Articles About Ponds and Water Gardens

How to create a photo book with landscaping ideas and types of ponds

Aaron Scarlata — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 21:36:00 GMT

If you are like most people today you have 100s if not 1,000s of digital photos tucked away in misc files on the computer. You do not have to be a Landscape Contractor to use photos to your advantage. Many Retailers display inspirational resources all over the place to engage and entice homeowners to dream big and do maybe just one more project.

In the past, photo books were something that involved taking a roll of film to a developer, receive prints, buy a book with clear pages, take hours to insert and possibly label each photo, then pass it around carefully attempting not to lose pages or have photos fall out or worse, the book gets wet.

Today, digital media makes life much easier in many ways and has huge advantages over print media. Create your own digital portfolio to help tell a story of how your company was established, or create a portfolio of what products\services you offer; either way, read how 2 weekends of your time can create a lasting impression, much like a book.

There are several companies online whom offer a create your own photo book platform. Some of our customers have used Blurb, SnapFish and Shutterfly all of which tout they have benefits over the other. In our opinion it is not about which company you choose as much as the style of photo book that best suits your desired look. (See Reviews)

How to begin:

Step 1: Determine what you want the purpose of the book to be

Deciding what you hope to achieve with the photo book is important from the begining as it will help layout the design style, the imagery and the content. Your finished book may be for inspiring landscape ideas, telling a story about your business or what services you offer.

Step 2: Identify who the book is for

Will you be making multiple copies of the photo book for your design staff or will it be used in the showroom floor of your business? Knowing the answer to this will help with printing costs, the quality of print and what type of materials the book should be made of.

Step 3: Capture and collect your photos

It is time to dig deep into your computer files, the hidden USB thumb drives, etc. to collect the valuable photos to help you paint the picture and tell your story. Photos should be of high quality, high resolution, crisp and in focus for best results. Non-digital photography will require extra time to scan into a high-resolution format. This type of scanning can be outsourced if needed.

Step 4: Oraganize your photos

For iMac users, iPhoto can help you organize photos rather quickly. Otherwise create folders with appropriate titles to organize your landscaping photos, your water garden photos, fountain pictures, etc. Showcasing before and after photos are really effective!

Step 5: Tell your story through words

Even though a photo is worth a thousand words, try typing\writing just a short paragraph (3-4 sentences max.) for key photos- not every single one. The important part of copy for photos is to tell something the photo cannot.

Step 6: Select a publisher

There are plenty of options as we mentioned before, so review closely.

Step 7: Have fun creating your photo book

Following the format of your selected publisher click and drag photos dropping them into place in a design style that is easy to read, appealing to the eye (get other's opinions) and has some WOW FACTOR!

Step 8: Proofread everything, then proofread again!

Having a co-worker, friend or someone else you trust read over your photo book is critical, as revisions and reprints can be costly. A special book like this deserves a few times over of proofreading.

Step 9: Play Flip Book

Many of the platforms have page turn commands that allow you to flip through the book as though you have the actual book in front of you- do so, noting any obscure or out of place photos, text and format errors.

Step 10: Check out and wait!

You have completed your book (likely in just 1 or 2 weekends) and are now ready to sit back and wait for your beautiful, inspiring, and absolutely original book to arrive. We imagine after this first time you will be back to create another landscape photo book, personal collage book or even a book telling the story of how your business was started. Remember, have fun!

How water garden distributors can differentitate themselves from their competition

Aaron Scarlata — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:08:00 GMT

This is the time of year many prospects as well as customers begin to evaluate their water garden product line and services offered. So, how much do you know about your distributor competition? You remember the saying keep your friends close but your enemies closer, well this does not have to suggest the entire competition pool is your enemy, but rather see it as companies you wish to keep in your mind and learn from.

Good or bad, knowing your competition and the water feature products they offer will help you see the value in your selected products. We look at the PondBuilder water garden brand comparatively to other water feature brands and realize we have similar pond equipment offerings, but very distinct differences in pond filter and equipment details.

PondBuilder differentiates itself through the product line as it offers GOOD \ BETTER \ BEST or Elite and DiY quality pond supplies. By having a tiered offering the PondBuilder brand remains part of the customer buying process despite pricing and keeps the focus on which water garden kit best fits the project, not if the water garden brand is capable of such an offering and at a fair price. This is an important customer tip.

Evaluate if your products on the shelf give your customers choices of which one vs. if at all. You may be amazed at how well you differ or how much you need to improve depending on the level in which you differentiate from your competition.

Understanding that a competitor's limitations are your best opportunities will help you succeed. Take a look at the following ways to help improve the way in which you offset your business and services.

Can you differentiate yourself from the local competition by doing the following:

1. Make your services more noticeable: What about your company and where do you best represent what it is that you do?

2. Bring your differentiating details to light: Use comparison charts, testing, and key promissory statements to stand out.

3. Engage customers in a unique manner: Incorporate your own newsletter, eBlast, or monthly reward program built around your best offerings.

4. Train your staff toward excellence: Communication skills are key to B2B and B2C business. A simple hello, but in your own unique verbiage will go a long way on how a customer will perceive the quality of your service.

PondBuilder challenges their water garden distributors to take your company a step further down the differentiation road this season. Stand out away from local merchants and definitely the online market place by highlighting the degree in which your services make you the best business to work with. This is a marketing and sales idea you will find needs attention each season.

EPDM Pond Liner and its Chemical Compatibility

Brandt Reynolds — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 19:46:00 GMT

Homeowners, including myself are always looking for ways to save money and keep a few extra dollars in our pockets. Pond owners are no exception especially when it comes to maintenance. Although many of these pond owners are concerned about the health of their fish but when they decide to do there own spring-cleanouts the chemicals they are using could be harmful to the EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) Pond Liner. In contrast, many Installers are also unaware of exactly how many and what types of chemicals can be harmful to the EPDM pond liner.

PondGard EPDM Rubber Liner-

A 'fish friendly' liner that is not harmful to the environment

High flexibility 'holding power' to allow year-round installation
incredible resistence to UV and waterline-weathering
45 mil. rubber EPDM
20 Year Warranty!

A good example of this would be a customer or contractor stepping into the already drained pond in the spring to do the annual cleanout. However, this person was just in the garage or shop where motor oil had been spilled recently and it is on their boots/shoes. Motor oil is very difficult to get off of surfaces as many of us know and that includes EPDM liner. This motor oil left on the EPDM liner can be not only harmful to the fish but also the EPDM liner. In some cases, can even leave a hole in the liner if left long enough to have a sever reaction with the EPDM liner.

This is not meant to cause fear in using EPDM liner because EPDM liner is the best for pond use, but rather to raise awareness and knowleadge. Pond installation and maintenance is very intricate and must be done correctly for care of the fish and beauty of the water feature. Please review this list of chemicals and their compatibility with EPDM liner and keep this in mind the next time you go to maintain or install a pond.

Increase Landscape Contractor Fall Sales with 5 Customer Tips

Aaron Scarlata — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 13:32:00 GMT

For many landscape contractors the fall pond season represents a frantic time in their business. Preparing for seasonal change is important and often critical. Although many of your business models differ we each experience the need to plan ahead, store back some $$$ and keep business rolling well into the winter season.

So as a pond distributor what are you doing today to help your customers succeed in their fall pond season transition? Building your business relationship at the local level may mean having a weekly hot-lunch meeting to discuss new ideas or individual projects, or perhaps invite the Designers in for a meeting to go over the most commonly asked projects by homeowners. A few of our marketing and sales ideas for driving fall business are:

1. Re-connect with old quotes offering 10% off. This kind of offer does two things: it helps give your Contractor some more leeway on his numbers, plus he has another reason to speak directly with the decision makers. You never know if your offer will help unless you try.

2. Provide Inspiration Materials. Use materials that will educate, promote, and lead homeowners through the sales process possibly highlighting the "It's not too late in the season" type of jobs. Contractor Sales Kits

3. Remind Contractors you sell Fall Pond Supplies: Cold Water Bacteria, Nets, Fish Food and other supplies that homeowners will need during the fall transition. Create an offer: SAVE 15% off Fall Service!

(Keep your margins high through a minimum order or products & service packages only)

4. Conduct a Fall Seminar: Proper fall pond maintenance will insure a healthier pond come spring. Offer a 1-hour training on cutting back water plants, cleaning filters, partial pond clean-outs and securing pond netting over the pond, pond stream or waterfall. A few resources for you to use.

5. Run a special on 1-Day Projects: A big seller has been the Mini Cascading Falls, which 2 people can build in 1 day, or how about Fountain Vases or some other Bubbling Feature?

Bottom Drain Science and Popularity on the Rise

Brandt Reynolds — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 13:46:00 GMT

Despite popular belief bottom drains are not just for pools, the growing popularity within the pond industry is leading to new standards for koi gardens and water garden pond installation. The pond maintenance requirements are drastically reduced along with koi health benefits being improved. Bottom drains are not only efficient but can add aeration so the yearly spring pond cleanout practices are less needed. Most contractors are accustomed to this spring time practice and dedicate a lot of money and effort with little time for spring start-up projects. The ability to up-sell on a gravity flow bottom drain along with a pre-filter and an external pump allows landscape contractors to improve profit margins with add-on sales.

Gravity Flow Bottom Drains are only truly effective with proper aeration and proper water flow rate plumbing. Choosing the right size bottom drain for your koi pond project is very important otherwise it will become useless. As a general rule follow these simple guidelines:

An 8' diameter pond requires a 3" Gravity Flow Bottom Drain
A 10' diamter pond requires a 4" Gravity Flow Bottom Drain
Bottom drains are not only efficient but can add aeration and the yealry spring cleanout practices are no longer needed.

Please keep in mind this is a general rule and call your local pond distributor for recommended size and quantity of drains. Gravity Flow drains are recommended to allow for pond water to carry the fish waste and other material to the pre-filter. Adversally, with suction driven bottom drains the water flow rate is increased so much so that fish waste and other material can be broken down not allowing the filter to accomplish proper pond filtration. Bottom drains along with biological, mechanical, and sterilization filtration can make any koi pond beautiful and clean.

Many bottom drains can be installed directly to the skimmer as well. A valve must be place on the inside of the skimmer in order to control the flow rate. However, it is recommended to attach these to a pre-filter to allow for proper filtration and to maximize bottom drain effeciency. One of the most important things to remember when installing a bottom drain it is best to partner with pond aeration as well as a sloped bottom (bowl shaped) to force pond muck to the drain. In closing, pond bottom drains can be a great tool if partnered with the correct pond aeration kit, pond design, and pond filtration

Hosting water garden events for your customers

Aaron Scarlata — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 19:15:00 GMT

Have you ever attended an event and left feeling rejuvenated and ready to conquer the world? Hosting events for your customers comes at great costs, labor and resources, but at the end of the event both you and your customers benefit. Landscaping events can be found all over the world and at different calibers. So what makes a landscaping event successful you ask, well that depends on your objectives.

Many events rally behind tours, designed to showcase landscape projects either created by the host or customers of the host. Selection of sites can be time consuming as the quality of the installation, the willingness of the homeowners and accessibility to the site all come into play. It seems the best projects to showcase are those that most inspire you. If the project is something you liked and enjoyed, it makes it much easier to promote.

If a water garden tour is your preference we suggest you try a few ideas while preparing for your event.

1. Prepare host sites well in advance (months): Maintenance tips for keeping the project looking it's best for the special event is important and if monies allow, this would be a great time to offer a Maintenance Contract.

2. Create an event schedule book: Time lines, maps and write-ups for each site. Pictures and descriptions can go along way especially if you showcase before and after photos.

3. Feed me: You like to eat and if you plan on keeping folks motivated and moving for an entire day, ask your host sites to serve snacks, drinks and of course- chocolates for that sweet tooth.

4. Provide transportation: Although buses or vans can be an extra expense, the valuable face-time is priceless. Play games, ask for site feedback and increase engagement. Otherwise-here's to car pooling and Q&A sessions.

5. Share photos: Create a Dropbox account or a cloud-like file for picture sharing. Facebook works great too!

6. Keep the tour informative and educational: Participants invest time into your tour so handouts and discussions are key. Provide resources, tips sheets and material lists if possible.

Despite all the planning and amazing landscape projects you may have on the tour, the success of your tour will hinge on good host participation and the leadership of your staff to keep things moving fluidly. Have fun, laugh, do something adventurous if time allows and use these moments to promote future events.

The Most Overlooked Piece of Pond Equipment!

Jason Erickson — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:30:00 GMT

A pond pump can only work as well as the plumbing system allows it to. In constructing a water garden, one of the most important and most overlooked pieces of pond equipment is pond tubing. If you do not use the proper size tubing in your pond design, you will not get adequate flow, proper filtration, and potentially burn out your pond pump.

A larger waterfall pump does not always mean more water. You can only fit a certain amount of water through a certain size pvc hose. For example: If you have a pump that is rated for 7200gph you do not want to use a 2" flex hose. You are only going to get about 5400gph coming out at the end of the hose. You would need to use a 3” hose. Yes, it’s more money, but it’s cheaper than replacing a burned out pump. I know head height, elbows, etc. have a factor in the water flow but I’m going to keep it simple for this pond blog.
Here are the figures I use in pretty much all of my quotes.

1"hose= 1500gph 2" hose= 5400gph
1-1/4" hose= 2700gph 3" hose= 13500gph
1-1/2" hose= 3600gph 4" hose= 21000gph

Using the right size tubing in your water garden will make all the difference in the world. The next step after picking out a pump is to pick the proper pond hose. Use the PondBuilder Pond Planner to help you. -Pond Planner

5 Tips To Get Pond Customers to Shop In Your Store Instead of Online

Aaron Scarlata — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:54:00 GMT

Why would today's consumer choose to shop with a main street business vs. the growing and highly competitive online market place?

1. Be the first to judge your storefront by it's cover.

The internet, facebook, and other social forums have made it easier for consumers to do the necessary comparisons well before they step foot one inside a brick and mortar store. Listed are 5 customer tips to help your pond retail store differentiate from the appeal of shopping online.

Does the retail storefront reflect the direction the business is headed? If you sell ponds, try using a display waterfall to sell more. Download the Guide to Building a Cascading Falls.

2. Make it easy to navigate your place of business.

Having clear direction to find your pond department, calls to action, pond tips and specifics called out just so customers notice.

3. A greeting can be worth a thousand words or a quick head turn.

Saying hello is great because online they won't; but try putting a spin on your customer greeting- "How wonderful for you to shop with us today...can I show you what's new?" You are implying your gratitude for their decision to shop and in return offering them value with showing something new.

4. Offer something that an online merchant cannot.

If you are a one-stop pond retailer or distributor you must also sell stone, gravel, plants and possibly fish. Will an online pond supplier put together a deal like "Buy a Pond Kit Receive $200 in Stone"?

5. Suggest In-Store Classes and Education for Individuals or Groups.

As a group, the positive energy increases and the idea of an online forum with avatars all of a sudden becomes less appealing. Start small and eventually the group size will grow from referrals.

If a pond owner can tell the moment they arrive the type of business, the quality of service they may receive and how the environment makes them feel, a retailer may have just that moment to gain a customer for life or lose them to the conveniences of at-home-shopping.

Winter Pond Maintenance: Heaters or Aerators?

Kris Worley — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:53:00 GMT

In the northern climates this is a question that I hear quite often. Do I need to install fish pond water heater or pond aeration equipment? Let me begin by saying if you don’t have fish in your water garden it is not necessary to install either one. An argument can be made that one is more important than the other, however both can keep an area of the pond surface free from ice.

During the winter months your fish are still producing waste and CO2. Decomposition of the fish waste and any organic material during the winter produces harmful compounds that will rob the water of oxygen causing stress to the fish. If water toxicity levels get too high the fish could die. When the pond is not frozen the gasses escape through the surface. Thus it is essential to keep an area in your pond free from ice. Both a fish pond deicer and a pond aerator pump have positive and negative points, so let's take a closer look at both.

FISH POND DEICER: This is the easiest way to keep your pond free of ice. The electric pond heater is designed to heat the area around it, not the whole pond. It will not change the overall temperature of the pond water. Most electric pond heaters are thermostatically controlled therefore it can be plugged in and it will work. The negative side to heaters for a pond is if it gets really cold or windy the space around the fish pond water heater can freeze over creating a dome. It's important to protect the fish pond heater from the wind, and if it gets really cold, check it often to see if it is frozen.

AERATORS for PONDS: The pond air stones do a good job of keeping a space open in the ice. Exactly what is pond aeration? A pond aeration system adds oxygen to the water column. As the air is moving through the water it allows the organic compounds that are in the water to attach and when the bubble hits the surface the gasses break apart releasing them safely into the atmosphere. The negative to pond aerator pumps is the potential for the cool air to super cool the water. During winter months, keep the air stone a foot above the bottom of the pond keeping the warmer water just below the air. If the air compressor is out in the cold air it is transferring that cold air to the pond water. This could cause the fish to die. Consider covering the winter pond aeration system with an insulated cover or put it in a heated building.

Some pond owners use a combination of both a winter pond heater and pond aerator. Just be sure to do one or the other. Lastly, remember a pond aerator can be used for other maintenance projects.

6 Ways to Get Customers Into Your Water Garden Shop This Winter

Jason Erickson — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:46:00 GMT

Before you decide to “shut down shop” for the winter, consider how many of your products could be gifts and the profits from holiday events you could host. Besides, you’ll see some of your existing customers in holiday spirit. Some of these are things I was a part of in the past and some are ideas that I have seen or heard about from other pond retailers along the way. The most important thing is to get people in the door.

Host a winter event. Call it a “winter open house”, a “winter waterland”, a “Koi Christmas”, whatever you want to call it, but this will get people in the door.
Create some gift ideas. Take some pond maintenance products, some fish food, a koi coffee mug, a basket with a bow on it and make a gift basket.
Offer discounts. “Pond Kit 20% Off”
Offer special order items. Have a list of fountains, aquatic plants, and decorations you can order for spring pick up.
Gift cards. They are a staple for every store but why not offer something extra. “One Free Premium 4”-6” Koi in the spring with purchase of a $100 gift card.”
Think local. People love the idea of having something made locally. Maybe you have a local artist that has something to do with ponds or nature. Or maybe you have a local author that will come in for a book signing.

The main goal is that you want people to come to your store and stay at your water garden shop. Make it inviting, put up holiday lights, put out decorations, put on holiday music. If you have a water garden display area, keep those ponds running. Change the colors of your garden pond lights to green and red, and have a fire so the kids can roast marshmallows. The longer they spend in your store, the more money they are likely to spend. But to do that, you have to find something that will set you apart from every other Christmas store. Be creative, have fun, and make some money!!!

Learn about being an Authorized PondBuilder Retail Store.

Late Season Pond Project Idea for Contractors

Aaron Scarlata — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:42:00 GMT

Winter may cause snow to fall, but it doesn't have to cause your revenue to fall too!

The holidays are a great opportunity to market fountain installs. Rock columns, bubbling rocks, or mini cascading falls are easy to install, can run all winter, and can be done in a day or less. Since these projects don’t take a lot of time to install they can be easily scheduled around the weather.

Statistics show that small water features are on the rise in demand. People don’t have the time required to care for larger features, but want the beauty and calming affect of water. The small water feature fits the bill perfectly. Small features don’t require much care and winterizing is a “snap” if needed. Often these types of features can be run all winter long. Simply add some biodegradable antifreeze to the water.

Try offering some sort of Holiday sale or a early Christmas gift promotion. Many pond suppliers are offering “End of Season Specials” in order to move inventory. This would allow you to offer discounts to your customers and still keep your margins. Some people might object to the timing but if they wait, prices are sure to go up. Not only will the customer get a better deal, but you will get some extra cash flow going into the winter.

Here are some selling points you can use:

Install before next year to get a lower price
More time to commit to details in the construction. Avoid spring rush.
Less volatile weather.
Can be ran all winter long.

Click here to shop for ornamental fountains now.

How to Grow Your Pond Business on the Internet

Krista Moon — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:18:00 GMT

We all know the state of our economy. To say we are struggling right now is an understatement. Your pond business is most likely down and your budget is tight. You need to find a way to drive growth in 2012, but investing in anything new doesn't seem like an option right now.

Growth for a pond supplies distributor means selling more and growing the customer base. There are a variety of ways to prospect for new customers: advertise, network, cold call, online marketing, etc. If a potential new customer is interested in doing business with you, no matter where they heard about you, what is the first thing they are going to do? Check out your website.

55% of all local searches are done with the intent to buy.  
80% of all local searches result in a phone call or visit to the company and
60% of those result in a purchase.

Will your prospects be able to find you online? When they get to your site, will it add value to them as they are working through the decision-making process?

Your website is the most cost-effective tool you have to grow your business. Studies show that investing $1 on traditional marketing activities (print ads, cold calling, tradeshows, etc.) returns $11. That is not too bad, and may be enough to keep a company afloat. However, studies also show that investing $1 on inbound marketing (online networking, driving people to your site with meaningful content, getting found and ranking high on the search engines, etc.) returns $60. That is a big difference!

It may be time to change your marketing strategy. The old ways are becoming less effective. Consider reallocating some of the budget you have earmarked for the same old traditional marketing things you always do to investing in technologies and techniques that can have a greater return and get you better results.

Don't know where to start? Check out this webinar by HubSpot, the #1 resource for internet marketing education.

How to Grow Your Business on the Internet with HubSpot CEO Brian Halligan:

You will learn:

How to use your website to attract leads and customers
Tips for using search engines, blogs, and social media to get found online
How to measure what's working and what's not in your marketing efforts.

To success in 2012!

p.s PondBuilder is in the midst of launching our own inbound marketing strategy. If you would like to talk to us about it or brainstorm for your own company, contact us anytime!

How To Find a Leak in a Pond

Aaron Scarlata — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:53:00 GMT

Most water gardens are considered "closed systems" because water is recirculating vs. constantly coming in and out. That means there are only a few ways water can actually escape.

If you think your pond is leaking water, you can perform a leak test, which uses a process of elimination to help you locate the problem area.

How to Perform a Leak Test

Step 1: Answer these questions:

Does your waterfall pump have a PVC check valve or backflow preventor?

Does your pond have a waterfall filter box with the plumbing coming directly into the bottom of the filter chamber?

If you answered yes to the two questions above see steps below, otherwise proceed to Step 3.

Step 2: Check your waterfall box and connections, underground plumbing, and check valve.

Turn the recirculating pump off.

Ponds with check valves and waterfall filter boxes should remain full when turned off. If the waterfall filter box does not remain full, make sure the check valve is working properly, restricting water from entering back into the pond. A faulty check valve will make a gurggling sound indicating that water is escaping the plumbing and typically re-entering the pond back through the pump itself. If so, you must repair the check valve or buy new to continue the leak test.

Note: A temporary solution to a faulty check valve is to insert a plug or cap over the plumbing, and fill the waterfall filter manually to determine if the plumbing holding or leaking under the ground.

If the waterfall filter level remains constant at the brim of the waterfall box, then:

a. Your waterfall box itself and connections hold water and are ok.
b. Your plumbing underground is ok.
c. Your check valve and any plumbing outside your liner are ok.

Step 3: Check your pond liner and mechanical pond skimmer connection.

With the pump off, fill your pond to your normal and desired level.
Mark the water level with a coin. Set the coin on a rock just below the water level - if the water drops below the coin, it will be dry, if not, it is shinny enough you can see it and the water above it.
Keep pump off for 12-24 hours, take second reading.

If your pond remains full with no water loss then:

a. Your pond liner is ok.
b. If you have a mechanical pond skimmer installed then the sealed connection is water tight and ok.

Step 4: Check your waterfall stream.

If your waterfall, the plumbing and the pond all hold water while the pump is off then there is only one other way water can be lost. Water loss can occur when the pump is on and water is in motion. This is typical around the sides of a waterfall or the sides of a stream.

Note: 99% of all leaks occur due to settled liner or water being diverted over the liner's edge. Rarely are holes in a liner the culpret to a pond losing water, especially if a pond has held water on a consistent basis prior to the occurance.

What to look for when you have determined the area of the possible leak:
a. Concentrate on the left and right of each waterfall area.
b. Visually identify all edges of the pond liner along the waterfall or pond stream.
c. If possible, reach behind the waterfall liner feeling for moisture.
d. Identify chipmonk tunnels or areas where rodents may be interfering.
e. Inspect noticeable areas where rocks have shifted.

Good luck!

Prevent Wall Waterfall Equipment from Breaking

Kip Northrup — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:00:00 GMT

Get the Right Retaining Wall Waterfall Equipment

Spillway Boxes: Look for spillway boxes that are made from durable materials like 18 gage stainless steel. Some spillways are made from a thinner steel or acrylic glass, which may warp or break under the weight of heavy blocks or from freezing and thawing in seasonal climates. Also look for a model that is an all-welded design, which will ensure that the unit does not leak.

Pumps: It is a good idea to put a pump sock around your pump. Pump socks act like a second filter to keep debris from being shot up into the waterfall. Without the sock, leaves and debris can get lodged in the spillway box, disrupt the waterfall, and prevent it from flowing in a smooth sheet.

Basin: The basin needs to be full enough to prevent the pump from running dry. Over time the water volume will drop with evaporation, so water will need to be added. There are two basic basin designs on the market today: a rectangular model and a half-circle model. The rectangular model will hold more water and keep adequate water levels longer. An auto fill kit can make maintenance easy by automatically adding water when the levels get too low. You can install auto fill kits by hooking up to a water line like an irrigation system or a standard garden hose.

Plumbing Connections: Another consideration when evaluating retaining wall waterfall kits is if the threaded connection between the plumbing and the basin is on the left or the right. Some models only have a single point connection which can limit installations, and other models have access points on the left or the right of the basin for more flexibility in design.

Self-Draining: Getting a system that is self-draining makes winterizing as simple as removing the pump for the winter. Some systems require you to blow the system dry or even remove it every winter to prevent damage from freezing and thawing.

The easiest way to install a retaining wall waterfall is to purchase a complete installation kit. These kits come with all of the necessary wall waterfall components, and generally take less than a day to install

How a Retaining Wall Waterfall Works

Kip Northrup — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:57:00 GMT

A beautiful yet simple way to add the aesthetics of water to your surroundings is to build a retaining wall waterfall. The water flows out from the stone in a nice, smooth sheet and into a basin below. These wall waterfalls can be easily added to any block wall structure and are a great alternative to fountains. They can be used to adorn a garden, pool, outdoor living area, or even a home or business foyer!

Easy Pondless Waterfall Maintenance

Kip Northrup — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:50:00 GMT

Pond-less waterfalls have re-circulating water that cascades over natural rock formations and disappears into a hidden water reservoir, similar to a water fountain. You can set the pump on a timer so it only runs at certain times of the day. They are perfect for homeowners who want the sights and sounds of a waterfall without the maintenance of a pond.

These cascading waterfalls can vary in size depending on the amount of space you have available. You can purchase pond-less waterfall kits with all of the equipment you need for easy installation.

The bulk of pondless waterfall maintenance involves regularly replenishing the water reservoir so the pump doesn’t run dry and removing any debris to keep the pump from becoming clogged.

You can easily prevent debris build up by adding a sludge and slime remover to your routine maintenance. This water treatment dives deep into the crevices of your pond and penetrates the hard to reach areas with beneficial bacteria that removes sludge from the bottom of the pond. It also helps to reduce sludge buildup or clean the dark soils from the beach area of your pond.

What to Know About Routine Pond Cleaning

Kip Northrup — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 12:42:00 GMT

Ecology Matters!

The well balanced water garden happens when plants and animals in and around your pond function together to maintain their own health and vitality. Balance your pond’s ecosystem to let nature work to decrease your time and effort required for maintenance.

You can help balance your water garden ecosystem by choosing a wide variety of plants to reduce algae and create a more natural look. Prevent run off from lawn fertilizer and insecticides that can cause large algae blooms. Pull or cut away over growths of algae, and keep pond and skimmer free of debris. Decaying debris, such as uneaten fish food or leaves at the bottom of the pond, increases unwanted nutrients that alter the pond’s chemical make-up.

Routine pond cleaning includes intermittently adding water to replace water lost through evaporation and skimming the pond to keep it free from debris. You will also need to occasionally add water treatments to keep the water clean and clear. Plan to spend a little extra time at the beginning of each season to get your water garden ready for the next environmental changes.

Do This When Building Koi Gardens

Krista Moon — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:38:00 GMT

Koi were developed from the common carp in the 1820s by the Japanese and are called the “jewels” of the water garden because of their bright colorings. They are friendly fish that like to enjoy a special hand-fed treat. Traditional koi ponds are usually planned for a depth of 3-6 feet and serious koi enthusiasts favor larger ponds for their fish.

Koi are pets that can live 30-50 years (or as long as 200!) and require special equipment and care. The pond is their home that you will need to vigilantly maintain in order to keep them thriving. Small koi only a few inches long are usually start at $10, but koi that are three feet big and have what is known as a “good lineage” could cost anywhere between $60,000 and $300,000 each!

A koi gardens have different requirements than other water gardens. To build a successful, thriving garden, do these three things:

Build a koi garden in an area that has plenty of shade. Koi prefer filtered light and will acquire better coloration than if they are subjected to direct sunlight.
Install an aerator, which is a piece of equipment that is used to add oxygen to water. Koi gardens are often deeper than the average garden pond and require more oxygen and better circulation. Aeration will ensure adequate amounts of oxygen for koi during the warmer months as well as the long winter.
Invest in a high quality filtration system. Koi prefer muddy, dirty water and they tend to stir up soil at pond bottoms, causing turbid water quality. Good pond filtration will help to keep the pond clear

Keep in mind that koi gardens add additional costs to the tradition water garden. It may be beneficial to hire a professional koi pond installer to help you build a healthy home for these new pets.

Pros and Cons of Building a Fish Garden

Kip Northrup — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:55:00 GMT

Advantages of a Fish Pond

Fish contribute to your pond’s ecology, and can improve the general health of your pond.
Fish love mosquitoes, so can solve the problem of those little pests maturing in slower moving parts of your water flow.
Visual effect of the bright colors of most common pond fish is like adding moving pictures over a pretty print.
Fish are easy pets – you might have to feed them, but you never have to take them for a walk, and they’ll never, under any circumstances, use your home as their potty!

Disadvantages of a Fish Pond

Increased expense to install a deeper pond and purchase the fish and supplies.
Cost of food and time to feed is ongoing.
Increased maintenance time , such as deicing during winter months so the pond doesn’t freeze over entirely to allow for gas exchange.

Top Rated Pond Equipment Features by Professional Installers

Kip Northrup — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:54:00 GMT

One hundred professional installer contractors and retailers were polled to find out the top features and benefits that pond products need to have to be successful. These features contribute to the friendliest, easiest to install, longest lasting products available for pond construction and maintenance.

Products That Blend In

To give your water garden the most natural look, use pond equipment that blends in easily with the landscaping. Some waterfall boxes come with a landscape lid that can be rocked or mulched over, or planted with live plants. Without a landscape lid, you'll be looking straight at a black plastic box at the top of your falls. Some pond skimmers also offer a natural stone faux lid to blend in naturally with the surroundings vs. a black lid that sticks out.

Prevent distortion

Low-quality waterfall boxes and pond skimmers will get distorted over time from the dirt compacted around it. This can make it difficult or impossible to fit the net and mat (filtration media) back inside the filter. Worse yet, if the filter is distorted the lid might not fit back onto the filter at all. Look for products that are made from thick, high quality materials and are engineered with gussets and ribs to provide structural support that prevents distortion.

List of Pond Equipment Needed to Build a Watergarden

Kip Northrup — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:50:00 GMT

Water Garden kits come complete with the equipment needed to build a pond and waterfall. They include liners, skimmer, waterfall box, pump, and plumbing. Here is a list of pond equipment you will need to build a pond and waterfall:

A. Biological Waterfall Box - Filters harmful waste and toxins from the water, keeping your water garden clean and clear.

B. Black PVC Flex Hose – Carries water from the skimmer box back up to the biological waterfall box. It is much easier to install than rigid PVC.

C. Aquatic Plants – Plants can be placed throughout the pond or along the pond’s edge.

D. Fish – Add fish to create an even more dramatic display.

E. Rocks & Gravel – Provides additional surface area for beneficial bacteria to colonize, and protects the liner from harmful UV rays and damage from animals.

F. High-Efficiency Pump – Pump sits in back pump chamber protected from clogging by nets and filter mats.

G. Mechanical Skimmer Box – Simplifies routine maintenance by removing floating debris before it sinks to the bottom of the pond.

H. Protective Underliner – A non-woven protective underliner fabric forms a soft padding for the liner.

I. Fish-Friendly Rubber Liner – Super strong 45-mil EPDM liner is the best choice when building a water garden. It is very flexible and conforms to a pond’s curves and slopes.

Easiest Way to Build a Pond and Waterfall

Krista Moon — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 13:27:00 GMT

Most people associate the soothing sounds of waterfalls and streams with relaxation and calm. There is nothing more peaceful than gazing out to a beautiful landscape with the sounds of nature surrounding you. You can easily bring that feeling of serenity into your own home or office by incorporating a water garden into your landscape design.

The easiest way to build a pond and waterfall is to purchase a complete water garden kit. The kits are available in a variety of sizes and specifications, include a waterfall, and come with instructions and all of the equipment you need to create an exciting water feature indoors or out. You can install them yourself or hire a professional landscape company.

There are 3 types of water garden kits to choose from:

Watergardens with Waterfalls

Water gardens are typically small and relatively shallow, around 18-24 inches deep, and have a gravel base. Watergarden with waterfall kits usually come in three sizes: small, medium, and large.

Small water garden kits are great starter ponds and typically 100 square feet (approx. 1000 gallons) and 18-24 inches deep. They can be built quickly and used as a lead in to a larger pond later if desired. If you want fish in your small garden pond, note that it will not sustain large fish or large quantities of fish. Kit price range: $750-$1000.

Medium water garden kits are typically 180 square feet (approx. 2,500 gal) and 24-30 inches deep. They support larger goldfish populations and a few small koi. The greater surface area provides more room for plants and creativity, making the design more flexible. You can have a medium pond professionally installed in 2-3 days for less than $5,500, making it the most popular size pond kits . Kit price range: $1,200- $1,600.

Large water garden kits can typically be up to 550 square feet (approx. 7,500 gal) and 3-6 feet in depth. The greater water volume promotes a healthier pond ecosystem, and the depth offers more protection to fish from predators.

Large water gardens require more of an investment of time and dollars for installation. They can be professionally installed in 2 or more days for between $3,500 to $10,000+, depending on how large and intricate you want your pond design. Kit price range: $1,500- $3000.

Pondless Waterfalls (A waterfall without a pond)

have re-circulating water that cascades over natural rock formations and disappears into a hidden water reservoir, similar to a water fountain. You can set the pump on a timer so it only runs at certain times of the day. They are perfect for homeowners who want the sights and sounds of a waterfall without the maintenance of a pond.

These cascading waterfalls can vary in size depending on the amount of space you have available. You can purchase pond-less waterfall kits with all of the equipment you need for easy installation.

Retaining Wall Waterfalls

A beautiful yet simple way to add the aesthetics of water to your surroundings is to build a retaining wall waterfall. The water flows out from the stone in a nice, smooth sheet and into a basin below. These wall waterfalls can be easily added to any block wall structure and are a great alternative to fountains. They can be used to adorn a garden, pool, outdoor living area, or even a home or business foyer!

Fish Safe Pond Liner vs. Roofing Liner

Kip Northrup — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 15:22:00 GMT

One of the most common questions we receive is whether it is okay to use roofing liner for ponds instead of fish-safe liner. I see the draw to using roofing liner due to the reduced cost but it is not worth the risk. Let me explain the difference between the two and why it is wise to only use Fish-Safe pond liner.

The main difference between roofing liner and Fish-Safe pond liner is the formulation of ingredients. In either case, certain ingredients are interchangeable but will result in the same final product. The use of one ingredient over another is determined by current market price of the ingredients. However, one or more of these ingredients may be toxic to fish in the form of leachates.Fish-safe pond liner cannot contain any of these ingredients. This means stricter quality control and the manufacturing being limited to the use of only those ingredients which have proven to be safe.

Another difference between roofing liner and pond liner is that roofing liner is treated with antibacterial compounds and the pond liner is not. The roofing liner has the treatments necessary to keep fungi and other pollutants from growing on the roof surface breaking the liner down prematurely whereas the pond liner needs to promote bacterial growth as a benefit to the pond.

This in no way means that a piece of roofing EPDM is unsafe for fish, but it does mean that there is no guarantee that it IS safe. The use of roofing liner in a pond that will house fish is a crap shoot that could get expensive, in more ways than one, if all your koi and goldfish get sick or even die.Furthermore, tearing the pond apart and replacing with a fish-safe liner is going to cost much more than doing it right the first time.

3 Benefits Indoor Water Gardens

Krista Moon — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 19:36:00 GMT

Water gardens can be found in suburban, city and rural communities, but are they for aesthetics or function? Long before water gardening became popular for raising fancy koi or ornate goldfish, they were used for function. Including a water feature in a courtyard garden or within the typical framework of a home has been practiced by landscapers and engineers for centuries.

During the recent batch of extreme heat and temperatures rising well into the 90s, I watched my neighbor use the water from his garden hose to cool the air entering his house. He took advantage of his front door facing west and western winds by anchoring his garden hose to a column of his house with a rope so that the water sprayed just past the first step of his front door. Water cooled the air entering his home, giving him an alternative to the constant drone of an air conditioner and spinning electric meter. I sighed and wondered why I hadn't thought of that first.

3 Benefits of an Indoor Water Garden:

Adds humidity to a home in the cold, dry winter
Helps keep a home cool in the summer
Brings the beauty of nature into a home

Indoor water features can be built using the same materials as koi ponds, garden ponds or even Formal Falls features.

If you have an indoor water garden, use the comments below to share your experience!

6 Steps to Protect Your Pond Fish During Extreme Heat

Krista Moon — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:44:00 GMT

Hot tamales and chili peppers might be a summer favorite for some, but this week’s high temperatures are enough to scare any fish and their owners into some air conditioning. As the Midwest feels the heat wave it is important to keep tabs on your pond environment. During high heat spells, ponds battle heavy evaporation rates, increase in photosynthesis and warmer water temperatures than desired by most fish. Because the earth’s surface temperature will also rise, both direct sunlight and indirect sunlight ponds will feel fluctuations in temperatures during high heat.

Protect Your Fish From Extreme Heat

Shade your pond from strong sun rays. Reducing sunlight keeps single-cell algae from blooming or turning your pond green. Either a pond dye or pond netting can be applied over the pond during longer periods of high heat to lessen photosynthesis.
Add Pond Aeration to help stablize water temperatures.

Aeration circulates top surface water with cooler low flowing water. Aeration includes an air compressor on the outside of the pond and an air diffuser located near the bottom of the pond. Either air stones or air membrane diffusers allow the diffussed air to enter into the water column of the pond increasing the amount of dissolved oxygen in the pond. Dissolved oxygen levels increase with aeration which means your fish will stay active and healthy despite spikes in sun and temperatures.
Conduct 10% water changes to balance warmer and cooler water temperatures. Removing and adding water can be done every 24 hours. Avoid sudden temperature drops by adding water within 10 degrees of the current pond water temperature. Rule of thumb = raise temperatures by 1 degree per hour. Too much cold water can be disasterous.
Condition your water with a pond de-chlorinator during water changes. Insuring the pond water is free of Chlorine will keep the fish’s slime coat thick and healthy.
Cut back on fish feeding. During high heat time periods reduce high protein food intake so your fish will eat more algae which is easier to digest and will produce less waste.
Add your water treatments, beneficial bacteria, and debris control substances in the early morning hours to reduce the risk of oxygen depletion.

Protect your pond the best by incorporating an Autofill device which will maintain fresh water levels all of the time, even when you are at home on your favorite couch, in the air conditioning, enjoying your fish from afar or from your very own pond webcam. Adequate water levels will protect the pond pump, your filtration and most importantly your fish health.