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Will rocks covering the bottom of my pond help with algae or make it worse?

6/13/2019

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This is a common question asked by new pond owners and people planning to install a pond.  Nobody wants their new pond to look like a bowl of slime, and there are different schools of thought regarding the best way to keep a pond looking nice.  We have been building ponds and water features for 15 years, and we go with a rock bottom every time.  Here's why:

  • The foremost reason is that rocks will help stabilize the ecosystem.  They act as a biological buffer for the water chemistry.  Rock is a better surface for the beneficial bacteria colonies that convert fish waste and plant debris into neutral forms.  As the bacteria reproduce, they tie up phosphorus and nitrogen in their cells so it's no longer available as food for unwanted algae.  Most of the bacteria will populate on the rocks lining the pond.  Some of the bacteria remain in the water, where they process dead phytoplankton and soluble nutrients.  This action serves to clean the water and keep algae in check. 

  • It is true that rocks will trap sediment and will likely need to be washed out once a year.  The good part, however, is that by trapping the sediment it keeps your water from clouding up when the fish get frisky.  Without the rocks to trap organic debris, the fish will stir it up as they swim around.  It's sort of like putting grates on the floor of a beach shower so people don't have to stand on piles of sand rinsed off the feet of previous guests.  

  • A bare bottom pond is much more susceptible to minor changes in water chemistry.  I've seen a bare-liner pond go from crystal clear to solid green in an afternoon.  This is because the pond lacks the bacterial biofilm that would typically neutralize the more extreme effects of a sudden change, whether it is caused by a lot of rain, a heat wave, binge feedings, or any other event that impacts the water.  This isn't to say that a rock-bottom pond will never experience algae problems, but when the conditions do favor an algae bloom it will be much less severe when the pond has a thriving bacteria population.  
 
  • The larger the pond, the more stable it will become after the elements of the ecosystem have been established and harmonized.  It's like the difference between adding a pinch of pepper to a large pot of soup, or adding that same pinch to your spoonful.  Larger is more forgiving, and the advantages with a rock-bottom pond become more prominent in a larger pond.  We have seen large ponds that haven't been cleaned in years and still look gorgeous; that is less common in smaller ponds, where there is less water volume and bacteria to absorb the impact of any changes to the water chemistry.  
 
  • Another benefit to a rock-bottom pond is the safety factor.  This is often overlooked when choosing a pond, but is very important to consider.  It is not a fun surprise when someone slips into a pond and can't get their footing to climb out.  If you haven't experienced it for yourself, take my word for it: a wet, algae-covered rubber liner is one of the slickest surfaces known to man.  I've heard of guys needing to lasso the nearest tree with their hose to escape a pond because they can't walk out on their own.  It can be comical to watch, but it can also be dangerous.  Without a rock bottom, any kids or animals that unexpectedly find themself in a slick bowl of water will have difficulty climbing out on their own without requiring a rescue.  ​Rocks can still get slippery when they're coated in algae, but a slippery escape sure beats no escape.  
 
  • Another benefit of a rock-bottom pond is extending the longevity of the liner.  One of the biggest factors that degrades an EPDM liner is UV damage from the sun.  Covering the liner with rocks will keep the sun from hitting it and prevent this UV damage.  Our liners do come with a 20-year warranty, but that doesn't cover the cost of taking the old liner out and replacing it, so why chance it?  

These are the reasons we do full-rock-coverage on our water features.  It is a proven technique that works for pond builders around the world.  It is a key element of the aquatic ecosystem and allows for greater harmony in the pond, ultimately leading to a cleaner, nicer, safer pond with less regular maintenance.   

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Our Favorite Pond Plants

6/12/2019

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A pond without plants is a little more than a pool for fish.  To create a balanced aquatic ecosystem, you also need plants.  There are many suitable plants for growing in or around a pond.  Click the gallery below to see these plants and their flowers up close, along with notes about their size and how deep in the pond they should be planted.  

Each of these plants is typically available for purchase in-season at our Pond Store in Atco, NJ.  If you have any questions about these or any other pond plants, give us a call!  
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autumn pond care in South Jersey

10/11/2018

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Pumpkins on front porches and cornstalks on the lampposts, these are universal signs that summer is over.  For pond owners, this means that our days of getting a tan while lounging by the pond are on hiatus for the next six months.  It'll be a while until we resume our evenings of outdoor dining by the water and watching the sunset after dinner.  
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Despite the downsides of our off-season, the dawn of winter brings new joys for a pond owner.  With the night coming on before most of us are even home from work, there is new opportunity to enjoy the dancing glow of underwater lighting.  If your pond isn't illuminated, you're missing out.  A well-lit pond becomes the focal point of your evening landscape.  Picture yourself glancing out the window as you sip from a mug of hot cocoa and you catch a glimpse of your koi's shiny scales flashing gold in the spotlights.  Imagine the dancing reflections on the water ripples as the wind whispers.   Add some spotlights pointing up from beneath the trees and you'll have a magical atmosphere that will warm your soul on a cold night.  And with the new color-changing lights by Aquascape (coming out in early 2019), you'll be able to dress your pond in any combination of colors to suit your spirit, whether it's red and green for Christmas, orange for Thanksgiving, or Eagles Green for Philly's reigning Super-Bowl champions.  
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Let's not forget the fish!  When the leaves are falling and it's starts getting dark outside before Jeopardy begins, you'll know it is time to switch their food to a cold-water formula.  This kind of fish food is lower in protein to accommodate the slower metabolisms of a cold-blooded animal in cold weather, and higher in wheat germ to help your fish bulk up before their winter torpor.  Pay attention to your pond thermometer and your fishes' feeding habits.  We recommend switching to the cold-water food when the water drops below 65°F.  Continue feeding them until the water descends into the low 50's, as that's when they will simply stop eating.  Any uneaten food in the water after that point will just sit and rot, but if you feed up until that point you can maximize your quality time with your koi and get the pleasure of knowing they are going into winter in optimal condition.  

Another fun way to enjoy your pond beyond flip-flop season is spice it up with some seasonal decorations.  Jack-o-lanterns and gourds along the waterfall, mums and hay bales around the pond, maybe a spooky scarecrow in a patio chair...  Whatever tickles your fancy!  The fun doesn't have to stop at thanksgiving, either.  Hang up strings of lights from the trees and create the perfect backdrop for a snowman.  Replace the spooky scarecrow with a jolly Santa Claus or Jack Frost. 
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Lights and decorations are lots of fun, but we can't forget about my favorite part of winter ponds: the stunning ice formations!  To get them you'll need to have falling water, preferably from a fountain.  A freezing waterfall will do some cool stuff to the ice now and then, but a freezing fountain will be a continually morphing piece of art.  Living art.  Check out these videos to see the kinds of beauty you might discover forming on your fountains in the winter...  
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What to do for your pond during a hurricane

9/12/2018

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To all of the pond owners that are in the path of a hurricane, our thoughts are with you.  Having lived thru a few big hurricanes, here are some things we've learned regarding preparing your pond for a storm:
  • Lower the water levels.  With all the rain, this lessens the risk of losing fish due to a flood.
  • Remove skimmer lids.  Heavy winds can blow them away, possibly causing damage to windows.  
  • Disassemble any fiberglass urns, or make sure they have plenty of gravel inside.  These light weight fountains are a blessing, but they need added weight to stay in place during intense wind.  
  • Cover any GFI outlets.  Maintain separation of water and electricity!
  • Consider removing cherished potted plants.  You can put them in a bucket or kiddie pool in the garage until the storm has passed, the big risk to them is damage from intense wind.  
  • If you are in a flood zone, remove fish to a holding tank on higher ground.  If flood waters cover the pond, it is entirely possible that the fish may just swim away.  
  • Have a back-up aerator on hand.  In the event of a power-outage, this can be connected to a gas-powered generator to supply oxygen to your pond.  During an emergency, when every watt of electricity is crucial, an aerator is a wise choice; it will use less electricity than your pond pump.      
​After the storm:
  • Clean out any debris from the pond.    
  • In case of a power outage, be prepared with a generator to run the pump/aerator and prevent fish loss due to low oxygen.  
  • Check the pond for damage.  There will probably plant damage, and possibly liner tears from falling tree limbs, lost fish, shifted rocks, and broken accessories.  

​Finally, be safe.  The next few months might be a challenge.  We can't control mother nature, but we can do our best to minimize the impact of extreme weather events.  

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Ten Tips to prevent Green Pond Water

8/8/2018

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A backyard pond is a lovely thing to enjoy, especially when it is full of colorful koi fish.  Watching them swim around your pond is one of the best parts of having a pond.  In order to admire the fish, however, it is important to have good water clarity.  We get a lot of calls from people who are unhappy with the green water in their pond.  Fortunately, we are very familiar with this and have learned how to efficiently deal with it.  

As we've said elsewhere, the easiest way to avoid green water is to set up your pond correctly from the start. To see what we mean by that, read this article.  If you are well-beyond the initial set up, read below for some tips on what you can do today to clarify the water in your pond.

Before we begin making adjustments to our pond, we must first determine the cause of the green water.  It could either be single-celled algae, or it could be tiny particulates (dead string/carpet algae) suspended in the water.  

(This part is very important) Take a sample of the pond water in a clear container and place it against a white background:
  • Do you see bunch of little particles and bits of stuff in otherwise fairly colorless water?  If so, then you don’t have a planktonic algae problem, and you’ll just need to remove the suspended debris from your water through filtration or cleaning.  (A fine filter pad inserted in your skimmer between the basket and the pump will catch those finer particles that slip thru the net.  The pad will need to be hosed clean every hour or two to over the course of the day; it tends to load up rather quickly in poor water conditions.  These pads can be folded in half to double the efficacy, and you can reuse the same pad until it starts to fall apart.  When used in combination with flocculant or S.A.B. this method should make a healthy difference in a day or two.)
  • Does the water appear green like kiwi juice?  If so, then you have planktonic algae, a microscopic, single-celled plant that is too fine to be filtered out like those larger bits that can be seen with the naked eye.  In that case, the rest of this article was written just for you!  
Click ‘Read more’ down at the right to see the rest of the article...

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Bring Aquascaping indoors with a patio pond!

11/16/2017

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Front and back view of our freshly arranged patio pond. This setup measures 22" square by 12" tall, and has a super-efficient filter/pump that keeps the water circulating.
As you can see here, you don't need a backyard or even a patio to enjoy a water feature, this one is inside our store!

Click "Read more' down on the right to see the full article...

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Fall Pond Service and Netting

10/25/2017

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 It's a beautiful time of the year when the leaves are beginning to fall.  But did you know that keeping leaves out of your pond is an important preventative in keeping your fish healthy thru the winter?  Landvista Aquascapes services the South Jersey area to help you take care of your treasured gems of the pond.  Call us today for your netting supplies or to schedule this service.
What occurs during a fall pond service and netting:
  • Perform full spectrum of water tests
  • Remove fallen leaves and debris from in/around pond
  • Clean on/between/under the rocks
  • Remove dead foliage from marginals
  • Trim lilies to 6” below surface
  • Clean out skimmer
  • Clean & inspect pump
  • Drain & clean BioFalls/filter parts
  • Inspect/adjust waterfall lights
  • Scrub algae from waterfall rocks
  • Add prescribed water treatments
  • Install aerators
  • Install tent-frame for netting
  • Secure netting over frame

Note: I took the ‘Before’ picture after having already blown the leaves off the edge rocks and the surrounding planting beds, making my ‘before’ photos a bit less dramatic in these photos than it was in person.   

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Wetland Filters

10/5/2017

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Using Wetland Filtration on Your Backyard Pond
Does your pond have sparkling clear water?  If so, does it require a lot of effort to keep it that way?  Thanks to the benefits of a properly-built wetland filter, it doesn’t have to!    

What is a wetland filter?
A wetlands filter is an advanced form of natural filtration.  Think of it as a big hungry sponge that feeds on the waste from fish and plants.  Like a sponge, it is porous, allowing water to slowly pass through.  Like a sea-sponge, it is alive, and it literally has an appetite for the stuff that clouds your pond water.  Unlike a sponge, a wetlands is a complete ecosystem, populated by of trillions of individual bacteria, and usually, a handful of plants and invertebrates.  These organisms colonize on the bottom of the pond and feed on particulates suspended in the water.  

When you look at an established wetland in a backyard pond, it just looks like a shallow area with slow-moving water over fine gravel.  Maybe there’s some grasses or thalia plants growing there.  What you won’t see, however, is what’s going on beneath the surface that allows it to clean your water so efficiently.   
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Click 'Read More' down on the right to see the full article

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​American Koi vs. Imported Koi

8/3/2017

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All koi are not created equal.   If they were, there wouldn’t be such a thing as koi shows and koi competitions!  

Click 'Read More' down on the right to see the full article

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New Jersey River Otters: Playful Animals of the Water

7/12/2017

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PictureHere is a resident Pine-Barrens river otter as it gazes out across the tea-colored water of the Mullica River.
​You may not ever see them, but there does exist a happy population of river otters here in our area of New Jersey. They are clever and cautious creatures, and are quite adept at staying hidden. Otters avoid contact with people, and quickly dive out of sight when they see us, but they aren't shy about leaving behind signs of their presence if you know what to look for.

Click 'Read More' down on the right to see the full article...


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