AQUARIUMS

How to build a fish pond or water garden

1. The first step to consider is to decide what type of pond you want to build. You should consider what type of aquatic life you want in the pond. Is it going to be a home for goldfish or koi? Or is your main concern for the aquatic plants? Perhaps you only want the pond for the sound of a waterfall. Each type of pond will need to be planned for its specific features. Keep in mind that the most common mistake water gardeners say they made when building their first pond was making it too small. A small pond limits the number of fish and plants you can add. KOI POND A koi pond is different from a water garden because koi limit the amount of plant life available to be grown. Simply put: koi eat some plant. A koi pond should also be larger because koi get quite large despite the size of the pond, it is recommended that a koi pond be no less than 1000 gallons in volume, the bigger the better. It also needs to have an area of the pond at least 3 feet deep, 4 – 5 may be better. WATER GARDEN A water garden typically contains both gold fish and a variety of aquatic plants. Water gardens in moderate climates usually need for an area of the pond to be at least 2 feet deep. Colder climates require a depth to provide at least 12″ to 16″ of water below the freeze zone. DISAPPEARING FOUNTAIN or WATERFALL

2. The second step in establishing a new pond is to select the proper location. Most ponds will be enjoyed more if they are installed close to the home. Select an area where you can see the pond year round. Ponds are great attracters of wildlife including birds and butterflies. Position the pond where runoff from rain will not flow into the pond. This may carry fertilizers, chemicals, and organic debris into the pond. It may be necessary to alter the terrain to accommodate this. Avoid placing a pond too close to trees. Falling leaves and other debris will need to be removed from the pond. You will want to place your pond where it will receive at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sun if you want to grow water lilies. Shade is fine for fish-only ponds. Water circulation is not essential but the use of a pump will allow you to keep more fish, it will keep your plants healthier. A pump is required to run a filter, fountain, or waterfall. The sound of running water adds greatly to the enjoyment of the pond. Most ponds will benefit from the use of a biological filter. This is essential if you are keeping koi or more than a few goldfish. We have several types of biological filters to choose from.

3. Now you need to determine the size of your pond or water garden. The best way to do this is to use a rope or water hose and lay out the shape on the ground. A pond for goldfish or water lilies need be only about 2 feet deep for zones 5 or greater. Ponds built in colder areas may need more depth to keep the pond from freezing solid. Ponds built for koi should be close to three feet or deeper to allow these larger fish enough space. The biggest mistake that most people make is building the pond or water garden too small. A larger pond is more stable and easier to maintain. Keep in mind that a finished pond or water garden will be about 30% smaller than you visualize it. After you have laid out the shape, measure the maximum length and width. Add the depth twice to these measurements plus a foot or two for overlap and this will give you the pond liner size.

4. Dig the pond or water garden to the desired shape. If keeping plants dig a shelf around the perimeter of the pond about one foot deep and one or more feet wide. Dig the remainder of the pond with a slight slope to the end opposite the waterfall if one is included in the design.

5. Position any external pond filters and/or pond skimmers and level these in their proper location. pond skimmers should be buried to the proper level beside the pond. A ditch should be dug for the plumbing from the pond to the waterfall or external pond filter. If a pond skimmer is being used, dig a ditch to the external pond pump and from the pump to the external pond filter or waterfall. If you are using a submersible pump in the pond skimmer then the ditch will be from the skimmer to the external pond filter or waterfall.

6. Line the pond or water garden excavation with Pond underlaymentThis can be cut with scissors or a utility knife. You may want to tape any small pieces together to keep them from moving when the pond liner is placed.

7. Place the Rubber Pond Liner into the excavation and unfold. Position the liner evenly in the pond. Try to minimize folds and wrinkles but some will be necessary. After the water is added the folds should flatten out.

8. Pond waterfalls and streams can be excavated now. An external pond filter or waterfall tank can be positioned to create the first waterfall. This can be placed to spill directly into the pond in which case the pond liner is held against the pond filter until you are able to stack stone from the pond shelf up against the pond filter to create a waterfall. If a small pool or stream is desired then excavate this several inches deep and to the desired size and shape. Position the underlayment and pond liner allowing extra material to overlap several inches into the pond. Plumbing from the pump can be brought over into the stream or pool or again if using an external pond filter this will be the start of the waterfall. Streams should be dug wider than the finished size to make room for stone that will be placed into the stream for the edging. Stone can be secured to the liner with mortar or expandable foam. This will hold back the water allowing it to spill over the stone creating the waterfall.

9. Connect the pond liner to the skimmer, if one is being used, following the manufacturers directions. Place the pipe or tubing in place leaving a few inches extra to make your connections later.

10. Place the stone or other coping around the edge of the pond or water garden. Arrange the copingstone around the edge of the pond and fold the pond liner up behind the stone to slightly above the water level. It is usually not necessary to mortar the stone into place if it is of sufficient size to be stable. If using small stone or if people will be walking around the edge then mortaring the stone for stability may be required. Back fill with soil to hold the pond liner against the stone. Fill the pond with water to within a few inches from the top and then make corrections if necessary to ensure that the pond is level. As the pond is filling remove wrinkles and make folds as necessary.

11. Other methods of edging the pond or water garden. For most installations having a necklace of stone around the pond or water garden does not create a natural appearance. If your goal is to make your pond blend into the landscape in a natural setting then you will want to consider other methods of edging the pond. Besides the traditional method of edging with a thin stone on the edge overlapping the pond you can also use one or more layers of stone built up from the shelf. This provides a more natural appearance and will allow the water to fluctuate without seeing the liner. You can also create a cobblestone beach edging by placing a large stone at the inside of a large shallow shelf and filling the area with gravel and cobbles. You can naturalize this area by planting shallow water plants. This will create a more natural edge with plants partly in and partly out of the water. You can plant bare root plants directly into the gravel or place the plant with some soil still attached into the gravel. This will help the plant to establish quicker.

12. Add to the pond to remove any chlorine or chloramines.

13. Add aquatic plants as soon as possible after constructing the pond or water garden. Many aquatic plants are great at using up the nutrients that would otherwise feed the algae. Some of the most effective plants include Anacharis, Water Hyacinth, Parrot’s Feather, and Bacopa. Water lilies and other plants with surface leaves can be added to provide shade to approximately 66% of the surface area if in full sun. If less than full sun then less coverage is acceptable. Begin regular use of a packaged bacteria to seed the pond filter and help maintain a clean and healthy pond. Ideally, fish should be added a few at a time over several weeks to allow the bacteria to establish in your water garden. We hope you have found our information about building your own water garden useful. If you have questions, please contact us at: Visit our  Pond Supplies for information on potting your plants.

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K&H 8001 Thermo-Pond 3.0 Floating Pond 100-Watt De-Icer $37.63 Thermo-Pond De-Icer Provides Oxygen to Fish The world’s only energy efficient pond heater, the Thermo-Pond is a unique patented pond heater that keeps a hole through the ice in backyard ponds for just pennies a day. This pond deicer floats on top of the water and is thermostatically controlled to never get hot. Unlike some pond heaters, the Thermo-Pond will never burn pond liners. Features: Effici…

K&H Perfect Climate Deluxe Pond Heater The new Perfect Climate line from K&H Manufacturing has reinvented the wheel when it comes to keeping ice free water available in winter ponds. Every K&H de-icer is safe in all ponds, unlike many of the other de-icers available in the market today. Every one of our de-icers can be used as a floating de-icer out of the box or in seconds converts to a submersible de-icer with the click of a button. …

Farm Innovators P-418 Premium Cast Aluminum Floating Pond De-Icer, 1,250-Watt $33.49 Farm Innovators Floating Pond De-Icer…

Purely Products PUVH2305 5-Watt UV-C Germicidal Ultraviolet Replacement Bulb $9.77 Purely UV-C Replacement Bulbs G23 BasePurely UV-C Replacement bulbs offer a much higher concentration of ultraviolet light than even the sun, making them highly effective as a cleaning and purifying agent for pond and aquarium pumps and clarifiers.What is UV and How Does it Work?UV light is germicidal – i.e., it deactivates the DNA of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens and thus destroys their a…

Purely Products PUVH2309 9-Watt UV-C Germicidal Ultraviolet Replacement Bulb $11.52 Purely UV-C Replacement Bulbs G23 BasePurely UV-C Replacement bulbs offer a much higher concentration of ultraviolet light than even the sun, making them highly effective as a cleaning and purifying agent for pond and aquarium pumps and clarifiers.What is UV and How Does it Work?UV light is germicidal – i.e., it deactivates the DNA of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens and thus destroys their a…

Purely Products PUVLF215 15-Watt UV-C Germicidal Ultraviolet Replacement Lamp Bulb $24.08 Purely UV-C Replacement Bulbs T5F BasePurely UV-C Replacement bulbs offer a much higher concentration of ultraviolet light than even the sun, making them highly effective as a cleaning and purifying agent for pond and aquarium pumps and clarifiers.What is UV and How Does it Work?UV light is germicidal – i.e., it deactivates the DNA of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens and thus destroys their a…

Thomas the Train: TrackMaster Thomas’ Christmas Delivery $85.99 It’s the holiday season on Sodor! In this new deluxe TrackMaster set, Thomas rides around a snow-covered track, complete with motorized destinations, lights, music and holiday decorations! This set is perfect to set-up around the Christmas tree to celebrate the holiday season. The motorized Thomas engine chugs down the track and can be stopped at the ice-rink to see the ice skaters to spin and …

Uncle Milton Uncle Milton Planet Frog $16.39 Welcome to Planet Frog, a magical place where children watch live tadpoles transform into real frogs. Observe the frogs swimming in the pond and exploring their habitat surroundings, and learn about the important role frogs play in the environment. Mail-in fees required to get your tadpole(s). Features: Vented see-through lid for safe, easy viewing Built-in magnifier/feeding cap Break-resistant, e…

Underground Toys Doctor Who Vengeance On Varos-Peri And Sil With Tank $28.28 The Sixth Doctor and Peri visit the planet Varos to obtain supplies of a rare ore called Zeiton 7, vital to the functioning of the TARDIS. Varos was once a colony for the criminally insane and the descendants of the original guards still rule, while the poverty-stricken people are kept entertained by screenings of public torture from the Punishment Dome. Their Governor has been trying to negotiat…

Water Storage: Tanks, Cisterns, Aquifers, and Ponds for Domestic Supply, Fire and Emergency Use–Includes How to Make Ferrocement Water Tanks $12.47 A do-it-yourself guide to designing, building, and maintaining water tanks, cisterns and ponds, and sustainably managing groundwater storage. It will help you with your independent water system, fire protection, and disaster preparedness, at low cost and using principles of ecological design. Includes building instructions for several styles of ferro cement water tanks….

300 Watt Aquarium Submersible Fish Tank Pond Water Heater Fish Heater $17.99 Best Choice Products Presents to you, this Brand New 2010 300WATTS AQUARIUM SUBMERSIBLE FISH TANK POND WATER HEATER. Submersible heater is necessary to have, especially for tropical fishes. Changes in temperature can cause stress to your fish and coral. With this Aqua Heater, you can simply place it inside your Aquarium and plug it in. -FEATURES:Brand New in Retail Packaging. -Noiseless and extremely reliable. -2010 Fully Submersible Aqua Heater. -Adjustable Temperature control. -Durable For both freshwater and marine setups. -Design to stick on your tank with suction pads included. -Suitable Up to 90 Gallon tank. -(UL) Approved Cord and Plug. -Voltage: 100-120V. -Frequency: 50Hz-60Hz. -Wattage: 300W. -Length: 14?. -IINCLUDES:(1) 300W heater. -(2) suction cups.

528 GPH Submersible Water Pump Pond Pump Fountain Waterfall Pump $24.99 Best Choice Products Presents to you this Brand New 528GPH-2000L/H AQUARIUM SUBMERIBLE POWER HEAD FISH TANK PUMP. Our submersible POWERHEAD is Suitable for Both INDOOR and OUTDOOR, can pumps up to 528 Gallon Per Hour OR 2000L/H, and makes a great pump for all around use. Purchase our POWERHEAD for your aquarium to increase oxygen and wave movements and watch your fishes and corals live more healthily and actively. It?s perfect for Ponds, Fountains, Waterfalls, Gardens, Large Aquariums and Flooding Yards, Etc. -FEATURES:New High Quality Aquarium Pump. -CSA/CE LISTED/CUL/GS. -Suitable for Both Indoor and Outdoor. -Powerful 2000 Liter Per Hour Pump. -Pump Runs Quietly and is Extreme Reliable. -Minimum Vibration with Low Noise and Completely Submersible. -Oil free, Grease Free Magnetic Motor to Avoid Pollution in Your Water. -4 Strong Suction pads on pump for stability. -Comes with Everything You Need, Simply Plug-In and Ready to Use. -Long 6ft (UL) Cord with Hose Connector. -SPECIFICATIONS: 6ft (UL) Cord and Plug. -Power: 32 Watts. -Output: 528 GPH/ 2,000 L/H. -Voltage: 120V/60Hz. -Dimensions: 4.2?(L) x 2.7?(W) x 6.1?(H). -Can be used in Salt and Fresh Water such as Large Aquariums, Ponds, Waterfalls, Gardens and Flooding Yards, Etc. -WE PURCHASE ALL OF OUR PRODUCTS DIRECTLY FROM THE MANUFACTURE, PROVIDING THE BEST PRICES. BUY FROM US AND SAVE BIG.!!

Digital Aquarium Automatic Pond Tank Fish Food Feeder Timer $49.09 This is a water-resistant, free-standing and mountable pond-fish feeder. When you are out of your house for a bit long time, you can use it to feed your fish automatically. You can also use it when you are at home, so that you don’t need to feed your fish every day. It is very convenient for you to feed the fish.

Digital Aquarium Automatic Pond Tank Fish Food Feeder Timer $23.99 This item can easy your life. From now on, your fish can enjoy your considerable care and love. This item is an electronic gadget designed to automatically feed aquarium fish at regular intervals and maintain a regular feeding schedule. It consist of a hopper which is loaded with a variety of dry food and a timer which rotates the hopper at regular intervals. It has an air-hose nozzle that will serve as the moisture control system by just connecting the air-hose from your pump to the air-hose nozzle. This keeps fish food fresh, clog-free and eliminate failure of the mechanism. The 2 types of spacers (thick and thin) are also provided so you won’t have a problem clipping the feeder in any type of aquarium wall thickness. A clear easy-to-read LCD screen which shows all info at a glance.

Digital Automatic Electronic Programmable Aquarium Tank Pond-Fish Food Feeder Timer $49.59 This is a water-resistant, free-standing and mountable pond-fish feeder. When you are out of your house for a bit long time, you can use it to feed your fish automatically. You can also use it when you are at home, so that you don’t need to feed your fish every day. It is very convenient for you to feed the fish.

Floating Pond and Tank De-Icer 1500 Watts $49 XAP1031: Features: -Float. -Float in water. -Thermostatically controlled with an automatic shut-off. -Styrofoam float is complete enclosed in rugged plastic housing. -Cord exits from top. -Gives added stability so it is less likely to tip. -120 volts with 15 cord. -Available in 1000 Watt and 1500 Watt sizes.

Mini-aquariums $34.95 Fishkeeping can be a relaxing and enjoyable hobby. But what if you don?t have room for a 75-gallon tank? Or even a 40-gallon tank? The popularity of mini-aquariums (defined as water features that contain less than 40 gallons of water) is on the rise. These systems can be freshwater or saltwater, can be filled with a wide variety of species, and generally take up a very small amount of space. Mini-Aquariums provides extensive information on all aspects of setting up and maintaining a mini aquarium. It includes sections on fish health and water quality management, explains the differences between aqua-terrariums, terrariums, and vivariums, details how to use common species of terrestrial plants in container ponds, and provides extensive information on many other topics. If you live in a small apartment, want to set up a mini-pond at the office, or just prefer the look of a tiny tank, a mini aquarium may be the perfect choice for you!

Once There Was a Tadpole $5.99 Nature”s Miracles titles encourage children to explore the natural world for themselves by observing nature”s activities. The books also encourage kids to take part in activities of their own that promote a sense of responsibility toward the Earth”s plants, animals, and natural resources. Each book presents a cheerfully illustrated story about children who explore nature”s wonders. Notes for parents and teachers that follow each story suggest activities, further reading, and Web sites related to the book”s theme. Color illustrations on every page. In this book, children explore a garden pond in springtime, and discover a deposit of frog”s eggs. They take home a small amount of the eggs and place them in a fish tank with water plants. As time passes, they watch the eggs develop into tadpoles. Before long, the tadpoles become frogs, which the children then return to the pond.

PETCO Pond Vine Betta Plant $2.79 PETCO Pond Vine Betta Plant – Fish Dcor Create a beautiful natural environment for your pet fish with the PETCO Pond Vine Betta Plant. Small enough to fit perfectly in your Betta’s small bowl or tank. Your pet fish will love to hide and swim around the long, light and dark green leaves. Roots clinging to the rock-like base and the way the silky polyester leaves sway in the water offers a realistic look to your aquascape. The small size also makes the PETCO Pond Vine Betta Plant a great foreground decor for larger aquariums.

Skamper Ramp Pool Ladder SKR3 SUPER Big Dog $69 The Super Skamper-Ramp was developed because so many customers asked for a solution that was easier to assemble, was even safer for vinyl-lined pools, would work for frequent use by most any sized animal including for very large pets, and could also be used on floating docks and even for some boats.With those challenges in mind, along with the original intent – as a KISS (Keep It Simple Solution) to an age-old problem, animal water drowning – we came up with an engineered, blowmolded polyethylene piece that snaps together – we’ve removed the need for nuts and bolts – and can be used with, or without, its extension. Besides working to provide escape from water entrapment for unwanted animals and pets, it can be used more frequently and stand up to the regular use. Just like it’s polymer cousin, polypropylene, this Super Skamper-Ramp will not yellow, become scummy, grow barnacles, or mildew when left in water (salt water, fresh water, pool water…) becasue it is UV- and chemical-resistant. The Super Skamper-Ramp is lightweight with excellent strength-to-weight ratios, low-cost, and simple. It attaches to the deck of the pool, walled pond, stock tank or water trough to prevent unwanted wild animals from drowning as well as pets!Because all living beings see white, animals can see itday or nightand, even if they can’t use a step (ducklings, snakes, baby possums), they can skamper out of the water on the ramp by themselves. Dogs are the only animals that have to be trained to the ramp…The Super Skamper-Ramp is a blowmolded, white polyethylene assembly, recyclable, chemical- and UV-resistant, with nylon rope, washers, and non-rusting D-ring-clips for attaching.It snaps together but needs to be mounted to the pool deck, walled pond/canal/bulkhead, or floating dock. While it was designed for emergency escape it will withstand more frequent use, even the weights of very large pets and animals. The longer Super Skamper-Ramp is strong enough to hold over 200 lbs (~100

Skamper Ramp Pool Ladder SKR4 Blowmolded SHORT $55 Skamper-Ramp was invented as a KISS (Keep It Simple Solution) to an age-old problem – prevention of animal water drowning – and now matter how the ramp evolves it will always serve that purpose. The blowmolded Skamper-Ramp (SKR4), new in 2009, was developed in response to consumer requests for a ramp that functions for emergency use as well as for frequent use. This version is stronger, ideal for vinyl lined pools because it is manufactured using a process that makes sure there are no sharp fabricated edges, easier to assemble, less slippery, more aesthetically pleasing, and more functional, all because of the change in forming method!The plastics that are used for all Skamper-Ramps will not yellow, become scummy, grow barnacles, or mildew/algae when left in water (salt water, fresh water, pool water…). Skamper-Ramps always have been, and always will be, made completely from recyclable materials. Skamper-Ramps are lightweight with excellent strength-to-weight ratios, low-cost, and simple. The ramp braces to the vertical side of the pool, walled pond, stock tank or water trough to prevent unwanted wild animals from drowning as well as pets!Because all living beings see white, animals can see itday or nightand, even if they can’t use a step (ducklings, snakes, baby possums), they can skamper out of the water on the ramp by themselves!SKR4 Weights and Measurements:Skamper-Ramp-SKR4: 4.0 lbs(1.8 kgs) boxed and 2.75 lbs(1.25 kgs) when assembled at 25 x 13 x 7 We suggest attaching the ramp to the pools deck by bolting (if wood) or sinking an anchor (stone, poured, etc) to hold the stainless steel D-ring-clips and rope provided.The only additional part you will need and must purchase separately is the 1/4 stainless stell pan-head screw about 1.25 long (and concrete anchor) required for your pool deck surface.

The World of Koi $14.95 Here is detailed information on setting up and maintaining an outdoor pond, on selecting koi specimens, and on maintaining the perfect environment for this hardy breed of carp. A brand-new title in the growing Mini Encyclopedia Series for aquarium hobbyists, this book helps aquarium owners plan, create, and maintain a colorful and interesting environment for fish and aquatic life. Each volume provides in-depth information and instruction on a specific subdivision of fish keeping. Complementing the text are sets of illustration panels filled with full-color photos, each with its own detailed and instructive caption. The team of authors, all recognized aquarium experts, show readers how to set up an aquarium, select species, and maintain an optimal environment for the tank”s aquatic and plant life. Approximately 250 color photos and illustrations in each volume.