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| Pond Season in Full Swing |
Throughout the next few months your pond will be at its best. The foliage will be in full bloom, the fish will be thriving,
and you will be enjoying the relaxing sounds of your water features. While you are taking pleasure in your pond, don't forget
to snap a few photographs and then email them to us to post in our
pond gallery for all to enjoy.
By sharing your photos, you will be entered into TetraPond's Monthly Beauty and the Best Pond and Koi Contest.
Winners will receive a TetraPond care package for their pond.
NEW How-to Video by TetraPond
TetraPond is pleased to bring you a video to help guide you through the process of building your own backyard
oasis. Now available for viewing at www.tetrapond.com, this video is a step-by-step guide on how to design,
build and care for your water garden. The video is divided into chapters so that you can quickly and easily find the
information you are looking for. Enjoy, and let us know what you think!
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The 'Greener' Side of Ponds
Seven Environmental Benefits of Owning a Pond, Part 3 of 7 |
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Here are a few more reasons for dad to take some time off from mowing, and instead, build a water garden or pond.
Number 3: Less mowing means less use of gas and reduced carbon monoxide emissions.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), each weekend, about 54 million Americans mow their lawns, using 800 million gallons
of gas per year and producing tons of air pollutants.
Garden equipment engines emit high levels of carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides, producing up to
5% of the nation's air pollution and a good deal more in metropolitan areas. A traditional gas-powered lawn mower produces
as much air pollution as 43 new cars, each being driven 12,000 miles. Lastly, over 17 million gallons of gas are spilled
each year refueling lawn and garden equipment, more oil than was spilled by the Exxon Valdez in the Gulf of Alaska. This adds
to groundwater contamination and smog. Source: Environmental Protection Agency
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The Joy of Koi
By Keith Heberling, Water Garden Expert |
If you are thinking about adding Koi fish to your pond for the first time, here are few tips to ensure they make it to their new home safely.
Upon finding a reputable dealer who has a good selection, take some time to study the livestock and choose wisely:
- The fish should have bright color and its fins should be outstretched. If the fins are folded back, it's not a happy camper and needs treatment.
- The eyes should be clear. Look for any bumps or bruises. Its movement should be smooth and fluid, not jerky.
- Once you've found your new addition, ask the dealer to "bag" it. The store will place the fish in a clear bag with just enough water to cover the fish. Air is more important here, and in some cases they will inject oxygen. Let them know if you have a long ride or if you are by yourself; they can supply you with a box to keep it stable.
- Don't carry the bag on your lap, as that adds heat and raises the temperature of the water. If it's a long, hot ride, the retailer may also supply some ice.
- Upon arriving home, remove the bag from the car and float it on the pond. The temperature of the water in the bag will gradually equalize with the pond in about 15 to 30 minutes.
- Test the water with your hand every so often, and when the temperatures seem relatively the same, release the fish into the pond.
In most cases, the fish will immediately hide somewhere, and will do so for up to several days. Don't be alarmed if you come out a few days later and your new pet is nowhere to be found. One Koi that I added to my pond disappeared for a week; however, it eventually got hungry and decided to join the rest of the gang at feeding time.
Enjoy your Koi!
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| Keeping Your Filter Running Efficiently |
Remember, your pump,
filtration system
and UV clarifier work together to ensure clean, clear water and a healthy ecosystem.
Regular filter maintenance is critical to your system running efficiently. One clear indicator that your filter needs to be cleaned is a change in water flow. If you notice a reduction in water flow, it is time to clean your external filter and/or the prefilter on your pump. The methods for cleaning a filter will be different from filter to filter. Consult your owner's guide for specific information.
Remember: don't use untreated tap water to clean the filter
Untreated tap water contains chlorine and chloramines that can kill beneficial bacteria colonies. Use a bucket of pond water that should have already been de-chlorinated to rinse the filter pad or other media.
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| Summer Pond Care |
All pondkeepers look forward to the warm summer days and nights to enjoy the sights and sounds of their pond. To ensure your seasonal satisfaction, remember, this is an important time to keep the pond clean and clear to ensure the health of the entire ecosystem.
Here are a few tips to keep your pond healthy all summer long:
- Algae control: To combat green water and string algae, consider an algae control treatment
that is added directly to the pond water. Additionally, if heavy algae blooms are a problem, consider adding an ultraviolet clarifier (UV clarifier).
Suspended, microscopic single-cell algae are so tiny that they pass through even the finest filter. A UV clarifier uses ultraviolet light to destroy the reproductive ability of algae. The dead algae then clump together in particles large enough to be removed by the mechanical filter.
- Fish care: Feed fish smaller amounts of high-quality food particularly in the summer. Fish should only be fed one to three times a day, with only as much as they will consume in five minutes. Fish eat what they need to survive in various conditions, and as the water temperature rises to 77°F and higher, fish will consume less food in a given time. Remember, fish in hot water temperatures may not show an interest in food. When fish feed in extreme summer heat, their movement also uses more oxygen, which is problematic if there isn't a sufficient supply in the water. Therefore, feed in the early morning, at the coolest time of the day.
- Water care: Raised pollutant levels are generally caused by overcrowding the fish, overfeeding, or under-filtrating the pond.
Each leads to an imbalance between the number of fish and the amount of filter bacteria, which decompose fish waste. Once identified, these
pollutant problems are relatively easy to overcome. A partial water change will immediately dilute the problem, giving you time to identify
the cause. Remember to treat the water with a product that makes tap water safe for fish by removing harmful chlorine and chloramines.
- Aquatic plant care: Aquatic plants provide important shade, which reduces algae growth. Aquatic plants provide natural filtration
too, which helps clean the water by consuming nitrates and keeps oxygen at healthy levels. Plants are very important to an overall healthy pond. To
keep them looking their best, tend to them regularly by removing dead blossoms, leaves, and stems to keep the pond free of debris and decay.
Additionally, aquatic plants need extra care to promote growth and beauty. Remember to fertilize your plants with a product that is in a tablet form and planted directly in the pot, next to the plants' roots. This will minimize the plants' release of chemicals and nutrients that would ultimately encourage algae growth.
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| Visit www.TetraPond.com Today: |
- LEARN: For more information and frequently asked questions about building your pond and pondkeeping.
- DREAM: Become inspired by our Pond Gallery of photos submitted by pondkeepers (like you!) across the country.
- CREATE: For a step-by-step video guide on how to design, build and care for the perfect water garden, visit www.tetrapond.com.
- WIN: Enter your pond photos in our monthly contest to win free TetraPond products.
Are you planning to change your email address?
Be sure to visit www.tetrapond.com to register your new email account to receive Into the Pond. You won't want to miss an issue!
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