Water Gardens & Backyard Ponds

Cold Again!

2007-02-09T14:34:00.000-06:00

After having a couple of beautiful days earlier this week, we are now back in the deep freeze. Well, not really but the temps dropped and with the wind blowing it feels cold. Makes me really look forward to Spring. Even though one of the first things on the list will be a couple of pond cleanouts, I am still looking forward to it. Cleaning out a water garden is really not all that bad of a job. Moving the fish safely is really the only critical part. Other than that it is simply draining, powerwashing, draining again, and refilling. Pretty simple actually, even though it is a critical step in maintaining a healthy pond.

A few words on filters

2007-02-08T16:25:00.000-06:00

A problem that many water garden owners encounter is an underfiltered pond. Remember that fish grow and along with that, their ability to produce waste also increases. When selecting a filter for you water garden, make sure that you consider the maximum number of grown fish that will be living in the pond. Also, stay away from submersible, inpond filters. These must be cleaned frequently and are not easily accessed from the pond edge. I would recommend the gravity feed Biotec filters by OASE as the very best you can get. Next choice would be OASE's pressurized Filtoclear, followed by the upflow waterfall box filters. All have large capacities and come in a variety of sizes to match the individual needs of any water garden.

New!

2007-02-08T08:41:00.000-06:00

We are currently receiving our new inventory for this coming spring and summer. We are excited to bring on board this year Microbe-Lift and Easy Pro. The bacterial product lines by Microbe-Lift will be a welcome addition to our pond maintenance lines. Easy Pro manufactures skimmers and filters that are top of the line. I looked at some of the skimmers and filters yesterday and was very impressed. Also, the Atlantic Water Gardens skimmers are new and improved this year. We look forward to being able to offer these products to our customers.

Spring???

2007-01-26T16:16:00.000-06:00

Are you ready for spring? I sure am. I am ready for green grass, warm temperatures, longer days, and blooming flowers. I know, I know. Spring is just around the corner and when it finally comes I will be busy, busy, busy getting everything just right. Spring will also bring about some new things business wise for us. Look for a new website from us and some brand new faces! I can't wait!

Ice

2007-01-25T15:34:00.000-06:00

We have had a crazy January, weather wise. The sleet, ice, and snow have made things quite unusual for us. We are not used to ice covered roads and such. Schools have been out and businesses closed more than usual for January. However, this has given us a unique view of ponds, streams, and waterfalls. Iced over ponds and waterfalls are truly beatiful to look at. Make sure to snap some pictures of yours--they make great pictures.

Treating Fish

2006-08-08T14:43:00.000-05:00

Koi and goldfish are as a whole hardy fish. They can survive in a variety of climates and do very well. Occasionally they do experience health problems, but those are usually easy to treat. Most of the time that these fish experience health problems--exhibited by not eating, clamped fins, and being lathargic and hovering at the bottom of the pond--it is because they are or have been stressed. Stress to the fish results in a decrease in the protective slime coat which results in a less effective system to fight of bacterial or fungal infections. Stress is usually attributed to poor water quality, so if you have sick fish make sure that your pond water tests out ok. Correct poor water quality issues and the fish should take care of themselves. Treating fish with a salt solution relieves the stressed condition and influences a healthy slime coat. Salt will also eliminate most conditions attributed to parasites. A great site to check out for more in depth info on koi and goldfish health is www.koivet.com.

Gravel in the Koi Pond

2006-07-20T10:06:00.000-05:00

At Pondemonium last week, I attended one of Dr. Eric Johnson's classes. This particular class was about gravel bottomed koi ponds. Dr. Johnson is a koi vet and a very good and entertaining speaker. Dr. Johnson has a gravel bottomed koi pond to keep his koi. He prefers this type of pond over a bare liner pond. I will add more of his observations/recommendations later.

IT'S HOT!!!!

2006-07-19T11:35:00.000-05:00

Here in central Oklahoma the temperature is expected to be over 105 degrees today! Much of the rest of the nation looks to be extremely hot as well.

These extreme temps may bring a few questions/concerns to mind about your water garden or fish pond. The main thing that you need to consider is that the warmer the water in your pond is the less oxygen it holds. This means that it is extremely important that you provide adequate aeration by means of a water fall or fountain or aerator. A moderate sized waterfall usually will provide enough aeration. It is always a good idea to keep a backup pump onhand in the case of a pump failure.

In most cases the water temperature does not become an issue. Sometimes the water temps in above ground ponds in full sun can get pretty high, so if you feel the temp is too high you can do a water change and/or provide some shade.

Feeding Fish

2006-06-30T14:52:00.000-05:00

A common question that is asked is "How much do I feed my fish?" Another is "How often do I feed my fish?" One other that is a bit less frequent but ties in "I am going on vacation--will my fish starve before I return?"

Obviously, the more you feed your fish (koi, goldfish, etc.) the faster they will grow. So if your main objective in regard to your fish is growth--you will need to feed them a lot. I would suggest that you purchase a koi food that is formulated for growth such as NishiKoi http://www.pondliner.com/NishiKoiGrowth.htm and follow the directions. Keep in mind that the more the fish eat, the more waste they will produce. That translates into a dirtier pond which means a larger, more efficient filter system.

So how much do the fish have to have to survive? The fact is that koi and goldfish can survive for a long time in a gravel bottom pond without being fed fish food. These fish will eat algae and will scavange in the pond for "little critters" to eat. Now they can't live forever this way, especially in a crowded pond. But they can last for several weeks with no problems at all. So if you are going to be gone for a week or so, don't worry about the fish--they will be fine.

Most people overfeed their fish. Fish should not be fed more than 3-4 times a day, and never more than they can clean up in 5 minutes. Extra food will contribute directly to poor water quality and will overwork your filter. Never exceed the feeding rates on the fish food package-- you can underfeed and be ok, but it does not work the other way.

Quick Fixes

2006-06-27T09:22:00.000-05:00

A few things to keep in mind for you as a pond owner.

There are no quick fixes. Time is usually the best remedy for most problems. A pond must be allowed time to become a balanced ecosystem. Along with time, consider stocking rates of fish. Too many fish will prevent the pond from ever becoming balanced and will cause the water garden to be a continual problem--water clarity, green water, water quality, etc. A balanced pond must have plants. Plants remove excess nutrients from the water, help to complete the nitrogen cycle, and shade the pond which stabilizes the temperature and cuts down on algae growth. Chemicals are not quick fixes. They require time and must be used on a routine basis.

A Waterfall for You

2006-06-06T15:10:00.000-05:00

How big of a waterfall do you want??

Your first thought may be the bigger the better. That is the natural response for most Americans. But before you go through and make that thought a reality, you may want to consider a few things.

Pump flow----Each inch of waterfall width will require about 100gph. So a 10 ft wide waterfall will require a pump that pushes 12,000 gph!! I can see the meter spinning already! How much did you say that pump will cost??!!

Noise---The bigger a waterfall is, the more noise it will produce. If the waterfall is in your backyard and you plan on spending time there with family or friends, you do not want the waterfall to be so loud that you cannot hear others speak. But on the other hand, maybe you do need some noise in the backyard to drown out, say, the noise from the freeway behind your backyard fence.

Scale----The most natural looking waterfalls for a flat backyard are usually no more than 2-3 ft wide and no more than 2-3 ft high. If you go much higher than that you have created what I like to call a volcano. Now if you have an existing hillside to work with you can get by with a higher waterfall.

What I would suggest that you do before you build a waterfall for your yard is to do a lot of planning. Look at as many waterfalls as you can find. Look at big ones, look at small ones, look at disappearing ones, etc. If at all possible find one that is installed in a location that is similar to the one you will be building in. Sign up for some pond tours in your area to see many great ideas. You can find out about tours by attending water garden society or koi club meetings. Find some in your area and make some new friends!

My Water Garden

2006-06-05T15:54:00.000-05:00

My water garden is a simple setup that really is a glorified stock tank. Actually it is a stock tank --one of those metal round water troughs. I think mine is 6 ft diameter. I had the tank to water my horses and later acquired some homeless goldfish. The water turned green immediately. So, I installed an OASE Aquamax 2100 and a Biotec 4 filter. Still I had green water so I put in a Tetra UV 3 and no more green water. After a year or so, I upgraded to a Filtoclear 3000 filter. Cleaning is much easier and the filter/uv footprint is much less. I am the proud owner of the most crystal clear watering trough in Lincoln County! Complete with a blooming water lily and 8 goldfish!

Skimmers

2006-06-01T16:13:00.000-05:00

Why use a skimmer for your water garden?

A skimmer will pull debris that is floating on the surface of the pond into a debris basket for removal. This will prevent the debris from becoming water logged and sinking to the bottom of the pond. A skimmer will also serve as a prefilter for the pump as it will remove floating debris and prevent it from coming into direct contact with the pump. Some skimmers contain filter pads that further prefilter the water. Others are designed for solids handling pumps and will not filter out smaller solids in the water.

Water Quality Tip

2006-05-31T14:43:00.000-05:00

Water quality is very important in regard to keeping fish healthy. Most problems you run into with fish result from poor water quality. Even bacterial infections and some parasites result from poor water quality. The poor water quality will stress the fish which results in their ability to protect themselves to decline. Keep a test kit on hand to test for detrimental conditions in your pond.

One of the easiest ways to keep on top of water quality issues is to do a routine weekly water change of 10% of your pond's volume.

It's 96 degrees out there!!!

2006-05-26T15:19:00.002-05:00

It is spring time in Oklahoma, and this year it is hot. Too hot for it to be this early in the year!!

You may be wondering how ornamental fish in the garden pond handle heat. Typically goldfish and koi are not bothered by temperature extremes. They usually do well in water that is freezing cold and water that is fairly warm. Water gardens that are 2 ft or more deep rarely suffer from problems related to temperatures. Problems are most often because of water quality.

The thing to consider is water temperature. During the hottest part of the year, you will want to make absolutely sure that the pond has a lot of plant cover. This provides shade--blocks out sunlight--keeps water temps down--and gives the fish a place to hide from the sun. Rock overhangs or fish hideouts do the same for the fish. Frequent water changes will cool the water as well.

Another thing to consider when experiencing high temperatures. Water holds less oxygen the higher the temperature is. This makes it imperative that adequate aeration is provided in the garden pond. For ponds under 4000 gallons, turn the pond volume over 1 time an hour via a waterfall or fountain. Larger ponds require less because the temperature stays more constant in them because they are larger.

If your fish are gasping at the surface, give them more oxygen immediately.

If you use Algae fix--you MUST provide adequate aeration. Decomposing algae will tie up oxygen in the water garden and starve the fish for oxygen.

How Many Fish???

2006-05-24T16:44:00.000-05:00

For a water garden with a biological filter, you may wonder how many fish is too many fish. Too many fish will cause water quality issues, water clarity issues, and algae problems. I recommend 1 inch of fish for every 10 gallons of water. You can't go wrong using this rule of thumb.

Water Garden or Koi Pond

2006-05-23T10:47:00.000-05:00

You may have discovered that the water gardening industry is full of opinions and few standards. Frustrating as it may be, that is the case. Some swear by bottom drains, others won't have them. Some swear by rocks in the pond, and others wouldn't dream of putting rocks in the pond.

Generally speaking, koi ponds will have bottom drains and water gardens won't. Water gardens usually have gravel bottoms and koi ponds have bare liner bottoms. Distinguishing between a koi pond and water garden is tricky. Water gardens have fish, but only to complete the whole ecosystem of water, plants, etc. A koi pond is built to house koi. Sometimes with the intention of breeding koi. Koi ponds will usually have heavy fish loads and the oversized filtration to go along with it. Water gardens have light fish loads and moderately sized filtration systems.

Bottom drains are used to remove solid waste from the pond. With a heavy fish load this is a necessity, and that is why koi ponds usually have one. Water gardens are usually designed with a submersible pump installed inside of a skimmer--resulting in water being pulled off of the top. As long as the water garden is less than 3 ft deep this does not pose a problem in water circulation. If you go deeper you will run into stratification of water or "dead" layers. What does happen is that solid waste does settle to the bottom. This is remedied by using "clean up bacteria" to break down the wastes. Complete cleanouts are also recommended, no more than 1 time a year and depending on the fish load once every two years. You can also put a solids handling pump in the bottom of the pond in a recess so that it will act as a bottom drain. The OASE Aquamax http://www.pondliner.com/OASEAquamaxSFPumps.htm pumps work great in this application, but you would have to run another pump in a skimmer. This would also allow you to use much more energy efficient pumps.

Skimmers are used in both koi ponds and water gardens, and I would recommend that you use one.

This is how I distinguish between the two. Many would not agree with my definitions as you can find koi ponds without bottom drains and water gardens with them and many other exceptions to what I stated.

After saying all that, I would recommend that you decide what you want your pond function as. Do you want the whole water gardening experience and fish are a small part, or are koi the main focus? Do you plan on a few fish or a pond full of large expensive koi?

In my opinion, a water garden is much easier to take care of than a koi pond. But that is because koi are not what I choose to focus on solely. A water garden is more of a complete ecosystem that will help to take care of itself. Koi ponds have to be intensely maintained much like a swimming pool.

Natural Algae Control

2006-05-22T16:51:00.000-05:00

String algae in the garden pond is fed by nutrients in the water which result from the breakdown of fish waste otherwise known as the nitrogen cycle. The nitrates which are produced feed the algae. So, the more fish you have the more waste you have so you end up with more nitrates which means more algae.

To naturally combat this process, you will need to reduce the amount of nitrates in the pond. The easiest and most natural way is by adding aquatic plants. These feed off of the same nutrients as algae so you have less food for algae. Plants also block sunlight which is also necessary for algae growth.

Clarity Max Plus http://www.pondliner.com/CCClarityMaxPlus.htm is a product that also helps control algae. This is a naturally ocurring bacteria that breaks down the nitrates so that algae can't use it.

Liner Types

2006-05-17T12:30:00.000-05:00

EPDM pond liner is the liner of choice of installers, contractors, and do-it-yourselfers in the water garden industry. With a thickness of 45 mils, it is the toughest, most durable liner available. Because it is a rubber product, it also offers the most in flexibility--an aspect not to be over looked when choosing a liner. It is very easy to work with as it gives easily and folds over itself very well. To give an idea of the consistancy: it is very similar to inner tube rubber for automobiles. EPDM usually carries a 20 year warranty, so you don't have to worry about the liner falling apart. Do not confuse EPDM pond liner with EPDM roofing liner. They are not the same. Make sure you obtain a liner that is guaranteed to be fish safe. A roofing liner, though it may be a few pennies cheaper, cannot be guaranteed fish safe as it has been treated with fire retardants and algaecides.

Fish grade PVC liner is also a liner that is available. This is a food grade liner--it has been approved to hold items for human consumption such as drinking water so it is definitely fish safe. It is a flexible rubber like liner that is similar in flexibility to EPDM. This liner is used alot in the fish growing and aquarium industries to line tanks that are indoors. The key here is that this liner should be used indoors. If installed in sunlight, the liner will begin to breakdown within 3 years, sometimes much sooner. I do not recommend these liners for use in outdoor water gardens. The liner is available in blue or black, so some people prefer it for the blue color. However, in a garden pond the blue color is not visible for long. Algae and other organic material soon will cover it with a green film.

PE or polyethylene liner is another choice for pond builders. PE is a cheaper and lighter weight alternative to EPDM. It is recommended for large pond applications where the weight of the liner will be a consideration. PE is a plastic material that is tough, durable, and tear resistant--but not quite as good as EPDM. PE is used alot in industrial and agricultural applications--so it is a good liner in the right application. PE will last a long, long time. Usually it will carry a 20 year warranty. I don't recommend that PE be used for water gardens and garden ponds. The reason for this is that PE is a very stiff material. It does not conform to contours, fold over shelves, fold over itself, etc. very well. Many pond owners have experienced a lot of difficulty by trying to save a few bucks by buying this for their backyard water feature.

EPDM is the only option I would recommend for a backyard water garden or koi pond.

Liner, Liner Everywhere! Which to Choose?

2006-05-16T12:57:00.000-05:00

If you are thinking about building a water garden or garden pond and have researched the topic, you know that there are several types of pond liner to choose from. So, where do you start?

The first thing to consider is fish health. Is the liner you choose going to be fish safe? I would suggest--strongly suggest--that whatever liner you choose to make sure that it is guaranteed fish safe by the manufacturer.

Next I would recommend that the expected life of the liner be examined. A good way to judge liner life is to look at the warranty offered for a particular liner. A liner with a 1 year warranty should not be expected to last very long. A liner with a 20 year warranty on the other hand will last at least 20 years. A warranty on the liner is a warranty that it will not fail within the warranty period. This means that the liner is guaranteed not to breakdown--(crack or break down)--from environmental effects such as freezing, heat, sunlight, etc. for the period of time specified in the warranty. Tears and punctures are not covered by the warranty.

Another aspect to consider is the durability of the liner. Warranty length can give you some insight into this, but the main thing is to determine the puncture resistance and tear resistance of the liner. This can be related to thickness but is mostly determined by the physical properties of a certain liner. In other words--is it EPDM, HDPE, MDPE, PVC, etc.

Before you make your final selection, think about how easy will that liner be to work with. This would be referred to as the liner's flexibility. Some liners are easier to bend and fold than others. The easier ones to work with are the more rubber type liners or pvc. PE liners are plastic and tend to be stiffer.

Tomorrow I will discuss specifice types of liners and their differences.

Spiral Tubing Connections

2006-05-15T13:51:00.000-05:00

When plumbing your water garden, spiral tubing is one of the options that is available for you to use. Spiral tubing is a type of flexible tubing that attaches to pond pumps and pond filters with the use of barbed fittings. The barb on the fitting is inserted into the end of the tubing and it is tightened down or sealed off with a hose clamp.

Reasons to use spiral tubing:
More kink resistan than vinyl tubing.
More flexible than even flexible pvc tubing.
Does not require any kind of glue.
Usually cheaper than pvc.
Easier to disconnect after initial installation than pvc.

If you work with spiral tubing long enough, you will eventually come across tubing that does not fit the fittings that you have. The fittings may either be a little bit too small or a little bit too big. You can make some adjustments. (These are slight adjustments. You will not be able to connect a 3/4" fitting to 2" tubing using these methods.)

If your fitting is a bit too small or even if you have a slight leak between the fitting and the tubing-----Wrap the barb with several layers of teflon thread tape. This will build the barb up enought to fit in a slightly larger size of tubing and will seal off leaks.
If your fitting is hard to slide into the tubing that you have---Place the end of the tubing that you are working with in hot water. This will soften it up enough that you should be able to twist the tubing onto the barb. This will also help to provide a water tight seal. (Some people will advocate the use of lubricants, but I have never had to use them.)

Submersible Filters

2006-05-12T10:38:00.000-05:00

Most small preformed pond kits are sold with a submersible filter. Most are simply a foam prefilter on the pump that is advertised as a pond filter. These filters have to be cleaned very often--sometimes daily. They are definitely not enough filtration for a pond. All they do is prefilter the water a bit before it goes into the pump.

Another type of submersible filter that is available is the Supreme PondMaster submersible filter. http://www.pondliner.com/PondmasterFilters.htmThese attach to the intake of a pump, so the pond water is pulled through the filter and then through the pump. They work on the same premise as a prefilter--they just have a lot more surface area. These filters do a good job if used in the right setting. Because of the fact that they are for small ponds, they kind of get a bad rap. Small ponds are harder to take care of for a number of reasons. One of the most obvious negatives to a small pond is that they are green alot of the time. Using a PondMaster submersible filter in conjunction with a Pondmaster submersible uv clarifier http://www.pondliner.com/PondmasterUV.htm is a great filtering system for a small pond. Retrieving and cleaning the filter out of the pond always poses a problem, but that is a problem with any submersible filter.

Tetra also has a submersible filter http://www.pondliner.com/TetraFilter.htm that works about the same as the PondMaster filters. Only it is a lot bulkier and has more bio media where the PondMaster has mostly foam pads which also work as bio media.

All submersible filters are more difficult to clean and maintain than external filters. I would recommend that if at all possible the use of an external filter and a uv clarifier.

Trouble Shooting Mag Drive Pump

2006-05-11T16:22:00.000-05:00

Just a few quick things to try if you have trouble with a mag drive pump.

1. Check to make sure that there is nothing jamming the impeller and preventing it from turning. If you can remove it, pull it out and clean it and the cavity in which it rests.

2. If the impeller is not removable and it will not turn, gently attempt to force the impeller to turn. A lot of times you can turn the impeller and loosen up whatever is preventing it from turning.

3. Check the impeller. Make sure the shaft is not broken. Also make sure that the interlocking knobs on the impeller fins and the shaft are not worn away. A new impeller may be purchased from a company that sells pond supplies to remedy these situations.

These quick checks are easily made on most pumps by loosening a few screws or snapping a cover off.

Water Garden Skimmers

2006-05-09T15:30:00.000-05:00

Skimmers for a water garden should be considered by everyone that is thinking about putting a garden pond in their yard. Not only do skimmers cut down on maintenance, they also help to protect your pump.

Less Maintenance

A pond skimmer will cut down on the time that you will have to spend doing routine maintenance on your water garden. The pond pump will pull water through the weir opening, through the skimmer, and push to the filter. This action will force floating debris to flow into the skimmer where it is trapped in the debris basket in the skimmer. This will prevent floating debris such as leaves, grass, trash, etc. from becoming water logged and sinking to the bottom of the pond. Most skimmer baskets will need to be emptied weekly, more often when leaves are falling.

Pump Protection

Most skimmers are designed so that a submersible pump is installed in the pump chamber of the skimmer. Water is pulled through the debris basket and in some skimmers a filter mat before it comes into contact with the pump. In this respect, the skimmer acts as a supersized prefilter for the pump--in effect protecting the pump. Installing the pump in a skimmer places the pump outside of the pond-- a much easier location for those instances that you need to access the pond pump.

Clarifiers and Sterilizers

2006-05-08T11:45:00.000-05:00

Clarifiers and Sterilizers

In a water garden, the purpose of and ultraviolet clarifier or sterilizer is for the control of green water or single cell algae. This is the algae that turns the water in a pond green.

Companies that sell pond supplies such as pond filters, pond pumps, etc., will offer for sale sterilizers and clarifiers. You may wonder what the difference in two items that are ultaviolet lights are referred to as different items entirely. And yes there is a difference.

The difference is in how the manufacturer markets the product. There are no industry standards, so the difference is strictly in how the product is labeled. Typically, if you take a sterilizer and a clarifier of about the same power or wattage, the sterilizer will be rated for a slower pump flow and a smaller pond size than the clarifier. A sterilizer will usually be rated for a +90% kill rate while a clarifier has no kill rate listed. Some manufacturers are more liberal in their specs than others and that is one reason for discrepancies between products of the same or like power.

If you use a sterilizer and exceed the listed flow rate or pond size by a little bit, you will be ok. If you exceed the listed rates for a clarifier, you probably will not see the results you would like to see. That is because a clarifier is the same as a sterilizer, only with higher flow rates.

Rock Bottom Water Garden

2006-05-05T14:23:00.000-05:00

Rock Bottom Water Garden

The latest trend in water gardening is to construct garden ponds and water gardens with rocked bottoms and sides. The liner is completely covered with cobblestone or gravel, river rock, and boulders. If carried out correctly, the mix of various size rock can make the water garden very attractive.

Green Water (continued)

2006-05-04T13:07:00.001-05:00

Not everyone who has a water garden wants to wait 2 years for their pond to become ecologically balanced to eliminate green water. You can prevent green water in your pond by installing a uv clarifier.

A uv clarifier is installed so that your pond pump pushes water passed the ultraviolet light inside of the clarifier. The ultraviolet light causes the algae cells to clump together or flocculate so that the filter can remove them. Depending on the intensity of the uv, the algae cells can be damaged enough to prevent them from reproducing.

UV clarifiers are a band aid. Using one can let you get by with having a few too many fish, or not enough plants, or in a new pond. (Keep an eye on water quality if you have fish. Especially ammonia and nitrites.)

UV clarifiers work great if used inconjunction with adequate filtration to help you have a crystal clear water garden.

Green Water

2006-05-03T11:19:00.000-05:00

Green Water

Many garden pond owners at some time have to deal with green water. Unsightly, thick, soupy, green water. Sometimes it lasts a few days, sometimes a few months, sometimes a few years. No matter how long you have to deal with it, it is too long to have to look at that nasty green mess.

Algae causes the water to look green. Green water is more of a problem in new ponds, over stocked ponds, and ponds with little or no plant cover.

Excess nutrients in the pond give the algae a food source and sunlight facilitates fast reproduction. New ponds do not have an established beneficial bacteria system in place. The biological filter provides housing for the beneficial bacteria, but a new pond must be given time to mature to a level where it can "take care of itself". Ponds take a while to become established--most will take a year or two. I wouldn't add fish in to a pond for at least a month, just to be safe.

Ponds with too many fish simply cannot effectively filter out all of the waste that the fish produce. That waste is converted to nitrates that serve to feed the algae.

Ponds with little plant cover allow too much sunlight in and this greatly contributes to algae blooms. Ponds in direct sunlight need to have 40-60% of their surface covered with plants such as lillies, lotus, hyacinth, water lettuce, etc. The plants block sunlight and compete with the algae for nutrients in the water.

Tomorrow I will discuss a "quick fix" for the green water problem.

Leaking Pond Liner in the Water Garden

2006-05-02T16:42:00.000-05:00

Leaking Pond Liner

This is a problem that most water garden owners do not ever have to deal with, that is, if they use the right pond liner.

The first thing to consider is what to do to minimize the risk of ever having a pond liner leak. The two main things here are to use EPDM pond liner and to use geotextile underlayment. The EPDM is a tough and flexible puncture resistant liner that will give you many years of good use. This liner is much better to use and will last much longer than pvc pond liner. The pond liner underlayment adds stability to the liner to prevent over stretching and also prevents the liner coming into contact with rocks and roots. Kind of an insurance policy for your liner.

So you have done every thing just right but you end up with a puncture in your pond liner. Maybe a rock was dropped and caused a tear or you stepped on a rock with a sharp edge that punctured the pond liner. Regardless, you have a hole in the pond liner and your water garden is leaking. What do you do.

If it is a slow leak, you can simply keep filling the pond up. Water changes are not a bad thing.

Or, you can find the hole and fix the pond liner. The only sure way of finding a hole is to let the water leak out until it leaks out no more. Once the water level drops as far as it will, you will have to look at that level all the way around the garden pond until the hole is found. (I never said it would be easy!)

To patch the hole in the EPDM pond liner you will need to use an EPDM patch or repair kit. You can buy these from anywhere that sells pond supplies, pond filters, pond liners, pond pumps, etc. The Firestone kit comes with patch tape, primer, gloves, and a roller. Everything you need to get the leaking pond liner back in operation.

Oh, if you have a pvc liner that is leaking--do yourself a favor and buy and EPDM pond liner. You will be much happier.

Construction of a Water Garden

2006-05-01T16:10:00.000-05:00

Planning for Construction of a Water Garden

Plan before you dig.

Choose a site with 6 hours or more of direct sun.

Choose a site with multiple viewing locations even inside locations.

Remember—Leaves can be a problem, so stay away from trees if you can.

Avoid placing the garden pond at the lowest point in the yard. Runoff rainwater from the lawn can and will cause water quality problems.

Have a qualified electrician install any electrical outlets as needed.

Comply with all local codes and ordinances.

Check with local utilities and locate all underground obstructions.

Most water garden owners wish that they had a bigger pond. Build as big as you can!

Keep the total landscape in mind. Pond plants and surroundings should be complimentary.

Do not overstock the garden pond with fish.

Pond Pump Selection

2006-04-28T11:18:00.000-05:00

Pump Selection

Once you know how much flow you need to power a certain water feature, the next step is to select an individual pump for your water garden. Do you need a mag drive pump, direct drive pump, asynchronous motor, external pump, submersible pump, solids handling pump, clean water pump, OASE, Tsurumi, Pondmaster, Cal, Sequence, etc., etc., etc.?

Each individual pond pump has its own place in the industry, so don’t be surprised if you have to use a different pump for different features in your water garden. Factors for you to consider before you select a pump include: length of warranty, volume of flow, ability to overcome head pressure, expected life of pump, solids handling capability, and energy consumption.

Following the thought of energy consumption—keep in mind that the pumps with the lowest purchase price are not always the best value in the long run.

Let’s look at an example:

· XXXXXXXX 3000 GPH Waterfall Pump
· Warranty: 1 year
· Initial Cost: $119.00
· Energy Consumption: 550 watts
· Energy Cost per month at 8 cents per kilowatt hour*: $31.68

· OASE Aquamax SF 3000 Pump
· Warranty: 5 Years
· Initial Cost: $549.00
· Energy Consumption: 200 Watts
· Energy Cost per month at 8 cents per kilowatt hour*: $11.52

The OASE Aquamax SF 3000 pump pays for itself with energy savings in less than 22 months when compared to the Nursery Pro 3000 waterfall pump. At that point the Nursery Pro pump is out of warranty but you will still be covered for more than 3 years with the OASE Aquamax SF pump.

Choosing Correct Size of Pond Pump

2006-04-27T13:50:00.000-05:00

Proper Pump Sizing

Proper pump sizing is critical in maintaining a healthy gareden pond and achieving the desired effect of water features. It is always preferable to select a pond pump slightly larger than you need rather than a pond pump that is too small. The output of a pump can always be reduced but never increased.

Circulation

Water gardens smaller than 4,000 gallons require a pump that will pump a minimum of the water garden’s volume every hour. Operating a water feature such as a waterfall or fountain will help oxygenate the water for a healthy pond environment.

Circulation needs for a fish pond that is filtered by an OASE Biotec filter will not be as great, due to the fact that the Biotec filters are such an efficient biological filtration system. Follow the recommended flow rates and pond sizes from OASE regarding Biotec filters.

Water gardens larger than 4,000 gallons are better able to “take care of themselves” and usually do not need to be “turned over” as often as smaller garden ponds. However, a water feature of some type is necessary to provide oxygenation or aeration for even the larger water garden.

Choose a pump to match your GPH (gallon per hour) flow rate at the amount of head pressure at which you will be operating, not the maximum flow of the pump.

Head Pressure

Head pressure is a term that refers to the forces that a pond pump must overcome in order to move water from the pond pump to the end of the plumbing run. You may also see this referred to as friction loss. Head pressure will decrease the amount of flow that a pond pump will produce. The amount of decrease depends on many factors. The main factors to consider are height, run, tubing size, and in line components.

Estimate Head Pressure

1. Measure Vertical Height—This is the change in elevation from the surface of the pond to the top of the water feature. Each foot of rise results in 1 foot of head pressure.
2. Measure horizontal distance—This is the pumping distance. Measure from the pump to the water feature. For every 10 feet add 1 foot of head pressure. On runs less than 20 feet skip this step.
3. Add 1 foot of head pressure for each inline component (ells, elbows, tees, wyes, uv clarifiers, filters, etc.)
4. Add numbers from 1,2,3 to get total estimated head pressure.

The easiest way to reduce head pressure is to maximize the size of the tubing that is used. Larger tubing causes less restriction which will result in less head pressure which in turn means more water reaching the end of the pipe. Go as large as you can when it comes to tubing size. Also, keep in mind that in line components such as elbows, wyes, tees, etc. all add head pressure. Minimize the use of inline components as much as possible. It is recommend to use flexible tubing in order to eliminate elbows resulting in more flow as well as being much more forgiving than hard pvc.

Waterfall Pump Guidelines

Let’s say that you for some reason known only to you, want Niagara Falls in your backyard. How on earth do you pick a waterfall pump for this kind of job?

The following information will allow you to determine the water flow for any waterfall you may encounter. This, in turn, will allow you to select the pump or pumps for the job. You will be able to determine whether you will need a waterfall pump, submersible pump, filter pump, external pump, mag drive pump, direct drive pump, etc., etc.

Each 100gph (at the top of the waterfall) will produce the following results:

¨ ½” deep flow x 1” wide (Ideal for most waterfalls)
¨ ¼” deep flow x 2” wide
¨ a trickle at 4” wide

Example:
Top of the waterfall is 3 ft above the surface of the pond.
You want ½” flow that is 6” wide.
This will require a gph of 600 at 3 feet of head pressure.

This information about pond pumps will help you to correctly size a pump for your water garden or garden pond, no matter how big or small.

Figuring Volume of the Water Garden

2006-04-26T09:04:00.000-05:00

Volume

It is very important to know the volume of water in a garden pond. You must know the volume of water in a water garden in order to avoid overstocking the pond with koi or goldfish, when using water conditioners and pond maintenance products, and when calculating water changes.

The easiest method to calculate the volume of your water garden is to measure the amount of water used to initially fill your water garden. A water meter that attaches directly to the faucet or water hose is the most accurate method. This eliminates a lot of the guessing and variables from the whole equation. If a water meter is not an option, you can measure the amount of time it takes to fill the pond and the amount of time it takes for a certain volume of water to run out of the faucet. For example: time how long it takes to fill a 5 gallon bucket, and then you can use this constant to figure total volume of the pond.

If the garden pond is already filled, the volume can be calculated using one of the following formulas. Then, you can convert volume to gallons. Note that water gardens are not perfect circles, or squares, or rectangles. Because of this, these calculations are estimates. Garden ponds with shelves and that are rocked will have less volume than a water garden that is straight sided and liner bottomed. For rocked garden ponds with shelves it is recommended that total volume from these formulas be reduced by 25-30%. In other words, multiply the volume from the calculation by 70% to get a much more accurate figure.

Calculating Water Garden Volume

Length x Width x Average Depth (in feet) = Volume of Water Garden

Example:
9’ L x 6’W x 2’D = A water garden volume of 108 cubic feet

Converting Volume to Gallons

Cubic feet (ft-3) x 7.48 = Gallons

Example:
A water garden volume of 108 cubic feet x 7.48 gal/cubic ft = 807.84 gallons

(Remember to multiply by 70% to account for shelves, rocks, etc.)

807.84 gallons x 70% = 564.488 gallons in the water garden

Sizing a Pond Liner

2006-04-25T16:08:00.001-05:00

Sizing a Pond Liner for a Water Garden

The best and most accurate way to size a pond liner for a water garden is to measure a garden pond that has already been dug. Use a flexible tape measure to measure the garden pond along the sides and bottom at the widest and longest points, taking in account excess for anchoring.

However, this is not always practical because you may want to dig and install the pond liner on the same day. So, to size the pond liner for a water garden that has yet to be dug, you will have to determine the measurements for the longest and widest points in the garden pond along with the depth of the pond at its deepest point. Then follow these simple steps:

1. Length of liner = pond length + (depth x 2) + (overlap x 2)
2. Width of liner = pond width + (depth x 2) + (overlap x 2)

Depending upon how you plan to anchor the pond liner for your water garden, overlap should be a minimum of one foot. Two feet is recommended for most backyard ponds. For very large ponds, you may need to add up to 5' for anchoring.
Be sure to order enough liner. It is always better to have a few feet too much liner than to be 6 inches too short!