Have you ever looked at your pond and thought the water level looked like it had dropped recently?
We get this call quite often. It goes something like this:
Client: I think my pond might leak; the water looks as though it has dropped an inch or two today!
The Pond Gnome: What is it that makes you think the water has dropped and inch or two?
Client: Well, there is a wet line on the rocks over an inch above the water where it was obviously higher recently.
The Pond Gnome: What you’re describing is a “wicking line.” Water can actually move up a rock or concrete surface using the imperfections in the surface through a process called capillary action. Capillary action leaves a wet mark that can be as much as 2” above the water level. This is also how the dreaded “white line” (hard water deposits) is formed, as this wicking line evaporates and leaves behind the minerals from the water.
Often, someone who has not been looking at their pond very closely (I know, how is that possible?) for a while will suddenly realize the water level is well below the coping rocks. The water in an organic water garden is set an inch or two below the membrane system, not the rocks around the perimeter. If those rocks are four or five inches thick, then the water level could easily be 6-8 inches below the top of the coping stones, depending on what type of stone was used and how the pond was put together.
what is the most accurate way to check the proper level of your pond water?
The answer lies within your skimmer. Well, actually, at the front opening of your skimmer, where the debris enters into the skimmer basket is the first place to look. The water level should be ¾” to 1” below the top of the skimmer opening. This maximizes both your pond water level and the skimming action possible for this piece of equipment.
Second, you should first check the overflow pipe within the skimmer box. Your water level should be set between ¼” to ½” below the overflow outlet pipe. Third, if your autofill is not running at more than a drip or drizzle, your pond does not have a leak.
Have more questions about ponds in Arizona? Let us know!
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ROUGHING THE POND IS NOT A FOUL NOT SO SECRET TIPS FOR A CLEAN & HEALTHY POND CONTROLLING PLANTS IN A PHOENIX POND When is roughing (sports metaphor here) not a foul? When it’s your Phoenix pond! Sometimes you just need to get in there and rough things up. Why? Read on… ROUGHING THE PLANTSAquatic plants LOVE our Arizona heat. During the summer, they can get out of hand VERY fast, causing water displacement leaks. Sometimes a more aggressive plant will actually take over a non-aggressive plant and you forget that other guy is even there. So, get in there and be vicious! Rough those plants up a bit and show them who’s boss. Sometimes, you just gotta take them out by the roots, not just trim them up. Thinning your aquatic plants will keep them healthy, and keep your waterways open. ROUGHING THE POND BOTTOMDuring the summer months, it should be a pleasure to actually get into your pond. What better place to garden during 110-degree weather? Scuff around in the bottom of the pond and through the stream to stir up some muck. Your fish will love it because it stirs up food for them! And your system will work better if it can skim out some of that stuff as your stir it up. We recommend wearing water shoes for this activity, as well as rinsing off afterwards before the pond water has a chance to dry on your skin. And don’t forget to empty your skimmer basket afterwards. ROUGHING THE FILTERSWhen your water is particularly cloudy (like after our dust storms during monsoon season), rough up those biological filters. Pull them out and whack the heck out of them against a wall or a fence or even the ground to release some of the grime that’s built up. Don’t rinse them, though, because that chlorinated water will kill the beneficial bacteria that’s built up. You can always sprinkle a little more Beneficial Bacteria into the system just to be safe. Sometimes, your pond needs a little tough love to get back to looking its best. This practice will also alleviate the need for a drain and clean as often. Need some help? Our Pond Pros can give you a hand! OTHER ARTICLES YOU MIGHT ENJOY: NOT SO SECRET TIPS FOR A HEALTHY POND CONTROLLING PLANTS IN A PHOENIX POND ANNUALS IN A PHOENIX POND OR WATER FEATURE September is STILL part of the peak of pond season: waterlilies are blooming, fish are happy, frogs are chilling in the water, and birds are stopping by for a refreshing dip or quick drink. As a lucky pond owner, you know your outdoor living experience is enhanced tenfold when you have a water feature in your yard. To maximize the enjoyment of your water garden, you want to make sure you create a healthy pond environment for your fish and plants. When your pond is a balanced ecosystem, you’ll have less maintenance to perform. Not only that, but your pond water will be clean and clear allowing you to see your fish swim about. The more you understand how your pond works, the easier it will be to create a balanced system that requires very little effort on your part. Go through the following checklist to see if your pond has what it needs to be a truly low-maintenance water garden. Proper Pond FiltrationFiltration is a critical component for your pond. If your water is murky, there’s probably something lacking in the filtration department. First and foremost, your pond should have a mechanical skimmer. This skimmer removes surface debris from the pond before it can sink to the bottom and decay. Once this happens, sludge can build up on the bottom of the pond and wreak havoc with the ecosystem. Aquascape pond skimmers include a basket or net inside making it easy for you to remove leaves, sticks, and other debris that might have floated into the water. A filter pad inside the skimmer helps remove smaller particles that may have gotten through the basket, providing a secondary layer of protection. A biological filter works in conjunction with the mechanical skimmer to keep your pond water clean and clear. The biological filter is used to create the waterfall that cascades into the pond. Aquascape BioFalls Filters contain filtration pads and BioBalls Biological Filter Media. The biological filter uses bacteria to break down pond wastes, converting them into less harmful compounds that can be absorbed as fertilizer by your aquatic plants. If you don’t have a mechanical skimmer and biological filter on your existing pond, you might want to consider add-on filtration options such as a Pond Waterfall Filter, or an attractive Pond Filter Urn. All three can be retrofitted onto an existing non-concrete pond. Adequate Water CirculationWater circulation is another critical component for creating a balanced ecosystem. Your pond pump should be properly sized to circulate the entire pond’s water volume a minimum of once every hour. Aquascape ecosystem ponds incorporate a mechanical skimmer that’s large enough to house a pump. The pump is protected within the skimmer and the filter eliminates debris before it has a chance to reach the pump. Water is then pushed through the pump to the biological filter before cascading over the waterfall back into the pond. The agitation of the water hitting the surface of the pond creates oxygen, which is necessary for the health of your fish. If you don’t have a mechanical skimmer, Aquascape also offers pumps that can be placed directly into your pond. In-pond pumps include a pre-filter cage to prevent debris from clogging the motor. If you’re not sure what size pump you need for your pond, use this handy online pump calculator. Pond Fish PopulationFish are fun to watch, and it can sometimes be hard not to add more of them every year. Their colors and personalities add plenty of interest to your healthy pond. Keep in mind that your finned friends produce waste, which can upset the natural balance of the pond if you overstock the pond. A good rule of thumb to follow is to have no more than 10” of fish for every 100 gallons of water. If you simply must have a lot of fish, add a wetland filter to your pond. The additional filtration from a constructed wetland will keep the ecosystem in check. Fish FeedingsWhen you feed fish more than they can eat, the uneaten food is left to decay in the pond. In the spring and fall, limit feedings to once per day. During summer when fish are more active, you can feed them twice per day. Only feed your fish what they can eat in two to three minutes. Be sure to choose a quality fish food – preferably one that floats as opposed to sinking to the bottom of the pond if left uneaten. Aquatic PlantsIdeally, you should have 40% to 60% of the surface area of your pond either covered or shaded by plants. The large pads of water lilies are perfect for accomplishing this and provide a place for your fish to hide from predators. On hot sunny days, you’ll often find your fish congregated beneath this shady cover. Marginal plants that grow at the edges of the pond add interest and color, but they also absorb excess nutrients from the pond and compete with algae for this food source. Floating plants such as water lettuce will also absorb nutrients. Unnecessary DebrisWhen you see fading flowers and leaves on your aquatic plants, remove them before they have a chance to decay inside the pond. Likewise, pluck floating leaves and other debris from the edges of the pond that might not be reaching the skimmer. It’s always best to remove this material before it has a chance to sink to the bottom of the pond and decay. Water TemperatureWater has a difficult time retaining appropriate levels of oxygen when its temperature reaches over 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Fish need oxygen to survive and if you seem them “gasping” at the surface of the pond for air, you’ll want to add additional oxygen with an aerator or even another waterfall (bonus: more view for you!). Beneficial BacteriaTo ensure a healthy pond throughout the season, it’s a good idea to add Beneficial Bacteria to the pond. Beneficial Bacteria effectively reduces fish waste, organic plant material, sludge, and excess nutrients in your pond. Now that you know the secrets to a clear and clean pond, you, too, can elevate your outdoor living space from mundane to magical! OTHER POSTS YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
WHY DON'T YOU USE CONCRETE? A BACKYARD POND ENHANCES YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE DIGITAL DETOX Keeping a pond healthy is critical to its success. To maintain a functioning ecosystem, a backyard water feature requires occasional plant thinning or dividing, which should initially be done just as the water warms up after winter. This particular backyard water feature maintenance should continue as needed throughout the entire growing season: as long as the water is above 60°F. Thinning out plants as needed keeps your circulation system going and prevents water displacement leaks. Pond plants rooted in rocks on the bottom of an organic backyard water feature spread more vigorously than those confined in containers set on concrete pond bottoms. Once established, pond plants may cover the entire water surface within several years. Such abundant greenery, although lush to look at, inhibits water circulation. This, in turn, reduces the effectiveness of the pond's biological filtration and skimmer system that maintains the clear water in your backyard water feature. When more than 50-70% of your backyard water feature’s surface is covered by pond plants —whether the plant roots have spread naturally or are restricted by pots—it's time to thin or divide them! Mid to late March is prime time to perform this task initially for the year, because pond plants are beginning their growth cycle and will recover quickly. AND, the pond water has warmed sufficiently to be comfortable to step into, but hasn't become so warm that maintenance threatens fish health. Disturbing a backyard water feature stresses your fish, and parasitic activity increases as water temperatures climb. The combination of those two things are dangerous to larger Koi. Smaller Koi and goldfish handle the stress much better. Don't thin plants much during the cooler winter months, when they are dormant, as this could cause them to die back and rot, in turn causing major water quality issues with your backyard water feature. Thinning Plants in a Phoenix Pond Many species of pond plants can be thinned by pulling or digging out the excess, root and all. Wear a sturdy pair of neoprene gloves to protect your hands. You may replant the excess in other areas of your backyard water feature, compost them, give them away or trade them with other pond owners, or simply discard them. Such plants that you might find in an Arizona backyard water feature include Pennywort (Hydrocotyle verticillata), Rush (Juncus sp.), Water Clover (Marsilea sp.), Yerba mansa (Anemopsis californica) and Taro, also known as elephant's ear (Colocasia escutenta). Any of these can become quite prolific if left unchecked. Dividing Plants in a Phoenix Pond Other species of pond plants need to be lifted and divided, similar to perennials. These backyard water feature plants might include Taro's black varieties ('Black Beauty', 'Black Magic', 'Black Ruffles') and 'Illustris.’ To divide a pond plant, carefully dig up the entire root ball (or lift it from its container, if applicable). Remove any excess soil or pond muck so that you can clearly see the rhizomes: horizontally growing underground stems from which new shoots and roots will sprout. Cut and divide the clump with bypass pruners so that each new section is left with at least 3” of healthy rhizome with growing tips. Healthy pond plant tissue will be firm and bright white. Trim and discard any mushy or brown material, which are signs of rot. In addition to the Black Taro varieties, pond plants in your backyard water feature that require division include Canna, Iris, Pickerel (Pontederia cordata) and Water Lily. Re-Planting Plants in a Phoenix Pond Replant rhizome sections in the backyard water feature’s rock bottom, and then anchor them with a handful of pea gravel to prevent your voracious fish from uprooting them, or replant in the dirt containers. For heavy feeders, such as Iris, Taro and Water Lily, you can tuck a slow-release fertilizer tablet next to the roots. Only use tablets formulated for pond plants and follow package instructions. Nutrient overload encourages algae bloom, so don't be tempted to over-fertilize! Not comfortable with doing it yourself? We can help! Contact us at 623-572-5607, via Email, or sign up for one of our No Worries Maintenance Programs. The video below is an excerpt from our Annual Cleaning Clinic on how to transplant an aquatic plant in a Phoenix pond. OTHER POSTS YOU MIGHT ENJOY: MONSOON MADNESS: WHY DOES MY POND DRAIN WHEN IT RAINS? SHADE-TOLERANT LILIES FOR YOUR POND USING ANNUALS IN YOUR POND OR WATER FEATURE The Pond Gnome does not use any concrete, mortar or chemicals in any of our work. Why not? We have several reasons above and beyond wanting to work WITH Mother Nature not AGAINST her. Read on... CONCRETE POND BUILDS ARE RIGID SYSTEMSOnce you pour concrete, you're done. If you ever want to enlarge or change your feature, you will need to completely remove and replace it. You can't add on. You can't change the shape or the size. If a concrete pond cracks (which it eventually will due to the constant expansion and contraction of the earth), it cannot be repaired. Oh, some people will try. They'll fill the cracks with silicone, which will work until the next time the ground shifts. Or they'll paint a black, while, or blue rubber coating over it. That's the best option for functionality, but not very attractive. With a flexible system, you can expand, change the shape, or add on. And we like options. CONCRETE PONDS & BIOLOGICAL FILTRATIONBiological filters are often under-designed (or flat-out non-existent) for concrete ponds, especially if they were not built with living ecosystems in mind. Oftentimes, a landscaper will build a "pond" for someone during a time when they're not considering adding life to it. Or the landscaper just doesn't ask about such things, because they're not a pond specialist, or they just don't care. Biological filters are homes for bacteria and zooplankton in which to live and convert poo (algae gold, but harmful to fish if too concentrated) into plant food. When the filter is under-built, it's much too small to house the required quantity of micro-organisms to convert the excrement load. It usually plugs up before it can even begin the conversion process! Every time you clean it, it reboots the conversion processing, starting over something that takes up to a week just to cycle and get started again. Very counterproductive. 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Every time a fish or turtle defecates, the water parameters change measurably. In fact, zoos have staff specifically tasked with complete water change-outs and cleanings, every week, on ponds with a bio-load that is greater than the regeneration zone or biological filtration to compensate. CONCRETE PONDS FOR BELOVED PETSWe are happy to try and help with these pet tanks, but you'll need to be crystal clear about your expectations for it. If you wish to discuss this further, we would be happy to assess your situation and suggest a pond management program where we help you move forward with your existing pond on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis (depending on how much work you want to do yourself). SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONCRETE AND ECOSYSTEM-DESIGNED PONDSIf you love the ponding hobby and are interested in possibly replacing your existing concrete water feature with a beautiful, living, ecosystem pond, we'd love to chat! If you'd like to see some for yourself first, please feel free to visit any of our public displays, or set an appointment to come by our office/showroom (by appointment) to talk with us. JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF CONCRETE PONDS WE'VE REPLACED:THE ULTIMATE BEFORE & AFTER:OTHER POSTS YOU MIGHT ENJOY: BACKYARD POND ENHANCES QUALITY OF LIFE WHAT IF PEOPLE TREATED RESTAURANTS LIKE THEY DO CONTRACTORS? TOP 10 REASONS YOU NEED A POND |
The Pond Gnome offers Pond Design, Pond Construction, Pond Maintenance, Pond Remodeling, Pond Replacement, and Pond Cleaning Services for the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan area, including the cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Carefree, Cave Creek, Glendale, Peoria, Sun City, and other surrounding communities.
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