Archive for the ‘Outdoor’ Category
Pond Liners: 7 Reasons Why I Don’t Use Them
1. Liners will eventually leak. Manufacturers have varying warranties, ranging from 15 to 30 years, with a 75-year life expectancy. In reality, it will definitely last as long as the guarantee claims as long as you leave it in the box, and store it in your garage.
Once you place it in the ground, nature’s forces begin a contest to see which will break its water-tight integrity first. Vying for the title of culprit are gophers, ground squirrels, chipmunks, rats, moles, roots from trees, plants and weeds, sharp rocks, heavy rocks, sharp objects, and moose (if you live in Alaska).
If a leak does develop, it is next to impossible to locate it without removing all the rocks covering the liner, draining the pond, spreading the liner out on the ground, and inspecting every square inch. A tiny pin hole can lose five gallons every 24 hours.
Pond Liners: the Hole Story
Sometimes I get calls from people who have purchased a new home with an old pond that has a big problem. The number one complaint is that it will not hold water; second is that the water is green; third is that the rock work is ugly – an eyesore!
At that point I ask if their waterfall and pond are constructed with a pond liner, and they are surprised that I knew that. However, eighty percent of all these types of calls pertain to a liner pond and waterfall. We have replaced over ,000 worth of defective liner ponds. One customer in Rancho Bernardo, California, had spent ,000 to have a koi pond and waterfall built by a large and well respected local pond liner supply company. They complained of needing to add water daily since the liner pond was constructed over a year ago.
Koi Pond & Waterfall: Top 21 Most Asked Questions Answered
Q: What is the ideal depth for a koi pond?
A In my experience of 30 years, 4 to 5 feet is ideal. You need a minimum of 3 feet for koi fish for several reasons. Safety for fish from wading cranes they can not wade in 3 feet of water. Plus the water temperature in shallow ponds fluctuates too much with the changes in ambient temperature. The greater the volume of water, the longer it takes for the temperature to change. Warm water or fluctuating temperatures are unhealthy for fish.
Q: What is the ideal size for a pond?
A: The ideal size would be determined by the size of your yard. Its size should be proportional to the size of the yard. Also, the larger the pond, the greater the maintenance.
More Pond Basics
Here are a few more basics about ponds from my pond information site:
*Cleaning
In a healthy pond, with a properly functioning nitrogen cycle, water changes can be minimal. I still recommend a water change of 10-20% per month on a healthy, fully functional pond. In a newer pond larger and more frequent changes may be necessary.
If your pond has a KH below 80 ppm and a pH below 7.0, I would first look to possible causes. One common one is the buildup of organic mulm on the bottom of the pond. The decomposition of this will produce nitric acids which will affect the pH and KH. Since most pond keeper have koi or goldfish, this is important to note, as both these fish do much better at a pH above 7.2 and need the calcium provided by the KH for proper osmotic function. See “Proper Calcium, Magnesium and KH in Aquariums” for more information about Calcium KH, and GH.
11 Tips Before Building a Backyard Water Garden or Backyard Pond
From The Pond Warehouse who has over 13 years of experience in ponds and water gardens, building and owning a pond, water garden or pond-less waterfall can be an awesome and rewarding experience to enjoy.
The Pond Warehouse strongly suggest you think through this list of 11 Tips before beginning your backyard water garden or back yard pond project.
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How to find a Cheap Pond Liner
Setting up a pond in your garden is no longer a faraway dream but a goal that you can easily meet today. The pond liner which is made from artificial material and is flexible has replaced the concrete pond making the whole project of setting up a pond a lot simpler and cheaper as well. If you are on a low budget, a small pond which holds at most 1,500 gallons of water should be good enough. You can choose from a preformed pond that is stiff or opt for the flexible kind. You can easily set up a 10×16 foot pond with a high quality pond liner for less than 00. You can also choose from many a pond supply available in the market today.
The reformed ponds are available in a variety of shapes and sizes and come at a cost which is a wee fraction of what the concrete ponds would cost you. With the availability of the pond liner and the various kinds of pond supply materials, even the novice gardener can have his own pond setup in a matter of a day and have it stocked with plants, fish and a pond pump, pond filter or pond light the next.
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Build a Pond Easily with Pond Kits
You will be extremely happy to know that you can set up your very own pond in the garden by using one of the many pond kits available today. By choosing the right pond kit you can have a pond with a professional look built in your garden within a couple of days and all on your own too. Besides, it is very affordable. There are many places where pond supplies are all available under one roof whether it is a pond pump, pond filter, pond waterfall, pond fountain or garden pond plants that you might be looking for.
Pond kits save you a lot of trouble of finding and then hiring a contractor whom you can trust besides the time and money that you would be spending if you were to look for each of the individual items for your pond separately. Most pond kits are made of just about everything that you need for a pond and it can give you a sense of satisfaction that you built the pond all by yourself. All you have to do is add some fish and some garden pond plants and your pond is ready!
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How to Choose a Pond Pump
The pond pump is truly the “heart” of your pond. They are needed for a variety of functions – from general circulation to powering water features. The good news is there are a wide variety of pond pumps available from very reputable manufacturers. For just about any use, there will be multiple products available to choose from. The bad news is selecting the right pump for your needs can be a very daunting task. In this article we will provide you with a solid foundation to select the right pump for your pond application.
How to build a fish pond or water garden
1. The first step to consider is to decide what type of pond you want to build. You should consider what type of aquatic life you want in the pond. Is it going to be a home for goldfish or koi? Or is your main concern for the aquatic plants? Perhaps you only want the pond for the sound of a waterfall. Each type of pond will need to be planned for its specific features. Keep in mind that the most common mistake water gardeners say they made when building their first pond was making it too small.
A small pond limits the number of fish and plants you can add. KOI POND A koi pond is different from a water garden because koi limit the amount of plant life available to be grown. Simply put: koi eat some plant. A koi pond should also be larger because koi get quite large despite the size of the pond, it is recommended that a koi pond be no less than 1000 gallons in volume, the bigger the better. It also needs to have an area of the pond at least 3 feet deep, 4 – 5 may be better. WATER GARDEN A water garden typically contains both gold fish and a variety of aquatic plants. Water gardens in moderate climates usually need for an area of the pond to be at least 2 feet deep. Colder climates require a depth to provide at least 12″ to 16″ of water below the freeze zone. DISAPPEARING FOUNTAIN or WATERFALL
How to stock your pond with the proper fish
Most commercial hatcheries offer many species of fish that a pond owner can purchase for stocking into his or her pond. A number of these species are better suited for the pond surroundings than others, and some can actually cause problems.
The intention of this detail sheet is to provide information on which fish species are recommended for stocking, those species that are often stocked but rarely provide the benefit intended, and those varieties that should not be stocked into a pond. Included are those varieties that are typically available in Ohio for pond stocking. There may be varieties not on this list that the pond owner is familiar with, but they are rarely available commercially.