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  • 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

  • To correct pH problems in a pond use dilute solutions of vinegar, or lemon juice for high pH readings and baking powder for low pH readings. Make sure you do not add too much at once. The procedure is add some, wait, test again. It is important to always test at the same time every day since the natural pond cycle creates pH changes at different times of day. For example as carbon dioxide is released by plants the pH may well decrease, When the plants absorb carbon dioxide the pH could rise again. About 10am is a good time to test. all about water garden fountains

  • How To Measure Water Garden Pond Depths and Volumes ... Pond depth is one of those factors in pond building much talked about and misunderstood especially 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 monster sized or prize winning koi or do I want a garden fish pond containing koi around which I can sit with the family and enjoy the scene. If you belong to the dedicated koi keeper class then yes depth of your pond should not be less than 4 ft and preferably 6 feet. This is quite simply to provide space to swim and exercise a mechanism which in part determines the koi's shape. http://www.practical-water-gardens.com/artponddepth.htm all about ponds and waterfalls

  • Pond pumps operate most efficiently with no pipe attached. This is obviously impractical so make sure the delivery pipe from the pond pump is not kinked or is being restricted by a build up of algae inside the pipe. This happens quickly in transparent tubing exposed to sunlight. Make sure that the pipe diamter is as wide as possibel and that the pipe length is as short as possible ... ie try to get as close as possible to "no pipe at all" so you get maximum efficiency pond filter pumps

  • Bio filter starter bacteria ... Think carefully before buying any so called bacteria starter or bio starter. In general do not add anything to a pond unless you understand why you are doing it and are sure of the benefit to be gained. If no obvious, proven, financial or fish health benefit then Do Not Add to your pond. Many commercial pond products are a total waste of money and time. It is because many people do not have biofilters that products have been "invented" to compensate for this inadequacy. Manufacturers are quick to see opportunities to add to their turnover. biomedia for pond filters

  • Measuring pond volume using science .. this is worth pointing out for its simple but brilliant bit of chemistry. Once more I am grateful to a reader for pointing this out to me. This method depends upon a pondkeeper using salt in the pond water. By measuring the salt concentration in the pond water before and after adding a known amount (lbs) of salt to the pond it is possible to calculate the pond volume very accurately and easily assuming the salt hydrometer is also accurate. If you want to know more e mail me and I will send you a calculator pond pump head or pressure

  • Koi will normally stop feeding around 8 degrees centigrade, 46 degrees Fahrenheit. They will lie motionless at the bottom of the pond when water gets down to about these levels. They must NOT be fed when water temperature is at these levels under any circumstances. Many serious koi keepers now heat their ponds in winter to keep their fish active and growing. water gardening and water features

  • 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

  • Spring marginal plant favourites ... The Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris and all the species and varieties) are still at it. Brilliant. The Water Forgetmenot (Myosotis palustris) is also making waves of blue around the pond. Also there is the Golden Club (Oronitium aquaticum) and in the deep water The old South African stew ingredient, the Water Hawthorn, Aponogeton distachyos, is flowering its socks off. An amazing plants that comes up from unlimited stygian depths to perform at the most ludicrous times of the year. It still thinks its down in the Cape, nestled in the fynbos looking up at Table Mountain. where to buy pond plants

  • If you have very young fish in danger of being eaten by larger fish you can seperate them until they are a bit bigger as follows ....... Create a fine mesh bag about 2 feet deep. Attach the bag to pieces of foam (or maybe polystyrene) that float creating a ring or square. Add a bit of weight to bottom of net ... eg stones and let it float around the pond. Of course you must catch the fish first and then put them in their safe floating environment. backyard 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

 

 

 

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