Outdoor Fountain Care Tips

Most people avoid purchasing fountains because they reckon that caring for the investment is inconvenient. According to the professional fountain consultants at Plazafountains.com, this is clearly a myth. Outdoor fountain care is extremely vital; but, it is really quite simple. In fact, caring for fountains should only take a few hours each month and typically is a matter of upkeep and cleaning maintenance. First, garden fountain care involves monthly cleaning to prevent algae build up and mineral deposits. There are many products available to ensure the job gets done. Contact a fountain consultant from Plazafountains.com for our preferred brands of cleaners.

Simple Garden Fountain Care

To keep gardens gorgeous and fountains even more gorgeous, simple maintenance is necessary. Let’s stress simple. Beyond cleaning fountains briefly each month, owners must also consider the basics of garden fountain care. This starts with pump maintenance. It can be distressing to have to replace pumps. In order to avoid replacement, owners can monitor the effectiveness of the pump simply. Pumps vary for different brands of fountains and include simple to follow directions. Let our professional consultants guide you as well with complete winter fountain care tips and suggestions at every stage of the process. Contact us directly at 1-800-609-1650.

Necessary Winter Fountain Care

When the storms of winters start to rage, it is time to assess fountains and winter fountain care. Realistically, because of the quality constructions available from Plazafountains.com’s preferred manufactures, most fountains can withstand the test of time, but if possible, providing shelter for fountains may lengthen the life of the structure. If indoor shelter is not feasible, it is recommended by our outdoor fountain care experts that the fountain is drained and covered during harsh weather. For more tips on caring for fountains of any kind, keep browsing through our informational articles throughout Plazafountains.com.

If there was one thing that could enhance the look of a property’s exterior, it would be the presence of a water garden. Water gardens can be designed in a multitude of fashions. In many cases, the craftsmanship of a water garden can reach virtuoso levels. But, designing and building a water garden is not enough. A water garden must be properly maintained. For some, this may seem like a ponderous (pardon the pun) task. But it really isn’t. While water garden maintenance does require effort, it is not overly complicated.

So, let’s look at a few common steps for proper water garden maintenance.

Reducing the presence of algae is critical. As far as ecosystems go, algae are quite helpful. But, algae can seriously detract from the look of a water garden when they become overpopulated. So, reducing the presence of algae is of paramount importance. One way to go about this involves using algaecides. Unfortunately, some algaecides can be perilous to fish and only offer a small term solution. This is why it may be best to utilize ultraviolet sterilizers ( for green water algae) and/or proper filtration to help remove the nutrients that algae feed on and make a balanced ecosystem that is not conducive to their growth.

Be prudent when populating a water garden with aquatic life. If the water garden is overloaded with fish and other wildlife, the look of the water garden can be hampered. Also, the higher the volume of aquatic life in the water garden, the more algae will grow due to organic waste made by them. So, maintaining prudent levels of fish and other animals will have the ancillary effect of reducing algae and keeping the water clear and healthy.

Maintaining proper water levels is also paramount. Proper water levels are needed in order for the water garden’s pump(s) to work properly. If there is not enough water in the pond, the pump cannot properly oxygenate the water garden. This is a critical point because low oxygen levels will cause fatalities in the fish.

Removing any obstructions to sunshine will maintain the health of the water garden’s plants. If the plants die from lack of sunshine, the water garden becomes small more than a tub of water. This is why it is of significant importance that plants receive adequate sunshine. To maintain plant life, four to six hours of sunshine is needed for most plants. Any obstructions in the way of the sun’s rays must be removed. This includes trimming tree branches, bushes, etc. Again, this is where filtration and nutrient control becomes vital, because while the “excellent” plants need light to grow, so does algae. But a healthy population of “excellent” plants with excellent filtration will help with <A rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.naturalenviro.com/sections.php?section=AlgaeControl”>algae control</A>, even in direct sunlight.

Make sure filters are maintained properly and replaced when necessary. Dirty water does not do a water garden excellent. That is why installing a proper filter is a must. Of course, one needs to keep a watchful eye on the filter(s) to make sure it/they operate properly. If not, then the filter must be replaced as soon as possible. <A rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.naturalenviro.com/sections.php?section=PondFilters”>Pond filters</A> will remove organic debris and in some cases chemical pollutants such as ammonia and nitrite, which can be toxic to fish.

Add treatments when needed. The various items that comprise water garden treatments are vast. When the need arises for adding specific treatments (chlorine removers, colorants, foam removers, beneficial bacteria, etc) then they must be added. It will keep your water garden healthy.

Of course, there are many other ways to keep a water garden in fantastic shape. Really, there is no limit to proper maintenance and the tips provided herein will keep you on the right track.

Casey Coke is a Marketing Manager for Natural Environmental Systems, LLC, a global supplier of microbial solutions for pond and lake management. The company markets their own brand of <A rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.naturalenviro.com/sections.php?section=Ponds”>water garden supplies</A> under the registered brand name of Pond Keeper.

At these times, there are two other filter media that can help to reduce pollution levels present in the water. Zeolite and activated carbon clean the water by chemical rather than biological means.

They are also useful in a new biological filter system while you wait for the colony of oxygenating bacteria to mature. Zeolite is a naturally occurring substance and is graded by size.

If placed on a tray in a filter chamber, it will remove ammonia from the pond water. Once saturated, it loses its effectiveness, so remove it from the system and recharge it by immersing it in a salt solution.

This action releases the ammonia and, after a thorough rinsing in clean water, it can be replaced in the filter chamber for further use. Zeolite is useful in temporary quarantine or medication ponds that do not have an established filter.

It can also be employed in the main pond filter when an increased load is present, such as when new fish are added. Remove zeolite from the filter before adding salt as a pond treatment, otherwise the ammonia the zeolite contains will be dumped back into the pond.

It may also remove other pond water treatments if left in place. Activated carbon will remove many pollutants from the water by adsorption. It is not normally used continuously, but only when needed, for example to remove pond treatment mechanicals.

When the many pores that is made by applying heat during manufacture are full, the carbon is exhausted and must be replaced. Several types of activated carbon are manufactures, but only use those made for aquatic purposes.

In addition to a well designed filter system incorporating suitable media, there are devices that further improve the water quality in the koi pond. While not being absolutely necessary, they will certainly make a noticeable difference to the clarity of the water and your view of the koi in the pond.

Water gardens, also known as aquatic gardens and garden ponds, are miniature ecosystems. They add charm, enthusiasm and a sense of tranquility to any place.

Water gardens can be made by combining a pool with aquatic plants and ornamental fish. Rocks, waterfalls etc when combined with pools add to the beauty of the gardens. Water gardens can be man-made or natural, comprising the right blend of flora (plants) and fauna (animals).

Pond Plants

Water gardens have plants such as submerged plants, marginal plants and floating plants. Submerged plants are those that grow completely under water. Marginal plants have their roots deep into the soil but the plant grows above the surface of water. Floating plants grow freely floating on the water surface. The submerged plants in the ponds often act as oxygenators and provide oxygen to the fish in ponds. A garden pond requires at least one oxygenator and a lily plant.

Aquatic Animals

Water gardens look colorful with fish like Koi, Gold Fish, Golden Orfe, Golden Tench, Mosquito Fish etc. Water ponds also attract snails, frogs and other predators. Some predators such as snakes can be perilous to the fish in the pond.

Requirements For Water Gardens

There are certain points that need to be considered when installing water gardens. Some of them are -

1. Sunlight – Most water plants need enough sunlight to grow. Hence it is recommended to install the water pond at a place where there is enough sunlight. In case of shadier places, the choice of plants is limited.

2. Trees – Having a water pond near a tree is not preferable. The dried leaves from the tree may fall into the water and harm the aquatic plants and animals.

3. Location – The location of a garden pond should be such that it can be easily viewed and loved. It is recommended to install it in places near the windows or in places easily viewable from the terrace etc.

4. Size – Size of the water garden should suit the size of the garden. A small garden will not look excellent with a large water pond.

Maintenance of A Water Garden

Since the garden ponds contain plants and animals living in them, just making water gardens is not enough. They require regular maintenance. Maintenance of ponds includes filtering the water, pumping, preventing the formation of algae etc.

Equipments Used For Maintenance Of Water Gardens

Pond Pumps – Pond pumps provide water enriched with oxygen to the plants and animals in the pond. While choosing a pond pump do consider the operating cost of the pump as well along with the pump cost.

Pond Filters – Pond filters mainly function to filter the water in the pond. Fish and other aquatic animals living in water pollute the water due to their regular metabolic activities. If the impurities are left behind, the water gets polluted thereby causing harm to the plants and animals in the pond.

Ultraviolet clarifier – Ultraviolet clarifier (UVC) is used to prevent algae that result in green murky water. The algae remove the oxygen from pond water and hence may cause death of fish in the pond. UVCs are usually included in most pond filters. It is vital to note that UVC contains quartz tubes since that doubles the efficiency of the UVC.

With proper plotting and maintenance, water gardens can be your source of joy and pride.

A pond is not only a stunning garden feature but is also a wonderful wildlife habitat, attracting birds, insects and many other animals.
Building a pond from scratch can seem a daunting task but it need not be, having the right equipment and understanding what form of pond will suit your needs is half the battle.
The first thing to consider when you build a pond is where it will be located, try to view where the pond will be from many different angles, try looking from an upstairs window also, use what ever you have to mark out a make believe pond so you can see it from different angles.
You need to consider the size of your pond, this will be affected by the size of your garden and what you are considering to have in the pond. A larger pond would be needed for larger fish such as koi carp where as a smaller pond would suit goldfish or if the pond was just for newts and frogs.
Once you have defined the parameter of the pond (this is often done with string or hosepipe) and you are pleased with the size and positioning you will need to excavate the area. Dig out the turf and keep going until the required depth is achieved, remember to remove any sharp stones or large lumps of mud.
When digging the pond it is recommended that you leave one side with a slop so any animals that accidentally fall in have a way of getting out, it is also a place where you fish can bask in the sun.
Once you have dug the pond you will need to lay a base, if you choose to use concrete then you will need to add some sort of wire to it to bind it together and prevent it from cracking, sand is another option, lay a layer of sand around the hole you have dug, this will protect the pond liner and help to prevent it from being punctured. Adding a layer of ancient carpet adds to this protection.
Once the base has been laid you need to position your pond liner, this will require some help depending on the size of your pond. Question a friend to help with this part, hold each end and lay over the hole you have dug out, take care not to hurt the liner by dragging it over rough ground or sharp stones.
Once the liner is in place secure the sides with some bricks and most importantly leave plenty of overlap.
Once the liner is in place it is time to start to fill your pond, as the pond is being filled it is vital to pull the edges of the liner so it fits neatly in the contours of the pond.
Keep adding water until the pond is full then cut away any excess liner leaving an overlap large enough to lay slabs or turf on to keep in place.
Stand back and have a look at what you have made!, Now you have the job of chose which fish and plants you will add and position around your new pond.