Pond Quiz and first Pond Survey Results

(Archieved Newsletter: "Splash - The Pond and Water Garden Newsletter" February 2006)
published courtesy and copyright of PondMarket.com

In This Issue:


Pond Quiz - Brand New - How much do you know?

Winter Pond Problems and their Solution

Last Call for the Annual Pond Survey (make your opinion known)

First Pond Survey Results

Fun (Pond) Fact


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
YEAR-END BARGAINS still available:
Pumps, Filters, Barley Straw, Pond Kits, UV's....
whatever we found while we are moving in new 2006 products:
BARGAINS GALORE!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Pond Quiz - How much do you know about the Pond?

Take the Pond Quiz and see how much you know about the Pond!
We have had a lot of fun with it. How well can you do?
Take The PondMarket Garden Pond Quiz


Winter Pond Problems and their Solutions

Most of the country has had a pretty mild winter, but even these
weather conditions can cause a few annoying problems:

a) String Algae

(also called blanket weed, hair algae, etc.)
This problem can be tackled a couple of different ways, both of them
very effective but with just slightly different results:
"Green Clean" and "D-Solv" will wipe it out almost instantly on
rocks and waterfalls, but must be repeated when new growth starts.
"Pond Balance" will slowly dissolve it (takes about 10 days or so,
but it will stay gone longer. In all cases it helps to add a
beneficial bacteria that will take some of the nutrient overload
out of the pond (the excess nutrients are feeding the algae).
These products can be found here:


b) Disappearing Fish

Most fish in garden ponds have very few places to hide in the winter,
because the plant cover has died down. This situation makes them
prime targets for predators, in particular predatory birds like
Owls, Hawks and Herons.
Often, the pond owner notices his fish disappearing one by one
without any visible signs in or around the pond that a predator
has visited.
These critters can be kept at bay by netting the pond and putting
a decoy by the pond. Hawks and Owls can be deterred by the net
(they scoop the fish up in flight), Herons will stand next to
the pond and sometimes work their way through the net to get to
the fish. They are best deterred by a decoy (they are very
territorial and if they see that a Heron (the decoy) is already
at the pond they will look for another place to hunt.
Find nets and decoys here:
Fish Nets and Decoys

Last Call for the Pond Survey and First Survey Results

Many of you have already participated in this years Pond Survey,
but many of you have not yet done so. Here is your LAST CHANCE!
The survey will close in the next week to 10 days, so hurry and
make your opinion known (you can still get there via our Pond Blog):
PondMarket Pond Survey
Some of the results so far have yielded useful information that
we will use to change the newsletter, our information site, etc.
Here is your chance to weigh in on wanted changes!!


Fun (Pond) Fact

Dragonflies lay their eggs on aquatic plants or directly in the
water. The resulting nymphs live underwater until ready to mature
into adult Dragonflies. This process can last up to 4 years in
some species!
Like this newsletter? Please pass it on to family and friends
who may also be interested! Elementary School Teachers in particular
like the Fund (Pond) Facts to use in the class room!
Sign Up for "Splash - The Garden Pond and Water Garden Newsletter"