1. Q - How much time should I expect to spend each week maintaining the backyard pond?
A – During the pond season (the summer) you should expect to spend five to ten minutes each week between emptying debris from the skimmer, and topping off the pond (accommodating for natural evaporation). This of course presumes that you’ve covered the bases as far as creating a naturally balanced ecosystem.
2. Q – How about maintenance time in the fall? Does it increase?
A – Definitely. When the leaves a blowing hither and yon, many of them will naturally find their way into your backyard pond. That means you will be emptying the skimmer basket at least once a day (maybe twice) instead of once a week, so your maintenance time will increase in the fall.
3. Q – How about in the spring? Does that change things?
A – the one maintenance event of the year for most pond lovers, is spring clean out. And whether you’re a died in the wool do it yourselfer, or you hire it done, a properly done spring cleanout that includes draining the pond, catching and housing the fish safely, power washing the backyard pond, filling it back up, and allowing the fish to re-acclimatize, it generally takes the better part of four hours. The good news is that it happens only once a year.
4. Q – While we’re at it, what about maintenance in the winter?
A – Unless you’re in a climate that’s warm all year around, you’ll probably be shutting your pond down in the winter. That requires you to put a surface agitating bubbler in the pond in order to keep a hole in the ice, allowing for gasses to be exchanged. You may even want to use a complimentary backyard pond heater in case of a real cold winter. One way or the other, most of your winter maintenance time is spent looking out the window and assuring yourself that your pond hasn’t frozen over, and your fish are still hibernating.
5. Q – Is feeding the fish considered part of backyard pond maintenance?
A - No, it’s not. Since most people get a kick out of feeding the fish, we always consider it a recreation. Fish feeding should take no more than a couple minutes per day, unless you choose to spend more.
6. Q - Since keeping a backyard pond in balance allows Mother Nature to do most of the real maintenance work, what’s required to have a balanced pond?
A – You must have an appropriate amount of fish (1 inch of fish for each square foot of pond surface), aquatic plants (they should cover about 40% of the pond’s surface), and plenty of aerobic bacteria to break down debris and transform it into usable plant nutrition.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
The Top 10 Plant FAQ’s, and Answers to Them
1. Q: Are plants a requirement in my backyard pond?
A: You must have plants if you want to have a naturally balanced ecosystem and a low maintenance pond in which Nature does the upkeep. Without aquatic plants, algae will have a field day on the nutrition in your pond, and you’ll be unable to see beneath the green surface all season long. It won’t smell very good either, so aquatic plants are an absolute must in the eyes of knowledgeable water gardening enthusiasts everywhere.
2. Q: Will my plants survive the winter?
A: Perennials will survive, and the annuals will die, unless you pull them (the annuals) out of the pond, place them in a bucket of water, and store them in a warm place. The perennials, on the other hand, are like the old Timex watch. They just keep on ticking season after season.
3. Q: Why do marginal plants work better than lilies when aiding in pond filtration?
A: Marginals are bare rooted into the pond and therefore they pull their nutrients directly from the water, which in turn competes with algae growth. Lilies have their own soil base, and therefore do not compete directly with the algae.
4. Q: How do plants filter a pond?
A: Plants use up nitrates and phosphates that would otherwise contribute to and feed algae growth. Generally speaking, the more plants the less the maintenance.
5. Q: How many plants should I have in my pond?
A: Forty to sixty percent of your pond should be covered by plants. The majority of these should be marginals and floaters, which will soak up available nutrition and minimize algae problems. Liles add shade and aesthetic value to your pond, but they do not have the filtering power of marginal plants.
6. Q: Where should I purchase aquatic plants?
A: A local nursery generally carries a mix of lilies and marginal plants for you to choose from. With the popularity of water gardening growing exponentially, the odds of finding a good selection of aquatic plants to choose from is getting better every season.
7. Q: Is it practical to grow lotus in a backyard pond?
A: Yes. They are both hardy, and beautiful plants.
8. Q: What role do terrestrial plants play in having a clear backyard pond?
A: They play an indirect role by helping to filter rainwater when it comes running down into your pond. On the other hand, terrestrials play a very direct role in beautifying and naturalizing the area surrounding your pond. This is where all the vibrant colors in the spring and the summer come from.
9. Q: The leaves on my water lilies are too small. What can I do about that?
A: That just requires a little monthly maintenance. Lilies are hungry plants that require lots of fertilizer to grow to their fullest potential. Most varieties will do best with a feeding (fertilizing) about every 30-45 days.
http://www.deepdiscountpondsupply.com/WaterTreatments-tp2-47.html
10. Q: My pond gets too much sun/shade. What should I do?
A: For pond enthusiasts the sun is both friend and foe. The plants that we love to grow and watch bloom, require a certain amount of sun to thrive. However, algae loves the sun too. The trick is to build your pond where it best suits your landscape and viewing requirements, and then adjust your plantings to match the solar pattern. There are many varieties of plants that are shade tolerant and will provide a beautiful pondscape, while maintaining a healthy ecosystem. On the other hand, too much sun can be countered by adding additional plants to create shade.
A: You must have plants if you want to have a naturally balanced ecosystem and a low maintenance pond in which Nature does the upkeep. Without aquatic plants, algae will have a field day on the nutrition in your pond, and you’ll be unable to see beneath the green surface all season long. It won’t smell very good either, so aquatic plants are an absolute must in the eyes of knowledgeable water gardening enthusiasts everywhere.
2. Q: Will my plants survive the winter?
A: Perennials will survive, and the annuals will die, unless you pull them (the annuals) out of the pond, place them in a bucket of water, and store them in a warm place. The perennials, on the other hand, are like the old Timex watch. They just keep on ticking season after season.
3. Q: Why do marginal plants work better than lilies when aiding in pond filtration?
A: Marginals are bare rooted into the pond and therefore they pull their nutrients directly from the water, which in turn competes with algae growth. Lilies have their own soil base, and therefore do not compete directly with the algae.
4. Q: How do plants filter a pond?
A: Plants use up nitrates and phosphates that would otherwise contribute to and feed algae growth. Generally speaking, the more plants the less the maintenance.
5. Q: How many plants should I have in my pond?
A: Forty to sixty percent of your pond should be covered by plants. The majority of these should be marginals and floaters, which will soak up available nutrition and minimize algae problems. Liles add shade and aesthetic value to your pond, but they do not have the filtering power of marginal plants.
6. Q: Where should I purchase aquatic plants?
A: A local nursery generally carries a mix of lilies and marginal plants for you to choose from. With the popularity of water gardening growing exponentially, the odds of finding a good selection of aquatic plants to choose from is getting better every season.
7. Q: Is it practical to grow lotus in a backyard pond?
A: Yes. They are both hardy, and beautiful plants.
8. Q: What role do terrestrial plants play in having a clear backyard pond?
A: They play an indirect role by helping to filter rainwater when it comes running down into your pond. On the other hand, terrestrials play a very direct role in beautifying and naturalizing the area surrounding your pond. This is where all the vibrant colors in the spring and the summer come from.
9. Q: The leaves on my water lilies are too small. What can I do about that?
A: That just requires a little monthly maintenance. Lilies are hungry plants that require lots of fertilizer to grow to their fullest potential. Most varieties will do best with a feeding (fertilizing) about every 30-45 days.
http://www.deepdiscountpondsupply.com/WaterTreatments-tp2-47.html
10. Q: My pond gets too much sun/shade. What should I do?
A: For pond enthusiasts the sun is both friend and foe. The plants that we love to grow and watch bloom, require a certain amount of sun to thrive. However, algae loves the sun too. The trick is to build your pond where it best suits your landscape and viewing requirements, and then adjust your plantings to match the solar pattern. There are many varieties of plants that are shade tolerant and will provide a beautiful pondscape, while maintaining a healthy ecosystem. On the other hand, too much sun can be countered by adding additional plants to create shade.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
The Top 10 Technical FAQ’s and Answers to Them
1. Q: Will I need to test my water for pH on a daily or weekly basis?
A: No. Most backyard residential ponds will only need to be tested if there has been a long, recurring problem.
2. Q: What do engineers mean when they talk about Total Dynamic Head or TDH?
A: The TDH is the amount of pressure the pump experiences due to the rise and run of the pipe. Pipe diameter can also factor into this equation.
3. Q: How do I determine how much water flow I’ll need for my stream or waterfalls?
A: The rule of thumb is 1500 gallons per hour, per foot of width on a waterfall or stream. And don’t forget, head pressure will reduce some of your pump’s flow rate.
4. Q: Why do professional water garden builders always place the skimmer and the biological filter on opposite ends of the water garden?
A: By placing the skimmer and the biological filter at opposite ends, you create moving, (not stagnant) water, which is part and parcel of a good circulation system that does all kinds of things from discouraging or drowning mosquito larvae, to filtering large debris out in your skimmer basket.
5. Q: What materials work well on top of the liner when laying large boulders?
A: Extra underlayment; carpet padding, and rock pads all work nicely.
6. Q: What is a safe pH range for my pond?
A: A range 7-8.5 is ideal, however, as long as your fish are acclimated to the pond, they can handle higher and lower pH levels with no problem. We recommend steering clear of pH testing altogether in order to avoid causing problems for your pond and your fish.
7. Q: How much water loss is normal due to evaporation?
A: About 2” per week, give or take an inch for harsher climates.
8. Q: What’s a flocculent?
A: A flocculent is a liquid that coagulates or binds together suspended particles in your pond. This is an extremely effective way to tackle a suspended algae problem in your pond. Once coagulated, it flows right into the skimmer and you can dump it out with the rest of the debris.
9. Q: Do I really need the underlayment?
A: Yes, you need to use the underlayment underneath every liner, no matter what the size is. The underlayment allows the earth to release gasses from beneath the liner. Without an underlayment, gasses would get trapped and cause your liner to bubble up.
10. Q. How long should I expect a pump to last?
A: Three to five years is a good range for most pumps. But don’t forget to check the warranty. These normally fall between one year (on the low side) and two years (on the high side). So choose your pump intelligently.
A: No. Most backyard residential ponds will only need to be tested if there has been a long, recurring problem.
2. Q: What do engineers mean when they talk about Total Dynamic Head or TDH?
A: The TDH is the amount of pressure the pump experiences due to the rise and run of the pipe. Pipe diameter can also factor into this equation.
3. Q: How do I determine how much water flow I’ll need for my stream or waterfalls?
A: The rule of thumb is 1500 gallons per hour, per foot of width on a waterfall or stream. And don’t forget, head pressure will reduce some of your pump’s flow rate.
4. Q: Why do professional water garden builders always place the skimmer and the biological filter on opposite ends of the water garden?
A: By placing the skimmer and the biological filter at opposite ends, you create moving, (not stagnant) water, which is part and parcel of a good circulation system that does all kinds of things from discouraging or drowning mosquito larvae, to filtering large debris out in your skimmer basket.
5. Q: What materials work well on top of the liner when laying large boulders?
A: Extra underlayment; carpet padding, and rock pads all work nicely.
6. Q: What is a safe pH range for my pond?
A: A range 7-8.5 is ideal, however, as long as your fish are acclimated to the pond, they can handle higher and lower pH levels with no problem. We recommend steering clear of pH testing altogether in order to avoid causing problems for your pond and your fish.
7. Q: How much water loss is normal due to evaporation?
A: About 2” per week, give or take an inch for harsher climates.
8. Q: What’s a flocculent?
A: A flocculent is a liquid that coagulates or binds together suspended particles in your pond. This is an extremely effective way to tackle a suspended algae problem in your pond. Once coagulated, it flows right into the skimmer and you can dump it out with the rest of the debris.
9. Q: Do I really need the underlayment?
A: Yes, you need to use the underlayment underneath every liner, no matter what the size is. The underlayment allows the earth to release gasses from beneath the liner. Without an underlayment, gasses would get trapped and cause your liner to bubble up.
10. Q. How long should I expect a pump to last?
A: Three to five years is a good range for most pumps. But don’t forget to check the warranty. These normally fall between one year (on the low side) and two years (on the high side). So choose your pump intelligently.
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