Pond Liners Online

A fountain pump is the most crucial part of a fountain, as it is responsible for circulating water, creating sound, and preventing the growth of algae by adding oxygen to the water. The pump you choose is very important for the performance and overall life of your fountain. It is important to know what to look for in a fountain pump and how to choose the one that is best for your size fountain.

Ideally, you will want a water flow of 450 liters (100 gallons) per hour for every inch of width of the stream of water your fountain produces. In other words, if your fountain has a five inch water stream, you will want a pump that delivers 2,000 liters (500 gallons) of water every hour. Large pond waterfalls may require pumps that can handle 7,570 liters (2,000 gallons) of water or more per hour. It is also important to ensure your pump is a good fit for your fountain. This means paying attention to the height of the head, or the distance between the fountain’s basin and the point where water is discharged. You want to ensure that the head on your fountain water pump is higher than the height of the fountain.

For medium sized fountains, the average liter per hour output is between 450 and 900 liters. Choosing the right water fountain pumps can keep your fountain running perfectly for a great deal of time without risking damage from overuse or from splashing.

The pump you choose will perhaps be the most important choice that you make. To ensure the life of your fountain pump, your fountain needs to pump enough water to meet its purpose without pumping so much as to create splashing. Once your pump is installed, proper maintenance is crucial to your fountain.

Always take time to clean the fountain pump and remove any debris from the tubing as well as to remove buildup with a toothbrush. You also want to make sure that the water level in your fountain is high enough for the fountain pump to work. Make certain that the tubing is connected to the pump. Low water levels can cause the pump to make strange noises, while high water levels can cause overflowing. A small rubber kitchen mat can eliminate vibrating caused by the pump making contact with the basin.

Another common problem for water fountain pumps is tubing that does not fit properly. If the tubing is too small, simply place the end in boiling water for a short time and place it over the tube outlet while it is still warm. Upon cooling, it will shrink to form a watertight seal. If the tubing is too large, purchasing a small screw clamp can hold it tightly in place. In short, most fountain problems can be alleviated at home without the need for repairs. The key is to figure out the problem and to take the steps needed to prevent it occurring again in the future. Maintenance is certainly the key to a long lasting fountain.

A fountain pump can be ordered online from Liners Online >>

During winter it is important to stay as warm as possible. If you work outside in the colder months this is vital. You should also be keeping warm if you suffer from any illnesses, or are susceptible to getting seasonal cold and flu. You can get seriously ill if you let yourself become too cold, something which the elderly often do because they fear high heating bills. How can we stay warm during the colder months whilst we are outside and in our homes?

Putting the central heating on will not cost you an arm and a leg if you use it wisely. Use it so that the house is warm as you wake up and get in from work. You will not need to have your central heating on all the time of you do this. You can get quick central heating installation from many companies.

Many people do not wear any slippers or socks on their feet if they are in their home. This leads to heat loss from our bodies as there is no insulation keeping it in. Also think about wearing a thick jumper or hooded top as this can save on heating bills. They are really comfy too. When you are outside wear the appropriate clothing as well. If it is likely to snow or rain, keep a waterproof jacket with you. Make sure your feet don’t get wet either. Ballet pumps are not right for winter.

Keep your home’s insulation in good condition. Thermal insulation should be replaced every 25 years, so if you don’t have any or it is old, think about getting some put in your house. There is likely to be an initial cost but it will pay for itself with lower bills.

You will be warmer this winter if you follow this advice. Your bills will be larger at winter, it is something you have to cope with. You should not need to use it in summer though, so that’s good.

Blanket weed (Spirogyra adnate) is one of the most prolific aquatic weeds known to pond-keepers in the U.K. Blanket weed is an alga, which is very successful at colonising an environment under favourable conditions such as sunlight. If left unchecked this algae can cause serious oxygen depletion in ponds and possible stress to larger fish that find it an obstruction.

To control the proliferation of blanket weed, you need to reduce one of their 3 key requirements; sunlight, nutrients, and a warm temperature. Koi fish keepers will want their ponds to be as warm as possible to stimulate the health and growth of their fish, therefore look at reducing sunlight and dissolved nutrients.

Sunlight penetration can be reduced by providing shade over your pond to reduce blanket weed photosynthesis. A unique, long-term control of blanket weed is to filter out the sun’s rays by adding vegetable dyes to the pond water.

The best advise offered to pond keepers is to aim to adopt the strategy of prevention is better than cure. If you continue to treat blanketweed (which is a symptom of an unbalanced pond) then it will always return, once the treatment has worn off. Instead, try to determine the factors that are the problem in your own pond. If you think it is high levels of nutrients, test for nitrates and phosphates.  Algae will readily absorb nitrates and phosphates to satisfy their need for nitrogen and phosphorous as they grow. These are readily available in tap water or indirectly through fish metabolism.

If sunlight is a factor, reduce this by ensuring there is shade cast over your pond in the warm summer months. Please refer to my previous Pondliners Online blog on adding aquatic plants to your pond to bring a balance to your pond, thereby reducing blanket weed from inhabiting your pond.

Almost all pond keepers will speak of  how rewarding it is to have a pond in their back garden but that their number one annoyance is algae. Common in warmer climates, algae can give the sides of pond liners (or that of a prefabricated or concrete pond) a green, slimy, hair-like coat and even tint the water a dense green. Along with the aesthetic disadvantages, algae can also disrupt the balance of pond water by depleting it of oxygen if left to multiply. But, while algae can give your pond a horrid green-look, it does have an advantage in that it helps your pond appear more natural and provides fish with a healthy food source. Thus, as part of pond maintenance, your goal should not be to eliminate all algae. Instead, it should be to manage its growth to keep the population at a desirable level. Knowing what factors contribute to algae growth, will help you keep a healthy, well-balanced pond.

One factor encouraging algae growth is a dramatic increase in sunshine, which most UK pond owners will be experiencing this summer. A second factor is the nutrient content of water. In a natural setting, fish produce nutrients that are absorbed by plants, leaving very little for algae. However, many garden ponds do not have enough plants growing in them to handle all the nutrients produced by the fish. This causes an excess build-up and produces an ideal environment for algae growth. Whether you are in the process of constructing your pond and want to avoid algae problems once your pond is established or have an existing problem to control, you’ll first want to increase the number of oxygenating plants on the surface of the pond. This is the simplest solution to keeping water clean and clear. You can also reduce direct sunlight into your pond by adding floating plants, such as lilies and lotus, whose leaves provide shade to control algae growth. Add submerged plants that release oxygen to the water. All aquatic plants absorb nutrients and starve the algae. Marginal plants, planted around the periphery of the pond or in the shallow sections of the pond, are also effective in absorbing nutrients and providing some shade.

A further step to reducing the nutrient content in the water, is to make sure you feed your fish only enough food that they will consume within five minutes and to feed them quality fish food, as it will be fully digested, leaving fewer nutrients to pass through the fish into the water.

Don’t be discouraged by algae as the problem is often easily solved if corrective steps are taken.

Protecting the pond liner as well as the plants, fish or wildlife inhabiting your pond are important to ensure their longevity. The top concern of pond owners during warm weather is green algae, which is a symptom of high nutrient levels in ponds.

If your pond level is getting low, don’t panic, it’s natural during summer. Topping up a low pond with tap water adds nutrients just at the time it’s ripe for an algae bloom. Before you know it you’ve got a pool of green sludge that takes the oxygen from the water and blocks out the light to the plants below.

The best advise is to try collecting as much rainwater as possible. It is free from pollution. Not only is this water great for wildlife in your garden, but by diverting it from our drains you could save yourself money on your water bill.

What to do to protect your pond:

1.) Remove any existing blanket weed from the surface of your pond. This takes nutrients out of the system. Use a rake (a leaf rake is ideal) to gently drag the surface layer of algae to the pond edge, and scoop it out. Be careful not to uproot other floating plants. There will be insects and maybe tadpoles caught up in it so its important to leave it on the bank to allow them to wriggle back into the pond. After a few hours, put it on the compost heap.

2.) Allow the pond level to fluctuate naturally as much as possible, and if digging a new pond make a deep area so it will never completely dry out. If you do need to top it up, use rainwater collected in water butts, not tap water. Avoid directing rainwater straight into a pond from your roof, as it will carry sediments that will build up in your pond. Allowing it to collect in a water butt first will let these sediments settle out.

3.) Check that the material you have used for the edging of your pond is covering the pond liner sufficiently enough to be protected from UV rays. The best advice is to install a pond liner, which is UV resistant. Should the water level of your pond drop and the pond liner exposed, you will be grateful you installed a premium quality, UV resistant liner which won’t go brittles and crack in summer.

Did you ever wonder how folks got some of the great shapes for their backyard ponds? You will see them in numerous different sizes and styles, and they look like some professional pool builder spent hours digging and shaping them. Seeing one of these can make you leery about making an attempt to build a pool on your own. After all, you know you can’t design anything virtually as nice, and you wouldn’t understand how to construct it if you did. So what about if I told you that you can have one of these intricately-designed pools without hiring a pro landscape artist? All you need is a powerful back to dig a hole and a preformed pond liner.

Preformed pool liners are made of fish-friendly vinyl or fiberglass and come in numerous sizes, shapes, and capacities. Many of them have their own templates you can use to dig them into the ground, or you can draw around them with chalk. A preformed liner is really more appropriate in tiny applications. Generally they are tough to level, and larger liners have a tendency to be clumsy and heavy to work with. They are extraordinarily sturdy, though, and not likely to leak. They are designed to hold the water in safely and not to allow pollutants to pass through into the water. You will find a range of both stiff and foldable preformed pool liners by searching the web.

There are a number of things you need to think about, however, before attempting to install a pool liner. Look at the way in which the lawn around the area you’re considering for your pool slopes. You don’t wish to end up with plenty of rainwater run-off nor a lot of lawn products, e.g. weed killers and manure, getting washed into your pool where it will kill your plants and fish. While it might be enticing to locate your pool under a tree, you need to keep in mind that tree roots regularly prevent you from digging where you wish to dig. Check to discover if any application lines run through the area you’re considering for your pool.

Preformed pond liners can be expensive to buy, especially if you choose a larger or more complicated model. You can pay a lot for a large, top-of-the-range liner. Of course, you can always start way smaller and add to your water garden feature over time. A tiny 2′ diameter fiberglass pool liner will cost about £100. When buying a liner, you need to know not just the dimensions of the pond liner but also the water capacity and depth. If you plan to have fish in your pond, you will need room for them to swim, a place for them to lie dormant during the winter months, and room to add equipment that will aerate the water for them.

The magic of water has fascinated us for centuries. Virtually all cultures on earth have found a way to incorporate water into their gardens and homes in some way. Garden ponds continue to hold the same fascination today. They bring a new dimension to our outdoor living space and create a stunning focal point in any garden. Ponds lined with a pond liner and constructed with gently sloping edges can also provide an important habitat for wildlife native to the area.

Today, with the availability of modern material such as pond liners, pumps and filters, creating an attractive garden pond is not a difficult task.

Before you begin the construction of your pond, it is well worth the time and effort to design and plan for it. There are five key areas, which must be considered in the planning process. These are the style of your pond, the size, type of pond, position and whether you want moving or still water.

Ponds are often described as ‘formal’ or ‘informal’ based on their design. A formal pond design is one with straight edges and is symmetrical, whereas an informal pond is designed to look natural and is suited. An informal pond design is most suited to those intended to attract wildlife.

The size of the pond is an important consideration and will depend on the intended purpose for the pond and the overall budget. The size of the pond should also reflect that of the garden. If the intention is to stock fish, the pond size and depth are important. For large fish such as Koi, you will need a depth of 90cm (3ft) and a large surface area versus that of smaller fish, which require a pond of 45cm (18in) deep and a surface area of at least 3m2.

The pond type is really dependent on what you want your garden pond for. You may wish to create a pond designed only to attract wildlife. These ponds tend to be informal in style, and require a lot of planting around the edge of the pond as well as in the pond to create a safe haven for wildlife. A wildlife pond must have at least one gently sloping edge to allow wildlife to enter and leave the pond easily.

Ideally a pond should be positioned where it can receive six hours of sunlight a day. Sunlight is important for plant growth. It should also be sited away from trees. The roots of trees can damage pond liners, so avoid placing your pond near them. You also need to build a pond where there is access to an electricity point as most pond pumps and filters require to function.

Then, lastly you need to decide whether you want to enjoy the sound and tranquillity of moving water through a waterfall or fountain. Moving water is also very beneficial to the pond and those that inhabit it, as it helps to aerate the water improving its oxygen level.

Having gone through the planning process, you will then need to decide how to construct your pond. The options are to use preformed moulded plastic, brickwork or flexible pond liners. The flexible liners are the most popular choice for constructing ponds as they allow for design flexibility and are easy to install. There are different types of liners available characterised by their durability, weight, cost and strength. Butyl and epalyn liners are stronger and more UV and weather resistant than PVC liners.

As a garden pond owner there are seasonal procedures you should do to your pond in addition to maintaining it regularly. Regular pond maintenance will ensure the life of your pond liner and pond. By giving the fish and plants, which inhabit your pond the best ongoing care and attention will give you a much better chance of a clear, well balanced pond.

Pond Maintenance

• Take out the de-icer or heater. Put the filter and pond pump back in and turn them on.
• Start feeding the fish again once the temperature reaches 10-degrees Celsius.
• Check the water level. If your fish were in the pond for the winter, add water at intervals to prevent the temperature or the balance of the water from changing too quickly. If you had your fish indoors, add water and balance the water before putting them back into the pond.
• Keep an eye on the algae levels.
• If the water is black, remove at least 1/3 of the water and replace, after getting rid of leaves and any other decomposed organic material.
• Fix up the border area, including pruning shrubs and plants.
• Check the pond netting and repair as necessary.
• If your pond is lined with a pond liner, check that there is no damage resulting in water leakage. If you lined your pond with a protective underlay , installed a good quality pond liner, not put any sharp objects into the pond and protected the edging from animals claws, the risk of a damaged pond liner is minimal.

Now is the time of the year you will be outdoors enjoying the beauty of your garden and tranquility of your pond!

Did you ever wonder how folk got some of the great shapes for their yard ponds? You will see them in many different shapes and sizes, and they look like some professional pond builder spent hours digging and shaping them. Seeing one of these can make you leery about trying to build a pond on your own. After all, you know you can’t design anything virtually as nice, and you wouldn’t understand how to construct it if you did. So how about if I told you that you can have one of these intricately-designed pools without hiring a professional landscape artist? All you need is a powerful back to dig a hole and a preformed pond liner.

Preformed pool liners are made from fish-friendly vinyl or fiberglass and come in numerous sizes, shapes, and capacities. Many of them have their own templates you can use to dig them into the ground, or you can draw around them with chalk. A preformed liner is actually more appropriate for small applications. Generally they are tricky to level, and larger liners are clumsy and heavy to work with. They are very sturdy, though, and not very likely to leak. They are engineered to hold the water in soundly and not to permit contaminants to pass through into the water. You will find a selection of both rigid and folding preformed pool liners by searching the web.

There are a number of things you need to think about, however, before attempting to install a pool liner. Look at the way the lawn around the area you’re considering for your pond slopes. You don’t wish to finish up with a lot of rainwater run-off nor a lot of lawn products, such as weed killers and fertilizers, getting washed into your pond where it will kill your plants and fish. While it could be tempting to locate your pool under a tree, you need to keep in mind that tree roots frequently prevent you from digging where you need to dig. Also check to make sure there are no power lines or piping running through the area you’re considering for your pond.

Preformed pond liners can be expensive to buy, especially if you choose a bigger or more complicated model. When purchasing a liner, you need to know not just the dimensions of the liner but also the water capacity and depth. If you plan to have fish in your pond, you will need room for them to swim, a place for them to lie dormant in the winter months, and room to add equipment that will aerate the water for them.

It is important to prepare the ground properly before laying down the protective pond underlay and pond liner. Thorough preparation will reduce pond maintenance in the long-term and prevent damage to your pond liner. As you prepare the ground for the pond, save any turf removed to fill bare spots in the lawn once your pond is constructed:

• Dig to the decided depth. Ponds with one end shallow and the other end deeper, best meet the needs of wildlife and aquatic plants. Ponds constructed to stock big fish such as Koi should be a minimum of 30-inches deep on at least one end; ponds without fish between 18 to 24-inches deep.
• If edging the pond with stones or other material, dig an outwardly sloping shelf about 8-inches wide by 2-inches deep around the circumference of the pond.
• Angle the sides of the pound slightly outward; about 20-degrees.
• As you dig, keep pond edges and shelves level. Check by resting a carpenter’s level on a straight board laid across the pond.
• If you live in cold areas and plan on stocking your pond with aquatic plant life or Koi fish, dig a small area at least 3 to 3 ½-feet deep at one end of the pond. This will serve as the “deep zone,” where fish and aquatic plants can “over-winter” without freezing. Make sure the area selected is not in the same area you plan to place your pond pump.
• Create a shelf about 8 to12-inches deep on the sides to provide a shelf for plants to frame your pond.
• Once you have finished digging your pond, check for any sharp or protruding twigs, stones, or other objects that could puncture your pond liner - even though you are likely to lay down protective pond underlay before laying down your pond liner.

This is a perfect time of year to start constructing your garden pond. Do you have any other tips to help with the ground preparation before laying down pond liner materials?