LANDVISTA AQUASCAPES
  • Home
  • About
    • Blog
    • The Pond Stars
  • Services
    • Backyard Fish Pond Installation
    • Disappearing Pondless Waterfalls
    • Fountainscapes
  • Maintenance
    • Pond Maintenance
    • Pond Cleaning
    • Pond Repairs
    • Spring & Summer Maintenance
    • Fall Maintenance
    • Winter Maintenance
  • Contact
    • Consult Form
  • FAQ's
  • Pond Supplies
    • Aquascape's Iongen

Backyard pond Blog

Contact us if you have specific questions or issues
Contact Us

autumn pond care in South Jersey

10/11/2018

0 Comments

 
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.  
​

Picture
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.  
​

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. 
Picture
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...  
0 Comments

What to do for your pond during a hurricane

9/12/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
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.  

0 Comments

Ten Tips to prevent Green Pond Water

8/8/2018

2 Comments

 
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...

Read More
2 Comments

Fall Pond Service and Netting

10/25/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
 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.   

    GEt pond tips delivered to your inbox!

Subscribe to Newsletter
1 Comment

Controlling String Algae in your Pond

6/20/2017

1 Comment

 
June is the time of year when pond owners often call us up with questions or concerns about the string algae growing in their water feature.  It can show up seemingly overnight, and without a solid plan of action, controlling it can become a regular chore.  Fortunately, there are several proven measures you can take to combat the stuff, and there are quite a few products available that are designed to assist with that task.  The main problem then seems to be a lack of education on how to use those products, and a misunderstanding of what causes string algae and the role it plays in an aquatic ecosystem.  

Click 'Read More' down on the right to learn how the pros deal with string algae...

Read More
1 Comment

Spring Cleaning A Backyard Pond in South Jersey

5/9/2017

0 Comments

 
Springtime is when we start spending more time outdoors, and for water feature owners, this means you are probably looking at dark water full of the past season's leaves and muck.  This is the best time for a little maintenance on your pond or waterfall.  An annual spring cleaning not only beautifies your water feature, it can also prevent problems from arising later in the season.  For those of you who are the hands-on type, read on for tips on a successful pond clean-out.  ​
​If you're in the South Jersey area and would like to leave it to the professionals, pick up the phone, and call the preferred team of local pond experts:  Landvista Aquascapes at 856-768-9404.  

If you don't live in SJ, but still want a professional to take of your pond, click here to find your local Certified Aquascape Contractor.
Picture

Click 'Read more' down on the right to see the rest of the article.

Read More
0 Comments

Tips for spring pond maintenance

3/15/2017

2 Comments

 
Although you wouldn't know it by looking out the window, we are merely five days from the start of Spring.  This means it is nearly time to do some annual pond cleaning.  Even if your pond was just cleaned last year, leaves and debris have probably been falling in throughout the winter and decaying into muck on the bottom.  Performing a spring cleaning can help prevent future problems from arising throughout the pond season.  Some pond enthusiasts are happy to handle their own maintenance, but you can always hire a professional to take care of it.  For our neighbors in the Camden/Burlington/Gloucester area, Landvista Aquascapes has a team of pond experts that are trained by the best in the world to properly care for your ponds and water features.

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

Read More
2 Comments

How much should I be feeding my koi?

1/24/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
For koi living in South Jersey, the feeding months run from roughly mid-April through mid-October.  This is the time of the year when the pond water is over 55-degrees, and koi metabolisms are actively digesting food.  The first few weeks you should only feed them a small amount once every other day.  When water becomes warmer than 65-degrees you can begin feeding them every day.  Knowing how much food to give the fish per session is easy, just give them whatever they will eat within five minutes.  One feeding per day is enough.  In fact, don't do multiple feedings per day until June or when the water is safely into the 70's.   

It is  better to underfeed than to overfeed.  Koi are foragers, and in an ecosystem pond there will naturally be lots of stuff for your fish to eat among the plants and rocks.  To keep the system in balance, a good rule of thumb is to stay at 3" of fish for every 100 gallons of water in the pond.  Adhering to this rule will ensure that you don't have more fish waste being created than the filtration can process.  

If you would like to learn more about feeding koi, I suggest reading the following page by our go-to fish expert, Dr. Erik Johnson.  He has written a very thorough article all about koi food, koi eating habits and recommended feeding practices.  

Everything you need to know about feeding koi, by Dr. Erik Johnson.  


0 Comments

Are the water temps too cold to be transporting fish in December? 

11/29/2016

0 Comments

 
When it comes to transporting and relocating fish in late autumn/early winter, a few people have asked us if it would be better to wait until spring when the water is warmer.  The assumption being that as the temperature drops, fish become relatively inactive and their immune systems become suppressed, thus the added stress of a relocation would be bad for their health.  ​​

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

Read More
0 Comments

How do koi survive under the ice?

9/29/2016

1 Comment

 
PictureRunning a fountain in the winter can create amazing and continuously-evolving ice sculptures on your pond!
As you probably know, winters here in NJ can get pretty cold.  While you're inside feeling warm and cozy by the fire, you may glance out the window and wonder how your fish are doing out there in that frosty pond.  Will they freeze?  Do they have food?  Are they bored? 

This article should answer your questions and ease your mind.  Fish are pretty easy to care for in the winter.  Being cold-blooded, their activity level drops along with their metabolisms.  During the cold season, they'll spend most of their time resting safely at the bottom of the pond where the water is warmest.  The only things they're counting on you to do is ensure their pond stays oxygenated and doesn't completely freeze over.  Some ice is fine, it adds a new dimension to the pond that will evolve throughout the season.  You just have to keep a small hole open in the ice so unwanted gasses can escape the water. 

The problem with the entire pond freezing over is that the gasses released by decomposing organic matter at the bottom of the pond then have no way to escape the pond, which leads to toxic levels of these gasses building up in the pond.  Fortunately, preventing that from happening is as simple as maintaining a hole in the ice.  This can easily be accomplished with the proper application of heat and aeration. 
​


Click 'Read more' down at the right to see the rest of the article...


Read More
1 Comment
<<Previous

    Author

    Landvista Aquascapes provides Pond & Water Feature Design, Installation & Maintenance -Repair services for South New Jersey Homeowners

    Archives

    June 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016

    Categories

    All
    Animals
    Aquatic Plants
    Fish Care
    Living The Pond Life
    Pond Repair
    Pond-repair
    Pond Science
    Seasonal
    Specialty Ponds

    RSS Feed

Installation Services

  • Ponds  
  • Pondless Waterfalls
  • Fountainscapes

Maintenance Services

  • Pond Maintenance
  • Pond Cleaning
  • Pond Repair
  • Spring Maintenance 
  • Fall Maintenance 
  • Winter Maintenance 
​Outdoor Network Services
  • Landvista Aquascapes

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

USE THIS SEARCH BAR TO SEARCH GOOGLE FOR ANYTHING PONDS
Copyright © LandVista Aquascapes All rights reserved. - - Powered by Outdoor Network Services
  • Home
  • About
    • Blog
    • The Pond Stars
  • Services
    • Backyard Fish Pond Installation
    • Disappearing Pondless Waterfalls
    • Fountainscapes
  • Maintenance
    • Pond Maintenance
    • Pond Cleaning
    • Pond Repairs
    • Spring & Summer Maintenance
    • Fall Maintenance
    • Winter Maintenance
  • Contact
    • Consult Form
  • FAQ's
  • Pond Supplies
    • Aquascape's Iongen