Learning about pond care

There are ways that you can find out about pond care. Taking the time to discover the different ways to take care of your pond is important. You have to make sure that you maintain it well so that you do not waste your hard earned money and effort that you put into the pond. You need to do your research and know how to clean the pond as well as the materials that you are going to need. There are plenty of different sites out there to check out and to find facts about pond that will help you all season long. Make sure that you use the facts to take care of the water. You do not want your pond water to turn gray and musty. When this happens, you might not be applying the proper care and using the right type of filters and pumps. 

Using fun supplies for your pond

Having a backyard pond is one thing that you can have fun with. You do not have to have a boring pond in your backyard. You can make your pond very creative and eye catching for your home. There are plenty of different supplies that will make your pond stand out from the rest. You are going to be able to create a special pond that will bring fun and excitement to your home décor. There are fun colored lights, decorations, and even fountains that you can purchase for your pond. Having a little bit of fun and creativity with your pond makes it take on a personality all of your own. Your friends and family will admire your pond and all the hard work that you put into it.

Relaxing by your pond

Having an outdoor pond is a great resource to have when you want to unwind. There are plenty of different styles that you can choose from. There are large and small ponds that will work in your landscaping ideas. Once you have your pond in place you can then place lighting, candles, and flowers around it so that you can make it more serene. After you have the decorations in place, then you can add some seating around your pond so that you can sit and relax anytime you want. This is a great place for entertaining too. Allowing your friends and relatives to take in the beauty of your pond is another way to enjoy it and appreciate all that a pond can offer you. 

Starting your pond project

By starting your pond project you are trying to decide what type of pond you want and how you are going to make it happen. You should think about the location of the pond and how big you want it to be. Once you have this decided you can then figure out what type of materials you want to make your pond out of. Getting started with your pond means that you need to find the right set of directions to get you on your way to building a sturdy and beautiful pond that you can be proud of. Digging is the next step for your pond and then you must fill it in with the type of foundation you are using. Some do not use a foundation and let it stand with dirt. After that, you are then ready to start filling in your pond and adding our pump and filter. You are well on your way to a successful pond project.

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. 

Clams and Mussels

After introducing fish and becoming experienced and successful in that aspect, you may be interested in adding different types of life into your water garden. Freshwater clams or mussels, for example, require similar care as crustaceans. Trays of sand or aquarium gravel help create the living environment and won’t cloud the water. Fresh water clams act as a filter by taking in as much as a gallon of water every two hours through their shells. They also feed on algae and other organic particles. Hold back on introducing them into your pond until your water garden is well established so the clams don’t starve.

 

The Swan Mussel is the mussel that is most widely available at most aquatic supply and pet stores. You can also search at local markets for this variety. Be sure to check that the mussels you are purchasing are in fact alive and are freshwater species. If you purchase dead mussels or those that are saltwater species that end up dying, their decay will pollute your pond and mask it with a disgusting stench. Be very careful to avoid this because the only way to completely start over is to drain and clean out the entire pond. Although freshwater clams can be found along natural creaks and streams, avoiding plucking them and introducing them into your pond because since they are wild they may be carrying parasites. 

 

Using wood around the pond

Wood is a widely available and versatile material that can be used in many ways in the garden. Along with its natural color and texture, wood is also relatively to work with. Unfortunately, woods major disadvantage of course is rot. Fortunately, wood rot can be overcome and controlled.
 

Although the natural look of wood generally looks best, applying a finish can keep wood looking good for longer. Take precautions when choosing a finish so as to protect your fish. Microporous paints and stains all the wood to breathe. Applying sealant evenly is important because uneven seal jobs are at greater risk of cracking in time. Preservative free stains are available but keep in mind they are harder to find.
 

Don’t use preservatives on wood that comes in contact with your pond water. Be sure to treat the wood far away from the pond so as to avoid any possible chance of the preservatives getting into the water by accident. Always use low-toxic preservatives. Wood preservatives are often in a toxic-solvent base, generally including various pesticides and fungicides that can be lethal to fish and other pond life. Avoid solvent-based treatments when re-treating wood. Fumes from the solvent can even be lethal to fish. Timber is often pre-treated with preservatives so be sure to check before buying.
 

Promote rain water run-off by positioning wooden structures and edging in a way that won’t build up pools of water but will naturally run off. Although hardwoods are more expensive than softwoods, they are more resistant to rot than softwoods. Hardwoods are also harder to cut but are ideal for structures that will be supporting something, such as bridges that people will be walking across.
 

Softwoods can be sealed with clear polyurethane paints, or can be painted with low-toxicity bitumenastic paints. Larch is one of the most rot-resistant softwoods available. Imitation logs available from Japan are molded from concrete and placed around pond edges. After moss grows on them, they look rather natural.
 

It is very important to make sure that wooden slats in bridges and decking are secured safely before they are open to public use. Use rustproof screws when constructing because nails can come loose over time. Drill pilot holes first so as to minimize the risk of splitting. Load-bearing beams need to be bolted into position.

 

Sources for backyard lighting

Lighting for your backyard oasis will add a relaxing feel and will make your garden enjoyable at all times of the day as well as night. Along with different styles and varieties, there are also different types of light sources made for outdoor use.

 

Standard Tungsten bulbs are usually the most least expensive and have a warm yellow glow. Unfortunately, they can get quite hot which limits the size of the bulb. These will generally be used in low-voltage lighting situations.

 

Halogen bulbs are becoming increasingly popular for their long time use. They are reasonably sized but cast a bright white light. Halogen bulbs are more expensive but give out much more light than equally rated tungsten bulbs. They are used for low-voltage setups.

 

Mercury bulbs give off a bright bluish white light that fortunately shows off colors and details well but tends to be rated as a little harsh.

 

Sodium bulbs give off a nice amber light and are fairly efficient to run. They are ideal for lighting vast areas and floodlighting for buildings and warehouses.

 

Metal halide bulbs give off an intense white light that can be compared to daylight. They are also useful for floodlighting large areas but are more expensive to buy than mercury or sodium bulbs. Mercury, sodium and metal halide bulbs all have a common disadvantage in that they each take awhile to heat up before reaching full capacity and they all require heavy duty starting equipment.

 

Amphibians and your pond

As a pond owner, expect to have much more company than that of your pet fish. There’s an entire eco-system of amphibians, reptiles and birds, many of which may visit your pond-some welcome and some not so much. 

 

Due to the growth of urbanization and increase of pollution in natural ponds, amphibians in the recent years have needed to leave their natural habitats and search for new homes, your backyard possibly being one. Although some ponds may serve as a bed and breakfast without the necessity to do so, some ponds still require a little help in creating a community for amphibians.

 

Introducing adult frogs or toads into your pond is not a wise idea. Because frogs/toads become accustomed with their “home” pond, they will generally leave in search of the place in which they came from. However, if you have a large backyard oasis, you have a better luck of the frog/toad to stick around. The best way to introduce frogs/toads into your pond is to obtain tadpoles or baby frogs so that they will associate themselves with your pond as home base.

 

Like frogs, introducing newts into your pond while they’re still very young is an effective way to keep them around. However, newts don’t have quite the urge to leave as frogs do. Because frogs don’t have the itch to leave, it’s just as effective to introduce a small number of adult newts to the pond in the early spring. Newts have a long breeding season and will stay under water for many weeks. After the breeding season is over, the newts will have been acclimated with your pond and will feel a lesser need to leave.

 

Salamanders, which are mostly land walkers, are much harder to keep around. The best way to establish a salamander colony is to introduce either spawn or larvae to your pond and allow them to mature in and around your water garden after they leave the water.

Adult frogs, salamanders and newts all eventually spend a little or much of their time outside of the water. It is important to create places of shade and shelter for them out and around your pond.  

 

During the time in which they’re under water, frog/toad tadpoles, newt larvae and young salamanders usually have adequate food available to them in a well-kept pond. However, if you suspect there will be a shortage of nourishment, flaked or pellet fish food and ideally a supply of live critters such as water fleas is a good idea in order to keep your new colony growing.

 

While birds can be very enjoyable in your backyard, they can also be pests to you and definitely a worry for your fish and other various visitors. Herons will generally wait on dry land or in shallow water very still until they can snatch up their victim. Kingfishers on the other hand, will find a perch where they can watch over your pond until they find a suitable time to dive and, if successful, catch lunch. Ducks are not going to prey on your fish but they will most definitely stir up sediment and use your pond as their personal bathroom, and often. 

 

There are no fool-proof ways of protecting your fish from ever being in danger of birds but there are some things you can do. Standing bird decoys in the shape of a heron or owl for example, can be placed near your pond to discourage other birds from landing in your yard. Sensor-alarms can also be set up, but be aware of your surroundings and make sure to consider your neighbors or consider a timer in which the alarm can be controlled by so as to avoid any other unnecessary problems. Placing a full-sized pond net over your pond at night, each night, will annoy predators and if done daily, will eventually discourage birds from returning to your site.

 

New Website Design

We finally got the new website design finished at www.pondsupply.com. Just in time for ....the end of the season.  Best laid plans and all that.

Soon we will have a matching look for this blog.

Not a lot of new stuff going in in the ponding world right now, most are busy keeping the falling leaves from building up in their ponds. Be sure and do that because any that you leave in over winter will get revenge in the spring when the warmer temps cause them to start decomposing.