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  • Pumps ... most small submersible pumps have impellors designed to turn in a single direction. This type normally have curved rotor blades for improved pumping efficiency. To make sure they do not start up in the wrong direction when you switch them on this type of rotor can only be turned by hand about 3/4 of a turn before it comes to a deliberate stop. If and when your pump suddenly stops pumping this is the first and easiest test to do to find out if the rotor needs changing or if something more serious is wrong with your pump. If the blades go round and round and round you probably just need a new rotor. pond pump flow rates

  • Biofilters need lots and lots of oxygen ... This might sound strange but it is true as I will explain. However before I do I would like to discuss oxygen in terms of good and effective pond keeping. You may know that trout and salmon can only breed in running water such as streams or rivers. You will also know that these particular fish make hazardous journeys up to the very top parts of river systems. The essential reason for these long perilous journeys to these headwaters are that the water is: cool, pristine, clear, fast running, shallow, full of gravel ... ie the oxygen levels are high and suitable for breeding. koi pond filters

  • Testing pond water. This is straight forward and is done by using special kits. Look out for expiry dates since chemicals used for testing are sensitive to time. Do not get carried away with the test results. After all they are indications only. The good reason for testing is to check stability or consistency and not absolute values. When you see a definite change then start testing. If you do test make sure you do the tests at same time every day and record the results on a graph so you can notice any significant changes. One-off results should always be treated with great circumspection. all about ponds and waterfalls

  • Do not feed more food than what you fish can eat in about 5 minutes. Remember your fish can survive almost indefinitely without food from you. Any excess food should be removed ... there are even devices sold that confine the food to an area to enable excess to be removed. As water temperatures increase the appetites of fish increase and the oxygen holding capacity of water decreases. Getting the balance right between feeding and overfeeding is important. If you find your fish gasping at the surface and are not sure why start changing portions of the water immediately. Stop feeding. water gardens, pond keeping

  • The pond filter as winter approaches ... if you have not looked already the filter is in need of a major service. The Ultra Violet clarifier needs cleaning too if you have one. The filter needs back flushing if you have that facility, otherwise scoop out the medium and rinse it in pond water or rainwater to flush out the worst of the muck. It does not need to be spotlessly clean, but check the chamber in the base because if the system has been overloaded at some time in the summer the evidence will be there to see. Scoop out this mess and rinse with pond or rainwater water. water gardens and pond filters

  • In winter make holes in the ice using a pan full of hot water to remove toxic gases. Do not break the ice - this is not good for the fish as you can probably imagine. These days there are low cost electrical heating devices that consume small amounts of power and maintain a "breathing hole" in the pond. pond pump curves

  • Thinking about a pond? ... The pool must be in full sun especially in the UK. Away from trees and prevailing winds that could carry leaves into the pool. Avoid trees with poisonous leaves. In the UK these include Willow, Elder, Poplars, Laburnum, Yew and Oak. Avoid too much exposure to prevailing winds. Avoid boggy areas ii your landscaping ideas. Consider now whether you will have waterfalls, fountains, filters, lights and other accessories like Ultra Violet Clarifiers. You will need an adequate power supply and the connections to cope. Consider accessibility to a water supply. What are you going to do with the excavated soil? Keep the top soil, but what about the rest. fiberglass water features

  • Ponds & algae concerns ... At night, both algae and fish consume oxygen from and exhale carbon dioxide into the system. Algae compete with the fish for available oxygen in the water. A potentially serious impact of an algae bloom is the risk of an "algae crash" triggered by temperature or barometric pressure. When an algae bloom collapses, dead algae cells settle to the bottom of the pond, adding to the decomposing sediments oxygen demand. As the dead algae cells rupture, they release organic nitrogen and phosphorous back into the water, adding to the systems nutrient load. pond algae

  • 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

  • Pond building materials ... Specially formulated flexible plastic non preformed pond liners are also suitable. Look for good guarantee. Do not use ordinary plain black sheeting such as that used by builders. Always source from reputable supplier. For larger ponds (above 600 litres or about 120 gallons) garden pond liners should be installed - preformed liner ponds become too expensive. Rubber (butyl or EPDM) is the material of choice. You can go as big as you like. Even small reservoirs use this type of material. Liner ponds are ideal for water lily ponds. For ponds below this size it would be very wise to choose from a range of preformed pond liners or preformed garden ponds as they are better known. A word of warning: Do not let your dogs swim in water where garden pond liners are used non preformed pond liners are easily damaged by their claws. If you do have dogs go for fibreglass preformed garden ponds. http://www.practical-water-gardens.com/pondliners.htm fiberglass water features

 

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

 

 

 

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