride is as smooth as possible to prevent disturbing the Koi and causing shock.

What are the right and wrong ways/techniques to move Koi Carp?

You need to use heavy duty polythene bags and double bag each. Inflate the inner bag with oxygen and then using water from the existing pond fill the polythene bag to roughly 1/5 of the bags volume. Once each of the required number of bags is ready, place it in a secure box with the neck rolled down.

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

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Pond Fish Health FAQ's

2010-08-19T13:18:00.000-07:00

Why Have My Pond 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.

My Pond Fish are Gasping for Air at The 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.

I'm Sure I Had More Pond 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.

My Pond Fish Are Chasing Each Other

Love is in the air hey!. For your water garden fish anyway! This is normal behavior in spring and is the courtship behavior of fish.

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

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Prevent Fish Disease Outbreaks

2010-08-19T13:08:00.000-07:00

The majority of ponds with excellent biological filtration and where good pond keeping practices are maintained seldom have fish diseases that cause problems.

By keeping the bottom of a pond clean and by making sure the biofilter container is cleared of sludge build-ups before the start of spring the chances of disease are dramatically reduced.

By far one of the easiest and best ways to remove excess sludge and debris from the pond floor is to use a Pond Vacuum Cleaner.

If fish pond disease strikes it is often at the end of winter and beginning of spring. The reason for this is that in very cold climates the fish have essentially hibernated and have run down their immune systems.

This means as the pond water warms up and disease pathogens become more active then the chances of a fish becoming infected increase significantly.

As much as it's not advisable to feed koi and goldfish below about 50 degree F or 8 degrees C it is still important on those days when the water warms somewhat and the fish start moving to feed a small amount of highly digestible fish food.

How To Prevent Ulcer Disease In Fish

A particularly serious disease that often strikes at the beginning of a new season is ulcer disease. This is a serious bacterial infection resulting in open sores or ulcers on the fish's body.

The disease is more often than not fatal and should be avoided at all costs.

The offending bacteria (aeromonas and pseudomonas) bacteria are naturally present in all ponds. When these virulent bacteria get out of control and when this coincides with a fish perhaps damaging its skin tissue then ulcers become a real possibility.

See the full article at http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/preventfishponddiseases.htm

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Don't Let Predators Eat Your Pond Fish

2010-08-19T13:01:00.000-07:00

How To Prevent Predators From Eating Your Pond Fish?

In the USA a major culprit is the Raccoon, a vivacious scavenger. Your typical Raccoon loves nothing better than to root around in garden ponds for a free morsel to eat. Poor Goldie the goldfish and his fellow pond members were on the menu.

Even ponds as deep as 2 feet are not always safe from these pesky critters.

Other common predators of backyard fish are members of the heron family and king fisher families. Domestic cats have also been known to kill and eat Koi and goldfish. Even certain species of diving waterfowl might find your pond fish to be an easy meal.

So How Do You Keep Your Pond Fish Safe From Predators?

In answer to "how to stop herons eating your fish" there are a myriad of products for sale aimed at protecting your pond fish from herons and other potential predators, including...

1) Pond netting ... a nets to stop herons eating fish is a great idea.
2) Electronic animal scarers including a blue heron repellent.
3) Animal scarers that spray the intruder with water ... a great way of protecting baby fish
4) Animal Decoys ... another way of protecting baby koi from predators.
5 Pond design - A good idea is to design the pond so as to allow the pond fish hiding places, both from larger fish and predators such as the Great Blue Heron.

See the full article at http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/Keepfishsafe.htm

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Which Pond Pump And Filter Should I Choose

2010-08-10T12:07:00.000-07:00

I received a very nice email from a lady by the name of Marjory Harris who lives in California in the USA.

Marjory was looking for some advice regarding which pond keeping equipment she should buy for her ponds.

"Sean, I bought the pond book (The Complete Pond Solver) from you and greatly value your advice. I am unsure what to buy for my two ponds, both of which have goldfish, some bullfrog tadpoles, and lots of plants.

I live in Southern California, it gets hot, but with low humidity. My concern is quality equipment and ease of cleaning and servicing.

For my 530-gallon pond ("large pond"), I have heard that Fishmate Gravity Filters + UV are a good choice. Which pump would work with it?

Currently there is no pump or waterfall in this pond, just lots of plants and goldfish (the photo is from some months ago before 4 water lilies and other plants were added).

The small pond has a pump and a small waterfall coming out of a cowbell at the top of a big rock. There is no place to put an external filter so I need something to submerse in the pond. The small pond is less than half the size of the large pond , probably around 175 gallons.

Would you agree that Fishmate Gravity Filters are a good choice and have you any ideas on what to purchase? It should be easy to take care of and last a long time.

Many thanks!

Marjory Harris"

"Hi Marjory,

Hope you are well and thanks for your email and for buying the book. Your choice of biofilter is a very good one. Fishmate Gravity Filters come as standard with Fishmate Supra pond filter media. The best in my opinion.

Choice of Pond Pump...

The first thing to look for when choosing a pump is the gph (gallons per hour) and the electricity consumption.

A pump needs to turn the volume of the pond over at once every 2 hours so in your case you would need a pump that has a gallon per hour throughput of 260gph - 270gph.

So if you see a pump that says 400gph then it has been designed for use in a pond that is approx 800 gallons in volume.

The initial price of the pump falls into insignificance if you choose a pump that costs a lot to run. Remember that a pond pump needs to run 24/7/365 days so that the bacteria living in your pond filter convert ammonia and nitrite into harmless nitrate. These bacteria need lots of oxygen to do there job properly.

Personally however I would go for a slightly more powerful pump because then you have some power in reserve should you want to power water up to a waterfall or fountain etc.

I would recommend that you buy a Laguna Powerjet 600 GPH 32 Watt Submersible Fountain Pump.

Another good pump is the Oase Nautilus Pump. These pumps are more powerful and have been designed to power water to the top of a waterfall. They have higher running costs but come with an excellent 5 year warranty. They do a 400gph model.

Choice of Pond Filter for Small Pond ...

The choice of biofilter model is not as important as the choice of biofilter media. A small filter with a great pond filter media such as Fishmate Supra Pond Filter Media media will easily out perform a larger filter using plastic coils as the pond filter media.

Without trying to get to technical it is all about the Specific Surface Area (SSA) i.e. the amount of space for nitrifying bacteria to live on that determines how effective the filter will be.

The Danner Pondmaster 190 Submersible Pond Filter Kit is probably the best choice. It includes a pump along with a biological filter and mechanical filter.

Regards

Sean"

Read the full article at...

http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/pondequiment_marjory.htm

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How To Improve Your Pond Pump System

2010-08-10T12:06:00.000-07:00

If you've got a pond pump which is not performing as well as you would like there are a few things you can do to get better performance without buying a new pump.

Main source of energy loss...

Energy of a pump is wasted in a pond circulating system mainly in the pipe work between the pump and the discharge point of the pipe.

If the pipe is small in diameter then a lot of energy will be lost due to friction... i.e. the resistance to flow caused by the pipe walls.

The relationship between energy lost this way is such that in any pipe system the amount of energy wasted for a specific flow rate is a function of the pipe diameter.

In simple and approximate terms if a pipe diameter is doubled then the friction loss will be only one quarter of that in the smaller diameter pipe.

The practical implication of this is that changing the hose to a larger diameter pipe will allow more water to be pumped through the system.

The amount of energy lost in any pipe is also a function of 5 other things:

1) The length of pipe

2) Fittings in the pipe work such as valves or flow controllers

3) Kinks in the hose pipe

4) The condition of the internal surface of the pipe... e.g. a pipe with algae on the sides will result in energy wastage because friction will be increased.

5) A further cause of energy loss is a blocked or restricted inlet.

For example a pump with a sponge that is partially blocked with algae will result in a much lower flow rate. In this case the energy loss is due to to the fact that every rotation of the impellor is less efficient in moving water.

How to Save Money on pond pump running costs - Conclusions...

1) Use the widest diameter pipe you can

2) Reduce the length of pipe ... i.e. move the pump closer to the outlet point and remove unnecessary length.

3) Remove any kind of restriction in the pipe work and make sure there are no kinks in the pipe. Ideally use non-kink hose instead of clear tubing which will kink when bent.

4) Periodically change the pipe for new pipe since the inside surfaces will become rough.

The full article can be read at

http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/Improve_Pond_Pump_System.htm

Learn how to choose the right pond keeping equipment to save money, Guaranteed! Go to http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/ to learn everything you need to know NOW!

Why Garden Ponds Need Biofilters But Lakes Don't

2010-08-10T11:51:00.000-07:00

I received the following email from Jeff, a newsletter subscriber who has a very interesting point to make.

"I have been reading your emails when I can and enjoy the knowledge you share. I do have a question on this topic though.

Our local shop swears these aren't needed and manages 15 ponds without a filtration system. I decided not to buy one and for 4 months haven't had an issue. His theory is that with moving water, the proper number of plants, and fish, biological filtration can be a natural process.

He explained that there aren't filters in ponds and lakes and that there hasn't been for centuries, so why change what works. With proper setup and controls the pond should take care of itself.

If it wasn't working I would agree I need a filter but I am not sold. Have you any additional thoughts on that topic?"

"Hi Jeff,

Thanks for your email. This is my take on things!

First of all you do not mention how big the 15 ponds are. If they are very large and have a relatively low fish loading then it is perfectly feasible that the fish and other pond inhabitants are doing just fine simply because of the large volume of water.

A large lake for example will take care of itself naturally. Due to the volume of water and small number of fish the levels of ammonia will remain low.

In addition the large surface area makes it easy for atmospheric oxygen to dissolve into the lake with very little effort, especially if there is wind present which helps to break the water service and allow oxygen in.

The oxygen is critically important to the fish life and the nitrifying bacteria responsible for the breaking down of ammonia and nitrite into nitrate.

This is not always the case in smaller garden ponds where there is a smaller volume of water, larger fish load and subsequently higher levels of ammonia. The problem with these smaller ponds is how to remove ammonia.

Where your friend mentions "with moving water, the proper number of plants and fish, biological filtration can be a natural process" I would first of all like to talk about the moving water.

He mentions moving water because this helps to add oxygen to the pond because it makes it easier for atmospheric oxygen to dissolve into the pond. This is why many pond owners incorporate a waterfall or fountain system into their pond.

Where your friend mentions "the proper number of plants" I believe he is talking about using aquatic plant life to form a natural filter known as a Veggie Filter; sometimes known as a bog filter or plant filter.

A veggie filter (bog filter) consists of various species of plants which naturally use up the nitrogen based compounds excreted into the pond by your fish. This system can be effective but somewhat messy.

There are advantages to using a veggie filter such as zero electricity costs, a natural system working in the way nature intended as well as green water and blanket weed control.

The major disadvantage of using a bog filter however is when it comes to cleaning the pond. All plant life needs to be removed and the pond needs to be thoroughly cleaned at least once a year, usually in the fall (autumn).

The Question is one of How To Filter Ammonia Out?

The problem with not using a biological filter in a small to medium sized pond with a large fish load is the sudden increase in ammonia levels, particularly during hot weather.

In hot weather the high levels of ammonia combined with the ponds inability to hold as much oxygen as would be the case in cooler weather will lead to eventual poisoning of your pond fish.

As well as this the higher levels of ammonia (containing nitrogen) act as a food source for algae and blanket weed. These forms of plant life at night time use up oxygen in the pond water.

Whilst what your retailer friend states is true to some extent it is not always the case and in my opinion prevention is better than cure; particularly if you intend to keep expensive Koi or a high fish load in a small to medium sized pond.

I would advise you to take a look at the biological pond filter articles on my website. You may find them of some use.

Read the full article here ...

http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/Do_I_Need_A_Biofilter.htm

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Keep Pond Sludge Problems and Algae Bloom Away

2010-08-10T11:34:00.000-07:00

Today I would like to discuss a very common pond keeping problem. One raised by Bill, a newsletter subscriber who lives in the UK …

“Hi Sean

Many thanks for all the useful emails. I can't always read them at once so I keep them and they are useful to refer to. Excellent service.

I do have a problem. I have a 2000 gallon pond (9000 litres). I have just started it again after a disastrous leak which killed off all my fish after 15 years of successful breeding so I am treating it as a new pond.

I have treated the tap water and recharged the filter bacteria. Then I added Viresco and have not seen blanket weed since.

I got the usual algal bloom but I can't get rid of it. The new pond is now over two months old. I have added Algorem which kills off the algae turning the water brown.

There is so much algae that when I kill it, I get sludge mats floating on the surface - enough to clog the skimmer. I remove these with a skim net.

I added digester to speed up the digestion of the dead algae but the pond just sits there - brown and after a time it turns green again and I repeat the cycle.

I did not have this problem last time I started the pond. Have you any idea what I am doing wrong?

Bill”

“Hi Bill,

There is only one really effective way of controlling the buildup of green water, caused by suspended algae and that is to destroy it using ultra violet light.

Chemical treatments only work for a short period of time and as you have discovered cause the formation of sludge.

See the full article here ...

http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/Newsletters/cleanpond_bills_letter.htm

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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

Learn how to choose the right pond keeping equipment online, to save money, Guaranteed! Go to http://www.garden-pond-filters.com to learn everything you need to know NOW!

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 ...

Learn how to choose the right pond keeping equipment online, to save money, Guaranteed! Go to http://www.garden-pond-filters.com to learn everything you need to know NOW!

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 ...

Learn how to choose the right pond keeping equipment online, to save money, Guaranteed! Go to http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/ to learn everything you need to know NOW!

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 ...

Learn how to choose the right pond keeping equipment online, to save money, Guaranteed! Go to http://www.garden-pond-filters.com to learn everything you need to know NOW!

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 ...

Learn how to choose the right pond keeping equipment online, to save money, Guaranteed! Go to http://www.garden-pond-filters.com/ to learn everything you need to know NOW!

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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Select The Right Pond Pump Or Pond Waterfall Pump

2009-04-30T12:03:00.000-07:00

The aim of this page is to help any pond keeper looking for a pond pump or pond waterfall pump to make the right choice. When you choosing a pond pump for your fish pond or water garden you need to be specific. Making the right choice can become a little bit more complicated if you have a waterfall incorporated into your pond design.

You need to know 2 important criteria if you incorporate a waterfall as part of your fish pond and are looking for a waterfall pump

The distance between the surface of your fish pond and the inlet of the waterfall i.e. the vertical height above the pond surface in feet.
The actual width of the lip of the waterfall i.e. where water flows over. If your waterfall is a cascading waterfall with a series of waterfalls falling onto each other then you will need to measure the width of each and add them together in inches (1 inch = 2.54cm).

Important Points When Selecting The Right Garden Pond Pump

The running cost is far more important to consider than the purchase cost.
Calculate correct pond pump head.
Calculate correct pond pump flow rate.
If you are looking for a backyard water feature pump decide more specifically upon your water feature before deciding upon the garden water feature pumps to select from.
Learn to be aware of some of the dubious retailers out there who will try to sell you the wrong equipment simply to make a few $$$. Under no circumstances should you use a sump pump as a waterfall pump.

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

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Sump Pumps Are A Bad Waterfall Pump Choice

2009-04-29T12:51:00.000-07:00

You will often see unscrupulous retailers advertising sump pumps for use as a waterfall pump. They are more interested in their profit margin than you as the customer.

Sump pumps, are designed specifically to remove water from basements, wells, cellars and even to empty fish ponds of water. They are however not designed for continuous operation and tend to overheat. They are extremely noisy and expensive to run as they consume a lot of electricity.

They are able to shoot water up to quite a high height, often 10 feet high. This coupled with the low purchased price is a reason why many retailers will advertise a sump pump for use as a pond waterfall pump.

As stated above, a typical basement pump has been engineered to run in intermittent bursts and will typically last about 10,000 hours (1 year). After about 1 year the water seal will fail, allowing water to enter the pump, causing the pump to fail.

Do you really want to risk electrocuting your Koi and other pond fish or starving the nitrifying bacteria of much needed oxygen?

A typical sump pump will have an upright design and may even come with a handle at the top of the pump for carrying it around.
The inlet pipe will often be at the base of the pump, making it ideal for emptying cellars and basements.
Take a look at the power consumption. Sump pumps typically have wattage of 250 watts or more.
A sump pump is usually cheaper to buy than many submersible pond pump models.

A more economical selection of waterfall pond pump is a reliable, energy efficient model, specifically designed to provide high head heights. There are plenty of models to choose from.

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

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Pond Pumps Must Run 24/7

2009-04-28T13:18:00.000-07:00

Never switch off your fish pond pump for more than a few minutes, whether that be a large Koi pond external pump or a smaller submersible pump system if you want to keep your Koi and goldfish alive.

The primary purpose is to supply oxygenated pond water to the Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter bacteria living on the pond filter media. These bacteria are responsible for breaking down toxic ammonia into nitrites and then into nitrates , in what is known as the Nitrogen Cycle.

At the interface between water and atmospheric air, oxygen is absorbed into the water. The amount of oxygen absorbed believe it or not is affected by the temperature of the water; warmer water does not absorb oxygen as easily as cold water.
Cold pond water can also hold more oxygen than warm water and when there is turbulence at the interface, oxygen is more readily absorbed; windy days for example make it easier for your pond to absorb oxygen from the atmosphere.
At night there is less oxygen in the pond than there is during the day; this is to a large extent caused by the behavior of aquatic pond plants, which absorb carbon dioxide, to produce oxygen during the day. At night however the opposite is true and they use up oxygen and produce carbon dioxide.
A waterfall and a fountain are extremely useful in a pond because they increase that interface between water and air (small droplets have large area) which allows for more air to be absorbed.

The vast majority of people realize that oxygen is needed by pond fish to breathe but what they do not realize is that it is critically important to the breakdown of ammonia by the nitrifying bacteria, living on the pond filter media.

The nitrifying bacteria in addition need a constant supply of oxygen. If they do not receive oxygen they will be totally wiped out after about 6 hours. For this reason it is essential that your pond water pump runs continuously 24/7 ...

The full article can be read at http://www.garden-pond-pump247.html/ ...

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Choose The Right Waterfall Pump To Save Money

2009-04-28T13:10:00.000-07:00

Backyard Pond Waterfalls need large volumes of pond water to be pumped to them. Unless you make a smart choice you can end up with high energy bills.

A good waterfall pump will run 24/7 without incurring high energy consumption ... beware however that a bad choice will end up costing you an arm and a leg to operate.

You will need to understand and determine the waterfall pump head, as described in other articles on this site. Thankfully many modern water fall pumps do not contain sponges, previously used to trap debris from entering the internal workings of the pump. This means that you can achieve higher water flow rates without as much pump flow restriction.

When deciding which waterfall pump to choose you will need to be aware of the following:

Calculate the width and height of the waterfall.
For every inch of waterfall lip width, you need to allow for 50 gallons of pond water flow over that lip. If your waterfall has more than one lip, then you need to combine the lip widths together to get a total.

Another good idea is to use two pumps in your backyard pond; one to supply oxygenated water to the biological pond filter and another one to power water to the top of the waterfall or water feature.

By utilizing a separate waterfall pump and pond biofilter pump you will save a considerable amount of electricity costs over the length of a year. Another advantage is that you have also got a spare pond pump in case of an emergency ...

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

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Spring Time In Your Water Garden Pond

2009-04-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

Spring is the time of year in the water gardening calendar that many pond keepers start to experience pond hassles and problems. The warmer pond temperatures encourage bacterial fish disease problems such as ulcers.

Now is the time to change the UV lamp, prior to placing the UV back into your garden fish pond. UV lamps typically last about 8000 hours; less than a year. Failure to replace the lamp will seriously affect the UV clarifiers ability to destroy green pond algae as it will not emit enough UV light.

The increase of green pond water is a direct result of increased natural sunlight, increased fish feeding and the resulting rise in the levels of nutrients in the fish pond.

Spring Pond Care Tips And Advice

Pond plants are starting to bloom and develop new growth. Now is the time to divide your hardy water lilies and other pond plants. You can also add an aquatic plant growth food into each new basket.

If you had previously installed pond lighting products last season, you can safely put them back into the fish pond.

Check the water quality. Many serious fish keepers will do a partial water change of up to one third in order to dilute any build up of salts and chemicals they may have been adding.

As the water temperature gets nearer to 10 Celsius you can start feed the Koi and other pond fish with a quality pond fish food.

If you have a garden and are contemplating using pesticides or chemical fertilizers then please be careful not to allow any run off get into your garden fish pond. Pesticides are not only poisonous to your Koi, goldfish and other aquatic life but are detrimental to the nitrifying bacteria.

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

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Spring Time Activity In Your Fish Pond

2009-04-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

Spring is the time of year that toads migrate in startling numbers to the place they developed as tadpoles to miniature toads.

Females are always in short supply, so the adult males will attempt to mate with anything that moves including docile fish or another pair of mating toads.

Although the water in your fish pond has stayed pretty much below 10 Celsius you may be under the illusion that nothing is going on. In fact it has been warm enough for the blanket weed or Spirogyra to take advantage of the early increased sunlight and increased nutrients in the pond water.

The Marsh Marigold, Caltha palustris is resolutely pushing its way up. Whether it is a rock hard frozen bog area or sitting with its neck through an inch of ice in the margins, it is determined it going to get out and about before the rest of the mayhem starts in the water garden. In fact its new growth for the following season starts in October when everything else is dying down, and despite the trials of winter, its little fleshy stems still manage to produce a golden display right at the beginning of spring at the end of March.

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

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How To Clean Your Garden Fish Pond In The Fall

2009-04-27T11:41:00.003-07:00

Please note that this article has been written with the average garden pond keeper in mind and not the professional Koi pond owners.

In a small to medium sized 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. The problem with organic matter and solid fish waste is that is starts to decompose. As you can see it is important to keep the bottom of your water garden fish pond as clean as you possibly can.

Fall or Autumn is the preferred time of year to carry out routine pond cleaning.

You will need to get your hands on a container that is capable of holding about 100 gallons (US) or bigger if possible. Ideally a container capable of holding half of your pond volume is ideal.
The next step involves connecting a piece of tubing to a pond pump and pumping out the pond water into the container. Do not suck up pond water from near the bottom of the pond; instead place the end of the tube just below the water surface. Keep as much of the 'old' pond water as you can.
Time for the fun job of catching your pond fish and placing them into the retained pond water in the container.
Use a net to remove any leaves and get rid of them, along with any other muck that you can get out also. If you prefer, instead of a partial pond clean you can carry out a full pond clean. To do this pump out the rest of the pond water and then use a pond vacuum cleaner (pond vac) to suck up any remaining sludge.
Start to fill your fish pond back up to the level it was at before you removed the pond water; add a chlorine remover and adjust the pond pH to match that in the holding tankYou can now start to pump new water from the pond into your holding tub, and then pumping the mixture back into the pond. Do this for 15-20 minutes until the new water mixture matches that in the pond. Pump the remaining water back into your pond while netting your fish back in as well.

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

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How To Care For And Avoid Koi Hassles And Problems

2009-04-26T06:32:00.000-07:00

The articles on this page have been written to provide pond keepers and Koi keepers with answers and solutions to some of the common problems and hassles that they may face from time to time.

If you have sick or ill Koi or gold fish you may want to read the article on common answers and solutions to pond fish health problems and pond fish disease problems. Koi And Pond Fish Related Articles ...

Creating The Best Koi Pond Environment ... Koi, like humans need their own own environment and know exactly what they need from that environment to lead a fulfilled, happy, healthy existence.
How Do I Answers To Pond Fish Health Problems ... Although it is impossible to guarantee that your koi, goldfish etc won’t become ill or diseased there are certain things you can carry out to minimize the opportunity for bacterial and parasitic infestations to take hold.
How Much Fish Food To Feed To Koi And Goldfish ... The amount of food eaten by your pond fish will depend upon the species and the water temperature.
Koi Air Pumps & Japanese Matting Improve Koi Ponds ... This article is really aimed at Koi keepers rather than casual pond keepers.
Protect Baby Fish From Larger Koi & Pond Fish ... It's a cruel world out there and your garden pond is no different, particularly for the fry of goldfish and Koi.
Prepare Your Koi & Pond Fish When Moving House ... Moving house is a pain in the neck at the best of times! To complicate matters further if you keep a garden fish pond you will also need to consider what needs to be done with your fish friends!
Do Not Add Gravel To Your Garden Fish Pond ... The major problem with using gravel for decoration and effect on your pond floor is that it creates stagnant areas that becomes a breeding ground for anaerobic bacteria.

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

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Garden Fish Ponds Easier Than Large Koi Ponds

2009-04-25T03:03:00.000-07:00

To achieve healthy, large Koi you will need a large pond and ensure that the pond water is free from ammonia. There are also specialist feeding regimes that will need to be adhered to. Here is a list of the basics needed to achieve large Koi fish ...

Correctly fitted bottom drains.
Correct shape
A Pond skimmer to remove organic matter.
A deep pond that is at least 5ft deep; preferable more.
An external pond pump that is capable of producing high flow rates.
A pond heater.
High end bead filter or vortex filter with Japanese matting.
A spare external pond pump.
Highly regular and thorough cleaning regimes.
An air pump.
Specialist Koi food.

If you are a hobbyist pond keeper with a small to medium sized fish pond then you will obviously not need all the specialist equipment outlined above. You will however need a pond pump, pond filter and UV clarifier ...

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

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Japanese Matting, Koi Ponds And Pond Air Pumps

2009-04-24T13:56:00.000-07:00

The vast majority of smaller fish ponds do not need a pond air pump as the oxygen demands of the pond fish and pond filter system are not as excessive as those of a large Koipond.

Oxygen is critical to the effective functioning of bacteria, responsible for breaking ammonia in pond water. These bacteria live in a biological pond filter

If you were to attach an analyzer to your pond system and measure the levels of ammonia and oxygen before the pond filter and after the pond filter, you would see something along the lines of the following ...

Just before feeding your the ammonia levels and oxygen levels at the intake of the pond filter would be be low and high respectively. The level of ammonia leaving the filter would be minimal and the level of oxygen would be lower.

If you were to repeat the measurements above for fish ponds after feeding a much higher ammonia level with a normal high oxygen level would be observed. On the outlet side of the bio filter you would see a much lower oxygen measurement and a significantly lower ammonia level.

What has happened? The beneficial bacteria consumed as much of the ammonia as possible and absorbed lots of oxygen from the circulating water to be able to achieve this. The Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter bacteria, however could not convert all the ammonia this time around, as the amount of oxygen was depleted too quickly.
In order for the bacteria to convert the ammonia the next time they require as much oxygen as possible. That it why you should use an air pump, or incorporate a waterfall into your pond system.

Based on the above discussion it is obvious that filter bacteria need lots of oxygen and that oxygen is removed in the bio-filter continuously in the bio filter process itself. The best place to place the air pump is directly into the pond filter system as close as possible to the nitrifying bacteria. For this reason Japanese matting and vortex filters are probably the best pond filtration system available.

Do yourself a favor and add as much oxygen into your Koi pond as you can. An air pump with air stones is definitely a recommendation I would consider.

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

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Garden Ponds, Sand, Anaerobic Bacteria And Mosquitoes

2009-04-24T12:55:00.000-07:00

You are probably wondering what mosquitoes and placing sand on the pond floor have got to do with each other? Mosquitoes like stagnant ponds, without moving water. The addition of sand to a garden pond will cause stagnant areas to develop, and with it unwanted mosquitoes and other unwanted guests.

If a fish pond has adequate circulation and excellent pond filtration in place then mosquitoes will not be a problem. If the pond contains fish they will use the mosquitoes as a food source.
Mosquito larvae are a natural food source in fish ponds and natural water ways as they spend the majority of their life beneath the water surface.

The ponds that suffer from mosquitoes are those ponds which have poor water circulation, no fish and have stagnant areas, such as those created by barrel features. If you want to avoid mosquitoes in your pond then add a few small gold fish.

Many pond keepers utilize a layer of sand on the pond floor or marginal shelves to facilitate planting of aquatic plants … STOP DOING THIS!

The reason I say this is because sand over a length of time will mix with organic waste, fish excrement and uneaten fish food. This coupled with the fact that oxygen will not be able to reach these organic products will cause decaying to take place. Decaying organic matter as a by product produces ammonia, carbon dioxide and uses up oxygen.

The accumulation of this rotting matter also encourages the build up of anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that do not need oxygen to survive). These bacteria are responsible for the nasty smells and are often the cause of pond fish health problems.

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

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How To Prepare Your Pond Fish When You Move

2009-04-23T13:37:00.000-07:00

About 1 week before the actual moving date it is advisable to stop feeding. The reason for this is to reduce the amount of liquid and solid waste produced. Liquid and solid metabolic waste contains ammonia.
You will need a temporary home for the fish. The best way to do this is to hire or buy a kiddies swimming pool.
Clean out the temporary holding pool using water, taken from the pond; do not use municipal tap water as this contains chlorine, which is poisonous to aquatic fish life.
You will need to borrow or hire a pond air pump; preferably one with some way of distributing the air such as air stones. This is critical to prevent fish stress and to keep your fish alive, while they are in their temporary home.
On the day you plan to empty the main pond arrange to pump as much pond water as possible into the temporary pool. Start pumping oxygen into the pool using the air pump.
Fill the temporary pond to about half full. This will stop the fish from leaping out of the water and out of the pond.
If you intend to keep the fish in the temporary pond for a period of time then you will need to replace about 50% of the water on a daily basis with fresh water.
Be vigilant and keep a careful eye on the behaviour of your Koi and goldfish. If you see any strange behaviour just as sulking on the pond floor or gasping for air at the top of the pond, for long periods of time then change a portion of water immediately and make sure the air pump is working properly.

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

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Gravel Is Bad For Garden Ponds

2009-04-23T13:34:00.000-07:00

All garden ponds, no matter what size they are will contain microscopic bacteria and other pathogenic organisms. Many of these organisms feed on waste products, in order to survive. Some of these organisms, known as aerobic bacteria require oxygen to survive, whilst others known as anaerobic bacteria don’t. It is the anaerobic bacteria that tend to be a nuisance, causing bacterial infections and other fish disease problems.

It makes sense therefore to create a fish pond environment which potentially limits the possibility for stagnant areas to develop, as a result of anaerobic bacteria multiplying.

The major problem with using gravel for decoration and effect on your pond floor is that it creates stagnant areas that become a breeding ground for anaerobic bacteria. Any uneaten fish food or fish waste that hasn’t been removed by a pond skimmer or pond filter will fall to the pond floor, lodging itself between the gravel. This waste accumulates, and in the absence of oxygen soon turns into a breeding place for the unwanted anaerobic bacteria.

Professional Koi keepers and Koi breeders go to great lengths to ensure that the bottom of their large ponds, are kept free from as much waste food, and fish waste as possible. The installation of bottom drains through which debris is purges is common place. All this is done to reduce the opportunity for anaerobic bacteria to develop. Koi are a species of carp that are not as hardy as other forms of carp or goldfish varieties and are susceptible to what is known as stress.

My advice to you would be to remove any gravel from the bottom of your fish pond or water garden immediately. Hopefully you will be in luck and it is fall or winter time. There is less activity taking place during these colder months, with cooler pond water temperatures.

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

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4 Reasons To Know Your Pond Volume

2009-04-23T13:21:00.000-07:00

In a backyard fish pond there is nearly always too many fish for the size of the pond and there is a constant battle to control the build up of ammonia, before it reaches toxic levels. That is why a garden pond biofilter is essential. 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, so that you create a good bio filtration system.
Pond volume is also required to specify the size of the UV sterilizer or UV clarifier needed to prevent your pond water from becoming green with suspended algae.
For a fish pond of around 250 gallons in full sun and highly stocked a 4 watt UV will be adequate.
If you ever need to add a chemical pond treatment to your garden pond then you must know your pond volume, to avoid over dosing. All pond water additives work on the principle of x amount of ounces per gallon of pond water. There is no room for guess work here; not if you want to keep your fish, nitrifying bacteria and aquatic plants free from harm.
A fourth reason you might need to know the pond volume is to be able to specify your pond pump.

TIP! If you are building a new fish pond or water garden and have a water meter then why not take advantage and record the volume of water used to fill the pond.

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

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Adding Salt To A Fish Pond Is A No Brainer

2009-04-22T10:54:00.000-07:00

I believe that those pond keepers who do this are under the impression that it is a good way of protecting their Koi and goldfish from parasitic infections. Whilst salt is a remedy for many fish parasites it should be carried out in the form of a salt bath, administered to the infected fish, in isolation.

I have written several articles regarding the subject of adding water additives and pond treatments to garden fish ponds. I am in principle against the idea and the more I write, the more I am convinced that it is a bad idea.

The major danger of adding salt to a fish pond is the way in which the salt reacts with other chemical pond additives. Potassium permanganate, for example is a common treatment for parasitic fish infections. However, when it reacts with salt, potassium permanganate can under certain conditions release chlorine into the pond environment. Trust me you do not want this to happen! Chlorine is poisonous to aquatic pond life and fish.

Salt when used in conjunction with Zeolite can also release ammonia back into the pond water. Zeolite is sold as a pond buffer to remove ammonia from the pond water. Unfortunately when it reacts with salt it causes the ammonia to be released back into pond water.

Please be aware that under certain circumstances it will be necessary to add chemical treatments to your garden pond, but you will need to be aware of your pond volume along with the consequences of adding these chemicals to the pond water. Certain chemicals have a nasty habit of destroying nitrifying beneficial bacteria. It is important to be aware of your actions. If you are in any doubt whatsoever, seek an alternative or seek advice.

As stated earlier in this article, salt has its advantages in fighting off parasite infestations. You should however treat the infected Koi, goldfish etc in isolation in a high concentration bath. A bowl or tub is perfect for the job.

In fact I would go as far as to say that you should use salt to treat parasites in pond fish before you use any other treatment method. Salt in moderation is harmless to Koi, goldfish and other pond fish as well as being harmless to nitrifying bacteria. Salt is also easy to get hold of and very cheap; much cheaper than medicated pond fish treatments.

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

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Why Should I Test My Pond Water?

2009-04-22T10:48:00.000-07:00

The vast majority of pond keeping and water gardening books advocate that you should test your pond water as soon as you suspect that there is a problem; erratic fish behaviour, dead fish, for example. The only problem here is that you have nothing to compare the results with. For this reason it is important to carry out regular pond water tests, using a suitable pond test kit.

The problem with acting on the results of one test alone is that your pond may be a perfectly safe, healthy environment, even though your pH readings, ammonia reading etc is slightly away from the perceived norm. If you do not have a history for comparison purposes then you may fix what isn’t broken!

Unless you are prepared to carry out frequent pond water testing then do not do it at all. You do not need to write a copy of war and peace, simply make a recording in a diary or if you want to be more technical in a spreadsheet. A spreadsheet is a good idea as it is easy to produce a chart. You will easily be able to see when there have been significant changes; time of year, time of day etc.

TIP! Always take your measurements at the same time of the day. This will help to avoid common daily fluctuations, such as pond Ph, ammonia and nitrites. Ammonia and nitrite levels will nearly always increase just after you have fed your Koi and other pond fish.

It is also a good idea to always use the same brand of pond water testing equipment. Always keep an eye on the use by date. If the product has expired then you may not be able to rely on the results given.

The best test kit by far is the behaviour of your fish.

When choosing a pond test kit always buy the best that you can afford. You nearly always get what you pay for, particularly with pond keeping equipments and pond testing products.

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

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How To Keep Your Koi & Golfish Fry Alive

2009-04-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

It’s a cruel world out there and your garden pond is no different, particularly for the fry of goldfish and Koi. Birds and larger pond fish will readily eat them up.

Create a fine mesh bag that is about 2ft deep from shade netting. You do not have to use shade netting but this material is soft and smooth, without sharp, hard edges. The choice of material will need to allow water to pass through it.

Attach the mesh bag, containing the baby fish to a piece of wood, foam or polystyrene. The aim is to allow the net containing the fish to float around the pond. You will need to add a few stones or pebbles to the base of the bag.

The hardest part is to find the little swimmers in the first place and then to catch them. Many goldfish are black when they are born and only turn gold as they get older. For this reason they are often camouflaged by the depths of the pond and shadows.

Collect clumps of weed/aquatic plants on which fish have laid eggs or in which the very young fry might be hiding and just place this in the floating bag.

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

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Control PH Swings To Maintain Healthy Pond Water

2009-04-21T15:48:00.000-07:00

The subject of water chemistry and in particular pond water pH is extremely complex. A mathematics degree would certainly come in handy hear; unfortunately I do not have one but do know a bit about pond keeping and how you can prevent massive swings in pH levels.

Buffering, as the name implies does exactly what it says on the label; it buffers, insulates, minimizes, or protects against swings (massive changes) in pond pH. Pond water pH is affected directly by changes to the alkalinity or acidity of the water. Soft water, which is low in buffering capacity, will show large increases or decreases in pH when acid or alkali is added to the pond water or removed from it. In ponds containing soft water there will be significant pH swings between day and night, due to the behavior of aquatic plants and pond algae.

Pond fish, particularly Koi carp become stressed when there are changes to their usual habitat. You have heard the term “Stress is a killer”. This term is particularly pertinent when it comes to fish keeping. When Fish become stressed they become susceptible to the ever present bacteria, living in the pond water.

The addition of pond chemicals to your pond or drastic changes to a pond fish’s environment may cause stress to raise its ugly head.

It is always a good idea when introducing a new fish into your existing pond to allow the bag containing the new Koi or gold fish float on the surface of the pond for a while.

Water hardness is broken down into what is called temporary hardness and permanent hardness: Temporary hardness is the levels of calcium and magnesium hydroxides, carbonates and bicarbonates in the water. Permanent hardness is the level of sulphate and chlorides, for example in the pond water.

In the vast majority of garden ponds, hard water is better as it buffers the water. Buffered water (high in carbonates) prevents pH swings and helps to prevent impurities such as copper from becoming a significant problem for your Koi and gold fish. Hard pond water also helps your pond fish to regulate its own metabolic processes, thereby helping to reduce the susceptibility to stress.

Pond water that is too hard will often suffer from blanket weed and string algae problems. If you are having problems with blanketweed or string algae then try Viresco Koi or Viresco Aqua, a guaranteed way to eliminate this common pond problem. It is a UK product that can be shipped to any where in the world at a very low cost. It really is a miracle cure, no exaggeration!

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

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Take Care When Adding Pond Treatments To Avoid Killing Bacteria And Fish

2009-04-21T15:38:00.000-07:00

I just can’t see how adding salt to a pond for the sake of it can do any good. In fact the opposite is true! Chemicals have a habit of reacting together; in some instances this can have disastrous consequences. Here is an example ...

You have added salt to your pond water because a friend of yours told you that he had read somewhere that this is a good cure for pond fish parasites. After a week or so nothing seems to have happened.

You do some research and discover that potassium permanganate is a great cure. Great! You now add the potassium permanganate to the pond, applying the correct dose. What you did not realize is that pond salt and potassium permanganate react together to form chlorine. This is highly toxic to Koi, goldfish and aquatic life, even in small doses.

Pond salt is also bad when used in conjunction with Zeolite. Zeolite is used in pond keeping as a means of absorbing ammonia, which as we know is produced by pond fish and decaying organic matter. Unfortunately when Zeolite is packed with ammonia and mixes with the pond salt it releases the ammonia back into the pond water, in high concentrations. Ammonia is a toxic chemical that will kill your pond fish in high concentrations.

Do not add chemicals to your pond unless you are absolutely sure you need to and you know what the consequences might be.

When Adding Chemicals To Ponds Consider The Following ...

It is critically important before you add any chemical treatments to your pond to know the actual pond volume.
Once you are fully aware of the volume then be sure that you add the correct dosage, following the instructions carefully. Be very careful of over dosing.
When fish ponds are over dosed, usually through the instructions not being followed correctly or the pond owners not being aware of the correct dosage to apply, there can be some dire consequences.
Malachite Green for example is a dye commonly used to treat Koi and goldfish parasites as well as fungus disease in fish ponds. An overdose of Malachite Green would more than likely kill the parasite or fungus! However it would also kill off the nitrifying bacteria, colonizing the pond biomedia, housed in your garden pond filter.
If you insist on treating the whole pond then it is advisable to switch off the pond filter for an hour or so. Make sure that it is no longer than this as after 5 to 6 hours the nitrifying Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter bacteria, responsible for breaking down ammonia, will be totally wiped out!

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

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Get Rid Of Pond Problems And Hassles The Right Way

2009-04-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

All garden ponds from small preformed patio ponds to large Koi ponds require a biological pond filter system in place with a suitable pond filter media, on which nitrifying bacteria can live.

Sand filters are bad … When I hear about mechanical sand filters being used in fish ponds as a means of purifying the water I cringe. Please read this article to find out why YOU MUST NEVER USE A MECHANICAL SAND FILTER in a fish pond. They cause more harm than good and are actually very poor at purifying pond water

Have you ever wondered why during the summer the color of your pond water starts to turn a green or murky brown color. The reason for this is due to microscopic algal cells, known as floating algae, planktonic algae or pea soup algae. The only really effective measure of controlling this is to install an ultraviolet sterilizer or ultraviolet clarifier.

All backyard fish ponds need as much oxygen as you can supply them with. Atmospheric oxygen does not dissolve in still water very easily. It is the purpose of a pond pump to supply much needed oxygen into the pond system and to ensure that your pond filter beneficial bacteria are supplied with a constant supply of oxygen.

In bygone days the choice of material for making a fish pond was concrete. Thankfully this is no longer the case and there are other alternatives, such as preformed fiberglass ponds and flexible liner ponds.

The most commonly pond problem encountered by pond keepers is dirty pond water. Always use a well specified biological pond filter; trust me if you want to keep Koi and goldfish or any other pond fish for that matter then you will need one … No ifs … No buts. Select the right pond biofilter in the beginning so as to avoid hassles further down the line. Would you buy a new car without an engine?

The second piece of pond keeping equipment that is a MUST HAVE is the pond pump. Depending upon the size of the pond you will either use a submersible pond pump or an external centrifugal pump. The latter is usually only needed in large Koi ponds, requiring large volumes of water to be pumped.

If you want a fountain effect in your pond choose a pump that comes with a fountain attachment. Submersible fountain pumps are a popular pump variety and there are many to choose from. Make sure that the particular fountain pump model includes a strainer device. This prevents the fountain nozzle from becoming blocked by pond debris.

If you do not need a fountain display in your pond then a filter pump is a better choice all around, as there is physically less that can go wrong. A filter pump is the preferred choice of submersible pump for use with modern pressurized pond filters, such as the OASE Filtoclear range or Fishmate Powerclenz models.

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

New Pond Hints And Tips

2009-04-20T13:58:00.000-07:00

These are prime objectives that you need to be aware of when building and maintaining a garden fish pond. I have put together a check list to try to give you some idea of what is needed to achieve a thriving, healthy water garden pond.

Many people wishing to install a backyard pond do not give enough thought to the actual location of the finished project.
If you have a garden which is also home to tress, particularly deciduous trees or poisonous trees then I would seriously advise you not to place it nearby.
If you are looking to add some shade then I would recommend that you use aquatic plants to provide shade.
Always choose well specified, branded pond keeping equipment. This is particularly important when choosing the right pond pump, biological pond filter and UV equipment.
The last thing you want is to start excavating your pond to discover that you have inadvertently built over or near to one of the following: water pipes, gas pipes and electrical conduit systems.
The choice of actual pond will normally depend upon whether you are looking for a professional Koi pond, in which case you will probably select a concrete pond or whether you are an avid water gardening fan, who simply wants to enjoy the beauty and tranquility that a garden fish pond offers. For small ponds the best choice is a preformed liner pond. If you are looking for a medium sized pond then a flexible EPDM rubber or butyl rubber pond liner is your best bet
If like myself you do not live in a temperate year round warm climate then you will need to consider what will happen to the pond inhabitants during winter. In cold winter climates where there is the distinct possibility of the pond freezing over. You will need to install a pond heater or pond deicer as a way of preventing the pond from freezing over or at least maintaining a hole in the ice service, through which toxic gases can escape.

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

Viresco Blanketweed And String Algae Eliminators

2009-04-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

How many pond keepers have asked themselves this simple question "How do I get rid of blanket weed from my pond?" The answer has always been the same ... Wish I Knew! ... Now, thanks to John McLauchlan we all know.

No more blanket weed or troublesome string algae guaranteed.
No more dirty pond floors because Viresco digests organic waste.
Viresco improves water quality and makes for healthier fish.
You no longer have to worry about algae bloom stopping you from seeing your pond fish.

Blanket weed or string algae really is a serious problem for so many fish ponds and their owners and has been the sole cause of many people abandoning fish ponds.

Blanketweed is also known as silk weed, filamentous algae, curly weed and maiden's hair. It is not the same as suspended floating algae, responsible for causing algae blooms; algae blooms cause your pond water to look like a bowl of pea soup and starve the pond of oxygen.

Viresco Blanketweed & Pond Algae Products

Viresco Aqua was introduced in 2007 and was originally developed for use in commercial farming, to increase the size and growth of fish. Surprisingly enough this wonder product also managed to inhibit the growth of algae, including planktonic algae and filamentous string algae varieties, such as blanket weed. Viresco Aqua also contains an organic waste digester which will eliminate pond detritus.
The majority of pond keepers maintain a very clean ponds and do not have a need for the organic waste digester part of Viresco Aqua. If you are simply looking for the blanket weed buster then Viresco Koi is the one for you.
In July 2001, Viresco Digester was introduced to the pond keeping market. It contains mainly organic waste digester and none of the nutrient remover.
Viresco Aquarium was introduced to the Aquaria market in 2003. Viresco Aquarium has been designed to remove nitrate and to reduce phosphate in all fresh water aquariums. The microbial formula actively keeps algae from developing on the glass walls of the fish tank. Viresco Aquarium, which will also digest organic waste, is packed in small capsules, each of which will treat 10 to 15 gallons (45 to 70 litres) of water.

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

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Useful Tips When Selecting Flexible Pond Liner

2009-04-19T12:29:00.000-07:00

For medium sized ponds a EPDM rubber or butyl rubber flexible pond liner is your best bet!

These modern rubber pond liners are tough, come with excellent warranties and are extremely flexible in terms of the pond shape achievable. For larger ponds above 120 gallons preformed plastic liner ponds become too expensive.

Rubber pond liners are also an excellent choice for water lily ponds.

For ponds below about 120 gallons it would be very wise to choose from a range of preformed pond liners or preformed fish ponds as they are better known.

Flexible pond liner is not suitable generally speaking for an indoor or patio pond rather use preformed pond liners. Fiberglass preformed fish ponds are ideal for this.

Money Saving Advice For Selecting The Right Garden Pond Liner

Once you know how much the required pond keeping equipment will cost, you will also know how much you have to spend on the pond liner. The thickness will need to be at least 45mils.
For ease of convenience many EPDM and butyl rubber liners are available off the roll or available in pre-cut sizes.
To estimate the size of the liner for a pond: length of liner = (length + (2 x depth))+10% width of liner = (width + (2 x depth))+10%
To estimate the size of the liner for a waterfall roughly: Length of liner = Length along the horizontal + (2 x height of the head); Width of liner = width of widest header pool + (2 X depth)
Plan your pool with one dimension equals a standard width of liner off the rolls. EPDM generally comes in multiples of 5 feet up to about 25 feet. PVC (plastic liner) and butyl rubber in 2 meter widths up to 8 meters in some places.
Dramatic indentations in the shape use up extra liner. Measure along the contour of the pool excavation just to check before you try to install it. In desperation you can gain a few inches by laying it in skew, using the extra length of the diagonal.
Ideally you should tuck and fold the liner into place; don't stretch it into place. Just before you cut too much off around the top, then you can make sure it is properly fitted by filling it with water.

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

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General Pond Keeping Hints And Tips

2009-04-18T11:57:00.000-07:00

If your pond has a lot of debris and sludge on the pond floor then why don’t you get your hands on a pond vac.
What to do if you have a leak! You could always do a quick check by switching off the pond pump (not for too long mind!). If the level stops falling then the leak is outside the pond. If however the level continues to fall then you have more than likely got a leak.
Ensure that there is an adequate supply of oxygen to the pond water. Awaterfall, venturi or air pump will do this.
If you have a pond that does not have a uniform depth then it is relatively easy to measure the average depth. Take a long stick and mark it at say 2 inch intervals with a water proof marker pen. Walk around the pond and take readings from about 10 different places. After you have finished taking the readings, add them together and divide by 10.
Salt is predominantly used as a means of fixing bacterial fish infections. If you have a sick fish then it is better to treat the individual fish in an isolation tank or pond. Be careful to make sure that you do not overdose.
Avoid spreading fertilizers around the pond area and do your best to prevent water run off from the garden into the fish pond. The phosphates lead to an increase in algae blooms and blanket weed problems.
If you have a pH reading that is high then add a touch of diluted vinegar, or lemon juice. If your pond pH reading is low then you will need to add some baking powder.
The secret is to do this gradually over a period of time. You should add some, wait for a while and then take another pH reading.
When carrying out routine pond water tests remember to check the use by dates, as chemicals are time sensitive. Take the readings at the same time daily.

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

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Koi Ponds Are Different from A Garden Fish Pond

2009-04-17T13:12:00.000-07:00

A Koi pond is different from a regular fish pond and is also much more expensive to build and maintain than your average garden pond.

Large Koi require a lot of extra care and specialist pond filtration equipment to maintain clear, pure pond water. They will consume vast amounts of food and produce a lot of biological waste as a result.

Koi Pond Size - Exercise is important to the shape and form of Koi. In order to be able to exercise they need a lot of space in which to swim around. Professional Koi ponds are large and deep - usually between 5ft to 6ft deep.
Koi Pond Filtration – Specialized fluidized bed filters (bead filters) or vortex filters are needed, in order to quickly break down the build up of high volumes of ammonia and solid waste.
Koi Ponds And Algae Bloom – The last thing that is needed in a professional Koi pond environment is a large development of green pond water, caused by algae blooms. It is critical to use a correctly specified, high powered UV sterilizer.
Koi Ponds and Water Temperature – Koi like warmer pond water. Professional Koi keepers living in the colder states use a pond heater to keep the water warm.
Koi Ponds and Pond Pumps – Specialist centrifugal external pumps are needed. External pond pumps have been designed to handle large volumes of water and high flow rates.
Koi Ponds and Electricity – What would happen if there was an electricity cut, leaving you without power for some time? A backup electricity source would be required, which would need to kick in as soon as the main power supply was interrupted.
Koi Ponds and Koi Fish Food – Koi need proper nutrition, containing the right balance of protein, amino acids, vitamins and colour enhancers.
Koi Ponds And Oxygen – A pond air pump is a great way to ensure maximum oxygen saturation. Koi ponds need plenty of oxygen.

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

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How Much Fish Food Should I Feed My Pond Fish

2009-04-17T13:02:00.000-07:00

The amount of food eaten by your pond fish will depend upon the species and the water temperature. In warmer water temperatures the metabolic rate is higher and fish are constantly hungry and seeking food to eat; particularly Koi. As the pond water gets colder the metabolic rate slows down, and with it the fish’s appetite.

The following guide will help to give you an idea. Please note that it is a rule of thumb and is based upon a single fish living in a pond water temperature of 20 Celsius (68 Fahrenheit) ...

For a 6 inch fish that weighs 2 ounce or 50 grams - feed 1% of this weight per fish per day in total.
For a 12 inch koi that weighs about 14 ounce or 400 grams - feed 1% of this per Koi per day in total.
At 15 Celsius (59 Fahrenheit) you should reduce the amount of food fed by 1/3rd.
At 10 Celsius (50 degrees F) reduce the amount of food fed to about 1/10th.
When it comes to feeding Koi and goldfish it is always better to feed little and often. If you have the time then 5 times a day is ideal, but not essential.
Floating pond food food rather is better than sinking pond food. This helps to prevent excess food from decaying on the pond floor. It also gives the fish more time to eat.
If you have mixture of large and small fish grind the food up into smaller particles to give the smaller fish a chance to eat before the bigger, greedier fish eat everything.

The reason for all of the above 3 tips is that the amount of food fed has an almost immediate and direct impact upon water quality and biofilter load.

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

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2009-04-16T11:59:00.000-07:00

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. You may have a leak or a crack for example which necessitates emptying the pond.

This can be quite a traumatic event for all concerned, especially for Koi, goldfish and other pond inhabitants. You will of course need to find a temporary home for them. You may have another pond or have a friend with a pond that is willing to let you place your fish there for the time being. If this is the case then please be aware that the larger the fish load, the larger the possibility of ammonia problems arising.

Increased fish loads place more stress on the biological pond filter as it needs to cope with the increased levels of ammonia. This is assuming that you intend to place the fish in a pond environment with a pond filter in place.

What Do I Need To Consider Before I Empty My Fish Pond?

The following steps will significantly reduce the amount of stress placed upon your pond fish and will make for a smoother transition …

Stop feeding your fish a week before you empty the pond.
Hire or buy a children’s vinyl swimming.
Clean out the pond with pond water.
Place your hand on the largest air pump that you can.
On the day that you empty the pond, pump pond water into the temporary pool.
Please ensure that you do not over fill the pool; the fish will try to jump out.
Whilst the fish are in the temporary pool you will need to carry out a 50% water change, daily.
Remember there is no pond filter and the levels of poisonous ammonia and nitrites will build up.
Keep a careful eye on the fish. If you see any unusual behaviour then make sure that you change a portion of the water straight away.
People with serious Koi collections may well decide to have an ammonia removing product available, as a precaution.
On refilling the fixed pond it would be a good idea to add a chlorine removing product to the fresh tap water or spray the water into the pond as this will help the chlorine to evaporate.
Take advantage when refilling the pond to measure your pond volume.

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

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The Secret of Choosing Pond Hose and Pond Pipe Fittings

2009-04-16T11:51:00.000-07:00

Choosing the right pipe fittings and the whole issue relating to fittings, pond hose types can be somewhat of a confusing issue at times! To complicate the matter further, fittings and pond hose pipe sizes are often in metric when you want them in imperial and vice versa. This of course usually depends upon where you live.

Why Do I Need Pipe Fittings?

The vast majority of garden pond keepers will have at least 2 pieces of pond keeping equipment that they need to interconnect; a pond pump and biological filter, for example. In some instances they may have many items of equipment that need to be connected together.

There are a myriad of reliable, energy efficient pond pumps available to the water gardening market, these days. Many of these pumps are presold with the relevant pipe fittings included. If you are looking for a reliable pump model then I would recommend products from one of the following world renowned manufacturers:

Hozelock Cyprio manufactures the Hozelock Cascade fountain pump and Hozelock Titan range of waterfall pumps, both of which are known for reliability and efficiency.
Oase are a German manufacturer, considered to be by many the number 1 supplier of water gardening equipment in the world.
Fish Mate (Animate) makes an excellent range of pond filter and waterfall pumps. They are particularly famous for their pond filter systems and their excellent Supra (Alfagrog) pond filter media.

As water flows from the pump through the pond tubing it will often need to change direction. In order to reduce flow restrictions and save on energy consumption use a fitting that has as smooth a bend as possible. No matter what pump model you use it will loose a bit of flow, for each and every fitting used in connecting equipment together. This is known as pressure drop.

Many pond keepers use what is known as a “T Piece” to split the water flow between 2 pieces of pond keeping equipment. This is a very bad idea! The 90 degree change in water flow causes significant pressure drop and flow restriction; akin to sprinting uphill, wearing heavy boots … Get the picture!

The golden rule when choosing fittings is to always to choose the widest diameter fitting you can; this once again is to lower the pressure drop and therefore maximize the possible amount of flow.

When you use a "Y" piece to split flow then this minimizes friction losses or pressure drop in the fitting. Note the inlet side (white) is of a wider diameter than the outlet and that the 2 outlets have what are called "stepped" fittings shown in red. The idea of the stepped fitting is to make it easier to attach the same fitting to different pipe diameters. Whenever you use any type of stepped fitting attach to the largest diameter pipe you can ... and then CUT OFF the smaller steps so that they do not impede water flow through the pipe and fitting.

Some "Y" fittings have inbuilt valves that allow you to control the flow, the direction of flow and the amount of flow split between the two legs. If you look closely at the picture opposite you will see 2 small in-line valves shown in black.

Which Pond Hose Tube Should I Use?

It is better to use opaque plastic tubing because clear plastic tubing allows sunlight to penetrate it. Algae will grow on the inside of any pipe tubing, providing there are nutrients and sunlight present. The algae colonize the inside of the tubing, reducing the internal diameter through which water is pumped. This yet again causes a pressure drop. Opaque tubing makes it very difficult for sunlight to penetrate and this in turn makes it difficult for algae to grow.

Very often you'll want to bend the pipe and is the second reason transparent pipe is normally not the best choice. The picture shown here is of a roll of ribbed flexible pipe that is perfect for pond keepers. When you bend this kind of pond hose it does not kink. The majority of transparent (see through) pond hose kinks very easily and the impact is a lower water flow to your waterfall or fountain.

All pipe whichever type you decide to use should be as short as possible and should be as wide as possible. By following these 2 simple rules you will ensure the best flow rates from your pump and will save yourself money in electricity costs.

When you attach pipe you'll often use what we is known as a Jubilee Clips; ensure that you use stainless steel, so as to avoid rusting and corrosion. If you have ever tried to remove a rusted clip off your garden hose pipe then you will know exactly what I mean.

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

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How To Choose Water Lilies And Pond Water Plants

2009-04-15T13:17:00.000-07:00

How Pond Plants & Aquatic Plants Prevent Pond Algae ... The majority of aquatic plants are either Water lilies; Oxygenators; Floating pond plants or and Marginals.
Popular Aquatic Water Lilies Listed By Color For Water Garden Ponds ... Nymphaea require deeper pond water than other pond plants. These easy to grow pond plant are known for their sheer magnificence.
How to Divide Your Hardy Aquatic Water Lilies in 5 Easy Steps ... Hardy pond lilies, as the name suggests are a tough aquatic plant, capable of thriving in cold water and warm pond temperatures.
Aquatic Oxygenator Pond Plants - The Great Way To Add Oxygen To Your Pond ... They are extremely beneficial to a pond environment because the oxygen that they produce is released directly into the pond water; conventional plants release the oxygen into the atmosphere.
Comprehensive List Of Popular Marginals Or Aquatic Marginal Pond Plants ... Marginal pond plants, also known as bog plants because they like to grow in the muddy and boggy ground, around the perimeter of your pond.
The Easy Way To Choose Floating Aquatic Pond Water Plants ... Floating water plants are an excellent choice for removing excess nitrate and other nutrients from the pond water. They readily compete with planktonic algae and string algae, such as blanket weed for the available nutrients.
How To Choose Aquatic Fish Pond Plants For A Japanese Water Garden Look ... Japanese water gardens are gaining popularity in western society as a means to add a touch of peace and harmony to our existence.
What Everybody Ought to Know About Over Wintering Aquatic Pond Plants ... Fall is the time of year when many pond keepers prepare their water garden ponds and aquatic plants for the forthcoming frost; in preparation for the start of the new season, the following spring.
Beginners Guide To Choosing Aquatic Pond Water Plants Including Water Lilies ... Aquatic water plants are available in many shapes and sizes, each with their own unique appeal!
Aquatic Pond Water Plant Popular Questions Answered by Peter May ... What Are The Top 5 Veggie Filter Plants? The plant that outperforms and outsells all others is the Norfolk reed (Phragmites australis). Other great choices are the Sweet Galingale (Cyperus longus), Soft Rush (Juncus effusus) and True Bulrush (Scirpus lacustris).
Aquatic Pond Water Plant Common English Names And Latin Names ... For those who want to find a specific aquatic plant it may be useful to find the English name that corresponds to the Latin name or vice versa.
Poisonous Trees And Plants To Keep Away From Your Garden Fish Pond ... If you are a pond keeper it is imperative to ensure that certain species of tree that are poisonous are kept away from your fish pond or water garden.
What Everybody Ought To Know About Choosing Moisture Loving Plants ... Moisture loving plants grow naturally in boggy ground, they are some of the most colorful plants for water garden and include many of the irises, lobelias and candelabra primulas.

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

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How To Select Moisture Loving Plants For Your Fish Pond

2009-04-15T12:59:00.000-07:00

Moisture loving plants grow naturally in boggy ground, they are some of the most colorful plants for water garden and include many of the irises, lobelias and candelabra primulas.

Whilst the ground immediately surrounding pools found in nature is nearly always wet, this is not always the case in a backyard, particularly in the area surrounding your garden pond. If the perimeter of your pond has a tendency to dry up then a good tip would be to place a polythene liner under the ground at a depth of between 12 to 20 inches. This will hold the moisture (poke holes in the base to avoid water logging).

Failing this you can always use the good old fashioned watering can to wet the area.

Here is a list of some popular moisture loving plants ...

Aruncus dioicus. goat's beard
Aruncus diocus Kneiffii
Astilbe
Darmera peltata
F.palmata
F.rubra Venusta
F. ulmaria
Gunnera manicata
Hemerrocallis
Hosta
Ligularia przewalskii
Musk mallow
Persicaria amphibia. willow grass
Persicaria amplexicaulis Atrosanguinea
Persicaria bistorte Superba
Primula beesiana
Primula Bartley strain
Primula bulleyana
Drumstick primrose
Primula denticula Alba
Primula denticulata Rubra
Primula floridae. giant cowslip
Primula japonica
Primula japonica Millers Crimson
Primula rosea
Primula sikkimensis
Primula vialii
Primula vulgaris
Rheum palmatum
Rheum palmatum Atrosanguineum
Rodgersia pinnata Elegans
Schizostylis coccinea
Schizostlis coccinea Mrs Hegarty
Scrophularia auriculata Variegata
Golden rod
Trollius

Here is a list of some popular moisture loving fern plants ...

Adiantum pedatum
Adiantum venustum
A. scolopendrium Capitatum. crested
A. scolopendrium Cristatum. spleen wort
A. scolopendrium Marginatum
A. scolopendrium Undulatum
A. scolopendrium Vulgare Hart's tongue fern
Athyrium filix-femina. the lady fern
Athyrium filix-femina Cristatum
Athyrium filix-femina Vernoniae
Athryrium filix-femina Victoriae
Dryopteris affinis Cristata. crested buckler fern
Dryopteris erythrosora. autumn fern
Dryopteris filix-mass. male fern
Dryopteris filix-mas. the king
Dryopteris filix-mas Crispa cristata
Dryopteris filix-mas Linearis
Matteuccia struthiopteris. ostrich feather fern
Sensitive fern
Royal fern
Osmunda regalis Cristata
Polystichum polyblepharum
Polystichum setiferum. soft shield fern
Polystichum setiferum Divisilobum

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

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