pond

Does Green Water Hurt Fish?

One of the most common questions we get about algae of any kind, concerns green water and whether this very common problem is actually harmful to fish.

It would make sense to say that this issue of clarity in any size of pond is really annoying to the pond’s owner. What may have once been a pristine and clear body of water, sometimes turns into a pea green soup overnight.

Green water in ponds, in case you don’t know, is actually created by very small, single cell algae that multiply out to the point where the water may become tinted slightly to the other end of the spectrum where you can’t see an inch down into the pond.

Like algae algae, these little fellow love sunlight and they derive a lot of energy from photosynthesis. Some of them even rise and fall during a 24 hour cycle. In the morning and throughout the day, they rise to the surface to soak in some rays, and at night they fall back down to the lower parts of the pond.
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Fall Pond Preparation – Plants

By Mark 10 Comments

Pond plants are a wonderful addition to any pond and we’ve talked about all of the benefits of having them. However as fall approaches many folks wonder what to do with them. The video below will help a bit in this effort and maybe clarify a few things that will make your fall pond preparation a bit easier.

[youtube width=”425″ height=”355″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz4bzzJjhp8[/youtube]

Got any other fall pond plant tips? Share them below if you’d like!

Wintering Your Pond Fish Inside

By Mark 15 Comments

While many pond owners have found ways to overwinter fish in a pond all season long, others due to many factors may choose to bring their fish indoors during the winter.

As to which one is best for you will depend on a lot of factors. The type and depth of the pond you have is a major one, while your indoor digs may also be a factor. However the good news is that keeping fish indoors is neither hard or complicated to do.

In the video below we’ll talk about some important things to remember if you choose to bring your fish inside during the winter months.

[youtube width=”425″ height=”355″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9t2hqgjBi8&feature=youtube_gdata[/youtube]

As noted, it’s important to keep good aeration and good filtration going in your indoor pond. It’s more or less a big indoor aquarium. A small pond aerator and / or a submersible pump and filter of adequate size will do the trick. If you have Koi keep in mind that they can release a lot of waste and filtration will be essential. Get more than you need in terms of capacity keeping the pond size and the fish load in mind.

As always it’s a good idea to keep an eye on ammonia levels throughout the winter just to be safe. You can do that with test strips or other measuring devices.

And finally here’s the primary thing to keep in mind while wintering fish indoors. Place them where you will not find major fluctuations in temperature. For instance I could not winter my fish in my garage since it is unheated. It may be quite warm one day and below freezing the next. A relatively stable temperature and conditions are the best way to avoid stress on the fish.

Do you have any experience or advice on keeping pond fish indoors during the winter?

Please consider sharing your comments and expertise below.

Overwintering Your Pond Fish

By Mark 32 Comments

If you’re planning on leaving your fish in a pond throughout the winter the video below will offer a few helpful tips that can make this an enjoyable time for you and a safe time for your fish.

As a teaser, if you’d like to see a guy in a Hawaiian shirt standing out in a snow storm (well ok, flurries) take a look. And you’ll find more helpful tips below the video itself.

If you have experience in overwintering your fish, please add your commentary at the bottom of this page, it will likely prove helpful to those just starting out in the pond care hobby.

[youtube width=”425″ height=”355″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b966XBnRU0s&feature=youtube_gdata[/youtube]
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Tools For Fall And Winter Pond Preparation

By Mark 2 Comments

In the video below I’ll talk about some of the most common and helpful tools that I’ve found that make fall and winter pond preparation a bit easier.

These are simple and inexpensive things that anyone can use to keep their pond cleaner and in better condition as the leaves and snow start to fall.

For many folks autumn and yes, even winter, can be a truly enjoyable time to spend in the outdoors and many ponds are kept open and active all winter long. With the right approach, a pond owner can make this a trouble free and fun experience and even prime their pond to be in great shape with the arrival of spring.

If you have any comments, experiences, or suggestions on anything we discuss in the video, please post those below the video in the commentary section.

Should Beneficial Bacteria Be Used In The Fall?

By Mark 15 Comments

It may seem a bit early to say this for some folks around the country but summer is coming to a close. Where did it go?!?

I’ll be right up front. I enjoy summertime. Yes we’re kept incredibly busy and it gets to be crazy around here sometimes, but I’m not sure I would have it any other way.

When I was a younger man, I enjoyed (or seemed to enjoy) winter more. And I realize it’s mostly a perspective, but in recent years, I’ve tried to hang onto summer as long as I can.

Hence the wardrobe change in the most recent video:)

The shirt somehow eases the discomfort I have in talking about colder weather but it’s important to cover some topics concerning fall and winter pond preparation so the next few videos will do just that.

Today, I discuss one of the more common questions we get coming into the fall. And that is, should one continue to use beneficial bacteria even though the weather is cooling off and a lot of algae is going away?

It’s a good question.

I’ll let the video cover much of this topic, but I do want to mention something relating to algae control.

If you use chemicals to deal with algae issues ( 🙁 ), it’s certainly true that you shouldn’t need to use them much longer. Most algae types and other unwanted growth will subside when the weather cools off.

Bacteria however isn’t and shouldn’t be considered an algae control perse’. It, more than anything, is a pond cleanser or a rejuvenator that helps keep organic loads in check, or brings them into line if they are overloaded.

A by-product of all of this good work is a cleaner pond in general, and one that will more likely not have as much of an issue with unwanted growths.

It should always be remembered that bacteria does so much more than simply help keep algae at bay. Contrary to some emails we get, it’s not a chemical and should never be confused with an algaecide or herbicide. We tend to suggest limiting the use of both of these things whenever possible.

Watch the video below to get my take on bacteria for fall prep.

[youtube width=”425″ height=”355″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG375GjoHQI[/youtube]