Frozen Fish Pond

So winter is here and the snow is beginning to fall and the ice is starting to form on your pond, you will need to make sure you have made the necessary precautions in order for your fish and pond to survive the winter. Here are 5 top tips:

You need to ensure the pond is over 3ft deep as this will enable the fish to 'hibernate' below the level of the ice providing the pond does not entirely freeze the fish can stay in a winter status for up to 4 months, they will be largely dormant, not eating and showing little sign of activity. If you pond is not this deep and you think it may freeze solid it is advisable to over winter your fish in a tank indoors.

Feed your fish well before the winter starts cutting down as winter approaches. If it is not too late feed your fish with a high carbohydrate fish food as this will help them bulk up ready to survive the winter without food. Depending of the severity of the winter in your area if possible leave your waterfall running. This will help prevent the surface of the water from freezing and will also allow essential gasses to be exchanged making the chances of survival improve.

A Healthy Fish Pond

Everyone could have a wonderful pond if they are prepared to spend a little time and effort on the basics of pond care. By following these steps you should end up with the results you are looking for.

Ensure your pond is correctly positioned so as to avoid runoff from your garden. This could prove fatal to your fish as fertilizers and other harmful chemicals could be washed into your pond. Also in sever weather your pond could actually flood.

Plan your pond carefully. If you are looking to revamp an existing pond you would probably be best to empty it and start all over again. If there is any wildlife in your pond remove it and keep it in a tank for a few days until you have completed the renovation.

Make sure you have a good balance of different fish and plants this will enable the pond to form its own ecosystem that should run itself. If you want to add more fish to the pond consider the use of a filter.

Garden Pond Pump

Building your own pond may seem a straightforward task. However, it is not just about digging a hole and filling it with water. Various factors need to be taken in to account. A pond needs to be lined with a pond liner and kept free from dirt and grime be installing a pond pump and filters, which will also create a peaceful and relaxing ambiance of streaming water. Pond pumps are commonly divided in two kinds: submersible pond pumps and external pond pumps (out of the pond).

For smaller pond demands, it is a good idea to use submersible pump. While larger ponds with complete features may need a stronger pump such as an external pond pump to circulate water from the pond. It is significant to determine the size of your pond because your choice between external or submersible pond pumps will depend on the volume of water inside of your pond. Whatever variety you choose your pump will need to have adequate power to flow the water from the system.

Each type of pump has its own particular advantages and disadvantages. Above water pumps are very easy to maintain. They’re also kept clean of many of the pollutants such as sand and gravel that may have a negative impact on the performance of submersible pumps. These garden pond pumps, however, can be very pricey and the more powerful units may generate a lot of noise thereby detracting from the calming effect of the water features they power. Submersible pumps are more popular for small ponds. These pond pumps are placed directly into the water where they operate almost silently. Of course, if there are problems with these pumps they have to be pulled out of the water to be repaired.

Fish Pond Liners

To attract wildlife you need to construct your pond in such a way that wildlife can survive in and around your pond. A pond constructed with shelves of varying water levels or at least one side of the pond having a gentle slope, will allow creatures to get in and out with ease. After laying down the pond liner it is important that you protect it from damage caused by birds beaks or animals claws, by adding an edging using paving stones, rocks or gravel around the edge of the pond.

To create a safe place for wildlife to shelter, breed and forage, plant a diverse range of native plants in your fish pond liners and lots of leafy plants around the edge. Lay a pile of logs or branches in amongst the leafy plants to the edge of your pond. This will create a safe haven for frogs and toads. Also ensure that you make corridors amongst the vegetation for them to move about with ease and in safety. Frogs naturally find new ponds quickly so adapt your pond to offer the best conditions for them to live and breed in.

Another amphibian likely to visit your pond, are Newts, which will arrive in early spring. They leave the fish pond liners in summer and will hide under logs and rocks on the waters edge. Newt tadpoles breathe under water until they are ready to leave the pond in late summer. From mid summer to the end of September you may spot dragonflies buzzing around hunting other insects. Other insects include the Pond skater, which skims across the water looking for insects that have fallen into the water. There are also beetles are various types, which will inhabit your fish pond liners.

Pond Aeration Basics

Adding a pond will add a classic, natural touch to your garden. It's something you'll appreciate when you've had a long day and you would like to just relax and commune with yourself. It's also a lovely sight that you can be proud of when you invite some guests over for an outdoor party or for an afternoon barbecue on Saturday afternoons. It can even be therapeutic if you feel like you're so stressed and that you just can't continue doing the things you do without pausing a moment and reflecting on things. Whatever your reasons for wanting to have a pond in your garden, you'll probably enjoy having it, anyway. But that's as long as you also know how to take care of the pond. Part of doing that is, of course, aerating it.

Your pond is going to be a place where a great lot of living matter such as algae and other microorganisms will be excreting their wastes, not to mention die when conditions are not perfect for them. During these processes, certain chemicals will be released into the water, causing a depletion of oxygen which is required for keeping the water clean and healthy for your fish. The fish alone will be consuming this oxygen in order to survive, and even when you have plants in that plant, they will not be enough to provide an adequate amount of oxygen for the fish to continue living and for the water to remain healthy. Thus, it is important to seek out over avenues by which you can increase the oxygen in your pond, and that is through the use of aerators.

Better Water Garden

Having pond plants is one of the best ways to keep your water garden healthy. The process of photosynthesis, which takes place during the day with the presence sunlight, helps the pond to be well aerated. The energy and oxygen produced by this process helps the creatures the dwell in the water to have plenty of air to breathe. Not to mention the presence of beneficial bacteria in the bio filter which are responsible for the conversion of ammonia to nitrates.

Aside from the fact that pond plants beautify a fish pond or a water garden even more, they also serve a valuable purpose in the balance of the entire eco system. Aquatic plants like lily pads and water cress are use to effectively compete with green water for phosphates and nitrates which result from the nitrogen cycle. If fewer nitrates are consumed by the algae in the pond, there will be a smaller chance for algae bloom.

The ideal number of aquatic plants to be used in a fish pond or a water garden per square meter of surface area is 1 big water lily, 1 bog plant and 2 bunches of oxygenators. And by ideal it means that you can still vary it up a bit to fit to your water garden and to your preferences as well.

Green Water Ponds

One of the best options to deal with green water ponds, which are caused by the existence of algae, is the use of water treatments. It is one of the many problems of any gardener there is and it can be controlled if not completely eliminated. Through repeated applications of green water algae treatments, it can be controlled.

The main reason for the water in the pond to become green is none other than the algae that flourish in it. Algal bloom is the primary cause of green water not just in ponds but also in other water systems. Therefore, to be able to control the water from becoming so green, it is necessary to control the flourish of single-celled algae first.

It is known to most fish pond owners that when the fish are overfed, the wastes they produce multiply. Not to mention the uneaten food that rots and produces bacteria in the water. Hence, algae have more food to eat, bigger chance of swelling. It is essential to manage the amount of food that is given to the marine animals in your pond. Another option you have to purchase quality fish food since it can be fully digested. If so, fewer nutrients will be excreted by the fish discouraging the growth of algae.