Pond Talk

Pond Advice For Small And Large Ponds

Pond Pumps And Quick Fixes To Keep Them Running

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If you want moving water in a pond, which basically means things like an active waterfall or an effective filtration system, a key component in all of this is the pond pump. Nothing really moves without a good pump.

Unfortunately like any mechanical thing, a pond pump can fail, become damaged or broken, or just not operate very well at times. Sometimes they may need to be replaced or upgraded. But before you go and toss your current hard working pond pump, make sure it’s really on it’s last leg. If the problem is minor one, or the pump just needs some simple cleaning and maintenance, you may be able to get get by with your current installation without spending any more money.

Let’s cover a few quick and easy fixes for a problematic pond pump.

Give The Pump A Good Cleaning

Pond pumps have just about everything go through them at some point in the cycle of water circulation. This includes debris such as leaves, algae, dirt, and anything else that might end up in the pond. All of this gunk can take it’s toll and end up blocking or plugging up part of the pump inlet. If this isn’t clear, you won’t be able to get the full volume of water running through the pump and your flow rate will drop.

A simple solution if things aren’t working quite right is to make sure the pump is clean and free of obstructions. To clean a pond pump you’ll want to unplug the device from the power supply, remove it from the pond (if it’s internal) and take the various pieces apart while checking for blockages in the intake or any part of the assembly. To clean it, simply use your existing pond water. Avoid using any harsh chemicals. Clean any pre-filter if one is included, and then put everything back together.

Pond pumps will vary somewhat in their construction so be sure to use the owners manual as a reference and follow their additional recommandations for cleaning and maintenance.

Check Your Water Level

Pumps of all kinds need a reasonable amount of water to work right. All pumps are rated for GPH or gallons per hour flow rate, and one of the common reasons that they may not work well is if the water level in the pond becomes too low or in short supply. If you have a skimmer in place and the water level falls much below this intake, you’ll never get enough water to keep the system operating normally and this isn’t good for the pond pump. One early warning is when the pump is emitting some odd noises or excess noise.

Be sure to check your water levels, particular in the hot summer months when evaporation can increase and regular topping off of the water level will need to be maintained with more frequency. Some pond owners use an automatic system for keeping the water level constant.

Listen For Odd Noises From Your Pond Pump

It isn’t always going to be a low water level that causes some odd noises to be emitted from your pump. But these sounds can be the first indicator that something is not quite right. Many pumps will vibrate a bit while in operation and if you find that these vibrations are causing some rubbing or bumping against the skimmer box, or basin, you can always cushion these with some rubber matting.

Once again the owner or operational manual for the pump is the best resource for troubleshooting or the suggested steps for routine maintenance and often times, a quick review of that literature will uncover ways to keep the pump running more quietly and efficiently.

Storing Your Pond Pump In The Winter

This won’t apply to everyone of course but in climates where the pond may freeze over in the winter, it’s often suggested to turn the pump off and actually remove it. This applies to submersible pumps in particular. Storage should be maintained in a warmer setting with the pump submerged in a water bucket, which keeps all the gaskets and seals in good shape.

Editor’s Note: As always, be sure to contact the pump’s manufacturer on what they recommend for off season storage. Some pumps are best submerged while others may not need to be.

Why would you want to remove it during cold weather? Well the truth is, that during the colder months sometimes it’s best not to circulate the water too much in a small pond. Fish will often find the warmer bottom water to be more comfortable and the added circulation from the pump will hinder that somewhat. Also should a pond pump ever freeze up, a great deal of damage can occur internally and you may never get it working right again.

If you do decide to keep the pond open and operational during the winter months you’ll want to continue to monitor and clean the pump as needed, despite the cold weather.

Pond Side: Outdoor Furniture Tips And Advice

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Although it’s sometimes an after-thought, many pond owners love to spend time around their ponds and relax once in awhile.  With that in mind we wanted to cover a few tips that might help you select the best outdoor furniture for making this precious time as comfortable as can be and we wanted to insure that you’ll get great value for the dollars you might spend on chairs, tables, or other furniture around your pond.

Choose Your Outdoor Furniture Wisely

The problem a lot of people have when it comes to any furniture that’s used outdoors is that they go strictly for a “look” and don’t take into consideration the maintenance, quality, or versatility of the furniture itself.  When you avoid considering different materials that best suit your environment you may end up with furniture that does not keep up with the wear and tear, fading, etc. that comes to your patio furniture.

There are so many “looks” that can be found within each kind of material of outdoor furniture that you should first consider your needs, the material that will fit your needs, and then find the “look” within those materials. Have you thought about which kind of patio furniture will hold up best on grass?  Which material will hold up best when getting splashed on by you pond or pool? What will last longer when constantly exposed to sun?  Which kind will take most of your time to maintain?  Popular outdoor furniture materials include wicker, wooden, aluminum, and wrought iron.  Getting to know these kinds of materials may help you in your decision when it comes to choosing the best outdoor furniture for you.

Wicker Furniture

We often assume that wicker furniture is made from wooden or natural fibers, but these days you can find wicker furniture in synthetic materials.  Wicker actually refers to the style in which a material is woven.

If you are going to have your wicker furniture exposed to sun and other elements you will want to think about a plastic wicker.  A natural fiber wicker will last longer if it is in a covered area so it won’t be exposed to elements that will swell the materials or fade it.

With the synthetic wicker you will find a lot of options.  You can have any color you can imagine.  All wicker is light weight and doesn’t scuff up as easily like other outdoor furniture.  It does trap dust easily, but can be taken care of with a simple wipe down with a rag.  Wicker furniture typically sits best on a hard surfaces but can be enjoyed on a grass surface as well.

Wooden Garden Furniture

A look we all of have gotten used to is wooden garden furniture.  You should be especially aware of the elements your outdoor furniture is going to be exposed to as that can be your main guide to what kind of wood you invest in.  Cedar is a good wood because it is insect and decay resistant.  Other popular woods include cypress, pine, and teak.

Wood is definitely a high maintenance material.  Making sure it has a proper finish on it initially is important.  Then, cleaning it with warm water and a mild soap on a regular basis will help to keep it clean and looking good.  Make sure you dry the furniture completely as to prevent build up or mold.  When it comes to extreme weather it is going to benefit you to put the wooden garden furniture away to keep it from being exposed, especially from snow.  Even teak (which will pretty much withstand anything) will have a much longer lasting life if you take these same precautions.

Aluminum Outdoor Furniture

Aluminum outdoor furniture has become one of the hottest, most popular trends today.  The reason being: durability, versatility, and reasonable cost.  You can find most any style that you are looking for with an aluminum frame.  There are cushioned chairs, sling chairs, hard back chairs, tables and more. Aluminum is rust free, which makes it a great option to have next to your pond or other water source in your yard.  There is no limit to the style if size of the pieces of furniture either.  People love having options, and you get options with aluminum outdoor furniture.

Durability is always something to look for when you are seeking outdoor furniture.  Aluminum outdoor furniture is manufactured in two different ways.  Hollow or frame, and casted.  The framed aluminum furniture is very popular.  Though it is hollow in the middle, it doesn’t lack in its quality.  It is very sturdy and will last for years. It is light weight furniture and may be blown around in harsh weather if left out in the elements.  The finish on aluminum outdoor furniture is sprayed on by the manufacturer, and then baked on to make sure it adheres to the aluminum.  This method results in furniture that can withstand a lot of use, with out worry about chipping or scuffing.  Framed aluminum outdoor furniture should easily last you ten years or more if you have taken the time to maintain it.

Casted aluminum has all the same great qualities of framed aluminum except that it’s most likely that you will only have to go shopping for casted aluminum outdoor furniture once in your life.  Though all casted aluminum furniture will last much longer, if you get a set that is put together by a craftsman, rather than a mass manufactured set, you will pay more but the quality of the product and overall attention to detail will be much greater.

Maintenance for aluminum is quite simple whether casted or frame, usually requiring a wipe or spray down a couple of times a year.  Some people go further to put wax finishes on their furniture to help maintain its finish, but following the manufactures suggestions will be the best bet there.  It is always a good idea to take your furniture out of extreme weather.  However durable your furniture is, it’s going to last longer if it is exposed to less.

Wrought Iron Outdoor Furniture

Wrought Iron outdoor furniture is a classic, sturdy, and long lasting choice.  There are also many different styles and option with wrought iron.  It is easy to update and keep trendy by simply changing out the outdoor cushions, which usually accompany your wrought iron furniture.  If you are looking for an elaborate style with your outdoor furniture, nothing beats the classic look that wrought iron can bring.  Wrought iron outdoor furniture is often paired with tiles, glass, or granite which you cannot achieve with many other materials often used for patio or outdoor furniture.

Wrought iron outdoor furniture is, however, very heavy.  If you are going to be pulling chairs towards or away from a table often, wrought iron may not be the material you would like to use.  It also can rust; therefore you will need to keep up on maintenance, like applying a sealant on a yearly basis.

Make a choice

There are a lot of options out there.  You should be able to find what you are looking for!  Have no fear!  Now that you know the details of your options, you can make a choice that will be best for you, for your level of use, and the environment that your outdoor furniture will be in.

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Floating Plants: A contribution to your Pond

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There are many water plants that will play important roles in the health and wellbeing of your pond.  One of the major players is going to be floating plants.  Floating pond plants play many roles that help with maintenance, but contribute to the health of the wildlife surrounding your pond.

Nitrates and phosphates are the nutrients in water that cause the most algae growth in your pond.  Floating plants constantly absorb these nutrients.  Thus, helping clear up or prevent murky water.  The roots of floating pond plants also prove a great place for fish and frogs to lay their eggs.  This not only protects the eggs, but keeps the eggs from taking over the visible areas of your pond.  Floating pond plants keep your pond cool which will also help keep algae away.  To have proper balance achieved you may need up to 60% of the surface area of your pond.  That may seem like a lot, but you can get many different kinds of floating plants so you can not only achieve a balanced ecosystem for your pond, but a beautiful landscape feature for you to enjoy.

Water Lilies

Water lily
Image via Wikipedia

Water lilies are among the group of hardy pond plants that many people enjoy.  You don’t have to worry too much about babysitting your water lilies once you’ve got them floating in your pond.  The only way to truly ruin one would be if it got frozen solid!  As long you are making sure to prune off dead flowers and leaves, and your lilies are getting 6-8 hours of direct sunlight a day you should have beautiful results.

Most water lilies only bloom during certain hours of the day.  The hardiest kind only bloom during the daytime hours.  So if you work, and you never see a bloom during the week, no worries, you can look forward to a weekend full of full blooms on your pond!

Another couple of things to remember about water lilies is that they don’t like being splashed.  This is something important to know, especially if you have a fountain or some sort of waterfall in your pond.  Plant the lilies far away from these water sources to avoid accidently drowning your lilies.  Also, make sure to plant your lilies in appropriate depth water.  Rule of thumb, the bigger the lily, the deeper the water!  But typically 18-30 inches of water should do the trick.

Water lilies are a classic choice that is a great contribution to any water garden as they add beauty, grace, and help achieve a healthy pond.

Water Hyacinth

If you are looking for a floating plant for your pond that is showy and will pop against the surroundings of your pond, water hyacinth is something to take a look at.  They have round or oval shiny leaves, the stalk is thick, and the flowers are large and beautiful.  The flowers typically are 2-3 inches and bloom a blue or lilac color with a yellow spot on each one.  Occasionally (or should I say rarely) you will get white blooms.

Water hyacinth is another one of those hardy pond plants: it can actually survive freezing temperatures.  So if you live in a place where you have extreme weather, this plant may serve you well.  It does however reproduce a lot, and quickly, so you need to make sure that you keep a close eye on your hyacinth so it does not take over your pond.  Making sure that you don’t throw excess hyacinths into the opposite end of your pond or even leaving it on the bank or your pond will help keep your water hyacinth under control.

Water hyacinths are distinguishable plants that provide a unique look to any water garden.

Penny Wart

Penny wart is a floating plant that works as a great filler and looks great when planted in bunches, as it can look scraggly if placed too thin.  Be aware that there are many different types of penny wart that work well in certain climates.  Some types won’t grow in warm water, but will in cool water.  Some are meant to be planted in gravel and not water.  If you are planning on ordering online, do some research at your local nursery to find out what type of penny wart would work for you.

Penny wart is a very hardy pond plant that needs minimal attention and not a lot of sunlight when it comes to growth.  When it starts growing, it doesn’t stop, so watch it carefully.  It can become very invasive and hard to remove.

Water lettuce

Another great floating plant is water lettuce.  Sometime people confuse it with water hyacinth, but the leaves are more ribbed and they bloom white flowers.  Water lettuce is a beautiful pond plant that covers your pond surface well and produces beautiful flowers for you to enjoy.  It is, however, very sensitive to cold water.  If the water gets near or below 50 degrees the leaves of your water lettuce are going to start yellowing.

Other than the sensitivity of water temperature, water lettuce is an easy plant to have.  Of course, keep and eye on it to make sure it doesn’t start to overtake the surface of your pond.  To remove it all you need to do it rake it up from the surface.

Keep up with your floating Plants

Overall, keeping control of the surface of your water by choosing floating plants that work for your environment is going to be the best bet for a healthy pond.  Making sure they don’t overgrow is going to be the most important thing you can do when maintaining these plants.  Having no sunlight available to your pond can be detrimental to your pond and the wildlife in it.  Floating plants will give back to you by helping keep your water clean and the animals in and around your pond in a healthy, natural habitat.

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Rubber Pond Liners: What You Need To Know

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There are many different kinds of rubber pond liners. Not only are there different types of plastics to choose from, there are thickness options, size options, the option to bury or not bury your liner, the choice of doing it yourself or to hire someone to install the liner for you…need I go on? Finding the right rubber pond liner is going to be an important step when it comes to the longevity of your pond, so please consider a few things when you make the decision.

Pond Lining Material

Who knew picking pond lining material was going to be like picking material for your new couch cover? To some of us, that means time consuming. To most of us, that means, foreign language!

Rubber pond lining comes in a variety of different types of plastics. The key is to figure out what plastic does what, taking a look at the needs of your pond, and choosing which pond liner that is best for your situation.

Reinforced Pond Liner

Reinforced pond liners come in different types of rubber (such as reinforced polyethylene or reinforced polypropylene). The important thing to remember about a reinforced pond liner is that they are more light weight, more durable, more tear resistant, and typically less expensive liner than an unreinforced liner.

If installed and exposed to the sun, this can be a problem. They will not last as long if out in the open. If your pond is in the sun and you still want a reinforced liner you can bury the liner to prevent over exposure to the sun. Be aware; if you have sloping edges to your pond it can be hard to keep the liner buried.

PVC For Your Pond?

PVC is a plastic that is being used in many different industries. One of the nice things about PVC is that it has a great stretch to it. This makes PVC good for pond liners because the stretch reduces chances of cracks and adapts well to quick, dramatic changes in the weather.

PVC liner can be rolled and packaged easily which is always a plus when getting something shipped to you for your diy project. This liner is ideal for small landscape ponds and wildlife ponds. Panels of it can be heat welded together to make a sealed piece of PVC liner as big or small as your needs are.

Epdm Pond Liners

Epdm pond liners are a very popular choice. They are very versatile and won’t hold you back when you are choosing a shape and size for your pond. Epdm pond liners are also very flexible. They can still stretch in temperatures from -40 to 175 degrees Fahrenheit. So whether you live in a place of extreme weather changes or you live in a consistently warm or cold area, you won’t have to worry about this liner turning brittle and cracking over time.

These liners are very resistant to the damaging effects of UV rays and other harmful environmental conditions. You don’t need to expect any major upholding issues with these liners. They will last for a long time, which is not only a perk when it comes to maintenance issues, but it is a nice perk when it comes to the safety of the wildlife that live in and around your pond.
If you are planning on breading any fish in your pond, be aware that epdm may be toxic at times. Epdm is ideal for both small and large landscape ponds.

Butyl Pond Liners….Best Of All?

Some people may argue that butyl pond liners are the best pond liner to use. I can’t say whether it’s the best, but I can say that it definitely seems to be one of the most versatile pond liners around. Butyl rubber liners are both stretchy and flexible which will help, in turn, to make the liner conducive to whatever type of terrain you want to place your pond.

Butyl liners are also resistant to UV rays and are sustainable; they are good for all types of ponds from your backyard water garden to a wildlife reserve pond. This rubber pond liner is non toxic so you have no need to worry about any negative effects distressing the environment you put your pond. This is a great option for your pond if you are looking for something that will last a long time and leave you with little to worry about.

HDPE, Strong and Resistant

HDPE pond liners are a good choice when you have a demanding and arduous environment. These types of liners are often used by landfill or waste water treatment companies because of their chemical resistant characteristics.

Even for a less intense situations, like your backyard pond, they are very reliable. They are strong and resistant to cracking. They will do well in extreme weather. They prevent any harmful substance from seeping in to contaminate your pond. These pond liners are also very affective on almost any terrain. So if you are looking for something durable for anything from a simple pond liner to a waste water treatment lagoon, this lining can do the job for you.

To Choose a Rubber Pond Liner

Take the information you have gathered, look at your needs, and see what will work best for you. Remember the importance of choosing the right rubber pond liner. If you choose something that isn’t right for the surroundings of your pond, you are going to only enjoy the pond for a short time before you are spending a lot of time and money on repairs that could have been prevented with a little bit of research.

Pond Plants: What You Need To Know

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Water pond plants are essential to your body of water. They will provide nutrients to your water and help balance the water in you pond. There are all types of plants for all types of ponds, but here are a few plants that you’ll want no matter the type of pond you are building or already may have.

Floating pond plants

Floating pond plants are probably the group of pond plants with the most variety. The benefits of variety are that there will most likely be a floating pond plant that will fit your personal taste. If you look beyond the convenience of having a variety of looks though, these floating plants have many benefits to your pond as well.

Floating pond plants help with algae control and keeping your water clear. They cast shade in your pond which will help prevent algae growth. They also absorb large amounts of nutrients out of the water as they grow. The less nutrients in your water for algae to feed off of, the less algae; the less algae, the clearer the water will be! If you have fish in your pond check out certain types of floating plants like Azolla. These can provide fish with good nutrients to feed off of, which is a nice bonus.

Oxygenating pond plants/Submerged Pond Plants

Having oxygenating pond plants in your pond is going to be essential when it comes to the cleanliness and health of your pond. Oxygenating, as the name would suggest, releases oxygen into your pond. Why is this important? When oxygen is released into your pond it helps maintain the PH levels in your pond naturally. This can also be achieved by putting harmful chemicals into your pond which does nothing to contribute to the overall wellbeing of your plants, wildlife, and water! Maintaining PH levels in your pond keeps your water cleaner and actually helps soften the water as well.

The oxygenating pond plants you are going to want to look at are submerged pond plants. These are completely submerged by water and live in the bottom of your pond. Some examples of these hardy submersible/oxygenating pond plants are rotala, hornwort, or red ludwigia. There are many options of submerged pond plants to choose from, don’t avoid getting some of these kinds of pond plants. These are typically the hardy pond plants you will find and are very important to the overall wellbeing of the environment.

With some general things to look for in pond plants out of the way, here are a few things to think about how you can apply that knowledge to different pond situations you may have.

Wildlife pond plants

If you have a wildlife pond you may have to think about a few different things when it comes to plants for your pond than someone who is putting a water garden in their backyard. You need to keep in mind the variety of animals that your pond will attract, it is important to remember that you should keep your wildlife pond safe for them as well.

When it comes time to plant pond plants in your wildlife pond make sure to choose plants that have that can grow in shallow water, deep water, and of course make sure to have a lot of oxygenating plants in there as well. Giving wildlife a sloped edge to walk down to the pond along with plants that grow in shallow water will help prevent animals from falling into your pond because there is a sudden drop off. Having deep water plants, like water lilies, gives underwater creatures a place for cover and a home for the winter. Oxygenators are, again, important to help keep your pond clean and balanced.

Pond plants and animals

Depending of what kind of pond you have will determine what kind of animals are in and around your pond. Regardless of what kind of animals are around your pond, it is your responsibility to keep the place a safe environment for them to live.

Having the correct pond plants will contribute to the health of the fish and other species of animals that are living in and around the pond. The varieties of plants mentioned above (surface plants, oxygenators, and shallow growing plants) are all essential in keeping a good balanced ecosystem for the wildlife surrounding your pond.

There can be, however, invasive pond plants and animals that can take over and throw off the balance of your pond, thus eventually ruining all of the hard work you put into creating a water garden. These kinds of plants and animals are often introduced to the space by us! We don’t realize that a certain species of fish will eat all of the vegetation, contribute to the mosquito population, or be a threat to other native fish. Why would we think that a beautiful pond plant that looks similar to other common pond plants would suddenly take over the surface of your pond while never contributing to the overall wellbeing and balance of the environment?

Do your research, especially when you are choosing a fish and plants for your pond. You do not want to choose a fish that may eat lots of vegetation, yet gives of harmful nutrients into your water that contributes to algae growth and low oxygen levels in your pond. Be mindful of where you live, what survives best there, and your pond will be a beautifully balanced ecosystem!

Pond plants not only beautify your pond but as you can see; they play an important role in the balance of the water, and wildlife in your pond.

I Have A UV Light In My Pond But Still Have Green Water

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John writes, “I have a 1500 gallon backyard pond and have installed a uv light in it which was supposed to help with green water problems. It doesn’t seem to be helping very much, and I wondered if I did something wrong?”

Answer: Hi John and thanks for the question. Your plan to use a uv sterilizer in your pond to combat green water is a good idea. In truth, when you hear companies talk about fighting pond algae problems with a uv filter, it’s single cell, or green water algae that they are talking about specifically.

In contrast, string algae won’t be affected because it can’t pass through the tube and be exposed to the ultra violet light, which does all of the damage. In the case of green water, this discoloration can vary in a pond and the degree of just how green and dense it will get is totally dependent on how many little, single cell algae you have growing in the pond. These can expand in number quickly when conditions are right so a pond can be pretty clear or lightly tinted one day and totally green the next.

A pond uv light basically irradiates these little critters and will either damage or kill them and in doing so, it makes them clump together in a larger mass which is more easily filtered out of the water by a good quality pond filter. What’s interesting is that individually, these single cell algae can be so small that they’ll pass right through many filter systems.

Which brings me to an important point. A UV system is not the only required component in a small pond’s filtration system. Ideally they should be paired with a good biofilter which actually captures and breaks down these dead or damaged algae cells. UV will do nothing to reduce nitrites, nitrates, or other material which can be broadly classified as nutrients coming from fish waste, among other things. Only a biofilter will help with these so it’s important to include this in the mix.

Green Water Continues

Interestingly, many people who have UV light installed in their ponds may still have problems with green water. This usually indicates that something will need to be adjusted to get this to work better. Most manufacturers have ratings for how much water flow should run through the uv over a period of time. For example, a very common rate would be the full gallon volume of the pond should circulate through the uv and filter system once every hour. This insures that the water and algae cells are passing in front of the uv light frequently enough to be affected.

It’s best to follow the product maker’s suggestions but if you need to, it may also be useful to slow the water flow rate down a little bit if you’re still having problems. A slower pass rate may help expose the algae to the light a bit longer and this can make a difference in performance. Normally some type of restriction valve can be put inline and help with this flow rate control.

You may find that some uv lights come with several suggest flow settings. A higher or faster rate would allow the unit to work as a clarifier, which means it may control algae, but not decimate things like beneficial bacteria so much. UV is indiscriminate in what it will kill or control…good bugs, bad microbes, viruses, and algae are all targeted.

On the other side of the flow rate coin, a slower flow rate will provide a sterilizer effect on the water. A more thorough eradication of all affected elements will be made because of the longer exposure time to the ultra violet light. Either rate, or somewhere in between will likely create the best results for your pond in terms of algae control. In an ideal setting, you would want more a clarifier effect but this may not be possible for every pond.

Another reason why uv light may not be getting the job done is that the uv bulb will need to be replaced from time to time. Many people assume that because it’s still lighting up that it’s working fine but this isn’t always the case. Most bulbs have a operational life where they will provide ample ultra violet radiation and then begin to drop off in terms of performance. Twelve to fourteen months of operational life is common. After that you’ll likely want to replace them for improved performance.

And finally, if you’re in the market for a uv light or considering it for your pond, it’s important to make sure you get one that’s rated for your pond’s gallon size. A pond owner really shouldn’t scrimp on any of the important mechanical components in a pond, such as the pump or filter system. UV light is no different. Remember that to work well, the full gallon volume of the pond should probably pass through the uv pond filter at least once per hour, all day long.

With a bit of troubleshooting and detective work, you can get better performance out of your pond uv light and in doing so, you should be able to control green water algae without the use of chemical algaecides.