|
What do I do about green
water?
Green water is caused by an imbalance in the chemistry of the pond. It
is not generally harmful to anything, but it is unsightly. You need to
examine the four main components of the pond: filth level/filtering level,
circulation, amount of fish and amount of plants to figure out what factor(s)
is/are in an acceptable range. Refer to our Keys
To Clear Water page for in-depth advice.
Back To Top
How do I deal with
stringy algae in the pond?
Stringy algae can occur even in ponds with clear water. It usually grows
on waterfalls or close to the surface, and can only be removed by pulling
it off by hand.
Back To Top
How many fish can I
have?
A good rule of thumb is one inch of fish for each ten gallons of water.
It is important to consider the full grown length of the fish (goldfish
usually get about 6" long, most garden pond Koi get 12" to 18"
in a garden pond). Also, it is important that you properly calculate the
gallons in the pond. Multiply the average width by the average length
by the average depth, then multiply that by 7.5. It is safer to estimate
a smaller size when determining how many fish to stock.
Back To Top
How often do I feed
the fish?
Feed goldfish once every two or three days. Feed them all they can consume
over a five to ten minute period. If you are finding food left beyond
that, then you've fed too much, and you should reduce the amount next
time. Koi can be fed a lot more, especially if you are trying to keep
them from eating your plants. Once or twice a day is good for Koi if you
have a good filtration system have not overstocked the pond.
Back To Top
What kind of pond do Koi
need?
Koi have more complex needs than goldfish. They should be studied about
prior to purchase. They need a pond that is large, fairly deep (usually
3' or more is good), and in an open, simple shape. Extra filtration may
be required, as well. Read about them first!
Back To Top
Can I mix Koi and goldfish?
You can mix Koi and goldfish, if the pond is suited for both. You can
also mix other types of fish, depending on your climate. Consult a local
aquarium store to see what is available in your area.
Back To Top
Will Koi destroy
my plants?
Koi can and will knock over and eat lilies and marginal plants, usually
when they are hungry. Keep Koi well fed, and provide them with lots of
circulation for them to play in.
Back To Top
How do I keep predators
from eating my fish?
Provide lots of hiding places for your fish. Do not have a shallow or
beach-like area in the pond where predators may wade in close to the fish.
Use decoys or scaring devices if necessary. Dye the pond water blue or
black as a last result.
Back To Top
Are snails and tadpoles
important to have?
No, not necessarily. They are charming, and they eat some of the algae
that grows on the sides of the pond, but they also excrete waste and are
therefore a biological burden on the pond like fish. So, count them as
part of your overall stock of fish.
Back To Top
How many and what kind
of plants do I need?
Most ponds should have 60-70% of the surface covered with plant material.
The plants keep the algae level way down by using the nutrients that would
otherwise feed algae, they protect and feed the fish, they provide oxygen
and they naturally filter the water. You should have plants that are suited
to the amount of light and space that your pond provides. If you want
the plants to come back year after year, you should get plants that are
compatible with your climate zone or colder. Click here to view a zone
map.
Back To Top
What is
a "marginal" plant?
A marginal plant is one which lives in a shallow or boggy area in the
wild. They usually are kept so the crown of the plant is just at the water
surface.
Back To Top
What is the difference
between a tropical and a hardy plant?
Tropical usually implies Zone 8 or higher. For our purposes, a tropical
plant is a plant that dies in the winter in your climate zone (like perennials).
A hardy plant is one that would come back year after year (like an annual).
Back To Top
How do I save my tropical
plants over the winter?
There are different ways to save different plants, however most can be
saved by putting them in a container of water in a sunny window or under
good grow lights.
Back To Top
What size pump is correct?
A pump should circulate all of the water in the pond over a one hour period.
If you have a 600 gallon pond, your pump should be at least a 600 gallon-per-hour
(g.p.h.) pump. In most cases, a pump that is much stronger will be appropriate.
It depends on how much flow you would like to have through your waterfall
or water feature, and what kind of filtering you need to do. The flow
is too high only if the pond water is turbulent to the point of having
the fish and plants blown around.
Back To Top
What size and type of
filter should I have?
We recommend biological filters for most ponds. If you have the room,
get an external biological filter. If you don't have any room around the
pond, use an internal or submerged biological filter. Get one that is
rated for the volume of your pond and the gallons-per-hour of your pump.
It is ok to use one bigger than you think you may need. If you have Koi,
you may have special filtering needs.
Back To Top
How do I calculate
the volume of my pond?
This is one of the most important things to do. The gallons affect the
size of pump and filter you will have, the amount of fish to put in, and
the dosage of chemicals like dechlorinator and salt. Multiply the average
width by the average length by the average depth, then multiply that by
7.5. Most people think they have way more gallons than they do. If you
can, monitor your water meter while filling the pond for an accurate measurement.
Back To Top
What kind of chemicals
do I put in the water?
If you are on a municipal water supply, then chlorine has been added
to the water which must be neutralized with dechlorinator. You should
test
the water from your tap for other noxious additives like chloramines,
ammonia and for the levels of hardness and pH. Adjustments may need
to be made
if the water is not properly balanced. Most aquarium stores can check
your water for you. We don't advocate the use of chemicals beyond those
needed to correct the water quality from the tap. Natural additives like
bottled bacteria and salt are fine to add. Pond salt is good for fish
in small doses, especially Koi, but can be bad for plants.
Back To Top
How large and deep should
the pond be?
Make the pond as large and as deep as you can afford to. Many people find
their pond to be too small. The pond is also much healthier and more stable
with a larger volume of water. Ponds are actually require less maintenance
when they have more volume.
Back To Top
Where is a good
place to put a pond?
Don't put a pond on low ground, in a wet spot or other area where runoff
from rain will interfere with it. Don't put a pond under a tree with poisonous
nuts or berries. Don't put a pond on ground that is unstable or shifting.
Don't put a pond too close to a big tree with roots that you would have
to cut into; you may kill the tree. Try to put a pond in a fenced in area
or that is protected from small children. Ponds can go in sun or in shade.
They are ok right up against the house (or not). Good places are those
where the pond would be visible from the house windows and other viewing
areas (deck, patio). Natural slopes that lend themselves to an incline
for a waterfall are also good.
Back To Top
Should I be concerned
about mosquitoes?
Fish eat mosquito larvae. Ponds with fish stay pretty mosquito-free.
Back To Top
Will the pond attract
undesirable wildlife?
The pond attracts wildlife of all kinds, but it doesn't attract wildlife
that your neighborhood did not have before. If you see a snake, raccoon,
possum, deer or anything else, it was in your area already. Mostly, ponds
attract frogs, insects like dragonflies and birds.
Back To Top
What do I do when
the pond freezes over?
Hopefully you have a deicer or other device to keep a hole through the
ice so the fish can get fresh air. Don't ever break the ice the shockwave
can be extremely harmful to the fish. The fish are hibernating underneath.
They will be fine as long as the pond doesn't freeze solid and they
can
get some fresh air.
Back To Top
How often should
the pond be thoroughly cleaned?
We recommend cleaning the pond in the spring, and again lightly in the
fall. Click here to see our cleaning instructions.
Back To Top
When and why should
I test the water?
Your water should be tested from the tap when you first set-up a pond,
so you know what water qualities may need adjusting. You should test the
water once or twice a week for four to six weeks after setting it up or
after a cleaning to monitor the ammonia and nitrite levels. A testing
is also good to do if you ever have any problems with the fish or if the
pond doesn't look right.
Back To Top
|
