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Is it too cold to use bacteria? If so, is there anything else I should continue to use now? | Ponds & Lakes Q&A

Posted on November 17, 2011 by thepondguy

Like lots of living creatures, beneficial bacteria appreciate a cozy, comfortable environment. And from their bacterial perspectives, water temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit are no longer cozy at all. That’s why we recommend against the use of bacteria when the water falls below that threshold.

Filed under: Pond & Lake, Pond Dye, Season-Long Control, Water Clarity, Water Quality, Winterizing | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Is there an ideal temperature to treat algae? | Pond & Lake Q&A

Posted on October 7, 2011 by thepondguy

It depends what you mean by the word “treat.” If you’re looking to throw a party in its honor, pretty much any temperature will do – because algae grows all year ‘round, even during the winter months. But if you’re hoping to give it the kind of treatment that makes it feel extremely unwelcome, you’ll see the best results when water temperatures are at 50 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

Filed under: Algae Control, Algae Defense, Benefits of Owning, Chara (Algae), Pond & Lake, Pondweeds, Season-Long Control, Uncategorized, Water Clarity, Water Quality, Winterizing | Tagged: , , , , , | 3 Comments »

What causes fog to form on the pond during the fall? | Pond & Lake Q&A

Posted on September 30, 2011 by thepondguy

When you make the decision to add a water feature to your backyard, the positives are countless. They’re calming. They’re beautiful. They’re satisfying. They’re challenging. And sometimes, they’re downright educational. Today’s post falls in the latter category. And for the next couple of paragraphs, we’ll discuss your pond’s potential as a weathermaker.

Filed under: Aeration, Algae Control, Benefits of Owning, Fish, Fountain, Pond & Lake, Season-Long Control, Turnover, Uncategorized, Water Clarity, Winterizing | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

I’m going to use my pond for skating over the winter. What do I need to do to store my aeration system? I’m going to use my pond for skating over the winter. What do I need to do to store my aeration system? | Pond & Lake Q&A

Posted on September 19, 2011 by thepondguy

One of the great joys of a backyard pond is its four-season versatility. After three seasons of aesthetic satisfaction, there’s nothing better than strapping on a pair of skates and hitting the water when it hardens up for the winter. But before the temperatures drop, your aeration system demands some seasonal attention.

Filed under: Aeration, Algae Control, Benefits of Owning, Carbonate Hardness, Emergent Weeds, Pond & Lake, Pondweeds, Season-Long Control, Turnover, Water Clarity, Water Quality, Winterizing | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

What is carbonate hardness and why does it matter? | Pond & Lake Q&A

Posted on September 2, 2011 by thepondguy

Carbonate hardness is a measure of the amount of calcium and magnesium present in water. As it turns out, these elements are vital to the health and well-being of certain fish – including trout, koi and goldfish – because of their ability to neutralize acids in water and stabilize healthy pH levels.

Filed under: Aeration, Benefits of Owning, Carbonate Hardness, Pond & Lake, Uncategorized, Water Clarity, Water Quality, Water Testing | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

The leaves are just starting to fall..I see netting for water gardens to keep the leaves out, do they make anything like this for large ponds? | Pond & Lake Q&A

Posted on August 26, 2011 by thepondguy

When fall comes around, leaves and ponds seem to have a magnetic attraction to one another. And while netting is available in essentially any size you might need, it’s a cumbersome solution for larger ponds. Simply spreading the netting over a large pond is a major undertaking– and the impracticality of installing posts throughout your pond to keep leaf-covered netting from sinking makes other solutions look much more attractive.

Filed under: Aeration, Benefits of Owning, Cattails, Duckweed, Emergent Weeds, MuckAway, Pond & Lake, Pond Clear, Season-Long Control, Uncategorized, Water Clarity, Water Quality, Winterizing | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

What is the difference between algae and Chara and how should I treat them? | Pond & Lakes Q&A

Posted on July 20, 2011 by thepondguy

To an entomologist, the differences between a cockroach and a termite may be a subject of profound fascination. However, to a homeowner, they’re both insect problems. If you have them, you sure as heck want to get rid of them – and the sooner the better.

Filed under: Aeration, Algae Control, Algae Defense, Chara (Algae), Muck, MuckAway, Pond & Lake, Pondweeds, Season-Long Control, Uncategorized, Water Clarity, Water Quality | Tagged: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

There are rakes, razors, cutters…skimmers…is there a difference and which works best to clean the pond? | Pond & Lake Q&A

Posted on July 14, 2011 by thepondguy

Yes. You could sweep your garage with a toothbrush. It’s possible. Some people – who have a much lower tolerance for dirt than most – might even do it. But when the time comes to do the job, you’re much more likely to choose a push broom, or better still, a shop vac. Why? Because they’re the right tools for the job. The same principles apply when you’re cleaning your pond. If you pick the proper tool, the job will be a lot easier – and much more effective.

Filed under: Algae Control, Benefits of Owning, Cattails, Chara (Algae), Duckweed, Emergent Weeds, Phragmites, Pondweeds, Sago Pondweed, Uncategorized, Water Clarity | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

We just purchased a house that had a pond, it hasn’t been taken care of, where do we start? | Pond & Lakes Q&A

Posted on July 6, 2011 by thepondguy

If you’ve ever adopted a stray pet, you already have a general sense of what it’s like to become the keeper of a long-neglected pond. Like the stray, the pond probably looks like it’s been reclaimed by nature: rough around the edges…

Filed under: Aeration, Algae Control, Algae Defense, Cattails, Chara (Algae), Emergent Weeds, Fish, Fish Kill, Muck, Pond & Lake, Pond Clear, Pondweeds, Sago Pondweed, Season-Long Control, Uncategorized, Water Clarity | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

What’s the difference between MuckAway and PondClear? What’s the difference between Muck Away and Pond Clear? | Ponds & Lakes Q&A

Posted on June 29, 2011 by thepondguy

As pond owners know, there is a bit of the teenage boy in Mother Nature. She thinks nothing of dumping leaves, pollen, sticks and other organic material in your ponds, clouding the water and mucking up the bottom.

Filed under: Algae Control, Benefits of Owning, Muck, MuckAway, Pond & Lake, Pond Clear, Pondweeds, Water Clarity, Water Quality | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

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