Inspirational Making the Right Choice in Garden Pond Liners

Building your garden pond is work but for most they find it enjoyable work, and part of the tasks required to completing the job is to pick the proper garden pond products which includes choosing a pool liner.

You are going to have to make the decision about your pond liner before you actually start to construct your garden pond. If you decide to go with a preformed type, then your excavation has to be done according to the form. Using a soft liner is most often a choice that many make because if allows for more flexibility in designing a shape for the garden pond. People can be more creative when choosing these types.

There are things that you need to consider though when choosing your pond liner. The make and size are the two key issues.

Quality
The quality of your liner is very important. If you have been given a used one, be very cautious about using this. Often the older ones can become brittle and will crack when you try to lay them. Then there could be leaks that you cannot see but will soon discover when you fill your pond.

No doubt you have put a great deal of work into your pond and now is not the time to start cutting corners. Good quality garden pond liners are most affordable, and are a very important part of your water garden. You also want to be sure that the materials that the pond liners are constructed of contain no harmful chemicals, and will provide a safe environment for your fish and plant life.

Ease of Installation
Installing your pond liner should not be all that difficult. If you have purchased a liner that is of good quality it should be durable, and flexible. Many of these pond liners are lightweight enough that they are easy to maneuver and put into place.

Choosing the right size
This is a very important step to be sure that the liner fits properly. If it does not, it may not hold the water properly, and it will look unsightly. To determine the size that you need there is a simple formula.

For the width you need
Find the widest part of your pond and measure this. Then determine the depth of your pond and multiply this by 2 then add 2 more.
So for example, the widest point is 10 feet, it is 2 feet deep, this would mean for width you would need 10'+4'+2', for a total of 16 feet in width.

For the length you need
You would do the same for the length using the same formula. If the longest length was 15 feet, then you would need, 15'+4+2, for a total of 21feet in length.

Garden pond liners are normally sold in 5ft. increments. So for this example you would need to purchase a 20'x25' liner.

This formula takes into account the requirements needed for lining the walls of the pond and a safety overlap.

Beautiful How to Choose and Plan for Koi Pond Plants

To create a lush water garden design that enhances your beautiful fish you will want to choose a variety of Koi pond plants so that you have a balanced look and ecosystem. There are several types of plants you can include.

The first type are SUBMERGED PLANTS like Anacharis and Cabomba. These are planted underwater in the gravel or soil and they will help to oxygenate your pond. They do this by pulling carbon dioxide from the water and releasing oxygen as part of the photosynthesis process.

Another type are the FLOATING PLANTS. Many of these plants provide your garden with lovely flowers. The root systems that drift below the surface actually act like a filtration device, which is why some sanitation plants use Water Hyacinth as part of their purification process. Plants such as the Water Hyacinth and Water Lettuce also may serve as camouflage for your pond filter or other pond equipment.

MARGINAL PLANTS like Cattails and Irises do best in the shallow water or wet soil around the edge of your Koi pond. They grow up above the water. Marginal Koi pond plants make an ideal way to transition from pond to the surrounding area in a gradual way.

The final type of pond plants are FLOWERING WATER LILIES. They are the essence of any water garden or Koi pond. They are similar to marginal plants in that their roots grow underwater, while the leaves and flowers emerge above the surface. Lilies will spread across your pond surface. They aid in providing shade and shelter as well as aesthetic appeal.

The following are some of the items that are necessary for planting and tending to your Koi pond plants:

~Planting Baskets These baskets will contain and anchor your plants on submerged shelves. You can also use floating island planters to create one-of-a-kind floating arrangements.

~Aquatic Planting Media boosts the ability of root systems to gain a firm foothold and get well established for the growing season.

~Aquatic Fertilizers are used to promote blooms, lush foliage, and strong roots in aquatic plants.

~Pruning Tools give you the extra reach to trim and sculpt plants for a well-manicured Koi water garden.

The above suggestions include the basics that will give you a good start on planting and maintaining beautiful and healthy Koi pond plants.

Best of Three Things to Consider when Choosing Pond Pumps

Once you have decided that you are going to install a garden pond, one of the most important tasks you will have is choosing one of the many garden pond pumps available on the market.

There are going to be three areas to consider when choosing the garden pond pump that is best suited for you particular pond. You are going to have to decide on the type, the brand and the power that you are going to need in your pump. When making your decision in each of these areas, you have to give some thought to each one of them on their own merits.

== >> Type
You will find that you have two choices of types of pond pumps. There is the external type which means it sits on the outside of your pond, and then there are the submersible pumps that are put in the pond totally underwater. Both have their advantages and you will need to give some thought and consideration as to which is most appropriate for you.

If cost is an issue, then you will find that the external pond pumps are less expensive and they also use less energy, which means there is some cost-saving factors here as well. The disadvantage to the external pump is that they do make some noise, and this may overpower the ambience of your garden pond. The submersible types are more expensive, but because they are totally submersed under the water you don't have to contend with the noise.

== >> Brand
With some careful planning and shopping around, you really can install garden ponds without having to spend a fortune. However it is very important that you purchase pond pumps that are of excellent quality, because you don't want to be running the risk of having to repair or replace them, or running into potential problems with your pond.

Pond pumps have the job of keeping your water circulating which is a necessity to keep your pond free and clear of any problems. You will find that the various garden pond pumps run at different price ranges, but a little bit of research will help you to determine what are the most favored and reliable ones on the market.

== >> Power
You are going to need to know how many gallons of water your water garden is holding. The general consensus of choosing a pond pump is to choose one that can move the water completely within every hour and a half. So if you have a 400 gallon pond then your pump should have the capability of being able to move 300 gallons of water per hour.

There are other things to consider as well though. You will have to take into account the shape of your pond and what the pond contains, as it could interfere with the water circulation.

By paying attention to these three specific areas you will have no difficulty in finding the right pond pump for your particular water garden needs. Also consider your future plans for your garden pond as well. If you feel that you are going to be adding several more items to it, then keep this in mind when purchasing your water garden pump.

New Seven Steps to Choosing the Right Garden Pond Spot

Making the decision to put in a garden pond is the first of many decisions that you will be faced with, when it comes to designing and implementing one of these beauty home accessories.

To begin with almost any yard can house some type of garden pond. There is nothing to say that it has to be big and elaborate in order to fully enjoy all the benefits they have to offer.

There are some preliminary steps to take before actually starting the construction of your pond.

== > Step one
You need to do a full walk through of your backyard and determine all of the viable places from a ground point of view that would work for your pond. If you are going to be doing it yourself remember that you will have some digging to do, and you are not likely to have the right equipment for breaking through ground that is excessively rocky.

== > Step two
You will probably discover at least two or three places that have the appropriate grounds. The next thing you now have to consider is what size of garden pond are you planning on? Then determine which of the locations you have chosen would best meet this need.

== > Step three
Now you have to consider the focal point of your backyard. With your choices of space, is the garden pond going to fit in nicely with the rest of the garden architecture? Even if you do not have your landscaping in place yet, think about the future. Once your garden pond is in you don't even want to have to consider moving it.

== > Step four
Consider the surrounding of the future pond area. If you have large trees you don't want to be running into root problems in a few years, just when your garden pond has become so beautifully established. Then also there is the potential problem of your garden pond becoming laden with fallen leaves and twigs from trees too close to it.

== > Step five
Review the high ground around the pond area. You don't want to have to be dealing with run off from these areas contaminating your pond.

Step six
You want to be sure that there is going to be easy access to your electrical source. You will need this for your pump and filtration system, and perhaps some of the other garden pond accessories that demand power.

== > Step seven
Finally consider how close you want your garden pond to your house. If you have found a viable area that is close to the house, then you want to keep in mind if you do not have a patio now, that you may want to put one in, in the future. Therefore you need to plan ahead for this. The advantage though to having it close to the house is that if you use pond lighting you can enjoy seeing this from inside the house. Also with an open window and provided you are using a fountain or waterfall, you can enjoy the sound of the running water.

These are a few important considerations to give some serious thought to when in the initial planning stages for your garden pond.

Lovely Understanding the Need for Necessary Garden Pond Supplies

Unless you are prepared to invest in all of the necessary garden pond supplies that are required to have a healthy garden pond, there is no point in even attempting to install one.

Garden ponds do not have to be overly expensive to construct, but there are some basic garden pond supplies that are a necessity. By doing some comparison shopping when seeking out these necessary items however, costs can really be kept to a minimum. In addition to this, whatever expense is incurred in constructing the garden pond is well worth it. A healthy water pond provides many hours of relaxation and enjoyment.

Garden pond liners
You are going to have to have something to contain the water for your pond. You can either choose from preformed liners, or flexible liners. There are pros and cons to both and it will come down to you having to make your decision based on what your pond requirements are.

==> Pond pumps
If you have a very tiny pond with virtually nothing in it, then you may be able to get away without a pump. Very few people are satisfied with this type of pond however, and soon go about stocking it with at least some pond plants and a few fish at the very least. This makes having a pond pump an absolute necessity.

==> Pond filtration
You must be able to filter the water of your garden pond. It will be exposed to environmental debris, as well as the bi-products of the fish such as their waste, and unused foods. These left unattended in the pond will contaminate the water. Without the use of a filtration system to attend to this matter, the water will soon become unhealthy for both fish and plant life.

==> Pond waterfalls and fountains
These are items that one can now consider as an option when it comes to garden pond supplies. They fit into the dcor category of pond building. They certainly are a most welcome addition. Which you choose will be determined by the pond design that you have, as well as size and of course preference. Neither one of these are hard to install or maintain.

==> Additional Pond garden supplies
There are many handy garden pond supplies that are considered accessories but many garden pond enthusiasts simply will not do without them. One of these is the water thermometers. Knowing and keeping control of the pond temperature is crucial for both fish and plant life.

Another great accessory is garden pond netting. After spending many hours of cleaning out debris such as fallen leaves and twigs, or dealing with unwanted birds, this pond netting proves to be most valuable.

Then there is a necessity for a pond testing kit. This takes all the guesswork out of knowing if the pond is stabilized according to the various chemical components it depends on to remain healthy.

Finally there are various chemicals that are available such as water clarifiers, stabilizers and algae control. There are other accessories as well which many come under the category of garden pond dcor.

Luxury Marginal Plants for the Garden Pond. Part 2

Glyceria (Water Grass)
Yet another grassy Marginal, and one with a bad reputation for being invasiveand for swamping the more delicate plants. Glyceriaspectabilis variegatus (Manna Grass) is a striking plant growing 2 - 3 feet high, with Green leaves which are boldly variegated with Yellow and Whote stripes. The young spring foliage has a distinctly rosy hue. The wide-spreading grass flower heads are of little ornamental value and should be removed. The planting depth is 0 - 6 inches and it can be grown in the bog garden. Unless Glyceria is used to stabilise the bank of a lake or large pond, it should always be grown in a container to restrict its sideways spread. It is an easy plant to grow even in partial shade and it quickly becomes established and stars to spread, this is the main problem with this particular plant.



Houttuynia (Houltuynia)

An easy to grow carpeter for planting between taller specimens, but you must grow it in a container to keep its invasive nature in check. The stems are Red and the Bluish-Green leaves are distinctly heart shaped. It grows 6 inches to 1 foot high and in early summer the cone shaped flowers appear, each one surrounded by 4 white bracts. Houttuynia cordata bears single flowers - the double flowered variety 'Plena' is preferred. Variegata has the most colourful foliage which is Reddish-Green splashed with Yellow and cream but with only a few flowers. The recommended planting depth is 2 - 4 inches. It will grow quite happily at the surface or even in damp soil, but the roots can be damaged in winter if they are exposed to frost or ice.



Caltha (Marsh Marigold)

The Marsh Marigolds are perhaps the most popular of all Marginal plants, and quite rightly so. The size of the smaller types makes them suitable for small ponds and they are reliable under a wide range of conditions. The recommended planting depth is no roblem, they need very little water above the crowns and will grow quite happily in the bog garden. Their greatest advantage is the time of flowering, the Buttercup-like flowers appear above the round or heart shaped leaves in spring. These April blooms herald in the start of the floral year. Grow Marsh Marigolds in groups in full sun or partial shade. The basic and most popular species is the Kingcup Caltha palustris. In April the bright Yellow waxy flowers are borne on branching stems above the dark Green leaves. Height 1 foot to 18 inches, planting depth is 0 - 2 inches. The best Caltha of all is C.palustris Plena - double Yellow flowers which look like small pompon Crysanthemumsappear in April. The leafy mounds are small (6 inches th 1 foot) and are often completely covered by the blooms. The White variety alba produces its blooms in May - height 6 - 9 inches, planting depth 1 inch. It is often disappointing as a Marginal s o it is best to grow it as a bog plant.C.leptosepala is a more attractive White floweredCaltha, but it is not easy to find. C polypetala is the giant growing 2 - 3 feet in height, planting depth 2 - 5 inches. The leaves and the Yellow blooms are large. Not one for a small pond.

Elegant Make Your Garden More Beautiful with a Small Koi Pond!

You have your dream home along with a wonderful garden that enhances it's beauty. But... you want to make your garden even more beautiful. How about the idea of enhancing it with a small Koi pond? 

Koi fish are an ornamental variety of domesticated Common Carp or Cyprinus Carpio. Also known as Japanese Carp, these pretty fish are known as symbols of love and friendship. You can find Koi in a multitude of colors, including white, black, red, yellow, blue, cream and silver.

It is an old Japanese tradition to tame these fish in small ponds. Japanese homes have always been beautiful and wonderfully embellished. In the present the Japanese people widely use a small Koi pond in their home garden to decorate it and maintain a positive energy. Koi are traditionally known in Japan as a 'good luck charm.'

In addition to increasing the serenity of your garden, these small ponds add to your reasons for spending time relaxing in and enjoying it.

Another bonus of a small Koi pond is that building one is not an overly tough task. You can build it in hours without spending huge amounts of money. To make your job even easier follow these simple guidelines...

First, decide on location, where to place the pond in your garden? Selection of a shady area is always a wise decision as shade will help moderate water temperatures and provide some cover for your Koi. You must also select a place where you can easily keep your pond clean and free from garden wastes. You don't want chemicals or fertilizers to run into the pond since this would be likely to kill your fish.

You should also make sure that the place you have chosen for your pond has easy access to electricity. Electricity will be required for running your filter and water pump.

Size is another important factor, particularly if you are the one who is going to dig the hole. The size of a pond also varies in accordance with the number of fish, and depending on where you live you will also need to make sure your pond is of adequate depth. If winters get below freezing you will need to make sure that a good portion of your pond is a minimum of three feet deep.

To build a small Koi pond in your garden you will need a liner or preformed tub. After digging the hole, you can put the tub in and fill the dirt around it. This is the easiest way to prepare a Koi pond. But, if  you are using a liner  you must be cautious. Some rubber liners can be dangerous for fish.

The last, but most important component of your pond is your fish! You can have just Koi fish, or even a mix of gold fish and Koi. It is very enjoyable deciding on which colors and types to select and in just a short time they will become beloved pets!

Now your striking Koi pond is ready. If you would like to make it even more beautiful you could place a small wooden bridge over it. This will offer an arresting look to your garden. You will surely be enchanted by the beauty and tranquility of your small Koi pond!

Unique 5 Tips when Purchasing Pond Liner

However, if you are thinking of moving house and taking your pond with you they might be a practical option in the short term, with view to creating a larger, lined pond at your future address.

Pond liners can be made to fit practically any sized pond and there are a number of choices when it comes to choosing your pond liner, many of them come with a life time warranty and can be very cost effective.

The types of liners available on the market are:

PVC – This is a budget option pond liner which can be purchase in 0.5mm and 0.8mm thickness. A PVC pond liner can be folded and taped to fit your pond and is suitable for smaller ponds, it is advised that you use pond underlay with your PVC liner to ensure that it lasts as long as possible. This type of pond liner does actually come with a lifetime warranty but this will be subject to correct usage and care. PVC pond liners are available in a number of sizes but these sizes are restricted to a maximum of 25m X 12m in the 0.5mm, and 25m X 10m in the 0.8mm, it is not recommended that you try to exceed these sizes by attaching 2 pieces together, if you do require a larger liner then it would be advisable to choose either a Greenseal or Firestone rubber pond liner.

Greenseal – This liner is probably the closest to Butyl, as Butyl pond liners are not often an option anymore due to the import costs other liners have been developed to take their place and the Greenseal pond liner is really the next best thing. The Greenseal pond liner can be purchased in thickness of 0.75mm or 1mm and is a textured rubber pond liner that is easy to fold and shape to fit your pond.

Also with a lifetime warranty (subject to care and usage) this liner is available in 8m width X up to 40m length and you can purchase 2 sizes and attach them together if you require a larger size. It is still recommended that you use pond liner underlay, this is simply to protect your liner from any objects which may protrude from the soil beneath.

Firestone – Available in 1mm thickness this liner has a smoother rubber texture and although it can still be folded, it may be more difficult to position than the 0.75mm Greenseal simply due to how thick it is. Although this is the toughest pond liner in the market place it is still recommended that a pond liner underlay is used. The Firestone pond liner also has a lifetime warranty subject to care and usage and is available in 15.24m width and up to 30.48m in length.

Box Liner – The advantage of these liners is that they fit to the exact size of your pond and are ideal for odd shaped ponds. The only disadvantage is that you may have to pay a little more and wait a little longer, but when your liner arrives at least you will be able to place it straight into you pond with little messing and no creasing. You do have to be spot on with the measurements that you give for your box liner, in fact you have to be to the exact cm or you will find that you have the dig a little further or fill in your pond so that your liner fits.

Pond Liner Underlay – This is a vital purchase with any of the pond liners as it will help to protect your pond liner from any foreign particles such as rocks and roots in the soil underneath. You should always try to remove as many objects as you possibly can from the soil to try to reduce any damage being caused to your liner, as even though the underlay will provide much more protection than not having any at all the underlay could still be damaged causing risk to your liner. Underlay is always the best option of protection for your liner as it will not rot over time and so should always provide a protective barrier for your liner as long as you need it.

There is also the ability to extend or fix your liner into the desired shape, to do this you would need 2 items which are quick prime plus and form flash repair tape. These items should be used in conjunction with one another, quick prime plus is an adhesive which needs to be pasted onto your pond liner, the attaching/folding piece of liner is then placed on top and you then seal this with the form flash repair tape. You can also purchase tools to assist you when doing this such as rollers which will help to secure the liners together as securely as possible.

If by any chance your liner does spring a leak, do not despair as there are ways which you can fix it. First of all you will need to establish where the leak is coming from; you may have a good idea if for example you have dropped something sharp into the pond. If you think that the damage is toward the top of the pond you could choose to let the pond drain of its own accord until it is below this level, then add baking power along the part of the liner where the water has drained and the leak will be highlighted with a damp spot as water can still seep through from the underside of the liner. To repair the liner you will need a PVC patch if you have a PVC liner or a rubber repair kit if it is a rubber pond liner, these kits create a waterproof barrier and so your liner will again be able to hold water with no problems.

Keep in mind though that if you are unsure where exactly the leak is you really shouldn’t not just let the water drain as if it is lower in the pond liner then you could risk killing any fish you have in your pond. If you do not know where the leak it is recommended that you filter the pond water into a holding tank and also transfer you fish. The pond liner then can still be repaired in the same way as mentioned earlier and if you do find that you have to drain the entire pond then it might also be a good idea to do any required pond maintenance whilst you are there.

Unique Winter Pond Management Tips

Mitigating Nutrient Loading in Your Aquatic System

Eutrophication is the term applied to the natural process of aging in lakes and other freshwater and brackish systems. Human activities can greatly accelerate eutrophication by increasing the rate at which nutrients and organic substances enter aquatic ecosystems from their surrounding watersheds. Agricultural runoff, urban runoff, leaking septic systems, sewage discharges, eroded stream banks, and similar sources can increase the flow of nutrients and organic substances into aquatic systems. These anthropogenic influences can cause algal blooms or the overgrowth of aquatic weeds. While these blooms do not take place during the winter due to reduced water temperature, the body of water can still store limiting nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous that will fuel the springtime algal growth spurt.

As a resident or property manager there are several things that can be done to mitigate these effects on your lake or pond. This time of year leaf litter contributes significantly to the nutrient loading in many neighborhood ponds. Keeping fallen leaves out of your body of water can significantly reduce the organic material stored in the system. Composting and recycling yard wastes provides an environmentally responsible alternative to allowing organic materials to be washed into storm water systems. Nothing is more important than minimizing the use of fertilizer throughout the community and surrounding watershed. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so take these small steps to help with the management of your lake in the upcoming year.

Winter Aeration to Prevent Spring Problems

Local ponds and lakes stratify with cooler water to the bottom and warmer to the top during the warmer months. As the weather in Virginia starts to cool so do the local ponds and lakes. As the weather and ponds cool, fall turnover will take place. This is when the top temperature becomes the same as the bottom causing thorough mixing. As winter sets in, these bodies of water will start to stratify again but in the opposite way. Inverse stratification will occur as the top layer becomes cooler than the bottom. Mixing will not occur because water reaches max density at 39'F (4'C). This is when proper aeration can be very important.

Just like summer, proper mixing will be needed to make sure that stratification is broken down and mixing can occur. Aeration running during the winter will help to keep ice from forming on the top by having moving water. This moving water will help the dissolved oxygen levels to remain sufficient. In the event of heavy freezing, winter fish kills can take place by ice forming thick on the top of the pond and blocking out sunlight. This causes the vegetation to die off and use up all dissolved oxygen leading to fish kill. Aeration is very important no matter what the season!

Luxury What Do Fish Eat ?n a Pond?

For just one thing, there are many apartment dwellers at the present or people who reside in limited space. Even the smallest cat might take up some area owing to his or her litter box and may not even be allowed in an condo as a consequence of would-be damage. But most apartment managers allow tropical fish by reason they do not score the carpet, make messes on anything, or disturb the neighbors. And for people who might not be even limited by an apartment's rules, consider that tropical fish don't need to become walked, groomed, scooped up after, and will not tear up the rosebushes or leave you a lifeless mouse as a gift. They do not get fleas and won't get into fights with different locality fish and won't give you a litter of six or seven babies that you simply in some way must give away.

To fend off this problem, use try strips in between water changes to determine levels of this compound. Aim to hold the levels under 20 parts per million (ppm). If levels are on top of forty ppm, do an immediate water change.

Both tropical and freshwater aquarium fish are magnetic to look at. Aquariums in themselves are a sort of art, and owners can keep building on it over time. The more nooks and crannies there are usually in the aquarium; the more areas a fish may hide or sleep.

Small, slender fish, hardy, engaging and simple to look after Good for maintaining with different fish, favor the top level of the tank Sociable fish, enjoy a powerful current, plants and various diversions Omnivorous, eat dried meals and luxuriate in treats of reside food Frequent varieties take on Zebra, Pearl, Leopard, Gold, Blue, and Giant

Piranhas

A more odd option, these carnivorous fish can easily live for as much as 25 yrs. Naturally hardy so good for the beginner, however please do mind your fingers May grow quite large so are in need of a big a sufficient quantity of tank Younger fish will eat flakes and freeze dried meals however older ones favor lean beef, chicken and fish, and a few fresh fruit and greens Types take on Red Belly, Black, White, Gold and Wimple

Further Information

For added information, and for further wonderful methods to have a good time together with your family, sign on to ith a huge collection of articles overlaying all kinds of things from son or daughter security to wet day activities, you will find all the help, guidance and pleasure you ought to be a good parent. Go to My Household UK now!

Find out the secrets of Whаt Dο Fish Eat here.

 

Unique Koi Filter - Keeping Your Pond Water Clean

For a fish hobbyist, one of the most important pieces of equipment to have is a water filter. It's only natural that since your Koi will be living in your garden pond permanently (unless you sell them), you should go to all lengths to keep the water as clean and as debris-free as possible. In fact, it's even more important for a pond to have a properly-sized Koi filter because it's located outdoors.
 
Unfiltered Koi water will attain high concentrations of ammonia (excreted by the fish) and will turn green and foul-smelling before you know it. Toxic nitrates will build up and all sorts of foreign matter will find themselves on the pond surface over a short period of time - dead insects, sticks and leaves, uneaten fish food and other debris.
 
There are two components to Koi filters - mechanical filtration, which removes pollutants and debris physically, and the biological filter which converts ammonia and nitrates into less toxic substances. Both these stages help make life more comfortable and less stressful for your expensive pets. Remember that a happy Koi makes for a healthy Koi.
 
In mechanical filtration, dirt and other foreign matter is filtered with the use of pads, sand or beads which trap the pollutants so they can be taken out of the water easily. Water is sucked through the filters with the use of a pump. The pump's capacity to process water has a lot to do in how effective it will be. Experts say a water pump has to be able to handle at least 1/3 of the Koi pond's total capacity randomly. There are two kinds of pumps for Koi ponds, submersible pumps and re-circulating pumps. The latter are more effective for large ponds because of their durability and power although they can be quite noisy.
 
The cleaning process that happens in biological filtration is a bit more complicated. Noxious elements that have formed from pollutant and excretions from the fish like ammonia are acted on by bacteria which transform it into nitrates. Nitrates are still toxic to the fish, but anaerobic bacteria, again through the same process of biological filtration, convert them into nitrites which are not as dangerous to the Koi.
 
To make sure your fish are swimming in really safe waters, a drainage hole in should be built in the lowest part of the pond. Here, dirt can be sucked-out by the pump and trapped in the filter chambers. This along with an adequate aerator can be the perfect accompaniment to your Koi filter, making the water in your garden pond a clean and hazard-free habitat in which you can enjoy and take care of your fish for many years to come.

Unique Digging a Farm Pond

Having a beautiful pond can be a great addition to any farm since it can add scenic beauty and become an emergency water source as well. Besides, you can let your kids to take a dip on your pond in the summer day, or you just stock it with fish. Actually, digging a pond is not as difficult as you think. By using the right techniques, you will be easier to make your own small or large pond as you like. At this time, this article is going to give you some easy tips that will guide you in digging a farm pond. So, just check out the following tips.

The first thing that you need to do is to choose the appropriate location for the farm pond that you want to build. It is suggested for you to find a section of the flat land so that the water in your pond will not drain out.

The second thing that you have to do is contact your local city for asking about the freeze line. For instance, the freeze line should be 3 feet beneath the surface dirt. It is very important for you to dig your pond deeper than the freeze line in order to prevent the pond from freezing into the solid block of ice in the winter.

The third thing that you should do is to use a spray paint for marking the shape of your pond. After that, you can start to dig the pond from the center and then working outward. You should make your pond for at least one to two feet deeper than the freezer line if you are going to stock the pond with fish.

Removing debris from the bottom part of your pool is the fourth thing that you have to do. Then, you can spread pond liner or vinyl liner to the bottom of your pond in a way to avoid folds and wrinkles. If there is any excess, you can cut it with utility knife. Lastly, you can add water to your pond or just wait for the rainfall.

Elegant an Overview of Pond Liners

An Overview of Pond Liners


When building a pond the first, and one of the most important decisions you will need to make is
choosing a pond liner. The three main types of pond liners are preformed shells, flexible liners and
concrete or concrete products. Each type of pond liner has its advantages and disadvantages, and care
should be taken to choose the liner that is best for you.


Preformed shells are pond liners that are molded into specific sizes, shapes and depths. Some shells
may also have a waterfall lip, stream, or a plant pocket or a shelf that is designed for water plants. (A
plant shelf should be at least 9 inches wide or it won't be usable.) The two materials used in preformed
shells are fiberglass and polyethylene (plastic); fiber glass is the material of choice. Although fiberglass is more expensive than polyethylene it is easily repaired, more resistant to ultraviolet light and if properly installed and maintained it will last up to 20 to 30 years. When shopping for a preformed shell the rule of thumb is: do some measuring at home before you leave for the store because they always look bigger in the store than when installed.


Flexible liners are the easiest to install, least expensive and most versatile of the three pond liners.
They are made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or synthetic rubber; either butyl rubber or EPMD (ethylene propylene diene monomers); EPMD's is the better product. EPMD is malleable and it is this flexibility that lends to it's popularity, because it will allow you an almost unlimited choice in pond designs. EPMD can be used in most water features and this versatility is the very reason EPMD is the liner of choice in streams, waterfall, pond and disappearing waterfall kits. EPMD is resistant to ultra violet light and because it is thicker than PVC it will also last longer. Flexible liners are susceptible to puncture, and some of the hazards to watch for are rocks, broken tree roots and gravel. Flexible liners should be cushioned with an underlayment or a pad. The best underlayment is a special underlayment pad that is tough, flexible, and designed for ponds. Sand, carpet padding and newspapers can also be used, but with mixed results. When shopping for a flexible pond liner make sure your liner is made for ponds, because some types of PVC and EPMD can contain chemicals that are toxic to fish and plants.


Concrete or concrete products (blocks) are another option for a pond liner; they are used primarily in
formal or raised ponds. A formal pond is characterized by clean geometric lines, either straight or
curved and neat regular borders. Concrete or concrete products will give you these crisp lines, square
corners, and uniform geometric shapes. However concrete or concrete products require a high level of
skill and knowledge to install , are expensive, and if not installed properly are prone to cracking and
leakage. Years ago concrete and concrete products were the pond liner of choice, but with the advent
of the new pond liners its popularity has wained.

The following is a quick summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the three pond liners.

Advantages:

Preformed Shells: 1) easy cleaning 2) long lasting 3) no design concerns 4) puncture resistant 5) small units can be easy and quick to install.


Flexible Liners: 1) least expensive of the three choices, 2) shapes and sizes are unlimited, 3) edges are easy to conceal, 4) easy to transport, 5) can be easily customized for marginal and wetland plants.

Concrete or concrete products: 1) good for a formal or raised pond, 2) if installed properly it can last a lifetime.

Disadvantages:

Preformed Shells: 1) edges are hard to conceal, 2) has to be perfectly level, 3) sizes and shapes are limited, 4) more costly than a flexible liner, 5) hard to customize for wetland and marginal plants, 6) to prevent buckling and warping a firm foundation and adequate backfill is required.

Flexible Liners: 1) requires an underlayment pad to help prevent punctures 3) less durable and will eventually degrades in sunlight, 4) exposed edges must be covered.

Concrete: 1) requires skill and knowledge to install, 2) installation is labor intensive, 3) can be prone to cracking and leakage, 4) most expensive of the three pond liners, 5) leaks are almost impossible to permanently repair.

Pond liners are the base for your pond, and care should be taken to choose the best pond liner.
Preformed shells, flexible liners, and concrete or concrete products are the three best pond lining
materials, and by weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each you will have a water feature that
will provide you with hours of relaxing enjoyment.

New How Many Fish Can Your Garden Pond Take?

The maximum number of fish you can have in a pond depends on the volume of the water, the quality of the water, the size of the fish, the species of the fish, the climate of the area and the food available.

If the pond has no pump, filter or other equipment, in a warm climate, you shouldn't keep more than two 15 centimetre fish per cubic metre (two 6 inch fish per cubic yard). You can keep fish at much higher densities than this, but the chances of them remaining healthy are not good.

The better the water quality, the more fish you can keep. With the right technology, fish farms keep up to 200 kilograms of fish in a cubic metre of water (about six pounds of fish per cubic foot). However, as a rough guide, in a garden pond half a metre (one and a half feet) deep, constantly in the shade, with well-buffered water being pumped continuously through an ultra-violet clarifier (to prevent algae blooms) and a biological filter, you could keep up to nine goldfish of 15 centimetres (six inches) length per square metre of pond (i.e.135 centimetres of fish per square metre, or about 45 inches of fish per square yard). To be safe, keep less than half this number so that you have plenty of leeway in the event of the pump or UV failing. In a warm climate, if the pond is in the sun much of the day, reduce the number by half again - i.e. about 35 centimetres per square metre (14 inches per square yard).

Obviously, the larger the fish, the more it pollutes the water so the less the number you can have in the pond. Fish growth tends to be restricted by the size of the water body they live in. For example, goldfish can grow to more than 30 centimetres (12 inches) long, but in most average-sized ponds, they usually won't grow to more than 20 centimetres (8 inches).

Some species need more space than others and some species pollute the water more than others. For example, koi are twice as polluting as goldfish, probably because they stir up the pond bottom sediments more. Also, some species of fish are more tolerant of poor water quality than others. For example, koi can live in water that isn't pure enough for trout.

Climate affects fish activity because they are cold-blooded. Their metabolism doubles with every 10 degrees centigrade rise in temperature which means they eat twice as much and pollute the water twice as much. As a general rule, you can keep double the number of fish in water at 13 degrees centigrade as you can in water at 26 degrees centigrade.

Ideally, you should keep only as many fish in a pond as the food chain in the pond can support. The amount of natural food available will vary from pond to pond. Up to 30 centimetres per square metre (12 inches per square yard) of fish survive well in some ponds without being fed. So, keeping the fish numbers down means you don't have to spend the money or time to feed them. More importantly, by not feeding the fish you aren't adding nutrients to the pond which feed algae.

Elegant Planning to Buy a Floating Pond Fountain

Floating pond fountains can enhance the looks of your garden pond to a considerable extent.  If you simply look at it then it is very relaxing and also very soothing to your mind and soul. The pond feature which could otherwise go unnoticed in your summer garden parties can become the point of admiration with these fountains which also have lights.

When deciding on which kind of floating pond fountain to buy take on board the size of pond you have in mind. You could also consider the option of solar pond fountains in this regard because they don’t require electric power or cabling. If you are planning to buy a floating pond fountain then visit different garden centres and have a look or get it online and save your time and energy.

Floating pond fountains look great if there are fishes swimming in it.  If you add fishes, choose bright colored species, the fountain will keep the water aerated. You can add some flowering water plants like water lilies, Dwarf Bluebell etc. The floating pond fountains are not very pricey.  It can be beneficial to shop around first to ensure you get the fountain that you want. A floating pond fountain is just $ 50 but before that you have to decide the style, designs and the size of the pond where you are installing. The floating pond fountains are becoming so popular because of the fact that most of the people apply it as the finishing touch to their gardens.

What about maintenance?

If you think that running a floating pond fountain is expensive then try for the solar floating fountain which needs solar energy in the day to run. You do not have to spend much time in cleaning the floating pond fountain; you can just add the cleaning solution to the pond.  When you are buying the fountain and are aware of the low maintenance then that gives you relief.

All in all, a floating pond fountain is an excellent choice for even the smallest of garden ponds, and can make a very beautiful talking point at a party or gathering.

Elegant Five Things to Ponder when Starting Your Pond

Majority of the people with backyard planned to have a garden pond in their place to make a very natural look to their backyard. Thinking about setting up a garden pond seems very easy. Most of us will just think that making a hole, filling it water and then adding fish will do the job. Actually there's more to just these things. After creating a hole in your backyard, you have to make sure that you are putting the water with the right temperature, the right ph and the right nutrients. Also, you have to make sure that you have sufficient pond supplies such as biofilter so your pond won't look like a compost pit after a couple of weeks. You also have to choose the right fish for the type of pond that you have.


Since most of the first time pond owners experience New Pond Syndrome, or the scenario wherein fish are becoming unhealthy and sickly, eventually resulting to the fish death, we came up with five things that you should take into consideration when you have your own garden pond.


First, you do not just dig a hole in your backyard and just put water and dump your fish in there. You should make sure that you put a plastic lining to securely separate the ground from the hole that will be your pond. This will ensure that soil and the soil nutrients will not get into the pond. Excessive nutrients from the soil will pacify algal bloom, so we really have to be careful with this one.


Second thing that you should do is to shop for different plants that you can put in your pond. You cannot just put any kind of plants into your pond; you have to research the types of plants that can be helpful to your pond. You might encounter the words oxygenators (plants that provide shade and takes up carbon dioxide in the water and gives off oxygen for the plants), floaters (which floats in the water and help maintain the right temperature for the fish), the marginal (which beautify your pond and also gives extra shade to your pond) and the deep water aquatic (which protect your pond from direct sunlight and also beautifies your pond).


Third, you should choose the right spot where in you will place your pond. You have to remember that location also determines how much work you should exert in maintaining your pond. For example, placing your pond under a tree may seem like a very nice landscape, but that will also mean that you have to fish out the debris from the tree every now and then to make sure that those debris will not decay in your pond. If it does, then you will have a problem with excessive nutrition in your pond water. It will encourage ammonia to take over your pond.


Fourth, also avoid placing your pond on the lowest ground level in your backyard. The tendency is that the water from your lawn will flood your pond. The debris that comes with the water can also cause some problem.
The last thing that you should do is outlining the edges of your pond with rocks. This might sound easy, but it's not. You cannot just put any kind of rock. You have to ensure that these rocks do not give off harmful chemicals or substance.


These are just some of the basic things that you should ponder when starting a pond. There's more to it actually, but knowing five of them will really help you a lot.

Awesome Effective Pond Algae Treatment

A pond, whether it be a fish pond or just an ornamental one will not be complete with the invasion of pond algae one way or the other. This quandary has been a part of pond keeping ever since the world begun. Due to this, there are a lot of treatments being created in order to get rid of these pond parasites.


Although considered as pond scroungers because of the fact that algae consume the nutrients that are supposed to be for fish and plants only, algae are still needed in order to maintain the balance of the ecosystem in the pond. A tolerable quantity of algae present in a certain pond will contribute to the equilibrium of the whole water system.


Because of this, the pond algae treatment that are available in the market are actually made in order to control the excessive growth of algae. So do not expect that the treatment that you just bought will be able to kill every alga in existence in your pond because it just wont. There are a few chemical treatments available and these treatments are no doubt created to totally eliminate algae in ponds. That is if you really desire to meddle with the natural balance of your pond. Keep in mind that chemical pond treatments will not only kill algae but can also affect the health of the fish and plants in the pond.
We all know that algae grow abundantly in areas where there is water. However it is important to know that it is not only the water that fuels up algae. In a certain area of the pond where the sunlight strikes abundantly is where algae start to grow. Aside from the sunlight, there is also the waste produced by the fish in the pond. These wastes release nutrients that activate algae growth even more.


There are few measures needed to be taken in order to prevent algae from continuously overtaking the pond. Aside from the treatments readily available, you can also do simple things for your pond. These include the avoidance of over feeding the fish in the pond. Through the over fed fish, more wastes are produced. And if more wastes are present in the pond, more nutrients will be consumed by algae thus quick reproduction.


One of the most essential skills that a pond owner must know is how to regularly change the water in he pond. This is very important in order to keep the water quality to a high level and at the same time, prevent wastes from continuously accumulating. The pond water can at least be replaced once in a year.


As mentioned earlier, the sunlight that hits and enters the pond aids the rapid growth of algae. Therefore it should be controlled or at least put to a minimum level. If in case your pond has been put in an area in the garden where there isnt enough shade, try to at least dye the pond water darker to help prevent sunlight from penetrating the pond.


Using pond treatments can also be good most especially if you do not have the time to do the things mentioned above. However if you will resort to the use of chemical pond treatments, be sure that you are aware of the consequences and of course, you should know how to apply these treatments.

Luxury Pond Bass Fishing Can Produce Some Sweet Bass

I tell you what, pond bass fishing can be some of the greatest fishing in the world. Although it doesn't quite have the same appeal as going after fish in a big lake on tournament Friday, with a quality bass pond you can catch some amazing fish. I am reminiscent to an old bass tank I used to fish as a kid. What a rush! All we used to use for bait was a tiny spinner bait with one spoon and a one to two inch purple worm. With that, we would catch bass anywhere from two to five pounds or more. It truly was exciting!

So about this great pond. It is found in the south where warmer temperatures prevail, and the growing season for bass is much longer, therefore bass grow to be much larger. The pond only had sunfish and bass in it, and the cover present for bass was good, but not over kill. So the sunfish were kept at bay, and not allowed to continuously clean out the bass spawning areas.

Also, the depth of this pond was good. It had many shallow areas with weeds that allowed good bass spawning, and it had a deeper area in the middle that allowed bass to retreat to cooler water during the hot summer months, and warmer water during the cool winter months. There was plenty of submerged branches, weeds, etc to give the bass plenty of cover, and areas for them to ambush small bait fish. But again, it wasn't too much cover, that would allow the sunfish to clean out and keep the bass population from growing. The evidence that pond bass fishing rocks is building...

Further, this was a privately owned, and not well fished pond. So the bass continued to grow each year, and there were many bass that were 3, 4, 5, 6 or more years old. So I had some of these fish to myself, and was able to pull out some great fish.

This pond was just the primo location for bass. There weren't really any other fish in the pond, so the bass were the main predators, and were able to grow very well. Once you get a large bass on your hook and reel him in, you are pretty much hooked for life! So again, if you think that ponds can't produce big bass, you are just flat out wrong. There have been state records in multiple states across the country that have been caught in ponds.

Best of Five Tips for Garden Pond Success

If you're ready to build your own garden pond, there are some important things you need to know before you begin. Just follow these five tips for having fun with building your own garden pond.

1. An important factor when you start to build your pond is making sure that you know exactly what you want it to be. The reason why this is important is because you have to decide between at least 4 main categories of designs to choose from e.g. a fish pond, a pond-less waterfall, a water fountain and a water garden. If you don't decide on what you want, then you run the risk of ending up with a garden pond that is different from what you exactly wanted it to be.

2. Another important consideration for building a garden pond is it's location in your yard. You should take the following factors into consideration when deciding on the location of your garden pond:

- Build your pond where you can easily see and enjoy it.
- Your pond should get enough sunlight.
- Make sure that rain runoff will not affect your pond.
- Build your pond away from trees and other plants to avoid dry leaves that can damage your pond.
- If you are going to add additional water features and lights it will be wise to build your pond close to sources of water and power. It's critical that you consider the above factors when deciding on the location of your pond as you will be able to avoid a lot of future headaches.If you make sure that you adhere to tip number 2, you'll be fine.

3. Now that you know what your pond should look like, where it will be built and how much it will cost, it is time to go over to action. The next step will be to start digging the hole. Remember that you will need a hole whether you chose flexible liner or a rigid preformed shell. All you need to do from here is to build your pond, and make sure that you follow the instructions on how to build a garden pond. This is a proses on its own which can't be covered here because of limited space.

4. Instead of complicating your garden pond building efforts by following your own techniques and methods, it is in your best interest that I advice you to follow the professional instructions obtainable from your local pet shop when using flexible liner. There are hundreds of low cost books, videos and dvd's available in the market if you can't get instructions from your pet shop.

5. The last tip is the preparation to populate your pond with pond plants, frogs and fish. Before putting any plants or fish in your new garden pond you will have to remember that tap water is high in chlorine which could harm your pond life. A useful tip is to mix a bucketful of water from an established pond with your pond water and wait for about one week for the chlorine to evaporate. Ponds need a balance to keep the water clear and the only way to achieve this is to add pond plants to your pond.

So if you really want to build your beautiful garden pond, follow these tips to please your family with an attractive garden pond. Enjoy!

New Get That Water Circulating in Your Garden Koi Pond

How to Maximize Your Garden Koi Pond Turnover Rate

Simply put, the turnover rate of your pond is how fast it takes for all the water in it to go through the pond filter. It varies from pond to pond.

Ready...Set...Calculate!

This should excite you math-whizzes out there. To find out what your Koi pond's turnover rate is, simply calculate how much water your pump moves per day and divide it by the volume of your pond.

So, for instance, if you have a 50,000 liter pond and a pump that moves X liters of water per hour, it would be pumping (X*24) liters per day. Take that number and divide it by 50,000 liters and you have your turnover rate.

The turnover rate determines the average ammonia concentration in your garden Koi pond water. That's how much ammonia is left in the water after filtration. This will vary depending how often the pond water is turned over.

Why does turnover rate matter?

High turnover rates ensure high oxygen levels in the pond. You need oxygen in the water because Koi need oxygen, the plants need oxygen, and the microorganisms in the water need oxygen to live. Because of this, oxygen levels in the water tend to fluctuate depending on many factors including time of day, number of fish, number of plants, etc.

On the reverse side, low oxygen levels can spell disaster. So keep your eye on the oxygen.

Turnover Rate and Bio filters

Knowing your garden Koi pond turnover rate is also important when shopping for a bio filter. Keep in mind that a filter chamber can handle only so much. It does not have a limitless capacity. Additionally, your pond's flow rate will affect the water's residence time in the bio filter.

Residence Time?

Just like how it sounds, residence time is the maximum amount of time the pond water is in the bio filter, in contact with the bio media.

For instance, if the residence time of the filter chamber is 2 minutes, that means it takes the bio film and active bacteria in the filter 2 minutes to convert the harmful ammonia in your garden Koi pond (from the Koi feces) into nitrites and then to nitrates.

You don't really need a chemistry degree to understand this - well, on second thought, maybe you do. Point is you don't want ammonia. Ammonia makes the Koi sick. The bio filter oxidizes it and converts it to something safer for the fish.

We could go into the theories and discussions involving how these hardworking little buggers do their work, but we won't. We'll just take a moment to thank them right now....

OK.

The bottom line with bio filters is you can't have too much of it protecting your garden Koi pond keeping the water clean and healthy for you fish. Having said that, there is no reason to get all excited and begin messing around with the flow rates to try to maximize contact time with the bio filter. Leave that alone.

If turnover rate slows down, you could put your bio filter into ammonia overload. You don't want that, trust me. If your bio filter is not able to oxidize all the ammonia on the first pass, it has another opportunity the next time around providing your turnover rate is decent.

If you have a new garden Koi pond, keep in mind that it takes time to get a new bio filter to grow bio film. It took you 9 months from conception to birth (10, really) so don't rush nature. Give the little guys a chance to get going.

Let the pond find its own "happy place" or equilibrium. Don't over-feed the Koi. The more you feed, the more they excrete; and with an immature bio filter, this can lead to problems.

Keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite levels and just let nature run its course.

Oh, alright, I'll tell you how to cheat nature. Get some Bao Bio Clear - that'll jump start the bio film growth.