There is something magical about a Koi pond. Maybe it’s the bright colors of the Koi, the rhythmic swaying of the water plants beneath the surface, or the gentle sound of a running waterfall on a warm summer afternoon. Chances are, you too were swept up in the magical beauty of the Koi pond. Unfortunately, the upkeep of the pond isn’t usually such a magical experience, unless you know the tips to a healthy Koi pond. Keep reading to find out some quick and easy things that you do to keep your Koi pond in top form.
1. Plan ahead. There is something to be said for a good design plan, so don’t skimp when it comes to planning. Think about your own living space, and what you want to see out of your pond. Researching the do’s and don’ts of Koi pond building is essential, and you will want to pay special attention to drainage and filter issues. If you set the pond up correctly, you will save a ton of time and heartache down the road in terms of upkeep. Make sure to include multiple drainage sites and a waterfall feature to keep your fish healthy and happy.
2. Add your fish slowly. Once you get your pond built, many owners are quick to fill it to the brim with fish. Don’t do this! Start off with a few fish and allow them to acclimate themselves to the pond. Once they have been there for a few weeks, you can then proceed with adding a few more. Don’t forget to factor in the fact that your fish will get bigger over time, so don’t overcrowd your pond with small Koi.
3. Don’t overfeed. This is another common mistake of Koi pond owners. Only feed your fish what they can eat in a ten minute span. When the weather cools off, your fish will need little or no food, so refrain from overfeeding during the fall and winter months. Anything excessive will lead to a filthy pond- and quickly!
4. Schedule major cleanings at least twice a year. You should expect to do a partial drain and vacuuming at least twice a year to keep your pond in pristine condition. Many owners choose to do their cleaning in the fall and spring months right before the weather changes. The important thing is to be consistent with it.
5. Allow yourself room for mistakes. Being a Koi pond owner is a learning experience, so always be on the lookout for tips and tricks to keeping your Koi as healthy and happy as possible.
Michele Miller is the author and publisher of two Ebook Guides about Pond Building And Caring For Fish, available at http://www.easy-koi-ponds.com You can sign up for her free course by email and receive lots of tips and advice about building your backyard koi fish pond.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michele_Miller
Wednesday 27 June 2007
Ponds
Building a Water Garden
Water garden construction is, in principle anyway, easy. It is simply a matter of digging a hole, dropping in an underliner, a liner and a re circulating pump and filling with water. Put in a few plants, fish, snails and such and its done. You have a functional water garden. How attractive it is, though, is another story - and that is where a lot of the work comes in.
The hole should be of a pleasing shape, geometric for a formal garden, natural for an informal. Depth is not terribly critical for over wintering fish because of the effective pond heaters which can be purchased. (As long as the water doesn't freeze all the way down, and poisonous gasses can escape, the fish will be fine all winter.) But a pond that is three feet or more in any direction looks best with a depth of at least 18 inches. For larger ponds, some portion, especially in cold areas, should be 3 or 4' deep. (My water garden is about 6 ft. on the long side and over two feet in depth at the deepest part. Vary the depth. A shallow section where the fish are easily visible and where you can feed them and watch them romping around is a pleasant feature.
Also, when digging the hole, build shelves into the sides. These are useful for placing margin plants and for hiding the liner and pump elements with river stones. Two shelves is ideal but one will work, especially on a small pool.
It is critical that the top edge of the hole be level all around. To check this, take a long, straight board and lay it across the pool with a level on it, or use a string with a line-level. Where it is low, build up with soil or lower where it is high. Getting this right will make it possible to fill the pool to the top with no portion of liner showing.
When the hole is dug, clean it of any protruding roots and large rocks, then place in the underliner. This can be an old carpet, a carpet liner or liner protection fabric, purchased from the suppliers. Make it as smooth and neat inside as possible, folding the material into pleats. Work from the inside to the outside, starting at one place and working around the sides in one direction. Leave a little extra over the edges and cut away the rest.
Next comes the liner. There are several material choices for the liner, my preference generally being 45 mil EPDM Pond Liner material. This is flexible, relatively easy to work with and is strong. 30 mil Butyl rubber Pond Liner is also good and is a little easier to work with. Lay the liner in as you did the underliner, working out the wrinkles, and folding over the excess. Leave about a ft. extra over the edge and trim away the rest. (A linoleum knife, if you can find one, works well. A utility knife is also fine.)
Once the liner is in place, mark the water level, fill it and let it sit several hours. There should be no drop in water level. If there is, go all along the sides and look for a low spot. Most likely that is where it is loosing water. Holes are not common and should not occur if you have been reasonably careful.
Being possessed of abundant wisdom you no doubt acquired all the materials you would need for this project before beginning. Thus, you now find yourself surrounded by a ton of river rock and perhaps field stone of all sizes and shapes. River stone is rounded by the effect of water and looks right in water. Field stone is also a natural stone, weathered and smoothed and looks good around the outside of the pond.
You also have your pump near by. (The size of the pump you will need is a factor of the gallon capacity of the pond. Your supplier will tell you how to determine that and help you to select the right size.) (Or go to landscape-design-garden-plans.com).
Recirculating pumps draw water in through a filter and pump it back out, usually through plastic tubing which runs from the pump to outside the pond, usually to some sort of waterfall. From there it runs back into the pond, aerating the water and providing visual and audio pleasure. (Fish love this. You'll often find them sporting in the water as it pours into the pond.) The filter can either be connected to the pump or you can use an external filter for easy cleaning.
Place the pump in the deepest portion of the pond, on the opposite end from where the water returns to the pond. Hopefully that will also be somewhere you can easily get at it. Run both the electric cord and the plastic return hose up the sides of the pond. Before you cut the hose, which carries the water from the pump to the waterfall, make sure it is in place with enough extra hose with the pump for easy lifting for cleaning. Since you don't want to see the pump, place rocks on both sides of it, both just a little taller than the pump, and lay a rock over the top. Use the rest of your river stone and the field stone to lay into the sides and along the top for a natural look. Sand and or small rounded gravel can be poured over the bottom.
You next need to create the means by which the water is returned to the pool – a waterfall of some sort. This needn't be elaborate and shouldn't be out of proportion to the pond. Above all, make sure that where the water comes out of the tubing, no portion of it fails to make it back to the pond. If it does, the pond will slowly, but surely empty. This is why you left extra liner. Put extra liner behind and around the waterfall, all sloping to the pond. Water may escape and run under the bottom of the rocks but will still end up back in the pond. More than ninety percent of ‘leaks’ occur at the waterfall.
Build your flow-way or water fall over the liner and try to have the water drop from the lip of a smooth, flat stone into the pool, or to run over rounded rocks into the pool. Put attractive stones over the tubing, making sure not to crush it so much such that you get a spray of water instead of a flow.
It is a good idea to look at natural water features, streams and such, or at pictures of them to get stone placement right. Nature has a wonderful way of distributing stones along and within a stream or pond and an imitation of that, as much as possible, will give you the best look.
In general, try for balance. Don’t have a lot of big stone in the waterfall, for example, and none to the sides. Use a blend of sizes from small rounded gravel to hefty rocks. Put only rounded river stones in the pond and try to completely cover the liner. This will never look completely natural but it can look quite good if done with some sensitivity. Once stone placement is done, the major portion of the job is over and now it is simply a matter of stocking it, first with plants, and in a few days, allowing the pH to stabilize, with fish.
You should now have an attractive pond. For more information on ponds and water features of all kinds, visit us at water-features-online.com
Keith Davitt is a landscape designer/builder, author of garden design books and numerous articles for many garden and trade magazines.For more information on landscape design, visit us at landscape-design-garden-plans.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Davitt
Build a Koi Pond
Water garden construction is, in principle anyway, easy. It is simply a matter of digging a hole, dropping in an underliner, a liner and a re circulating pump and filling with water. Put in a few plants, fish, snails and such and its done. You have a functional water garden. How attractive it is, though, is another story - and that is where a lot of the work comes in.
The hole should be of a pleasing shape, geometric for a formal garden, natural for an informal. Depth is not terribly critical for over wintering fish because of the effective pond heaters which can be purchased. (As long as the water doesn't freeze all the way down, and poisonous gasses can escape, the fish will be fine all winter.) But a pond that is three feet or more in any direction looks best with a depth of at least 18 inches. For larger ponds, some portion, especially in cold areas, should be 3 or 4' deep. (My water garden is about 6 ft. on the long side and over two feet in depth at the deepest part. Vary the depth. A shallow section where the fish are easily visible and where you can feed them and watch them romping around is a pleasant feature.
Also, when digging the hole, build shelves into the sides. These are useful for placing margin plants and for hiding the liner and pump elements with river stones. Two shelves is ideal but one will work, especially on a small pool.
It is critical that the top edge of the hole be level all around. To check this, take a long, straight board and lay it across the pool with a level on it, or use a string with a line-level. Where it is low, build up with soil or lower where it is high. Getting this right will make it possible to fill the pool to the top with no portion of liner showing.
When the hole is dug, clean it of any protruding roots and large rocks, then place in the underliner. This can be an old carpet, a carpet liner or liner protection fabric, purchased from the suppliers. Make it as smooth and neat inside as possible, folding the material into pleats. Work from the inside to the outside, starting at one place and working around the sides in one direction. Leave a little extra over the edges and cut away the rest.
Next comes the liner. There are several material choices for the liner, my preference generally being 45 mil EPDM Pond Liner material. This is flexible, relatively easy to work with and is strong. 30 mil Butyl rubber Pond Liner is also good and is a little easier to work with. Lay the liner in as you did the underliner, working out the wrinkles, and folding over the excess. Leave about a ft. extra over the edge and trim away the rest. (A linoleum knife, if you can find one, works well. A utility knife is also fine.)
Once the liner is in place, mark the water level, fill it and let it sit several hours. There should be no drop in water level. If there is, go all along the sides and look for a low spot. Most likely that is where it is loosing water. Holes are not common and should not occur if you have been reasonably careful.
Being possessed of abundant wisdom you no doubt acquired all the materials you would need for this project before beginning. Thus, you now find yourself surrounded by a ton of river rock and perhaps field stone of all sizes and shapes. River stone is rounded by the effect of water and looks right in water. Field stone is also a natural stone, weathered and smoothed and looks good around the outside of the pond.
You also have your pump near by. (The size of the pump you will need is a factor of the gallon capacity of the pond. Your supplier will tell you how to determine that and help you to select the right size.) (Or go to landscape-design-garden-plans.com).
Recirculating pumps draw water in through a filter and pump it back out, usually through plastic tubing which runs from the pump to outside the pond, usually to some sort of waterfall. From there it runs back into the pond, aerating the water and providing visual and audio pleasure. (Fish love this. You'll often find them sporting in the water as it pours into the pond.) The filter can either be connected to the pump or you can use an external filter for easy cleaning.
Place the pump in the deepest portion of the pond, on the opposite end from where the water returns to the pond. Hopefully that will also be somewhere you can easily get at it. Run both the electric cord and the plastic return hose up the sides of the pond. Before you cut the hose, which carries the water from the pump to the waterfall, make sure it is in place with enough extra hose with the pump for easy lifting for cleaning. Since you don't want to see the pump, place rocks on both sides of it, both just a little taller than the pump, and lay a rock over the top. Use the rest of your river stone and the field stone to lay into the sides and along the top for a natural look. Sand and or small rounded gravel can be poured over the bottom.
You next need to create the means by which the water is returned to the pool – a waterfall of some sort. This needn't be elaborate and shouldn't be out of proportion to the pond. Above all, make sure that where the water comes out of the tubing, no portion of it fails to make it back to the pond. If it does, the pond will slowly, but surely empty. This is why you left extra liner. Put extra liner behind and around the waterfall, all sloping to the pond. Water may escape and run under the bottom of the rocks but will still end up back in the pond. More than ninety percent of ‘leaks’ occur at the waterfall.
Build your flow-way or water fall over the liner and try to have the water drop from the lip of a smooth, flat stone into the pool, or to run over rounded rocks into the pool. Put attractive stones over the tubing, making sure not to crush it so much such that you get a spray of water instead of a flow.
It is a good idea to look at natural water features, streams and such, or at pictures of them to get stone placement right. Nature has a wonderful way of distributing stones along and within a stream or pond and an imitation of that, as much as possible, will give you the best look.
In general, try for balance. Don’t have a lot of big stone in the waterfall, for example, and none to the sides. Use a blend of sizes from small rounded gravel to hefty rocks. Put only rounded river stones in the pond and try to completely cover the liner. This will never look completely natural but it can look quite good if done with some sensitivity. Once stone placement is done, the major portion of the job is over and now it is simply a matter of stocking it, first with plants, and in a few days, allowing the pH to stabilize, with fish.
You should now have an attractive pond. For more information on ponds and water features of all kinds, visit us at water-features-online.com
Keith Davitt is a landscape designer/builder, author of garden design books and numerous articles for many garden and trade magazines.For more information on landscape design, visit us at landscape-design-garden-plans.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Davitt
Build a Koi Pond
Sunday 24 June 2007
Koi fish in a pond
If you are thinking of purchasing Koi fish, there are several guidelines that you must first consider before buying. It is important that you must first be acquainted with what there is to know regarding Koi fish. It is also important that you must not hastily buy the first Koi fish that you like, because you might be disappointed buying them. Remember, Koi fish are ornamental pet fish that is usually enjoyed for a long time (for those who do not know, Koi fish can live as long as six decades or sixty years and can also grow as long as three feet).Koi fish is a Japanese-bred fish that is related to the carp family and is primarily designed as an ornament. Koi fish are major attractions to homeowners and pet lovers because of the immense beauty and coloring.
Nowadays, there are many people that are captivated by the dazzling and magnificent beauty of Koi fish. Most of them are enticed to collect numerous and sometimes expensive Koi fish. The most dazzling and magnificent Koi fish can cost as much as half a million dollars. Koi fish can be purchased on your local pet shop or through a public or private source, or through amateur or expert Koi fish breeders or collectors. A pond set up for a collection of Koi fish cannot be completed at once with just a wink of an eye. Accumulating and gathering Koi fishes for breeding usually takes time. Accumulating sufficient amount of Koi fish collections is surely an investment that accounts to sufficient money, heartache, and time devotions.
Things that you must expect when buying Koi fish
Most people have lots of expectations when buying Koi fish. Mostly these expectations are the main reason why they want to buy these beautiful ornamental pet fishes. For the most part, it is important that you will be the one to choose your own personal taste when it comes to the type or variety of the Koi fish that you want to obtain. If you are planning to purchase Koi fish, it is important that you first consider several factors such as the variety of the Koi fish, quality, the price range and where you will be buying the Koi fish. Most of all always make sure that your budget for the Koi fish is sufficient enough. Bear in mind that it is essential that you must have sufficient or adequate funds to sustain the maintenance of the Koi fish (such as foods, maintenance and in some cases, medications).
Keep in mind that having Koi fish is not as easy as other types of pets. These dazzling ornamental pet fish require extra effort in keeping them (such as garden pond or aquarium maintenance, foods, electricity for the filter, etc.). They typically need added attention especially during spring season. That is when the water temperature of the garden pond or aquarium becomes erratic, of which can cause consequences.
Read more information about guides in buying koi fish at http://www.about-koi-fish.com/buying-guides
By: Sherlock Four
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Sherlock Four is a writer and author of www.about-koi-fish.com
Nowadays, there are many people that are captivated by the dazzling and magnificent beauty of Koi fish. Most of them are enticed to collect numerous and sometimes expensive Koi fish. The most dazzling and magnificent Koi fish can cost as much as half a million dollars. Koi fish can be purchased on your local pet shop or through a public or private source, or through amateur or expert Koi fish breeders or collectors. A pond set up for a collection of Koi fish cannot be completed at once with just a wink of an eye. Accumulating and gathering Koi fishes for breeding usually takes time. Accumulating sufficient amount of Koi fish collections is surely an investment that accounts to sufficient money, heartache, and time devotions.
Things that you must expect when buying Koi fish
Most people have lots of expectations when buying Koi fish. Mostly these expectations are the main reason why they want to buy these beautiful ornamental pet fishes. For the most part, it is important that you will be the one to choose your own personal taste when it comes to the type or variety of the Koi fish that you want to obtain. If you are planning to purchase Koi fish, it is important that you first consider several factors such as the variety of the Koi fish, quality, the price range and where you will be buying the Koi fish. Most of all always make sure that your budget for the Koi fish is sufficient enough. Bear in mind that it is essential that you must have sufficient or adequate funds to sustain the maintenance of the Koi fish (such as foods, maintenance and in some cases, medications).
Keep in mind that having Koi fish is not as easy as other types of pets. These dazzling ornamental pet fish require extra effort in keeping them (such as garden pond or aquarium maintenance, foods, electricity for the filter, etc.). They typically need added attention especially during spring season. That is when the water temperature of the garden pond or aquarium becomes erratic, of which can cause consequences.
Read more information about guides in buying koi fish at http://www.about-koi-fish.com/buying-guides
By: Sherlock Four
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Sherlock Four is a writer and author of www.about-koi-fish.com
Thursday 21 June 2007
Starting with fish
Little do you know, but the goldfish and other finned friends have served as pets for more than thousands of years. From the simple bright orange companion to the colorful display of bright shades of tropical specimens, pet fish are popular. Having a fish for a pet is one of the most relaxing and less time-consuming commitments to make when you're ready to embrace the animal world into your home. To date, there are more than 120 varieties of goldfish and an endless supply of tropical fish selections to consider.
Out of all the fish choices one can bring into their home, the common goldfish is one of the easiest types of pets to consider because it is the only kind of fish that can reside within a home setting in an uncomplicated cold-water living environment. This is why goldfish are also considered one of the best pets to allow a young child to learn about responsibility.
When it comes to tropical fish, a simple bowl with tap water will not do. These kinds of fish thrive in saltwater, meaning specialized tanks and aquariums are needed to accommodate their well-being. While some individuals feel threatened by bringing a large tank into their home, bigger options are actually easier to maintain than a smaller selection. Plus, the visual intrigue of a large aquarium with an assortment of colorful creatures shimmying and gliding through the water makes a calming scene or impressive conversation piece when family and friends are visiting.
As you ponder the type of fish to select or how to take care of your new pets, below you will find a few suggestions to follow that might make life much easier:
1) You should never handle pet fish with you hands. Whenever they need to be transported, a plastic bag containing water is reasonable. Some people place their bags inside a polystyrene container to help maintain temperature when cleaning tanks or transporting.
2) Refrain from overfeeding your fish because the uneaten leftovers only sit in the water, causing contamination.
3) When looking for a proper place to situate your fish tank, remember to avoid locations with direct sunlight or cold drafts.
4) If your goldfish should reach the size of 12 centimeters or more, they should be relocated to a pond. As a rule of thumb, every 4.5 liters of water should accommodate 2.5 centimeters of body length.
5) To ensure the health and safety of your pet fish, it is important to pay attention to their actions. Healthy fish easily move throughout their environment. When they appear to gulp at the surface of the water, they might need more oxygen in their tank. To remedy this problem, changing the water or adding more plants can increase tank oxygen.
When it comes to fish, you can build a creative and relaxing collection to decorate your home. The beauty of their graceful swimming skills, curious-looking eyes, and delicate nature is what makes the intriguing world of pet fish all the more appealing.
By: Renske Buursma -
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
By Renske Buursma, pet store owner with lots of helpful articles about pet care at yourhealthypetsonline.com
Out of all the fish choices one can bring into their home, the common goldfish is one of the easiest types of pets to consider because it is the only kind of fish that can reside within a home setting in an uncomplicated cold-water living environment. This is why goldfish are also considered one of the best pets to allow a young child to learn about responsibility.
When it comes to tropical fish, a simple bowl with tap water will not do. These kinds of fish thrive in saltwater, meaning specialized tanks and aquariums are needed to accommodate their well-being. While some individuals feel threatened by bringing a large tank into their home, bigger options are actually easier to maintain than a smaller selection. Plus, the visual intrigue of a large aquarium with an assortment of colorful creatures shimmying and gliding through the water makes a calming scene or impressive conversation piece when family and friends are visiting.
As you ponder the type of fish to select or how to take care of your new pets, below you will find a few suggestions to follow that might make life much easier:
1) You should never handle pet fish with you hands. Whenever they need to be transported, a plastic bag containing water is reasonable. Some people place their bags inside a polystyrene container to help maintain temperature when cleaning tanks or transporting.
2) Refrain from overfeeding your fish because the uneaten leftovers only sit in the water, causing contamination.
3) When looking for a proper place to situate your fish tank, remember to avoid locations with direct sunlight or cold drafts.
4) If your goldfish should reach the size of 12 centimeters or more, they should be relocated to a pond. As a rule of thumb, every 4.5 liters of water should accommodate 2.5 centimeters of body length.
5) To ensure the health and safety of your pet fish, it is important to pay attention to their actions. Healthy fish easily move throughout their environment. When they appear to gulp at the surface of the water, they might need more oxygen in their tank. To remedy this problem, changing the water or adding more plants can increase tank oxygen.
When it comes to fish, you can build a creative and relaxing collection to decorate your home. The beauty of their graceful swimming skills, curious-looking eyes, and delicate nature is what makes the intriguing world of pet fish all the more appealing.
By: Renske Buursma -
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
By Renske Buursma, pet store owner with lots of helpful articles about pet care at yourhealthypetsonline.com
Tuesday 19 June 2007
Welcome to tropical, pond and freshwater fish news!
Welcome to the world of tropical, pond and freshwater fish. Free tips and advice about fish. All you need to know about tropical, pond and freshwater fish as a hobby.
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