Archive for the 'Ponds' Category

29th Nov 2009

Aquanetics UV Sterilizer

It is an established fact that stressful water conditions is the major source of your fish’s diseases and maintaining your pond water could be a very challenging task. Koi fishes produce quite a considerable amount of waste than many other fishes. Because of that, you could expect your pond to easily turn cloudy and be contaminated much more often which could also mean more frequent water changes and monitoring. With the introduction of pond UV sterilizers, pond water maintenance became much more manageable and efficient. As a proven and safe solution to deal with algae, bacteria and other disease-causing water organisms, this equipment is widely used by koi pond owners worldwide and has effectively kept hundreds of thousands of ponds in its best shape.

Aquarists who are truly serious about keeping the healthiest environment for their kois use Aquanetics UV sterilizer in their ponds. Among the first produced UV sterilizers in the market, Aquanetics is known for its outstanding quality and efficiency in maintaining ponds. When properly set up as according to its manual, its UV sterilizer emits the most ideal amount of ultraviolet light suitable for your pond water. With its superior performance, the Aquanetics UV sterilizer is a truly attractive option in the control of algae and water borne microorganisms. It does not alter the water chemistry in any way and maintains the best parameters for your pond. Since UV sterilizers are meant to run 24 hours a day for the whole year, this equipment is durable enough to last you years of continuous use. It need not require upkeep and an annual bulb change might be the most you can get involved in terms of its maintenance. Though ordering the unit itself may not be possible anymore as its company is no longer doing business, replacement UV lamps and quartz sleeves are made easily made available for purchase.

The many advantages of having a UV sterilizer installed in your pond makes it a necessity in the koi keeping hobby. Though other measures could be done to reduce algae and water pathogens growth like adding plants, avoiding fish overcrowding, regular water change and installation of floating skimmers, it could not guarantee that the disease causing microorganisms harmful to your fishes are eliminated. It is every Koi pond owner’s dream to have the clearest and healthiest water their kois could swim in. Investing in a quality UV sterilizer will truly make the difference every aquarist is looking for and would better enhance the enjoyment that comes with keeping koi ponds.

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28th Nov 2009

Koi Pond UV Sterilizer

The health of your koi fishes is greatly dependent on the quality and stability of the water they thrive in. Whether you are a new fishkeeper or an expert, it is needless to say that majority of the causes of your fishes’ illness and death comes from the water. If you’re keeping a koi pond in your backyard, regular water changes and maintenance is very much a necessity. That, however, is never an assurance that your fishes would be disease-free. With the many equipments developed to introduce improvements in aquatic care, the Koi pond UV sterilizer had proven to greatly benefit in keeping water healthy. Clear water is never enough as it could still carry a lot of disease-causing microorganisms your fishes might catch.

A koi pond UV sterilizer is an effective and safe way to eliminate floating algae problems in your koi pond and even help kill parasites and bacteria in it. It could also prevent the reoccurrence of water borne pathogens which brings diseases to your koi. The ultraviolet light it emits attacks algae present in your pond water as well as any other unwanted elements like bacteria and parasites. Its combined sterilization mechanism and mechanical filtering rids of these microorganisms and eliminate them from your water, at the same time creating a more balanced parameter for your pond’s ecosystem.

This equipment could be allowed to run 24/7 year-round to ensure healthy water for your koi. Bulb changes and equipment maintenance could only be done once in a year which makes it very convenient both for you and your pond inhabitants. When constantly running, you are assured of excellent water clarity and a disease-free koi habitat. Koi pond UV sterilizers come in many sizes and each brand had manufactured varying sophistication of this equipment, but all functions the same way. To ensure you are getting the kind your koi pond requires, the capacity of your UV sterilizer should be suitable to your pond size. Manufacturers have set up a guide on their equipments for that, yet your aquatic supply retailer could offer helpful advises as well. For reasonable prices that would benefit you for years, adding it in your pond is indeed a practical choice. Maintaining your pond water is definitely easier than treating your ill Koi. The ecological balance created by your koi pond UV sterilizer is truly an effective solution in creating a healthier environment for your Koi.

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18th Nov 2009

Types of Goldfish for Ponds

Known to be among the popularly domesticated fishes in the past up to present, goldfishes are suitable inhabitants both for home aquarium and garden ponds not only because of their attractiveness, but from their being inexpensive and easy to care. If you are planning to set up a pond in your backyard, it is important for you to know a little about the types of goldfishes that could best thrive in it.

Goldfishes are differentiated into two types, the flat body and egg-shaped body, where the flat body are considered hardy, easier to maintain and breed and are more competitive than the egg-shaped. These qualities allow them to survive outdoor water temperature inconsistencies, making them more suitable for outdoor environment. Except for the fantail, black moor and ryukin, egg-shaped gold fishes could not survive pond settings. However, there are certain types of outdoor goldfishes for certain climates. Lionheads, orandas, moors and veiltails, for instance, would only do well in ponds in the tropical regions during summer. That allows them a more balanced water temperature for them to adapt to. On the other hand, the common goldfish (or feeder goldfish), jikins, wakins, London shubunkins, Bristol shubunkins, comets and fantails can be kept even in subtropical climates and could survive and thrive in ponds the whole year round. Even these hardy fishes become sluggish on cold months. They normally tend to eat less and would prefer to stay at the bottom of the pond. When it gets warmer, goldfishes start to become active again. Though the fantail is a very common pond goldfish, the comet is most popularly kept in ponds. More than their names imply, Goldfishes exist in a far wider variety of colors. Shubunkins have a light blue shade with more colourful patterns.  Veiltails and orandas are more pearly white in hue but the attractive golden crowns orandas have makes them far more attractive. Blackmoor is very dark in color compared to the rest of the goldfishes. Generally, these goldfishes make good inhabitants for your pond.

Plant your pond to make your goldfishes feel close to their natural habitat and create a great ecosystem. It makes your pond look more serene and appealing, and your goldfishes feel safe. Just like you do with your aquarium, monitoring your pond water is a must as well. These goldfishes could be hardy, but they need to stay healthy too. When they do, they will wonderfully thrive and your beautiful goldfish pond will give you enjoyment and relaxation for the many years ahead.

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16th Nov 2009

Atlantic Garden Fish Pond Skimmer

An atlantic garden fish pond in your backyard is a landscaping asset and is a wonderful way of having a serene place for a quick get away from all the stress and pollution. Its calm and peaceful set up would make any fish keeping hobby more rewarding and fruitful. However, these garden ponds are man-made ecosystems so its nature makes it susceptible to the build up of toxic compounds because of the in and out balance of the pond’s water conditions. To stay on top of this, a variety of techniques and equipments are developed to keep your pond water clean with minimal effort. One of the simple but brilliant innovations ever contributed in the fish keeping technology is the fish pond skimmer.

An atlantic garden fish pond skimmer works by suctioning the floating debris on your pond which could pollute your pond water from the biological bi-products they give off. This skimming action is made possible by a pump attached to a fixed or floating device in your pond. The skimmer contains some plastic or wire basket to collect the materials suctioned by your skimmer unit. An atlantic garden fish pond skimmer is a reliable and efficient way to keep your pond water clean and would save you from hours and hours of water maintenance. All ponds would require a filter, but your pond filter by itself cannot eliminate all the debris that falls into your pond water especially if they are large in size. In some way, it lightens the load of your filter and increases its life, saving you a lot of money in the long run. Atlantic garden fish pond skimmers are designed for safe use even with your fishes swimming around the pond and are equipped with devices to prevent sucking up your fishes along. As an added benefit, when a pond skimmer is used with a pond waterfall, it is found to work well in circulating more of the needed oxygen for your plants and pond fishes. According to its size, capacity and sophistication, an atlantic fish pond skimmer could cost somewhere between to $100 to $800. A bigger pond would naturally need a bigger skimmer. They are easy to obtain from aquatic supply stores. Online, you can find great deals from places like Atlanticwatergardens.com, Watergarden.org, Pondpetsusa.com, Pondepot.com, Yourpondstore.com, Pondliner.com and many more.

A skimmer is an important element in your atlantic garden pond. They’re easy to install and can be hidden from view. For any aquarist, keeping your pond water is a must and your skimmer could do the job for you. Your atlantic fish pond skimmer, along with your filter and pumping systems, could very well keep your pond clean and healthy for a very long time.

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09th Nov 2009

Automatic Pond Fish Food Dispenser

Keeping pond fishes could be a very rewarding hobby. Having a pond not only adds beauty to your backyard but also provides you a peaceful and quiet get away if you need a quick place to relax. However, maintaining a pond could require much of your time and attention. Aside from regular water testing, equipment checks and pond cleaning, fishes need to be fed daily on regular intervals. For one who doesn’t have much time, this would be a cause for worry since fishes could get sick and die when they’re not fed on time.

If you have a pond are keeping fishes in them, you might want to consider investing in an automatic pond fish food dispenser. It is a very brilliant tool designed to help fish keepers make sure their fishes are properly fed even while they are away. That way, a fish keeper is assured his fishes do not go hungry even if he is at work, on a weekend camp or even on longer trips. Automatic fish pond food dispensers could come in different brands and vary in size, prize, sophistication and mechanisms. The kind you wanna buy for your pond would depend on your pond size, quantity of fishes, pond conditions, budget and the kind of convenience you require.

Most automatic pond fish food dispensers can be simply mounted to a dock, pole or post. They are easy to install and do not need a lot of expertise to have one set up for your pond. The electronic is definitely more pricey than the battery operated, but sure spares you the trouble of having to change the batteries often or recharging them. Most electronic designs though have battery back-ups in case of power failure. It is important for your unit to have moisture control devices to keep fish food dry and keep it from clumping. Such could vary with every design.  Mostly are weather proof though to keep moisture from developing while other more expensive type could even have a heating module to address moisture problems.

The capacity of automatic pond fish food dispensers also varies according to its size. This determines how much it can feed for a certain number of days. If you have plenty of fishes in your pond, you might consider one that has bigger capacity. More sophisticated models have digital timers allowing fish food to be released at specific intervals and frequency (between 2 to 8 times a day depending on how it is designed). Having a good feed flow control is important in choosing your unit to make sure it delivers just the right amount of food. This is important so your fishes are not overfed, or worse, underfed. Not all units have directional feeding pattern mechanism, but might be important too. This allows the dispenser to shoot the fish food to a certain direction and not risk wasting some of it on the dock or shore. Food wastage causes your fish to go hungry.

An automatic pond fish food dispenser can come in a variety of colors and design to add ornamental value to your pond set up. The convenience and peace of mind it brings is so much worth investing in. Having one, you are assured your fish will not go hungry or sick while you’re away. Once you have your automatic pond fish food dispenser all set up, taking off for a holiday would be easy and worry-free.

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23rd Oct 2009

Koi Fish Pond Maintenance

Fishkeeping is a very rewarding experience and Kois have to be one of the best ones to care for. Over the years fishkeepers and fish enthusiasts have been learning the art of keeping their fish to ensure their longevity. If cared for well, Koi fish can live a very long life. If you own a Koi fishpond, it would be very important for you to learn the basic know how in properly maintaining it. Below are a few important things you need to remember to effectively maintain your Koi pond:

Filter Your Pond Adequately.
Since Kois produce a considerable amount of body waste, its pond tend to become dirty more often that you would expect. It is important to remember that clean water is very essential in keeping your Koi fish healthy, as well as keeping them free from waste and any form of toxic substances. A mechanical filter keeps the pond clean while the chemical filter rids off harmful chemicals (ammonia and other nitrites) from your Koi pond.

Do Not Overstock Your Pond.
Introducing excessive amount of fishes in your pond would prevent them from growing to their full potential. The overpopulation could also cause the generation of too much wastes which would compromise the quality of the water. The many effects of overstocking your pond could greatly affect your Koi’s health and must transport others to a separate pond or location before any of this happen.

Do Not Overfeed Your Fishes.
Excessive feeding could produce so much waste which pollutes your pond water. Learning the proper feeding methods for Kois is pertinent as these breeds’ feeding varies according to the climate.

Introduce More Plants.
Make sure your Koi fishpond has substantial amount of vegetation as this helps control algae. Barley Straw Extract is another method to help control algae and is as effective.

Maintain Water Quality.
Since your water pumps acts as purifier to your koi pond, make sure they’re always working well.  Regularly checking the water pH is also another way to detect stress conditions early.

Protect Fish Against Diseases.
It is important to quarantine new fish before adding them to the existing Koi community. This will reduce the risk of exposing the population to Koi Herpes Virus (KHV) and other illnesses.

A Koi fishpond could be the perfect accessory to your garden or backyard. Fishkeeping is a very rewarding experience but maintaining a Koi pond could mean a substantial amount of work. Performing constant maintenance to your koi fishpond is necessary to stay ahead of problems. If properly cared for, your pond and your kois could stay healthy for years to come.

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23rd Oct 2009

Koi Fish Pond Problems

Having your own Koi fish pond in your backyard could be a great place to get away from all the stress and find a more serene and quiet place to relax. However, like any other pond, caring for your Koi pond is not always an easy task and one may be presented with different problems every now and then. Though Koi fish are among the excellent pond fishes and are easy to care for, they could be susceptible to so many conditions and problems as well.

If you are a Koi pond keeper, it might be important for you to look into the most common Koi fish pond problems and how to deal with them. These problems may be encountered in the pond water, in the filter system, or the Koi fishes themselves.

Pond leakage may be caused by several factors. Evaporation, pond leak, water seepage through the liner edges or plumbing leaks could be among them. To remedy this, having the water run and checking for leaks to know which to replace is done. Inserting Bentonite into the leak would seal the seepage as well.

Changes in the water pH level is another problem in Koi fishponds and are caused by soil run off, acid rain or excessive fish waste. This problem would need the purchase of certain pond equipments that are designed to bring the water pH to the desired level.

Frothing water and surface foams could spoil the beauty of your Koi pond and is another indicator of water quality problem. This is caused by the accumulation of dissolved organic compounds and is best dealt with by the use of a surface skimmer.

Although algae should be available in any pond, too much of it could pose a serious problems such as clouding up the water and taking away some of the nutrients intended for the fishes and pond plants. Excessive Algae may be caused by several factors such as too much direct sunlight or not enough presence of plants in the pond. Overfeeding the Kois could be another reason as well. To address this problem, adding plants your pond is advised. Installing an ultraviolet sterilization and mechanical filter, changing the water regularly and avoiding excessive feedings will considerably control the growth of algae.

All these and many other problems are something a Koi pond keeper should be watchful of to as not to compromise the health of your Koi fish. But then, simple prevention steps would come in really handy to avoid common Koi fish pond problems.

Testing the water on a regular basis (most preferably weekly) is important to observe for discrepancies, and would allow you take action early to solve potential problems.

Keeping and maintain a Koi fishpond could mean a great deal of money, time and attention especially when problems arise. But the joy of keeping Koi fish outweighs them.

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22nd Oct 2009

Koi Fish Pond Kits

Having an outdoor fishpond adds great aesthetic value to your landscape. Not only that, it offers a sense of tranquillity to anyone who loves the outdoors. However, taking care of an outdoor pond is not an easy task. Starting off with it is a great deal of planning, patience and time. Maintaining it is as tedious.

Everyone agrees that the hardest part is the construction of the pond itself. There are so many things to take into consideration and one may find it hard to figure out where to start. If you are new to Koi ponds, you may think about purchasing a Koi pond kit. You may not be so sure what you’ll be needing for your pond. Instead of purchasing fish pond supplies separately, a Koi pond kit has all the necessary equipments you need to get your pond up and running easily.

Koi pond kits are intended to put up your Koi pond with ease and are designed in an easy set-up fashion. Basic pond kits usually contain plastic or vinyl liners, the underlying liner, filter pumps, water filtration system, skimmer filters, filter brushes, check valve assembly, and a regulator for bacteria. Larger kits would include lights, plastic plants and other ornamental items.

Having everything enclosed in one kit, Koi pond kits doesn’t limit your options since there is a wide selection of kits available for you to choose from and you could always find one that will suit the kind of Koi pond you require. They could come in different styles, designs and sizes to match the kind of Koi pond you plan to set up.

Places like Pondepot.com, Pondsolutions.com, Thefishpondguy.com, Pond-o-mania.com, 123ponds.com, Pondmarket.com, Azponds.com and Ecopondsupply.com are just a few among those that can provide you the pond kit of your choice. The prices may vary according to the size, quality and inclusions of your kit. I am talking about something like less than $500 to a few thousand dollars. But the wide selection and numerous places you can browse through the internet will always provide you something that will suit your budget and your imagination. If you’re not so comfortable shopping online, there are local pond supplies you can visit. You can always look up the yellow pages.

With pond kits, setting up your own Koi fishpond would never have to be difficult! Do away with the hard task. You can get started as soon as now and make the pond of your dream come true.

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22nd Oct 2009

Outdoor Fish Pond Supplies

Fishkeeping is a very fun and worthwhile hobby. A lot of people who have the passion for the aquatic life have the habit of keeping an aquarium where they can take pleasure in their reef showcase. An aquarium is an easy and convenient way to confine and care for marine life, and is the most popular way to keep fish. However, for those who enjoy the outdoors, having an outdoor fishpond is a great option.

Outdoor ponds can be very relaxing, and if well-set-up, can be great additions to yards and gardens. Like the aquarium, it requires care and attention too. There’s so much to be taken into consideration like the location, the size and the construction itself. After that, the maintenance would come in very important. To successfully set up and maintain a healthy pond, one must have the right supplies.

Basic outdoor fish pond supplies are needed to keep your fish healthy and your water clean. To keep your water good and healthy, one should consider installing a pond pump and a pond aerator. Having a good filtration system is vital in protecting your marine life from diseases. A UV sterilizer helps clear up algae growth and is a necessity too. Since one needs to regularly check the water pH, a water tester is considered a basic too. Plumbing supplies, de-icers, drains and aquatic plants are few other things an outdoor fishpond owner might look into purchasing too aside from fish food.

Beyond the basics, any pond enthusiast would find a wide array of other pond supplies that would make maintenance easier and more convenient, and at the same time add beauty and character to your little haven.

Whether you’re a novice or experienced in the art, here are a few of the many places that offers an extensive line of outdoor fishpond supplies you need:
Dreamscapeponds.com
Lionscopetproducts.com/fish-supplies/outdoor-fish-pond-care.html
Carealotpets.com/fish-pond-supplies/
Garden-pond-filters.com
Goodbyecitylife.com/shop/Aquarium-and-Fish/Fish-Pond-Supplies
Pond-o-mania.com

You can even find great deals as you browse through the variety of pond supplies they offer. Dreamscapeponds.com has a comprehensive online catalogue for customers to sort out and find what they need with ease. They have a discount specials section where you can check out discounted items on display for a certain period of time. This is one section that is most-browsed through and is a great place if you want to save cash.

When you have the right supplies, having a thriving and beautiful pond is always possible and will guarantee to make your fishkeeping experience wonderful.

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21st Oct 2009

Koi Fish Pond Designs

Koi fish are fast growing kinds of marine life. They tend to produce a lot of waste, requiring good quality of water for them to flourish and a special kind of pond. The design of a Koi fishpond is more important than most pond keepers realize. Taking time to plan well the shape and contour and all other pertinent details of your Koi fishpond before constructing it could save one lots of money and hours of back-breaking work in keeping the pond clean. A well-designed pond helps provide a healthy environment for the Koi and bring in plentiful of benefits one would never think of. The design of your Koi fishpond requires construction consideration, aesthetic aspect and the water treatment effectivity to work together to bring out the best results.

One of the most popular Koi pond design is the Japanese style. It is characterized by plants more particularly bonsais, large rocks, boulders and a lot of natural elements. A more charming approach for your Koi garden is the Country Garden design. This design utilizes plentiful of plants and colourful flowers. If you want to go against the traditional pond designs, Modern Koi pond designs can be very creative and may vary depending on the theme you like. A more practical choice is the Functional design which is constructed to fit the area, space and set-up of your backyard or garden.

There are many other different designs you can go with. But if you think you need professional help in designing your Koi ponds, here are a few suggestions:

Finking.co.uk
Koifishponds.com
Backyard-pond-designs.com
Thepondexperts.com
Fishlinkcentral.com
Ourbackyardoasis.com

These, and many other Koi pond experts would be more willing to help you design and construct the Koi pond of your dream and help provide your fishes a suitable and healthy environment. Others would just opt to have their ponds designed by an architect and build it on their own. It is pertinent to have your pond designed the way you want it to so you wouldn’t have to change it later on. Koi survives for a long time and even decades, so guarantee them a home they can settle for a really long time.  It takes some great deal of careful planning, time, patience, and a whole lot of enthusiasm for Koi to build them a pond. Whichever pond design you choose, make sure you and your Koi will be pleased in the many years to come.

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