1. Q: What is string algae?
A: It’s a natural plant that feeds off of ammonia and excess nutrient loads in water.
2. Q: How do you get rid of string algae?
A: By cultivating a balanced ecosystem you can control algae, but you won’t ever eliminate it. That’s right, you’ll never have an algae-free pond, but if you have a good circulation/filtration system, a sufficient amount of aquatic plants to compete for nutrition and sunlight with the algae, and plenty of aerobic bacteria to transform debris into plant nutrition, you’ll have crystal clear water courtesy of Mother Nature.
3. Q: Should my pond to be totally algae-free?
A: Algae is part of Nature and you should expect it to be a guest in your garden pond, to a certain degree. What you don’t want is for algae to become emboldened and to go for a hostile takeover of your garden pond. And that possibility is balanced by forcing the algae to compete for nutrition with lots of other plants that you find pleasing and desirable. But a totally algae-covered pond should definitely not be your goal.
4. Q: Should I add string algae prevention products regularly to keep my pond clean?
A: This one’s up to you. Adding such products on a consistent basis will keep your string algae down, but it will also add to the water hardness and could possibly cause scale buildup. Overall, it should be unnecessary to add anything on a regular basis if you’ve created a healthy ecosystem. If for some reason you have a real problem pond, you may want to consider using a good strong brand of flocculent.
5. Q: I used an algaecide, and one day later my fish were dead. What should I do?
A: The use of any algaecide can be dangerous to the aquatic life in the pond. It’s not so much the actual product that’s harmful, but the decaying algae. As algae dies, it sinks to the bottom of the pond where it begins a biodegrading process, which requires lots of oxygen. In severe cases, this may starve the other living organisms of needed oxygen.
6. What about UV sterilizers in the pond? I’m told these clear up problem ponds.
A: As of the fall of 2007 an alternative to UV sterilizers were introduced to the market. Known as Magic Mats, they’re basically conventional filter mats that have been specially treated with a substance that produces the same result as a UV sterilizer, but they’re vastly simpler, vastly more eco-friendly, and vastly easier on your pocket book. They also carry a three year warrantee, can be easily placed into your skimmer box, and all the water that passes through them gets treated and they work wonders in problematic garden ponds.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Top 10 Koi Fish FAQ’s, and Answers to Them
1. Q: Are koi fish really a necessary part of my pond?
A: Koi fish are part and parcel of a naturally balanced, aquatic ecosystem. A pond without koi fish is kind of like love and marriage. It just works better with than without. And once you get used to watching them glide gracefully around your pond, and you realize how little work is involved in koi fish keeping, you’ll get past the apprehension and be glad you have koi fish in your pond.
2. Q: If I choose to have koi fish, do I really need to feed them?
A: Koi fish are actually scavengers and will feed off of anything in the pond, including algae. On the other hand, if you want your koi fish to grow, feeding them daily helps.
3. Q: How often should I feed my koi fish?
A: Every other day or twice a week is plenty. Too much feeding will begin to affect the water quality in a negative way, and can encourage algae growth.
4. Q: How many koi fish can I safely put in my pond?
A: The rule of thumb is one inch of fish for every square foot of pond surface. So if you have a pond that’s 10’ wide and 15’ long, you’ll have 150 square feet of pond surface. In that pond you can safely accommodate 10 fish that are each 15” long, so long as they don’t grow.
5. Q: What kinds of fish work best with a water feature?
A: Generally speaking, some varieties of koi or gold fish are the pond owners’ most popular choice. Why, you ask? They’re popular mainly because they’re colorful, easy to see, and unafraid of humans who always want to feed them.
6. Q: Will my koi fish survive the winter?
A: If there’s a hole in the ice for gasses (including oxygen) to be exchanged, they’ll go down to the bottom of your pond and hibernate until spring. In a pond that’s 24” deep, the ice freezes up to 8” thick in the coldest of climates, and the koi fish still have 16” of liquid in which to survive.
7. Q: What’s fish-safe liner?
A: When liner companies produce liner for roofing purposes, they use a variety of raw materials that can be harmful to fish. fish-safe liner is simply liner that uses materials that are all safe for your fish. Look for the “fish safe” label on the liner.
8. Q: When should I stop feeding my koi fish for the season?
A: In the late fall when the water temperature regularly gets down to 55 degrees or lower, you should stop feeding your koi fish. Feeding beyond this point can cause metabolism problems for your koi fishy friends.
9. Q: When should I start feeding my koi fish again?
A: It’s just the opposite. In the spring of the year, when the temperatures start to go above the 55-degrees regularly, start feeding them again.
10 Q: Will predators eat my koi fish? How do I prevent that?
A: Ninety percent of backyard residential ponds do not have a problem with predators, so the odds are in your favor. As for the other 10%, the most practical solution is to have a koi fish cave under which they can hide when predators come close.
A: Koi fish are part and parcel of a naturally balanced, aquatic ecosystem. A pond without koi fish is kind of like love and marriage. It just works better with than without. And once you get used to watching them glide gracefully around your pond, and you realize how little work is involved in koi fish keeping, you’ll get past the apprehension and be glad you have koi fish in your pond.
2. Q: If I choose to have koi fish, do I really need to feed them?
A: Koi fish are actually scavengers and will feed off of anything in the pond, including algae. On the other hand, if you want your koi fish to grow, feeding them daily helps.
3. Q: How often should I feed my koi fish?
A: Every other day or twice a week is plenty. Too much feeding will begin to affect the water quality in a negative way, and can encourage algae growth.
4. Q: How many koi fish can I safely put in my pond?
A: The rule of thumb is one inch of fish for every square foot of pond surface. So if you have a pond that’s 10’ wide and 15’ long, you’ll have 150 square feet of pond surface. In that pond you can safely accommodate 10 fish that are each 15” long, so long as they don’t grow.
5. Q: What kinds of fish work best with a water feature?
A: Generally speaking, some varieties of koi or gold fish are the pond owners’ most popular choice. Why, you ask? They’re popular mainly because they’re colorful, easy to see, and unafraid of humans who always want to feed them.
6. Q: Will my koi fish survive the winter?
A: If there’s a hole in the ice for gasses (including oxygen) to be exchanged, they’ll go down to the bottom of your pond and hibernate until spring. In a pond that’s 24” deep, the ice freezes up to 8” thick in the coldest of climates, and the koi fish still have 16” of liquid in which to survive.
7. Q: What’s fish-safe liner?
A: When liner companies produce liner for roofing purposes, they use a variety of raw materials that can be harmful to fish. fish-safe liner is simply liner that uses materials that are all safe for your fish. Look for the “fish safe” label on the liner.
8. Q: When should I stop feeding my koi fish for the season?
A: In the late fall when the water temperature regularly gets down to 55 degrees or lower, you should stop feeding your koi fish. Feeding beyond this point can cause metabolism problems for your koi fishy friends.
9. Q: When should I start feeding my koi fish again?
A: It’s just the opposite. In the spring of the year, when the temperatures start to go above the 55-degrees regularly, start feeding them again.
10 Q: Will predators eat my koi fish? How do I prevent that?
A: Ninety percent of backyard residential ponds do not have a problem with predators, so the odds are in your favor. As for the other 10%, the most practical solution is to have a koi fish cave under which they can hide when predators come close.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Moonlight on the Pond: Wonderful Times With Friends and Family
In social terms, a beautiful, naturally balanced garden pond (also known as a water garden) is either a magnet that attracts family and friends like moths to a light bulb, or a solo experience that encourages the local ponderer to decompress, and to dig deeper, exploring the unknown regions of inner space that normally go uncharted in the midst of a crowd and a busy work day.
Inevitably They…
And if you have a garden pond in your backyard you know exactly what I mean when I say that visits from family and friends inevitably end up with almost everyone standing or sitting around the pond, peering into the depths at the colorful koi fish gliding from point to point around your garden pond.
It Simply Attracts
For starters, the novelty of the backyard garden pond attracts. Not only that but the naturalness of the atmosphere also attracts. And finally the sounds of the waterfalls spilling over into the laughing brook causes people to let their guard down, relax, connect and to communicate at a very unusual level. That of course, is attractive too.
Wine and Cheese Anyone
Now if you’re like most garden pond enthusiasts you’ll probably lay out a selection of cheese and crackers, you’ll uncork a bottle or two of fine wine, and encourage those connections and communications to build on one another while the underwater lights mesmerize your guests. A bit later you may throw a few logs in the fire pit and start a fire, complete with the aroma of burning wood, while sparks flicker off into the night sky. The next course could be roasted weenies, with marshmallows on graham crackers serving as your informal desert.
Talking Deep Into the Night
With all your guests in a state of utter relaxation, moonlight reflecting off the surface of the pond, and stars sparkling in the night sky, you and your guests talk long into the evening. When things finally break up, nobody really wants to leave, but off they’ll go. And the next day, the next week, the next month they will think about, and talk about the wonderful time they had around your backyard water garden. And before you know it, you’ll be making plans to do it all over again.
Inevitably They…
And if you have a garden pond in your backyard you know exactly what I mean when I say that visits from family and friends inevitably end up with almost everyone standing or sitting around the pond, peering into the depths at the colorful koi fish gliding from point to point around your garden pond.
It Simply Attracts
For starters, the novelty of the backyard garden pond attracts. Not only that but the naturalness of the atmosphere also attracts. And finally the sounds of the waterfalls spilling over into the laughing brook causes people to let their guard down, relax, connect and to communicate at a very unusual level. That of course, is attractive too.
Wine and Cheese Anyone
Now if you’re like most garden pond enthusiasts you’ll probably lay out a selection of cheese and crackers, you’ll uncork a bottle or two of fine wine, and encourage those connections and communications to build on one another while the underwater lights mesmerize your guests. A bit later you may throw a few logs in the fire pit and start a fire, complete with the aroma of burning wood, while sparks flicker off into the night sky. The next course could be roasted weenies, with marshmallows on graham crackers serving as your informal desert.
Talking Deep Into the Night
With all your guests in a state of utter relaxation, moonlight reflecting off the surface of the pond, and stars sparkling in the night sky, you and your guests talk long into the evening. When things finally break up, nobody really wants to leave, but off they’ll go. And the next day, the next week, the next month they will think about, and talk about the wonderful time they had around your backyard water garden. And before you know it, you’ll be making plans to do it all over again.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Koi Ponds VS Backyard Ponds, VS Outdoor Ponds, VS Water Gardens: The Raging Debate in Water Gardening
“Koi pond” is the term most often used to describe a backyard pond, a garden pond, otherwise known as a water garden. The reason is that these beautiful and peaceful outdoor getaways are often filled with colorful, charismatic koi fish.
Now as odd as it sounds, a raging debate has been going on for the better part of a decade over the healthiest environment for Japanese koi fish. The two issues that have divided the debatees include…
1. the most appropriate depth, and
2. the most appropriate surface for the koi pond.
The Debatees
One group for example, claims that if you fail to build your backyard pond at least three feet deep, you’re doing your Japanese koi a grave disservice. This same group contends that rocks and gravel all over the bottom of your outdoor pond can cause your Japanese koi to be bruised, beat up, nicked up and cut up, detracting from the fish’s potential of wining a blue ribbon in the local or regional koi show.
The other group scoffs at the three-foot claim and contends that from sea to shining sea, two feet of garden pond depth has been proven to be aplenty for Japanese koi. This same group contends that koi ponds with smooth bottoms run counter to Mother Nature whom nobody wants to offend. They go on to say that Nature’s koi ponds inevitably feature rocks and gravel all over the bottom, which keep the grazing koi occupied and interested in their environment, instead of bored to tears with a smoothie.
Where’s Your Focus?
The fact of the matter however, boils down to whether your focus is on showing koi, or relaxation. If your focus is on showing koi and winning blue ribbons, then the three feet smoothie may well win the day. However, the focus of most backyard pond enthusiasts is the overall backyard pond, the water garden itself. These folks have no desire to show their koi. They want to relax after a hard day’s work. For this segment of the water gardening world, two feet works right nicely, and given the chance, Japanese koi do indeed love to graze on the rocks and gravel.
Enjoy…
So the question becomes, are you a koi show person, or a just person who loves to relax in the midst of Mother Nature? If you’re a koi show person, then the three feet smoothie wins. However, if you’re an after work relaxation type of person, then two feet of depth, plus rocks and gravel works better. I can attest to that personally because I’m a member of the latter group. Either way, decide which you are and enjoy. After all, that’s what having a koi pond is all about. Right?
Now as odd as it sounds, a raging debate has been going on for the better part of a decade over the healthiest environment for Japanese koi fish. The two issues that have divided the debatees include…
1. the most appropriate depth, and
2. the most appropriate surface for the koi pond.
The Debatees
One group for example, claims that if you fail to build your backyard pond at least three feet deep, you’re doing your Japanese koi a grave disservice. This same group contends that rocks and gravel all over the bottom of your outdoor pond can cause your Japanese koi to be bruised, beat up, nicked up and cut up, detracting from the fish’s potential of wining a blue ribbon in the local or regional koi show.
The other group scoffs at the three-foot claim and contends that from sea to shining sea, two feet of garden pond depth has been proven to be aplenty for Japanese koi. This same group contends that koi ponds with smooth bottoms run counter to Mother Nature whom nobody wants to offend. They go on to say that Nature’s koi ponds inevitably feature rocks and gravel all over the bottom, which keep the grazing koi occupied and interested in their environment, instead of bored to tears with a smoothie.
Where’s Your Focus?
The fact of the matter however, boils down to whether your focus is on showing koi, or relaxation. If your focus is on showing koi and winning blue ribbons, then the three feet smoothie may well win the day. However, the focus of most backyard pond enthusiasts is the overall backyard pond, the water garden itself. These folks have no desire to show their koi. They want to relax after a hard day’s work. For this segment of the water gardening world, two feet works right nicely, and given the chance, Japanese koi do indeed love to graze on the rocks and gravel.
Enjoy…
So the question becomes, are you a koi show person, or a just person who loves to relax in the midst of Mother Nature? If you’re a koi show person, then the three feet smoothie wins. However, if you’re an after work relaxation type of person, then two feet of depth, plus rocks and gravel works better. I can attest to that personally because I’m a member of the latter group. Either way, decide which you are and enjoy. After all, that’s what having a koi pond is all about. Right?
Monday, November 5, 2007
Dancing With Mother Nature
If you nothing more about water gardening, know this much. The secret to enjoyable, relaxing, low maintenance water gardening is found in keeping your aquatic circle of life in balance. In a naturally balanced garden pond, Mother Nature does most of the heavy lifting (maintenance work). In an unbalanced pond, you do most of the heavy lifting. Let’s take a look at how it works.
The Infinite Dance
Now, in a naturally balanced water garden you with start three absolutely necessary ingredients including koi fish, aquatic plants, and aerobic bacteria. In this never ending cycle the koi fish eat the plants, including the available algae. They eventually produce waste, which drops to the bottom of the garden pond. The aerobic bacteria which have colonized by the billions all over the rocks and gravel, cause the waste and any other debris (i.e. leaves, sticks, seeds) to break down, to biodegrade, in other words to transform into a kind of nutrition that your aquatic plants can soak up and use to grow. Then the koi fish once again eat the plants, produce the waste, which gets broken down by the bacteria, and the whole cycle continues infinitely, over and over again.
The Koi Fish
With all that said, you must have enough fish, but not too many. The general rule of thumb in the industry is an inch of koi fish for every square foot of pond surface. More than that constitutes an overstocked pond in which fish waste becomes problematic.
The Plants
You must also have enough aquatic plants, but not too many. The general rule of thumb is that about forty percent of your garden pond’s surface should be covered by aquatic plants, including lilies which give the koi fish shade in the summer, and a source of food as well. Marginal and oxygenating plants also help keep the pond in balance and well oxygenated for all the various life forms in your garden pond.
And The Aerobic Bacteria
Then there’s aerobic bacteria part of the recipe. Aerobic bacteria is a conduit whose purpose in life is to transform waste and debris into usable nutrition for plant life. And as far as too much or too little, you can’t have too much aerobic bacteria.
The Moral of This Story
The moral of this story is that if you keep water garden in balance, Mother Nature will do most of the maintenance for you, so you can relax alongside the pond with family and friends. If your water garden gets out of balance, you’ll be asking for problems that no pond enthusiast ever wants to encounter. “To quote an old TV ad, it’s not nice to fool with Mother Nature.” It’s not smart either.
The Infinite Dance
Now, in a naturally balanced water garden you with start three absolutely necessary ingredients including koi fish, aquatic plants, and aerobic bacteria. In this never ending cycle the koi fish eat the plants, including the available algae. They eventually produce waste, which drops to the bottom of the garden pond. The aerobic bacteria which have colonized by the billions all over the rocks and gravel, cause the waste and any other debris (i.e. leaves, sticks, seeds) to break down, to biodegrade, in other words to transform into a kind of nutrition that your aquatic plants can soak up and use to grow. Then the koi fish once again eat the plants, produce the waste, which gets broken down by the bacteria, and the whole cycle continues infinitely, over and over again.
The Koi Fish
With all that said, you must have enough fish, but not too many. The general rule of thumb in the industry is an inch of koi fish for every square foot of pond surface. More than that constitutes an overstocked pond in which fish waste becomes problematic.
The Plants
You must also have enough aquatic plants, but not too many. The general rule of thumb is that about forty percent of your garden pond’s surface should be covered by aquatic plants, including lilies which give the koi fish shade in the summer, and a source of food as well. Marginal and oxygenating plants also help keep the pond in balance and well oxygenated for all the various life forms in your garden pond.
And The Aerobic Bacteria
Then there’s aerobic bacteria part of the recipe. Aerobic bacteria is a conduit whose purpose in life is to transform waste and debris into usable nutrition for plant life. And as far as too much or too little, you can’t have too much aerobic bacteria.
The Moral of This Story
The moral of this story is that if you keep water garden in balance, Mother Nature will do most of the maintenance for you, so you can relax alongside the pond with family and friends. If your water garden gets out of balance, you’ll be asking for problems that no pond enthusiast ever wants to encounter. “To quote an old TV ad, it’s not nice to fool with Mother Nature.” It’s not smart either.
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