Graphics Specs

A guess as to what we will do with the graphics

 

 

Mobile Office Project

We have been toying with the idea of a mobile office. An RV that we could build a full fledged office in ( computers, printers, lots of monitors etc...) and visit suppliers, retailers and pond builders across the country.

We just struck a deal to purchase this guy...

 

Chlorine 411

Chlorine and Chloramines

 

Chlorine, a gas, will dissipate with water circulation and exposure to the air within one or two days. Chloramines, on the other hand, take much longer to break down. Both are harmful to fish and will kill the nitrifying bacteria in the pond. They both also have the potential to burn or kill aquatic plants. Fortunately, there are many ways to keep chlorine and ammonia levels under control with some simple tips and tools.

 

When adding chlorinated water to the pond, spray it with a hose to give the necessary aeration to dissipate the gas. De-chlorinators are available at many pet and pond retailers. If you’re only adding five to ten percent of the pond’s water, it is unlikely the resulting ammonia will affect fish and plants.  If you are adding greater amounts of water, testing after using a de-chlorinator is a wise idea.

 

Sodium Thiosulfate will also remove chlorine from water. Refer to the bottle or ask a supplier specific instructions before using. Sodium Thiosulfate will also pull the chlorine from the chloramines. Be sure to monitor the ammonia levels and label and safely store after use. A bio-filter will also help remove ammonia and is something to consider if you are regularly topping off or changing more than five to ten percent of the pond’s water on a weekly basis with chlorinated water. Adding up to five percent of the pond’s water with untreated chlorinated water no more than once or twice weekly is okay for your fish and plants.

Pond Materials

There are plenty of materials that you will need for your pond. The best way to make sure that you have everything you need is to make sure that you get a good list made up. You will want to go online and see all the different types of pond out there and then figure out what you are going to need in order to get started. This is going to take some time but you will be able to get the materials and start creating your pond. Having everything that you need will make pond building a lot faster and more fun for you too. You may decide to get fancy with your pond of keep it simple and start off slow. Either way you can add more and more as you go and decide to build a bigger and better pond anytime you want. 

pH Defined

The pH level in your pond is important, everybody knows that. But what is pH exactly? According to the (Webster’s New Collegiate) dictionary, pH is the negative logarithm of the effective hydrogen-ion concentration or hydrogen-ion activity, in gram equivalents per liter, used in expressing both acidity and alkalinity on a scale whose values run from zero to 14, with seven representing neutrality. Numbers less than seven increase acidity and numbers more than seven increase alkalinity.

 

Phew! That’s quite the definition and may not make complete sense. To explain it a little bit more, logarithmic means that a pH of 5.0 is ten times more acidic than 6.0 and 100 times more acidic than 7.0. On the flip side, a pH of 9.0 is 10 times more alkaline than 8.0 and 100 times more alkaline than 7.0.

 

The amount of solid waste (nitrite) from one pond to another is also the difference in the acid level. The water source, vegetation and whether there is a bio-filter present or not, are also factors affecting the pH level. Water plants and algae increase the acidity by changing out calcium, potassium and manganese that they consume and switching it out for hydrogen and aluminum ions. 

 

Knowing what pH is exactly isn’t as important as how to control it. Simple kits can be bought to take care of this. A sign of poor pH levels is if you see your fish rubbing themselves on the sides or bottom of the pond (also known as flashing). This can be caused by parasites or a big change in the pH.

Having a great pond

If you are looking for a way to create a special pond in your backyard, you will need to make sure that you are getting all the facts first. First of all you need to find the right place to put the pond and then you need to makes sure that you have all the materials needed to start your pond. Location is important because you have to place your pond in the right place with the right amount of space. In order for your pond to work correctly, you should make sure that you do everything as you are suppose to so that your pond is up and running. You want your pond to be a great place for you to relax and enjoy all year long. Ponds are a great way to decorate your home and bring some life to your environment. Having a pond that you can add beauty and fun to your home with is a great idea and way to make you feel better too.