Pond Supplies and Pond Liners

If a pond has not been properly winterized, the fish and the plants contained within could be at risk once the temperature finally changes. Pond owners have the option of re-buying their plant and fish should they die, but this can get pricey. Besides, it’s much easier winterizing a pond, so everything is properly protected even in the coldest of weather. This article will explain in detail what a person needs to do to get this process started.

1. Preparing the Fish

If a pond’s temperature has gone in the low 70s, owners need to start changing what their fish are eating. Fish food that has a wheat germ base is the best choice during months where the weather is colder. This is because it is easier on their digestive system, which is compromised in cooler temperatures. It also helps them bulk up better, so their bodies can stay warmer as the weather changes.

The food should be given two or three times a day. The time limit for eating should be no more than 5 minutes. Even though the fish do need more nutrition during the winter months, if they eat too much, (which they will do if not monitored), they will die. For this reason any extra food needs to be taken out of the pond as soon as possible.
2. Cleaning the Water
During the fall leaves can accumulate in a person’s pond. If these leaves are not removed, they can decompose, resulting in a release of hydrogen sulfide. This is a gas that is very toxic to the fish and plants in or around the pond. To prevent this from happening, pond owners need to use an aquarium net. This will filter out any debris that may have built up in the pond.
3. Preparing the Plants
If temperatures fall below 60 degrees, plants need to be brought inside. Otherwise, the best way to prepare plants for the season change is by repotting them. Additionally, any portion of the plant that might be dying should be trimmed away. This is healthy for both the plant and the pond, since it helps keeps debris down.

4. Getting a Heater

Pond heaters keep the area warm enough so it doesn’t freeze over. When this happens any toxic gasses that are in the pond are gotten rid of. Oxygen can then make its way through, a gas that is essential for healthy pond life.

5. Dealing with the Pump
The main pump needs to be removed if the pond temperature drops below 40 degrees. If
it is allowed to stay, it will make the temperature of the water dangerously low for the fish. This may not be as noticeable at first, since the fish will be using their body fat to stay warm. However, eventually they won’t have enough body fat to draw from, which will lead to their deaths.
When the pond temperature rises enough to be able to include the pump, pond owners should make sure that the filters have been properly cleaned.

Pond Supplies

A pond can be an excellent addition to a garden or landscape in general. It adds a touch of natural beauty and entertainment, since a person can become mesmerized looking at the animals that make the pond their home. The only difficulty is knowing what one needs for the pond they just built. This article will address that concern by providing information on some of the most common pond supplies new pond owners will need.

1. Pond Liner

Pond liners are necessary to help prevent the water from leaking. The best pond liners are those that are pre-formed and plastic. Pond liners of this variety will come in an array of options, so pond owners aren’t limited to creating just one type of pond. To get one a pond owner can simply buy a pond kit. There is also the option of a pond owner creating their own pond liner with gauge pond plastic. However, this is not pre-cut like pond liners found in kits, so an individual must know what they are doing if they decide to create the liner themselves.

2. Shelves

Shelves are necessary if a pond owner wants to decorate their pond with plants and other types of knick-knacks. Fish also like having access to them, since they provide a form of alternative shelter.

3. Filter

Filters are necessary to clean the pond water. They are not as essential if a person doesn’t plan on adding wildlife to their pond, but a person may still want to consider using them to avoid murky pond water. Either way, pond owners need to spare no expense on their choice of filter. The more the filter can clean the better, since anything that it cannot clean becomes a mess the owner is responsible for.

Two types of filters are available for pond owners: submersible or outside. Submersible filters are placed inside the pond and filter water from the inside. Outside filters are placed on top of the pond and does its filtering from there.

4. Animal Life

Pond owners need to decide if they want animals in their pond. Fish, turtles and frogs are the most common wildlife that are chosen for private ponds. All of them add a lot of pizzazz to a pond, though since they are living creatures, they must be properly cared for. The animals need to be fed along with having their wastes cleaned. Pool owners must also make sure that they do what is necessary to make sure their animals do not suffer or even die during the winter months, when the pond’s temperature drops drastically.

5. Plants

A pond is very boring if it doesn’t have any plant life. However, plants require upkeep
too. They need to be watered and also accommodated for when the weather changes. They also need to be trimmed if there are parts of them that are dying during times in which the temperature drops.

6. Decorations

Some pond owners may not like artificial decorations, as they want their pond to be au-natural. Others like to mix the beauty of the artificial with the natural. If this is the case, they need to make sure that they are still decorating in a way that looks appropriate. This is because too many decorations could make a pond look gaudy.

When it comes to pond fish, the most popular choices are goldfish, (which need no introduction) and Koi, (a Japanese carp). Both are beautiful and well-adapted for pond life. However, there are differences between the two that should be taken into consideration before a final purchasing decision is made. This article will discuss these differences in more detail.

Firstly, when it comes to size, goldfish are smaller than Koi. For this reason goldfish should be considered if a person has a pond size that is 50 to 500 gallons. If a pond is bigger than 500 gallons, Koi are the better choice. In fact, since these fish can grow immensely, the larger a pond is the better if a person does invest in the Koi.

Secondly, when it comes to general care, goldfish tend to be much easier. This makes them the perfect choice for a person that is new to pond ownership. On the other hand, Koi should be reserved for a pond owner who has more experience. This is because due to the size of the Koi, they require a greater amount of water. If they do not have enough water, wastes accumulate, which could make them get sick.

Thirdly, a pond owner needs to consider the plant life within their pond when deciding between goldfish or Koi. Generally, goldfish do not bother any plant life that is placed within the pond. The most they may do is play with lily pads. Yet, Koi like to dig around plants, creating quite a mess.

So, if a pond owner has Koi, they will need to decide how they are going to deal with their potted plant situation. They could opt not to have them at all, which is the easiest alternative. However, some pond owners may insist on using potted plants. In these cases pond owners will need to consider additional options. One could be placing a net over the pot. Another option involves placing one inch of pea gravel on top of the pots. Koi cannot dig through netting or pea gravel.

Fourthly, the Koi species of fish are cold-water. Pond owners will need to keep this in mind as they are caring for them. This means making sure there are deeper areas within the pond to accommodate for season changes. Specifically, during warm weather these areas should be around 1 meter deep, while they should be about 1.5 meters deep during colder weather. The areas need to be deeper during colder weather to prevent freezing.

Lastly, there is the issue of longevity. Goldfish can live up to 20 years, while Koi live a minimum of 35 years. Koi have even lived up to 200 years, though this not as common. Regardless, this 15 year difference in life expectancy should be considered, since it means 15 more years of not having to worry about fish replacement. However, if replacement is not as much of an issue, goldfish are a better alternative since they are much cheaper than their Koi counterparts.