Garden Fish Ponds - The Difference Between Success And Failure
As in most things the difference between success and failure in water gardening or keeping fish in a garden pond is knowledge.
In other words knowing the really important bits.
Many people refer to these as secrets which of course they aren't since the systems and techniques are well known even if not widely spread around.
It's the same with water gardening.
You don't have to know everything except some things are vital to understand ...
these vital factors include a basic understanding of pumps, biofilters and UV light systems.
Pumps provide life-giving oxygen to the fish, biofilters purify and clean the water and UV lights clear suspended algae thereby keeping pond water clear.
Know How to Choose Your Pond Pump Correctly.
You can save a lot of money on electricity by using 2 pumps in a garden fish pond ...
a small one to run the biofilter 24/7 and a larger one for a waterfall which can be used as and when required.
If you only have a single large pump then it must run 24/7 to keep the biofilter bugs alive and this wastes lots of unnecessary power (who's there to admire the waterfall while you're sleeping or at work?).
There are two very important considerations when choosing a suitable pond pump.
You need to know the volume of water you want to pump around the circuit as well as the height to which you will be pumping the water (referred to as head).
If you have a waterfall in the pond circuit then the width of the overflow will determine the amount of water flow the pump must be able to deliver.
The height of the waterfall inlet above the pond surface will determine the head to which the pump must deliver the determined water flow rate.
You can use one of the free calculators to work out exactly what the correct specifications for your pump will be.
If your pond does not have a waterfall then the amount of water to pump around should be between one third and half the volume of the pond every hour.
For example if your pond is 1,000 litres in volume then a pump capable of pumping 500 litres per hour would be a good choice.
One of the free calculators you can download will show you how much money you can save by intelligent selection of the right pumping system..
A large number of retailers do not understand a pond pump's specification requirements well enough to give money saving advice consistent with correct water pump performance.
This means it is important for you to be well informed.
Selecting a simple water fountain pump is easier than selecting waterfall or pond pumps.
For a pond you will generally want to select a submersible pump and not one that sits outside the pond itself.
Every Fish Pond Needs A Biofilter You can learn a lot about the need and understanding behind a biofilter by checking my pond filter site: http://www.
clean-garden-ponds.
com.
You must have a biofilter even if you make one yourself if you keep fish in a garden pond.
If you don't it is almost certain that your fish will become stressed and possibly die.
Physical size of the biofilter is not necessarily important.
However the media inside a biofilter is and that's why I recommend the filters and suppliers I do.
Most filters are sold on the principle of "the bigger the box the better (and of course more expensive) the filter must be".
This is rarely true.
To select the right filter you need to know your pond volume.
You can get one of my free calculators to help you work out the pond volume.
Your Fish Pond Will Go Green and Murky This Summer If you Do Not Have an UV Murky green or brown ponds especially in summer are caused by suspended algae coming to the pond surface to gather as much light as possible (algae are plants and need sunlight to breathe and multiply).
This means you will not be able to see deeper than about 2 inches from the surface and this is not the idea behind having a pond in the first place.
The solution is simple and guaranteed to work every time if you install an UV clarifier, or UV sterilizer also known as UVC units.
You can install a combo biofilter + UVC and this is normally the easiest and best solution.
In other words knowing the really important bits.
Many people refer to these as secrets which of course they aren't since the systems and techniques are well known even if not widely spread around.
It's the same with water gardening.
You don't have to know everything except some things are vital to understand ...
these vital factors include a basic understanding of pumps, biofilters and UV light systems.
Pumps provide life-giving oxygen to the fish, biofilters purify and clean the water and UV lights clear suspended algae thereby keeping pond water clear.
Know How to Choose Your Pond Pump Correctly.
You can save a lot of money on electricity by using 2 pumps in a garden fish pond ...
a small one to run the biofilter 24/7 and a larger one for a waterfall which can be used as and when required.
If you only have a single large pump then it must run 24/7 to keep the biofilter bugs alive and this wastes lots of unnecessary power (who's there to admire the waterfall while you're sleeping or at work?).
There are two very important considerations when choosing a suitable pond pump.
You need to know the volume of water you want to pump around the circuit as well as the height to which you will be pumping the water (referred to as head).
If you have a waterfall in the pond circuit then the width of the overflow will determine the amount of water flow the pump must be able to deliver.
The height of the waterfall inlet above the pond surface will determine the head to which the pump must deliver the determined water flow rate.
You can use one of the free calculators to work out exactly what the correct specifications for your pump will be.
If your pond does not have a waterfall then the amount of water to pump around should be between one third and half the volume of the pond every hour.
For example if your pond is 1,000 litres in volume then a pump capable of pumping 500 litres per hour would be a good choice.
One of the free calculators you can download will show you how much money you can save by intelligent selection of the right pumping system..
A large number of retailers do not understand a pond pump's specification requirements well enough to give money saving advice consistent with correct water pump performance.
This means it is important for you to be well informed.
Selecting a simple water fountain pump is easier than selecting waterfall or pond pumps.
For a pond you will generally want to select a submersible pump and not one that sits outside the pond itself.
Every Fish Pond Needs A Biofilter You can learn a lot about the need and understanding behind a biofilter by checking my pond filter site: http://www.
clean-garden-ponds.
com.
You must have a biofilter even if you make one yourself if you keep fish in a garden pond.
If you don't it is almost certain that your fish will become stressed and possibly die.
Physical size of the biofilter is not necessarily important.
However the media inside a biofilter is and that's why I recommend the filters and suppliers I do.
Most filters are sold on the principle of "the bigger the box the better (and of course more expensive) the filter must be".
This is rarely true.
To select the right filter you need to know your pond volume.
You can get one of my free calculators to help you work out the pond volume.
Your Fish Pond Will Go Green and Murky This Summer If you Do Not Have an UV Murky green or brown ponds especially in summer are caused by suspended algae coming to the pond surface to gather as much light as possible (algae are plants and need sunlight to breathe and multiply).
This means you will not be able to see deeper than about 2 inches from the surface and this is not the idea behind having a pond in the first place.
The solution is simple and guaranteed to work every time if you install an UV clarifier, or UV sterilizer also known as UVC units.
You can install a combo biofilter + UVC and this is normally the easiest and best solution.
Source...