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Pond Equipment Your pond keeping success depends largely on the pond equipment you choose (pump, filter, UVc, pond liner etc). We’ll make sure you ask your pond retailer the right questions (and give you the answers you should listen out for).
It is widely regarded that a garden is not complete without a water feature, and that a garden literally comes alive when that water feature involves moving water. There are a number of alternatives that bring the enchanting atmosphere of moving water to a garden. . . . → Read More: A pond with pond pumps waterfalls fountains
How it works. Biological Filtration Our ponds are home to far more living organisms than the fish we have stocked and see swimming around ever day. A pond is quite literally alive with micro organisms that have colonised to exploit the food and favourable conditions for their . . . → Read More: Biological Pond Filtration
Arguably the hardest part of a customer’s pond building project is to reproduce in their own back garden the pond they have in their mind’s eye – which is most likely to be based on what they have seen from Mother Nature on their travels through . . . → Read More: Building a pond. Choosing the best pond liner.
Pumps: If you’re considering building a pond that features a fountain or waterfall, or are looking to install a UVc and filter, then you’ll need a pump. A pond pump has a demanding role, pumping continuously through a 12 month rolling contract in extremes of temperature, handling unmentionable . . . → Read More: Choosing Pond Pumps
If you drive a car, the odds are you will fall into one of two categories. Those whose priorities are the looks or a car and the driving experience, and those who are interested in what’s happening under the bonnet. I fall into the first group, . . . → Read More: Choosing the right pond filter
Compared to other pond hardware such as must-have items such as a pump and filter, a pond heater is an optional purchase (depending on your budget and your approach to koi keeping). Why consider buying a pond heater? Better for your Koi? Our cold-blooded Koi have no choice . . . → Read More: Choosing the right pond heater
Every pond should have one. Regarded as the heart of the pond, the pump (like the heart) must be the most reliable part of a pond and filter system. Expected to work 24 hours a day and every day of the year in most cases, the . . . → Read More: Choosing the right pump for your pond
Compared to some of the previous articles in this series, looking at choosing a pump, heater or filter, where I had my work cut out trying to condense the information required into a single article, choosing the correct UV for your pond is significantly more straightforward. Firstly, . . . → Read More: Choosing the right UV clarifier for your pond
Dissolved Oxygen Concentration (DOC) is the term given to describe the amount of oxygen that is dissolved in pond water. Dissolved oxygen is measured in terms of how much oxygen (by weight – mg) is dissolved in every litre of water. There are many factors that will . . . → Read More: Dissolved oxygen and pond fish
It is the role of the aquarium filter to maintain a stable and safe water quality within an aquarium.
Any aquarist who is fortunate enough to be able to keep fish inside in an aquarium and outside in a pond soon starts to see the many parallels between keeping fish in both environments. The fish are fed an artificial diet, the water is circulated through . . . → Read More: Flexible and rigid pond liners.
A pond liner (rigid or flexible) is the unsung hero of a successful pond. A pond’s ability to hold water is only as good as the material used to construct it and rather ironically, the more reliable the pond liner the less notice we are likely . . . → Read More: Flexible pond liner or preformed pond. Which should I choose?
Water quality is the keystone to successful koi keeping. Remove it and koi health problems are likely to follow. There are many different water quality parameters that require constant monitoring with the results and interpretation of water tests essential to maintain a healthy pond. he most regularly . . . → Read More: Foaming pond surface problems
Q: I understand that good water quality is perhaps the most important way of ensuring healthy Koi, and as such, parameters like ammonia, nitrate and pH should be kept within their recommended levels. But what about other measures of water quality, such as how foamy your . . . → Read More: Foamy pond surface. Why?
Oxygen, why is it important in the garden pond? Most fish keeper’s are well aware that the pond or aquarium water should be routinely tested for the presence of pollutants such as ammonia and nitrite but very often the oxygen content is overlooked. Oxygen is an essential . . . → Read More: Garden pond dissolved oxygen
It is a long time since I last watched The Wizard of Oz (I didn’t catch it this Christmas) and I can’t recall the finer details of the ending. But what I do remember is towards its conclusion, experiencing a real anti-climax when we were shown . . . → Read More: Garden pond filtration
Q: I’ve been a pond keeper for years but have just recently become hooked on Koi. I want to ensure I provide my new Koi with ideal pond conditions. Having just kept goldfish before there has been no need for filters, but obviously there is with . . . → Read More: Garden pond koi pond filtration
As water passes from our tap, into our koi pond where it circulates for several weeks and is then discharged during a partial water change, it will experience different chemical processes. Having covered the basics of pond chemistry in the previous article, let’s take a look . . . → Read More: Garden pond water chemistry
What’s best for your koi in winter? Do I heat my pond or not? We mustn’t forget that koi are a warm water fish and are tolerant of a wide range of temperatures – making them an ideal pond fish. Don’t presume that koi cannot over winter . . . → Read More: Heating a pond in winter
There are two opinions with respect to heating koi ponds. Many koi keepers believe that koi should be given a typical winter period, while others believe that heating a pond is essential to maintain koi in the best of health throughout the year. But won’t koi freeze . . . → Read More: Heating a pond over winter. Top advice
The koi keeping hobby must be like many other hobbies in that each year it is a testing bed for new products and innovations. Many are launched overnight and appear to leave the hobby just as quickly. Others are launched as adaptations from other markets or . . . → Read More: How a pond protein skimmer works.
According to the theory of evolution, as the complexity of primitive aquatic organisms developed over time, they gained the ability to leave the primordial soup for dry land in the blind pursuit of survival. If we look at how pond pumps have evolved in the pond keeping . . . → Read More: How a submersible pump works
The vast majority of us depend on tap water as the source of the pond water in which we keep our koi. This is the same tap water that we use to drink, cook, wash and bathe in, and our water companies claim that it is . . . → Read More: How tap water purifiers for ponds work.
One of the most widespread problems encountered by koi keepers is green water. A suspension of microscopic algae will bloom under specific favourable conditions, causing the appearance of the pond to deteriorate into a pea green soup in only a couple of days. Green water can be . . . → Read More: Killing green pond water with a UVc
Aeration … Oxygen is the essence of life and is required in abundance in a well stocked koi pond. Oxygen quite readily dissolves passively diffusing from the atmosphere, but this limited amount is insufficient to satisfy the demands of koi and other oxygen-loving pond organisms such as . . . → Read More: Koi pond aeration
Choosing a method of aeration for your koi pond is quite different from say choosing a pond pump or UVc. Firstly, not all ponds may need additional aeration. How you currently manage the water movement through your system will have a bearing on whether you choose . . . → Read More: Koi pond aeration options
Koi pond aeration … Before we even start to think about the oxygen requirements of our koi, our pond is already full of oxygen consuming organisms. Not only do these organisms demand oxygen, they must receive it insufficiently high concentrations so that the function and health of . . . → Read More: Koi pond aeration. Things you should know.
The most appealing part of koi keeping is marvelling at a pond full of ornamental beauty. The challenge in achieving that ultimate goal is to be able to understand and master the many practical demands put on a koi keeper. Some of these practical challenges, on . . . → Read More: Koi pond filtration
Installing a bio filter is the price we have to pay for wanting to keep koi in an artificial pond. It performs the functions that occur naturally in a lake or river within a compact unit and is arguably the single most important factor that makes . . . → Read More: Koi pond filtration
Despite the apparent efforts of global-warming nibbling away at either end of our winter, our ponds continue to experience several months of near-zero and freezing temperatures in winter. Our cold-blooded koi have no choice but to become inactive, well before our ponds freeze over, stopping feeding around . . . → Read More: Koi pond heaters. How they work.
Which are the best materials to use for covering a Koi pond, and which ones aren’t? How much gap should I leave above the water surface? And how long should I cover my pond for? Dear James, Covering your pond overwinter can prove to be a very cost-effective way . . . → Read More: Koi pond insulation to prevent ice and freezing in winter
Koi breathe by pumping water over their gills to extract essential oxygen, which is invisibly dissolved in the pond water. Fortunately, compared to other fish species, koi do not require an especially high level of dissolved oxygen (DO) which makes them relatively undemanding in this area. Even . . . → Read More: Koi pond oxygen
Whenever koi pond filtration is discussed, attention tends to be focused on the biological aspects, with the emphasis being placed on maturation rates, testing for ammonia and nitrite and avoiding new pond syndrome at all costs. But effective pond filtration results from the combination of a . . . → Read More: Mechanical pond filtration
At some time we are likely to have asked questions such as ‘ How do they keep their water so crystal clear?’ or, ‘what are they doing that I am not?’ when we have seen truly clear water. Some of the most impressive koi collections I have . . . → Read More: My pond water murky cloudy
Aeration Oxygen is the essence of life and is required in abundance in a well stocked koi pond. Oxygen quite readily dissolves passively diffusing from the atmosphere, but this limited amount is insufficient to satisfy the demands of koi and other oxygen-loving pond organisms such as beneficial . . . → Read More: Pond aeration
Do you believe in the ‘7 year itch’? An innate desire to try something different, becoming bored of what you set out with several years ago. All evidence in fact, suggests that the urge arrives far sooner than 7 years for pond keepers. Our first (or even . . . → Read More: Pond bridges pond lighting stepping stones
A filter is the means by which your koi are kept alive. It is bought to complement the size of a pond and installed at the same time as the pond. The simplest way of obtaining an effective filter for a small to medium pond is . . . → Read More: Pond Filter Choices
Our gardens, and everything in them cannot avoid the seasonal variations in temperature – responding accordingly with periods of inactivity and growth in winter and summer respectively. As spring approaches, life within our garden and koi pond is not be able to resist nature’s call to . . . → Read More: Pond filter in spring
A pond filter is the inseparable partner of the pond pump that we looked at last month. Just as the pump’s role can be compared to that of our heart, the filter’s role is that of the liver and kidneys combined. All of the water that . . . → Read More: pond filter options
Pond Filtration: All living animals produce waste which is toxic and must be excreted. If such waste is allowed to build up once excreted, then it is likely that health problems will follow. This is true for pond fish just as it is for slums in city . . . → Read More: Pond filters biofiltration.
Dear Ben, I am currently in the middle of building a koi pond of around 2,000gallons. I am planning on using traditional settlement and wondered what flow rate and size of settlement you would advise. Would you also include brushes? And how good are trickle towers for . . . → Read More: Pond Filtration: Settlement and bio-towers.
As someone who may be new to koi keeping, or perhaps are still contemplating taking that leap of faith, it may be wise to take a leaf out of Gordon Brown’s book. When undertaking any project, it is the prudent thing to plan and budget for . . . → Read More: Pond fish accessories
Dissolved oxygen concentration Q: At various times this summer I have seen my Koi gasping at the pond surface and around my waterfall. Does this mean that there is not enough oxygen in the pond? Is this because of exceptionally high temperatures or for some other reason? . . . → Read More: Pond fish koi are gasping?
Lighting has been used in and around ponds for years to convey different moods and effects. Underwater lighting can extend the life and entertainment from a pond well into the night, creating a focal point of both sight and sound for an evening around the barbeque, . . . → Read More: Pond Lighting
If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to visit the Lake District, or any other majestic inland water body, you would have witnessed the perfection that nature manages to effortlessly achieve without fail, in the design of her landscapes. She provides the model, against which we base . . . → Read More: Pond Liners – Rigid, Flexible, Butyl, UPVC
If you’re considering building a pond that features a fountain or waterfall, or are looking to install a UVc and filter, then youll need a pump. A pond pump has a demanding role, pumping continuously through a 12 month rolling contract in extremes of temperature, handling unmentionable . . . → Read More: Pond Pump Buying Checklist
As koi keepers, we have never had it so good. Each year there are more quality koi to choose from than the last, there is plenty of information to support the hobbyist and the standard of pond equipment available has reached a new high. Most pond liners . . . → Read More: Pond pump fails
A pond pump is an essential piece of equipment in a koi pond. It has one of the least glamorous roles to play, yet every healthy pond will be powered by a reliable pump. A pond pump has a most demanding job, working full time, 24 . . . → Read More: Pond pumps – A comprehensive guide
It is not even 30 years since UVCs first became available as a mainstream piece of pond hardware – and so great has been their success and influence on our hobby that a UVc is now widely regarded as a ‘must-have’ on a pond keeper’s shopping . . . → Read More: Pond UVc – Algae clarifier
I am relatively new to koi keeping, having installed a new koi pond in March this year. Taking the advice I have read in your magazine, I have been very careful to find a koi dealer who I believe I can trust. Under their guidance, by choosing . . . → Read More: Pond water is tinted coloured
As koi keepers we are experts in keeping fish in an enclosed artificial environment that is stocked with an unnaturally high stocking level and fed a relatively large quantity of food. Consequently, there will come a time when the pond’s ecosystem becomes unbalanced, requiring our input . . . → Read More: Ponds do need a regular partial water change
If your aquatic store serves the outdoor water gardening segment then one of the must-have stock lines is pumps. When a new pondkeeper embarks on their first pond project, it is usual for their first purchase to include the pond / liner, filter and pump all together. . . . → Read More: Selling pond pumps
As pond keepers, we spend a great deal of our pond budget on buying a pump and filter so that we can provide our fish with a good healthy environment. Water quality has a very direct and predictable influence on the health and well being of . . . → Read More: Testing Pond Water Quality
If you were to offer a sample of people the opportunity of having a pond installed in their garden, those that would decline would be in the minority. Perhaps it is that fact that our bodies are predominantly made up of water, or we have an innate . . . → Read More: The garden pond market
If you’re considering building a pond that features a fountain or waterfall, or are looking to install a UVc and filter, then you’ll need a pump. A pond pump has a demanding role, pumping continuously through a 12 month rolling contract in extremes of temperature, handling unmentionable . . . → Read More: The Pond pump buyer’s check list
Ultraviolet light has been widely used for just over a century as a disinfectant in a number of different industries. British scientists discovered that certain wavelengths of light have germicidal properties by disrupting the reproduction of micro-organisms – viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa. This has obvious . . . → Read More: UVc pond clarifier checklist
Pond Pumps Buyer’s Guide. Regarded as the heart of the pond, the pump (like the heart) must be the most reliable part of a garden pond. We expect a pump to work 24 hours a day and every day of the year in temperatures ranging from near-freezing . . . → Read More: Which pond pump is the best for my pond?
How to choose the right pond pump and why is it important to choose the right pond equipment? Koi keeping is so enthralling and challenging because it puts demands on us from so many different disciplines, and to be successful, we need to master them all. We . . . → Read More: Which pond pump should I choose? Kill blanketweed and string algae. |
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