Basic Pond Keeping Questions and Answers Home Page |

 

Complete Pond Solver

 

 

 

 

 

 

More info or buy here


 

 

How To Use These Links

We have extracted brief information about the page you will go to if you click the link at the end of each paragraph.

  • Filamentous algae and blanket weed. Attached filamentous algae can be seen growing on the rocks of a waterfall or on the sides of the pond. The growth of filamentous algae results from high levels of nutrients, carbon dioxide and the catalyst, the suns energy. Methods of controlling filamentous algae include increased shade, reducing the frequency of fish feedings, practical water changes, and the use of chemicals or plecostomus (algae-eating fish) during the summer months. High pH levels suit algae growth of this kind. This is one reason chalk stream or spring creeks tend to have blanket-weed and are very clear. blanketweed in fish ponds

  • To buy two pumps, if selected correctly, is often no more expensive than buying a single larger pump. However being able to switch off the waterfall pump (normally the bigger of the two pumps) can save an enormous amount of money over the lifetime of the pond. The fish do not mind the waterfall being switched off most of the time and if you are at work you cannot enjoy the sights and sounds of the waterfall - so why waste electricity. Furthermore if one pump does break down you can keep your biofilter alive by using the second (spare) pump. In one of my calculators you are shown how to calculate how much you will be able to save by using two pumps in your pond. In the example I use in the calculator $309 is saved over 3 years http://www.practical-water-gardens.com/art2pumps.htm all about pond pumps

  • To buy two pumps, if selected correctly, is often no more expensive than buying a single larger pump. However being able to switch off the waterfall pump (normally the bigger of the two pumps) can save an enormous amount of money over the lifetime of the pond. The fish do not mind the waterfall being switched off most of the time and if you are at work you cannot enjoy the sights and sounds of the waterfall - so why waste electricity. Furthermore if one pump does break down you can keep your biofilter alive by using the second (spare) pump. In one of my calculators you are shown how to calculate how much you will be able to save by using two pumps in your pond. In the example I use in the calculator $309 is saved over 3 years http://www.practical-water-gardens.com/art2pumps.htm all about pond pumps

  • Pond pumps and running costs. Before buying any pump check what the running cost will be. Look on pump box and if you can find watts consumed multiply this by 8.76 and you will get units (kWhrs) of electricity consumed every year by your pump. Find cost per unit and you can work out running cost of the pump. If you can only see amps on box you can work out watts as follows: amps x voltage of mains supply = watts. Once again multiply by 8.76 to get annual cost. use this figure to compare costs of 2 different pumps since running cost is generally far more important than the purchase cost. waterfall pumps

  • Oxygen in ponds ... On occasions fish in ponds with no fountains or waterfalls may look listless in winter due to carbon dioxide levels being excessive but the problem quickly sorts itself out when windy and bright weather returns. In summer water can hold much less oxygen and the animal and plant life (algae) is also thriving due to higher temperatures along with more nutrients in the water associated with feeding fish. The living organisms are therefore emitting more carbon dioxide in a situation of potentially disastrously low oxygen levels . Fish may then die from suffocation. uv maintenance, lamp changes

  • A pond is not just a hole in the ground you casually dig one day, fill with water and then hope it will add value to your life. Without care and knowledge that hole in the ground will cost an arm and a leg and will not please you. In fact it will become a nightmare. Unless you go out of your way to learn the really important parts of pond keeping then do not even dig the hole......... it will not be worth it. fiberglass water features

  • Pumps and maintenance ... more and more modern pumps are being sold without sponges to reduce the hassle of sponge cleaning. Do get one of these in preference to one with a sponge if you like the idea of less maintenance. This type of pump is generally more robust and can handle small solids going into it without breaking the shaft or rotor. fountain pumps

  • Winter water gardening ... If the frosts are slow to arrive, the foliage factor from some of the variegated water plants is a major bonus. The sword like leaves of the Iris laevigata Variegata, the variegated scented rush Acorus calamus Variegatus or the small tufty A. gramineus Vareigatus are late to die down and are up early spring, brightening up the most moribund boggy patch. Gardeners garters (Phalaris arundinacea var. picta) add a splash of colour all year, but are somewhat rampant and difficult to contain after the first year floating pond plants

  • Pond and garden lighting ... A very unique and effective garden light has been newly introduced into the UK and Europe. During the day this device is a highly realistic looking rock. At night the whole rock glows with diffused light creating a magic and enchanting effect. Japanese lanterns also create magical effects. Foggers used in conjunction with lights add magical and mystical properties to pond and plants. preformed garden ponds

  • Many people use salt in their ponds. I do not recommend it but the reason is to help prevent parasitic diseases that lead to complicated bacterial diseases. It is important not to overdose and if the intent is to remove parasites from individual fish then rather place the fish in another small temporary pond loaded with salt for a few minutes. Use about 2 lbs per 20 US gallons of pond water as a general treatment. As a short term soaking to treat individual fish use about 3 times as much salt as above. Adding pond start bacterial mixtures can do no harm especially at springtime. blanketweed in fish ponds

 

Never switch off your pond pump for more than about 60 minutes

Make sure the delivery pipe from the pond pump is not kinked

Must the UV be placed before the biofilter?

A waterfall adds oxygen to a pond by creating a large surface area

Submersible pond pumps can operate against a closed valve

It is a good idea to pump out about 10% of your pond water

Lighting in and around ponds creates a brand new dimension

Sick and tired of looking at debris on the bottom of your pond?

Do not feed more food than what you fish can eat

Pond Links and Tips

 

 

 

copyright 2005 all rights reserved