Leaves are falling from the trees and blowing into the pond.
It is important to be scooping the leaves out with a Net now before the wintertime comes.
The leaves will otherwise sink to the bottom and begin to break down creating unwanted organic debris.
Keeping up with the leaves now will make for an easier clean up in the Spring.
Using a Cover Net will help prevent leaves from getting into the pond in the first place.
Keeping up on pond maintenence now will make for a happy pond owner later.
Your Koi and Goldfish will thank you too!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Pond Market Fall Check List Guide for Ponds
Fall is here. What do you do to protect your Pond from the elements and the wrath that Mother Nature can bring us sometimes? Below is a great Fall Checklist Guide.
1) Prepare Pond Plants for Fall by pruning dead leaves and moving marginal plants to deeper water.
2) Pond Filter System: Clean and store if turning it off, clean and inspect for worn parts if it will be running. Protect Pressurized Filters with straw bales if necessary.
3) Cover the pond with Pond Netting to keep leaves out and protect the Pond Fish from predators.
4) Use a Pond Aerator to provide sufficient oxygen for the Fish to insure survival.
5) A Pond Heater/De-Icer will keep a hole in the ice to let harmful gases (carbon monoxide) escape.
6) Feed an easily digestible Cool Weather Food to let the Fish add to their fat reserves before the water gets too cold for them to eat (48 degrees Fahrenheit).
7) Add Beneficial Bacteria that is formulated to work in cooler water temperatures to help reduce build up of decomposing leaves and make spring start-up easier.
8) Keep a Pond Thermometer in the water to show when to feed Cool Weather Food and when to stop feeding completely.
9) Test the pH, Salt, Nitrite, Ammonia to insure the fish stay healthy.
10) Using Barley will help prevent too much stringy growth.
11) Phos–X will remove Phospahtes to help keep the water clear.
12) Use Restor to help eliminate existing stringy growth on Waterfall, Plants and rocks.
Remember, A Healthy Pond is a Happy Pond.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Special Savings at Pondmarket.Com!
We have to clear out our warehouse,
new Spring Pond Supplies will start
arriving in just a few weeks!
Up to 50% OFF on items that we find
while cleaning! HURRY - these prices
are only good on in Stock inventory!
When it's gone, it's gone!
Stock up - it's definitely worth it!
Some items at or near cost!
We are installing new shelves,
so everything MUST go!
Rare Opportunity for
Exeptional Savings!
Don't miss it! When the
warehouse is empty the
Savings are gone!
Get it NOW
new Spring Pond Supplies will start
arriving in just a few weeks!
Up to 50% OFF on items that we find
while cleaning! HURRY - these prices
are only good on in Stock inventory!
When it's gone, it's gone!
Stock up - it's definitely worth it!
Some items at or near cost!
We are installing new shelves,
so everything MUST go!
Rare Opportunity for
Exeptional Savings!
Don't miss it! When the
warehouse is empty the
Savings are gone!
Get it NOW
Cool Weather Pond Fish Food
Pond Fish are "cold blooded", which means their body cannot regulate its own temperature. Their body temperature depends on the environment they live in!
When the water they swim in gets colder their body functions slow down. This includes their ability to digest.
They also do not have stomachs! Their digestion is entirely done with their colon, which is slowed by their lower body temperature.
Feeding the wrong kind of Pond Fish Food once this happens can lead to severe digestive problems including impaction and even death of the fish (with no apparent outward signs of distress).
Cool weather Pond Fish Food contains easily digested vegetable matter (wheat germ and/or spirulina) to prevent this from happening.
When the water they swim in gets colder their body functions slow down. This includes their ability to digest.
They also do not have stomachs! Their digestion is entirely done with their colon, which is slowed by their lower body temperature.
Feeding the wrong kind of Pond Fish Food once this happens can lead to severe digestive problems including impaction and even death of the fish (with no apparent outward signs of distress).
Cool weather Pond Fish Food contains easily digested vegetable matter (wheat germ and/or spirulina) to prevent this from happening.
Seasonal Pond Tips
If you could mine your Pond.....
you would find minerals and metals!
These minerals and metals are normally found in fresh water and evaporation and consequent topping off concentrates these minerals and metals more and more.
This accumulation of minerals can be harmful to the Pond Fish!
It is best to do a partial water change in the Autumn (20 - 30%) to dilute these substances and make the Pond healthier for your Fish to survive the winter.
We have talked many times of the importance of de-chlorinating all tap water that is added to the Pond, no matter how small a quantity it is. This time of year it is helpful to use a De-Chlorinator such as "Stress Coat" which helps to increase the slime coat that protects your Pond Fish from disease and parasites during the time when they are most vulnerable: Winter!
you would find minerals and metals!
These minerals and metals are normally found in fresh water and evaporation and consequent topping off concentrates these minerals and metals more and more.
This accumulation of minerals can be harmful to the Pond Fish!
It is best to do a partial water change in the Autumn (20 - 30%) to dilute these substances and make the Pond healthier for your Fish to survive the winter.
We have talked many times of the importance of de-chlorinating all tap water that is added to the Pond, no matter how small a quantity it is. This time of year it is helpful to use a De-Chlorinator such as "Stress Coat" which helps to increase the slime coat that protects your Pond Fish from disease and parasites during the time when they are most vulnerable: Winter!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Seasonal Preparation Tips
Have you checked the bottom of your Pond?
Cleaning it up now and keeping it clean may eliminate the big Spring clean-out.
We always like to avoid draining the Pond in the Spring.
It is too much work, not good for the Pond Fish (or your back) and puts the Pond back to "brand new status" with all the potential problems of aging it and getting it balanced all over again.
It is much better to take a little bit of time now to prepare properly!
Check the pH to make sure the Beneficial Bacteria colony can flourish as long as possible - add some if necessary.
In far northern area where leaves may be falling already Pond Netting should be used to keep as much leaf debris off the bottom as possible.
Nutrient levels (in other words: fish poo) can get out of hand in cooler weather making that awful stringy stuff grow all over the place. Adding Barley Extract can help prevent that (and prevent some rock scrubbing).
Cleaning it up now and keeping it clean may eliminate the big Spring clean-out.
We always like to avoid draining the Pond in the Spring.
It is too much work, not good for the Pond Fish (or your back) and puts the Pond back to "brand new status" with all the potential problems of aging it and getting it balanced all over again.
It is much better to take a little bit of time now to prepare properly!
Check the pH to make sure the Beneficial Bacteria colony can flourish as long as possible - add some if necessary.
In far northern area where leaves may be falling already Pond Netting should be used to keep as much leaf debris off the bottom as possible.
Nutrient levels (in other words: fish poo) can get out of hand in cooler weather making that awful stringy stuff grow all over the place. Adding Barley Extract can help prevent that (and prevent some rock scrubbing).
How to hand feed your Pond Fish
How tame are your Pond Fish? Are they eating out of your hand?
It is not as difficult as you might think to train Pond Fish to do just that...
Here are some tips:
- Do not feed the Fish for a day or two to insure they are really hungry
- Present as small a silhouette as possible (squat or kneel instead of standing)
- Take some Pond Fish Food in your hand and make a fist around it
- Hold your fist in the water and let the Fish Food get wet and the flavors leak
- Release one stick/pellet of Pond Fish Food at a time and let it float
- Do not move your hand once the Pond Fish start to investigate
After a few days the Pond Fish will even start to try to get into your fist to get to the Food quicker. Have patience!
It is not as difficult as you might think to train Pond Fish to do just that...
Here are some tips:
- Do not feed the Fish for a day or two to insure they are really hungry
- Present as small a silhouette as possible (squat or kneel instead of standing)
- Take some Pond Fish Food in your hand and make a fist around it
- Hold your fist in the water and let the Fish Food get wet and the flavors leak
- Release one stick/pellet of Pond Fish Food at a time and let it float
- Do not move your hand once the Pond Fish start to investigate
After a few days the Pond Fish will even start to try to get into your fist to get to the Food quicker. Have patience!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Always Dechlorinate
When doing a water change or even topping off your Fish Pond with tap water, always use Dechlorinator.
Chlorine and Chloramines in tap water damage the gills of your Pond Fish. Over time, if not instantly, Koi and Goldfish will die from the damage being done to their gills. Having damaged gills will make the chances of your Pond Fish surviving in low oxygen situations (during hot weather, broken pump, an iced over pond, etc) slim to none.
Dechlorinator is an essential part of keeping your Koi and Goldfish healthy and happy.By using Koi TLC, tap water can be Dechlorinated, the slime coat on your Pond Fish can be replenished, stress levels for your Koi and Goldfish will be lowered, and more!
When your Pond Fish are happy, you're happy, too!
Chlorine and Chloramines in tap water damage the gills of your Pond Fish. Over time, if not instantly, Koi and Goldfish will die from the damage being done to their gills. Having damaged gills will make the chances of your Pond Fish surviving in low oxygen situations (during hot weather, broken pump, an iced over pond, etc) slim to none.
Dechlorinator is an essential part of keeping your Koi and Goldfish healthy and happy.By using Koi TLC, tap water can be Dechlorinated, the slime coat on your Pond Fish can be replenished, stress levels for your Koi and Goldfish will be lowered, and more!
When your Pond Fish are happy, you're happy, too!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Fun (Pond) Fact (TM)
If they have not already in your area, they will soon....
Frogs and Pond Toad will lay their eggs!
How to tell which is which?
Frog eggs are inside what can easily be described as "one big glob",
Toad eggs are encased in long strings!
Frogs and Pond Toad will lay their eggs!
How to tell which is which?
Frog eggs are inside what can easily be described as "one big glob",
Toad eggs are encased in long strings!
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Is your Pond thawing out?
We can't wait for Spring! We took a walk around our display ponds yesterday and determined it was time to clean them up a bit to help us get in a Spring mood! Thank goodness, a truckload of the new PondMarket formulations was delivered last week, so "Fizzy Kicks" bacteria blocks, "Restor" rock cleaner and the new, super strength "Sheer Clear" clarifier are ready to go!
We won't even have to get our hands wet! In no time at all our ponds will sparkle and be a joy to look at! Come by and visit!
We are conveniently located at the intersection of two super highways in St. Louis:
Interstate 55 and Interstate 270/255!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
