Gators in the Pond ?

Check out this gator toy for your backyard pond....it's interesting..more entertaining then anything...check it out and decide for yourself!


Stylish Stuff - Bradenton Herald

Stylish Stuff Bradenton Herald, United States - Sep 15, 2006 ... Island (778-3782). Spook guests and friends with this concrete gator, which will "spit" water into your backyard pond. This guy's ...

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Pond Winter Preparation ....

Hi Alice, Thanks for your great questions.

"I have a couple questions about winter care....I have a healthy, active school of about 15 goldfish and a frog! I have a de-icer that I am planning to use. .... I live in Massachusettes. "

Q:

Do I need to continue to run the pump/filter during the winter?

A:

Depending on the climate in your area you may or may not want to operate your pump/filters during the winter. If the temperatures stay mostly above freezing then it will be beneficial to keep your pump/filters running through the winter. Pond bacteria are not active due to the low water temperatures; however, it will stay alive as your pump continues to oxygenate the water. Operate your pump at a minimized flow rate. You can help accomplish this by turning off bottom drains, turning the flow rate down on your pump, and if possible, placing the intakes to your pump/filter at mid-water level. Note, intense circulation in the winter will mix the cold surface water with the warmer bottom water which can potentially harm any aquatic life during the over wintering.

Q:

Should I remove plants? water lily, bamboo? cat tails? the pond is 9' x 5' with an aprox 2' deep floor that has an aprox 3' deep 2' x 2' center. The cat tails are in the center deep section. The other two plants are in the 2' section.

A:

Pond plants will need to be cared for based on type. Any oxygenating/submerged plants should be left completely submerged at the bottom of the pond below the ice line. Floating plants (such as water hyacinth or water lettuce) should be removed from the pond as they will die during the winter months. Make sure you don't leave any dead plants in the pond as they will decompose and rob the water of oxygen required for any over wintering aquatic life.

Because your pond is at least 2' deep, any Hardy Lilies and marginals should be cut back and placed in the deepest part of the pond. This should be done after the first frost.

Other hardy water plants such as Iris, Sweet Flag, grasses, Cattails, etc. should be left in place to over winter regardless of pond depth. I recommend cutting back the foliage on these plants in the spring rather than in the fall.

As for all tropical plants, they all must be removed and placed in water that will remain above 65 degrees. I recommend doing this well before the first frost.

You can find additional information on Winter Care for Garden Ponds here: http://www.bestfish.com/wntrpond.html

It's great to hear that you have and intend to use a de-icer during the winter months. Your fish will thank you greatly for it.

Pond Filter Media?

Thanks Chris for your questions.

Q:
I am in the process of re doing my pond......... It is a fair size. Approx 15 x 10 and 4' 6" deep. I will have a skimmer and a waterfall. Should I have different filter media in each or can I use the same in both? What media would you recommend

A:
It's not necessary to have different media for different filters. Saying that, you may benefit from doing so depending on your pond display and aquatic life. For example, if your pond is divided into sections of shallow and deep you may find that different media work best for different situations.

Because I am unsure of the type of aquatic life you currently have I am hard pressed to recommend a specific media for you. The good news is that most filters work. And the larger your pond the larger the filters should be.

It's great to hear that you're going to have a skimmer and a waterfall based filter, however you may want to consider looking into a biological filter as well to cover all points of pond filtration. Remember filtration not only helps clean your pond ,but just as important, it creates a haven for pond bacteria (a healthy economical level any balanced pond must have). Keeping this in mind, my best recommendation for you would be - Any material that bacteria can attach to is suitable for a filter media.

Fiberglass Ponds...

Hi Trevor,

Thank you for your questions.

As i was typing out answers to your questions I realized there was a better source for you that will likely answer some of your questions in greater detail. I've simply added the address to the source with it's corresponding question below.

Q1:
I just received a big 10 person spa or is it called a gazebo,I dont know ,anyway its a big fibreglass pond.I am going to cover most of the air holes and use some of the air holes for filtering.what I want to know is,is ok to use the sand filter or is this to big?
A1:
Sand Filter: http://www.koifishponds.com/state_of_the_art_filters.htm
- covers great info on sand filters 'dos and donts'

Q2:
can fish live in a fibreglass pond?
A2:
Yes, fish can live in a fiberglass pond. Always keep in mind to limit your fish based on fish size and pond size. Keep reminding yourself that it's always best to have less fish than too many fish. Your goal with owning a pond is always balance. Balance is the key to a healthy ecosystem

Q3:
can I put trout in my pond?
A3:
You can put trout in your pond, again follow question 2 above. You likely wont be able to add many trout to your pond. There are some fiberglass ponds out there with Koi fish so if size is your worry..you can stop worrying.

All the best to you,

More Crazy Stories from the world of Backyard Ponds...

Man accuses city of killing his fish - The Daily News

Man accuses city of killing his fish The Daily News, Canada - Aug 26, 2006 ... Pelham, 66, said a run-off of silt that came from a city construction site last year caused the vegetation around the perimeter of his backyard pond, and the ...

What's your take on the story?

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Backyard Pond Fishing ?

Success key to getting kids hooked on fishing - Chester Daily Local Online

Success key to getting kids hooked on fishing Chester Daily Local Online, PA - Aug 28, 2006 ... going fishing again. Our backyard pond also serves as a successful fishing venue for many young, first-time anglers. It’sa small ...

technorati tags:backyard, pond, fishing, kids, hooked

Popularity of Backyard Ponds hits the TV screens in Bismarck, ND

The popularity of backyard ponds as even made television news in Bismarck, ND. - Check it out!

Backyard Ponds - KFYR-TV

KFYR-TV

Backyard Ponds KFYR-TV, ND - 21 hours ago ... couple of months now. He said that he spent a good 4 to 6 hours a day working on making this backyard pond a reality. "My pump broke ...

technorati tags:backyard, ponds, tv, bismarck, ND, news

Building An Oasis In Your Own Backyard

Make your backyard an oasis to enjoy year-round - Delta Democrat Times (subscription)

Make your backyard an oasis to enjoy year-round Delta Democrat Times (subscription), MS - 5 hours ago ... Consider locating your backyard pond where you can see it from a deck or patio. ... You can put in a backyard pond anytime the ground is not frozen or overly wet. ...

technorati tags:backyard, pond, oasis, build, enjoy, year-round

Have you been getting the discounts?

Have you been taking advantage of all the discounts to all the online shops that I've found for you all? You can find some links to the right under "Get Discounts at these Shops!".

You can also find top information products by using the "Search" box above.  ClickBank contains some of the most popular online information products and now you can get discounted prices on them through the above search. Almost every topic is covered. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

I hope I've made your online experience just a little bit easier.

Enjoy! =)

PS: You will also find an excellent Fish Pond and Koi Pond information packages. Just type 'pond' in the search box and check them out for yourself.

technorati tags:discounts, packages, ponds

Keep Those Mosquitos out...

Whether you have a pond up yet or not mosquitoes are common warm season pests. Great little article about keeping these winged-biters out of your yard - check it out below!

Keep mosquitoes out of yard - Jackson Hole Star-Tribune

Keep mosquitoes out of yard Jackson Hole Star-Tribune, WY - Aug 13, 2006 Is there a place in your lawn that puddles every time you water? Do you have a birdbath or a backyard pond? How about gutters on the house? ...

technorati tags:backyard, pond, mosquitos, out

Looking for Pond Stones?

You can find pond rocks at your local hardware store, pet store, and landscaping stores.  If you're looking to get rocks of any shapes or sizes, then you can look almost anywhere. Construction sites, around your neighborhood, near the creek. 

If you're still unsure and would rather not waste too much time running around searching for certain size and shape rocks and stones, I'd recommend heading to your nearest pet/fish store or hardware store such as HomeDepot, and see what they have in store or whether they know of any local supplies. They may know of some local areas that the general public would not be aware of.

technorati tags:pond, rock, stones, creak, homedepot, store

What's An Above Ground Pond?

If you're interested in building an above ground pond you have many options. There are also those that are considered above ground yet require a little bit of digging. In other words, an upper portion of the pond is above ground and a lower portion is below ground. What I discuss here are ponds that are completely above ground.

Above grounds can be just as gorgeous and complex as a below ground pond. The only difference? Complete above ground ponds require no digging for your pond.

Depending on the size of your pond you can use practically anything as your pond base as long as it's strong and sturdy enough to support the water and aquatic life, if any.

Large above ponds are built similar to below ground ponds. You can use cement with an inner liner. Preformed ponds are common. Or if you've read one of my previous posts on Barrel ponds, you'll know that these make great ponds as well.

Smaller, simpler ponds can be created using buckets, smaller barrels, small pond kits or preformed ponds. Again, anything that's strong and sturdy enough to support your pond and pond life.

It's really up to you to decide what you want as your above pond. All rules that apply to underground ponds will apply to above ponds as well.

Things you need to note are:

- location

- size

- weight

- desired aquatic life

That covers the basics. Keep in mind that most medium to large above ground ponds still require some digging. Digging is required to correctly landscape and form your new pond to your selected location. Sturdiness is very important.

I'll note the 2 most common types of above ground ponds. Well actually 3.

1. Preformed ponds shaped out with shelves and water falls [required some digging]

2. Barrel ponds [no digging]

3. wood or cement structured ponds with a liner interior [digging required]

Hope, the information has given you some idea of what to expect and look for when selecting your pond type.

A final note: There was a previous post titled, "Want An Above Ground Pond ?? - READ THIS FIRST", posted on July 16, 2006. I suggest taking a look at that post as well.

technorati tags:backyard, above, ground, pond, barrel, liner, preformed

Making Your Very Own Home Made Pond Filters Is Easier Than You May Think...

Looking to learn more about how Filters actually work, what they're made up of, or even to make your very own pond filter? I recommend checking out the article below. It's great! It's all about Pond filters and how to make your very own.

Make Your Own Pond Filter At Home. Building Pond Filters Easier Than You Think.

Once you understand the principles of a good pond filter you will quickly recognize that all that is often required is a box containing biomedia ... water is pumped through this box 24/7 so that colonies of bacteria that build up on biomedia surfaces remain strong and viable so they can do their natural job of purifying pond water.

Biomedia is a fancy word for almost any solid items such as stones, plastic rings, hair curlers, foams and other specially designed materials. These "things" are just surfaces on which bacteria can cling ... the best biomedia are those that have very high surface areas (called specific surface area or SSA) and that can be easily rinsed clean to remove solid debris that clings to the surfaces.

The advantage of buying a ready made commercial unit is that you don't have to do it yourself. In general these units are over-priced so do not be atken in by the bigger is always better approach. The really important part is the biomedia and for small to medium ponds try to find a filter with Alfagrog or Supra as the biomedia...........read more...

How To Make Your Own Pond Filter At Home Cheaply

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Build a Barrel Pond ...

A Barrel pond is quick and simple to build. They can be placed anywhere on your property, including your deck or patio. And to be honeset, I think they look great. Check the link below for some great info on how to build the best Barrel Pond.

Creating a pond in a barrel isn't a new idea, but what makes this project different is the sheer size of the barrel - at least three times as big as the average barrel pond!

Gardenworld

technorati tags:backyard, barrel, pond, deck, patio

Choosing the right Filter for your Koi Pond

How to choose the right filter?

Choosing the correct filter system for your Koi pond can be a baffling process, with so many types and designs of filter on the market - where do you start? Remember, we are concerned here with specific filtration for Koi ponds, as opposed to garden ponds which might contain other types of ornamental fish.

Koi Water Garden for a comprehensive range of Koi pond filtration including vortexes and protein skimmers

If you're looking for a filter for your Koi pond and you're not sure what's best for you check the above article out. It has great information for you.

technorati tags:koi, pond, filters

What's the smallest Pond Size I Can Get Away With?

Ponds come in all different shapes and sizes. The shape and size you choose completely depends on your personal circumstances (location/landscape/budget/etc). However it's really up to you how big or how small you want your pond.

Of course, the smaller your pond the more limited options you have in choosing your plants and fish.

The size of your pond will also depend on any additions you had in mind as well. For example, adding a waterfall or a fountain. Your pond will have to be large enough to incoporate these additions in such a way that there will be little to no water lose. This means that you don't want water to be splashing out of your pond otherwise you'll eventually deplete your pond of water.

If you're not looking to add any water devices, fish, or large fancy aquatic plants then your pond can be almost any size you want.

Reward for Missing FISH??

I promised you news with all the tips and information. Here's a great one. Really shows you how much we can fall in love with our pond. - Check it out!

Physician offers reward for return of stolen fish - Journal Times Online

Physician offers reward for return of stolen fish Journal Times Online, WI - Jul 29, 2006 ... McNulty wants whoever stole his beloved Koi to return his fish. The fish disappeared from his backyard pond sometime last weekend, on either July 22 or 23. ...

technorati tags:backyard, pond, koi, stolen, fish, reward, physician

Got Green Water and Still asking "What's An Ultraviolet Sterilizer" ?

UV Sterilizers help kill and control most bacteria, viruses and parasites. It can also help prevent the unwanted 'green water' symptom that so many of us suffer with.

Sounds great right? Well it actually is, but it can be rather complex for some people. If you're looking for more information on UV Sterilizers heres a great little article on the subject. Note, that this article is targeted at marine fish, however it still has some great tips and info on UV Sterilizers:

The UV Sterilizer: Friend or Foe

by Michael G. Livadas

References - The UV Sterilizer: Friend or Foe

UV Sterilizers come in all types, shapes and sizes. It's best to drop by your local stores to find what will work best for your pond. When shopping for UV Sterilizers no one can give you better information for your exact needs then a reputable local supplier. Make friends and you'll both benefit from it.

If you're a serious Pond Owner I highly recommend adding a UV Sterilizer. Anything that helps keep my pond ecosystem going healthy longer, and doesn't require constant maintenance and care on my part, is alright with me =)

Personally, I'm currently using the Tetra Pond UV. It's absolutey fantasitc!. Combine this with my pumps and filters and my water is clear as...well..you get the picture.

technorati tags:backyard, pond, UV, ultraviolet, sterilizer, green, water, bacteria, parasites, viruses, tips, clear, water

Oxygen Balancing ??

As I'm sure you're all well aware. Your fish and any other pond dwellers, need oxygen! Plants assist in the release of oxygen into your Pond. BUT, too many plants, algae, dirt and contaminants can cause a rapid depletion of your ponds Oxygen levels. 

Getting a well balanced ecosystem requires a well balance of plants and animals.

Too many plants may deplete Oxygen levels, but too many fish will result in the same effect.

Filters, fountains and waterfalls help aerate the pond. Moving water well assist you to achieving a well balanced ecosystem.  Remember, balance is the key to a happy and healthy pond.

technorati tags:backyard, pond, fish, filters, fountains, waterfalls, oxygen, levels, depletion, balanced, ecosystem, happy, healthy

Preventing Algae in your Pond!!

The simpliest and most nature friendly way to prevent and reduce Algae growth in your pond is to add Anacharis Plants to your pond.

Anacharis Plants are underwater plants that use up the nutrients that would otherwise feed growing algae.You've likely seen these in fish aquairums. It's highly recommended that every pond have some Anacharis.For all those that have Koi fish in their ponds, keep in mind that Koi fish tend to eat Anacharis plants so you'll want to include some form of plant protection.

Anacharis.jpg (JPEG Image, 428x342 pixels)

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