Garden Pond Tips & Advice (& thoughts on Water Gardens, Koi Ponds and Water Features)

Fun (Pond) Fact (TM)

2008-03-20T09:14:00.001-05:00

If they have not already in your area, they will soon....
Frogs and Pond Toad will lay their eggs!
How to tell which is which?
Frog eggs are inside what can easily be described as "one big glob",
Toad eggs are encased in long strings!

Is your Pond thawing out?

2008-03-06T18:54:00.008-06:00

We can't wait for Spring! We took a walk around our display ponds yesterday and determined it was time to clean them up a bit to help us get in a Spring mood! Thank goodness, a truckload of the new PondMarket formulations was delivered last week, so "Fizzy Kicks" bacteria blocks, "Restor" rock cleaner and the new, super strength "Sheer Clear" clarifier are ready to go!
We won't even have to get our hands wet! In no time at all our ponds will sparkle and be a joy to look at! Come by and visit!
We are conveniently located at the intersection of two super highways in St. Louis:
Interstate 55 and Interstate 270/255!

Fun (Pond) Fact!

2008-02-08T09:41:00.000-06:00

Dragonflies and Damselflies are two different creatures!
Damselflies fly slower due to their wing shape, while Dragonflies do not have hinges to fold their wings but Damselflies do.

Snow can kill your Pond Fish! Rescue them!

2008-02-08T09:16:00.001-06:00

Fish Ponds need oxygen to provide a life sustaining environment. All sorts of living things in the Pond use oxygen: The Pond Fish need to breathe and beneficial bacteria need oxygen to digest fish waste and decaying organic matter. Oxygenating plants that normally provide some oxygen, will TAKE oxygen out of the water if suddenly deprived of light needed for photo synthesis. Lack of oxygen is the # 1 Pond Fish Killer in Winter!

What can you do?

Answer: Install an air pump to increase oxygen and sweep at least some areas of the pond free of snow so light can enter (never step on the frozen pond - the ice may not support you!)

Tip: Mark the snow covered Pond with a caution sign or flag to distinguish it from the surrounding landscape to prevent accidents!

Fun (Pond) Fact!

2008-01-25T20:16:00.000-06:00

Many insects survive the winter in the bottom of the Fish Pond including the larvae of Dragonflies and Damselflies (also called "Nymphs"). They like to burrow under dead leaves and twigs along with other insect eggs and larvae.

What to do with your pond Now..in the North-in the South...

2008-01-25T20:08:00.000-06:00

In the South the days are getting longer and warmer already and in the North the Winter is getting long and colder! Each can bring a different sort of challenge to the pond at this time! In the South ponds can start to get murky and need a nice starting dose of beneficial bacteria to start the colony and help clear the water.

In the North the Pond Fish can start to get into real distress this time of year because Ponds have been cold and frozen for some time and oxygen deprivation can kill a lot of Pond Fish in a hurry!
Best to always have an air pump running, especially for Koi! Nothing is sadder to wake up one morning and it is too late!

PondMarket's 2008 Pond Supplies Catalog

2008-01-18T15:20:00.000-06:00

Believe it or not....
Spring is coming for sure! Time to order your free
2008 Pond Supplies Catalog from the PondMarket!
It arrives just in time to enjoy the upcoming Pond Season!
Order one for your friend with a Pond, too! Click Here

Pond Got the String Algae Blues ???

2008-01-16T16:08:00.000-06:00

What is that growing in your Pond this time of year? It's hairy, or bubbly, or sometimes just like a fuzzy carpet!
In whatever form or shape it grows during the colder months, it is hard to get rid off! Most water treatments do not work well in cold water...but we will tell you a few that do:
Restor will clean those rocks and the Pond no matter the weather!
Barley Juice/Fusion will help prevent re-growth even in winter!

String Algae loves cold water and high pH

Fun (Pond) Facts

2008-01-04T14:50:00.000-06:00

Next Spring try growing some Water Cress around the edges of your Waterfall! .....

The roots do not have to be in dirt, they just have to stay continously wet. The Water Cress will soften the edges of the rocks, make it look more natural and your Koi will nibble on the plants growing close to the surface of the pond.

Participate in our Annual Pond Survey

2008-01-04T14:32:00.000-06:00

Results will be posted in a later posting.

Christmas Gift Ideas for Pond Owners

2007-12-05T13:01:00.000-06:00

It is the season to be gift giving and we at PondMarket have some great items that would make your pond lover's day. Here are some ideas for the pond lover:
Color Changing Candle Holders... add a truly unique touch! These beautiful tealight holders truly create ambiance and set the mood for Holiday Entertaining! They will make the holidays sparkle whether used in your living room or on the patio!

Swimming Pets.... bring the beauty of these darlings to ponds that are too small or cannot sustain fish for other reasons. They look so real, you will want to feed them. They swim like the real thing! We have Koi in several colors as well as this turtle! They work in the pool or hot-tub, too!

Floating Water Lily lights.... add color and beauty to a winter pond! These wonderful lights come in a set of three with transformer and plenty of cord. Float them in your pond and let it be the focal point of your yard even at this time of year!

You can find more at:PondMarket Store

Last Minute Pond Fish Nutrition before Winter

2007-11-19T10:32:00.000-06:00

It is a challenge to make sure the fish go into the winter months with the best possible chance of survival. The importance of good nutrition cannot be overlooked considering they will not eat for several months and must live on nutrients and fat stored in their bodies. A good way to add excellent nutrients (and add them fast) in a way that can still be digested already cooled water is Microbe-Lift Fruits and Greens. Click Here for Fish Nutrition Food

PondMarket.com on YouTube.com

2007-08-29T18:55:00.000-05:00

Watch...the Koi Auction at the Pond Market!

The PondMarket held it's first annual Koi Auction this month and some wonderful pets found new homes. See part of the proceedings in this video (and while there check out the many instructional videos we have available for you - we add new ones each week).

See how to build a pond and more. Aaron, Vice-President of PondMarket, teachs you the step by step process in building your very own pond. Subscribe to the videos to keep in touch with new videos being added. Visit here.

Pond Photos on our Siste Site: pondmarketphotos.com

2007-08-06T11:56:00.000-05:00

Something new at PondMarket.com! Announcing PondMarketPhotos.com!

Now you can submit your Pond Photo and your favoite Fish Photo for all the world to see. We know how special your pond is to you. The Photos of Ponds already submitted to us are just stunning. Visit the Pond Gallery Here.

Another one of our many of our features at Pond Market Photos is "Ask The Pond Doctor". Sometimes, you may have a Pond problem hard to solve. Our "in house" Pond Experts will help you solve any problem. There is none to small and none to large! Click Here to submit your question along with a photo of the problem and our Pond Experts will study it and help you get it on track.

Check our Blog often for some great additions to PondMarket.com!

Use Pond Plants to control Pond Algae

2007-07-06T15:59:00.000-05:00

Use Pond Plants to control Algae

The most natural way to control algae in ponds is to use aquatic plants!

Plants shade the pond, take up nutrients (depriving algae) and look great in the Bargain!

We are now shipping plants and the selection is on our website!

For a great selection of Pond
Plants, Visit Here.

We also carry a complete line of Pond Plant Supplies:
Visit Here!

Clean STRINGY, FUZZY & other GRIMY Stuff in the Garden Pond

2007-06-15T09:12:00.000-05:00

We all know it happens this time of year: Our beautiful waterfall rocks get covered in black, sometimes fuzzy - sometimes stringy - sometimes slimy - stuff that is not so pretty to look at!

The Pond Bottom starts looking grimy - especially aggravating if it is covered with nice looking gravel or rocks.

The Pond Market has the "No Hassle" solution:

The 1-2-3 Punch:

1) "Restor" to clean pond rocks and waterfalls up without scrubbing
2) "Fizzy Kicks" to get rid of sludge and decomposing bottom stuff
3) "Barley Juice" to naturally help prevent growth of new stringy, fuzzy and grimy stuff Natural solution for old Pond problems:

Give them a try and see how wonderful they are Here!

Thinking about building a pond but don't know where to start? You have some ideas but would like to see other ponds before you commit to that idea? Visit our new Sister site, PondMarketPhotos.com for plenty of Ponds built by our customers. They are beautiful, stunning and they help in bringing so much peace and serenity to the owners.

Pond Plant Tips

2007-05-29T11:04:00.000-05:00

This is the time of year to divide and re-pot your Pond Plants! Be sure to fertilize adequately with aquatic plant fertilizer (this is fertilizer specifically formulated to NOT feed algae, which is also a plant). It is also fish safe.

Water Lilies and Lotus in particular are very heavy feeders...and will bloom much more profusely if fertilized adequately (every three weeks or so). Spikes are available for the other plants that will only need to be applied once and continue feeding all year. Fertilizer tabs such as Lily Grow by Tetra are more suitable for Lotus and Water Lilies to make more fertilizer available faster to these spectacular plants.

The PondMarket carries everything needed for Pond Plant Care. Visit the Plant Supplies Department at www.pondmarket.com/store

Koi in your Garden Pond

2007-05-18T07:51:00.000-05:00

Koi in your Garden Pond

Spectacular! Colorful! Tame!

Koi are a great Pond Fish for larger Garden Ponds! Each Koi needs at least 250 to 350 gallons of water due to their mature size.

Nothing looks quite as majestic as a mature Koi (with a length of 2 to 3 feet) seeming to float through the water.

Koi can be tamed to eat out of your hand and will recognize their owners quite readily.

Koi live a long time...in well maintained Koi Ponds a life span of 25 years is average...but longer life spans are not unheard of.

But Koi MUST have adequate filtration, very good water quality and plenty of oxygen, especially during hot spells. Nutrition is also very important. Koi grow fast and benefit from Growth Food and Vitamin Suppliments. Their colors will intensify and literally shine if fed a good quality diet.

Beneficial Bacteria additions are a must, to deal with the waste these wonderful fish produce, otherwise the pond bottom will accumulate a thick layer of "sludge" that acts like a compost pile to feed algae.

The PondMarket carries a wide selection of Koi Food, Beneficial Bacteria and Pumps and Filters to provide a cozy and healthy home for these great pets!

Visit www.pondmarket.com/store for Koi Supplies and don't forget to visit our information site at www.pondmarket.com to download our free e-book "Basic Pond Fish Care"!

Pond Cleanup Spring Check List

2007-04-10T07:59:00.000-05:00

Are your pond and fish ready? It's been a long Winter and Spring is finally here. Here is a Spring Start Up Check List for you to help you get your Pond in shape for many pleasurable days and nights ahead.

Remove Winter Cover.

Muck-Out/Net Out the Pond Debris.

Skim Off Leave Debris.

Test pH and Adjust as Necessary.

Apply Sludge Eating Bacteria.

Clean/Replace Filter Media.

Innoculate Filter with Bacteria.

Test Salinity - Add Salt if Necessary.

Visually Inspect Fish for Irregularities.

Also Inspect Fish for Diseases and Parasites.

Replace UV. and Lighting Bulbs.

Add/Replace Barley Bales./....Pellets.

Relocate, Repot, and Fertilize Plants.

Start Feeding Cool Weather Food at 50 Degrees F Water Temperature.

Spring Water Garden Pond Fish Care

2007-03-17T19:07:00.000-05:00

Early spring is a very stressful time in the colder parts of the U.S., because the fish have been dormant so long and now have to cope with a lot of water temperature fluctuation!

For this reason, it is very important to really take care and keep water quality at an optimum at this time of year. Particularly if Koi or Golden Orfe are present in the Pond.

The digestive system of Koi depends entirely on its intestine (Koi have no stomachs) and when the water is cold their intestines do not work at the normal rate. That is why it is important to feed Koi a low protein diet in the spring.

Beneficial bacteria have not had time to establish a sufficient colony to deal with great loads of fish waste, there again the amount, type and quality of the fish food is important (like the old saying goes: garbage in--garbage out!).

It is best to start feeding slowly and to measure nitrites about once a week until the weather stabilizes, especially in ponds with many and/or expensive fish (or those dear to the heart)!
Remember, our free e-book "Spring Start-Up" is available for download on our website!

Products necessary for a good start in the spring pond can be found here.

Pond Weather Problems

2007-02-20T11:00:00.000-06:00

POND WEATHER PROBLEMS

We sure have had some awful weather in parts of the U.S. Here in St. Louis we have had snow about every third day for a couple of weeks and no end in sight.

That reminded me to list some of the do's and don'ts of winter weather for the garden pond:

1) If your pond is covered by snow and ice, sweep off some of the snow. The snow on top of the ice keeps the pond dark and any plants (algae is a plant) will start taking oxygen out of the water and can deprive your fish of it! !! Observe all necessary precautions not to fall in the pond!!

2) Be sure the pond is not completely frozen for any length of time (how long varies with pond size and fish population). We do not let our ponds freeze completely at all, opting instead to use de-icers to keep them open.

3) Do not beat on the ice to break it. The resulting sound waves can harm and/or kill the fish!

4) Sometimes we get sudden, very warm days. This can be a problem if the water is heated to quickly by the sun. Koi in particular are very sensitive to sudden temperature changes. If possible start a pump to help keep the water evenly heated at all layers. The pump should be about midway in the depth of the water (for example, if the pond is 3 feet deep, submerse the pump intake at about 1 1/2 feet).

Seasonal Pond Supplies

Ponds in Winter --- Southern, Northern

2007-02-06T20:52:00.000-06:00

Ponds in Winter --- Southern, Northern

Brrr, the weather in most parts of the country has been absolutely horrid! We have had a little bit of everything: cold, snow, rain, fog... Can't wait for spring! In the meantime, though, here are some cautions for your pond until the weather gets better.

** Southern Ponds:

Since winters in the southern states tend to be much milder, many ponds hover right around the 50 degree water temperature mark. This is hard on the fish, because it keeps them right on the edge of dormancy and hunger. Exercise care when feeding! Only easily digestible cool weather food should be fed that contains mostly vegetable matter. Beneficial bacteria tend to multiply much slower and if the fish are active enough to feed they do - of course - produce waste. Care must be taken that enough bacteria exist to digest the waste. Microbe Lift Fall/Winter Prep is a very good cool weather bacteria. All necessary products can be found in the "Seasonal Supplies" department (many at Grand Opening Prices of 20% off) at Pond Market On-Line Store

** Northern Ponds:

Chances are, everything is pretty much dormant in the pond in our colder states right now. There are, however, a few cautions to observe even here: Fish cannot go very long without oxygen. A vent hole must be kept in the ice on top of the pond either with a pump or a pond de-icer. If there are a lot of decomposing leaves in the pond the oxygen situation can get especially precipitous in the later weeks of the winter. Microbe Lift OX is a great product to help with that situation: it immediately makes more oxygen available to the fish and also for the beneficial bacteria to help their reduced numbers deal with the decomposing matter in the pond. All these products can of course be found at (many at Grand Opening Prices of 20% off) Pond Market On-Line Store

Ugly, stringy Stuff growing in the Pond NOW?

2007-01-30T15:48:00.000-06:00

Ugly, stringy Stuff growing in the Pond NOW?

That "stuff" is called by many names:
String Algae
Hair Algae
Blanket Weed...etc...

This time of year (winter) it can grow at amazing speed!

The cause is a low concentration of beneficial bacteria due to the low water temperatures and simultaneous over-abundance of nutrients (sludge in the bottom of the pond, decaying leaves and other organic matter).

This algae growth can take vital oxygen away from the fish, especially if the pond gets covered by ice and snow.

There are rememdies available that work even in colder temperatures:

"Aqua One" beneficial bacteria is not temperature sensitive and will help get rid of excess nutrients in the water

"PondMarket Restor" will clean off the stuff coating the rocks in the pond

"Pond Balance" will disolve the long strings growing so profusely!

All of these helpful products can be found here: Pond Water Treatments

Beneficial Bacteria in Winter

2007-01-16T10:35:00.000-06:00

Beneficial Bacteria in Winter

Many ponds in colder climates are dormant now with pumps and filters disconnected. Several subscribers have send emails asking what they could do about the pond becoming somewhat stagnant. One of the alternatives is to use a good cold weather beneficial bacteria product to help keep the pond working until warmer weather lets us put some movement back into our garden pond.

We have a couple of products that are favorites to use for this purpose:

1. Microbe-Lift Autumn/Winter prep for a bacteria specially formulated to work in colder water temperatures and

2. Aqua One is a good, all-around beneficial bacteria product that works in almost any temperature.

Like so many of us, we envy our subscribers in the southern 1/3 of the US right now because we cannot enjoy our ponds as much right now as you folks in the south can...but we can do our utmost to keep the pond healthy so it comes back to life in record time and as healthy as possible.

Anytime a pond starts to smell even just a little bit it is a sign that things are not well. This circumstance should be avoided at all cost and remedied at once if it occurs. Water Treatments

Is your Pond ready for Winter?

2007-01-02T09:47:00.000-06:00

Is your Pond ready for Winter?

Cold weather is upon many of us! Brrrrr! If your pond is not ready for winter, now is the time! Our e-book "Winterizing the Garden Pond" gives many helpful hints and tips. We give it away at http://www.pondmarket.com Just use any of the e-book links.

In addition to the many tips in the e-book we use MicrobeLift Fall/Winter Prep to help rid the pond of decomposing organic stuff and to help increase oxygen levels. It helps the fish in our ponds survive. It can be found in the "Seasonal Items" department in our online store.

We also leave pumps running in ponds that are home to Koi to insure adequate oxygen levels. Large Koi in particular need a lot of oxygen and are very sensitive to sudden temperature changes. Leaving the pump running assures that the water is circulated properly. We do, however, move it up from the bottom of the pond.