Water Gardening

JOHN - JOHN - JOHN - How many times have we toad you to COOK the frog's legs first?!?!?

Frequently asked questions:

What makes you such an expert on fish?

Experience is the best teacher. My wife claims I've killed more fish than Long John Silvers. I have two display ponds I maintain and have now converted my wife's in ground swimming pool into a koi habitat. I left her the diving board, but she won't swim with my koi.

How do I get rid of the green water in my pond?

The proper filtration system is primary. A biological filter using lava rock or other media that has a large surface area will act as a site where bacteria can grow and break down organic waste in the water. I sell the filters, but I also help people who are trying to invent something economical from parts they already have. I'm easy.

I've done all the above and I still have green water.

Sometimes a pond is not moving enough water in the pond to encourage the growth of aerobic bacteria . This is bacteria that requires a lot of oxygen in the water to grow. A simple air bubbler added can clear up some pesky long term problems.

What chemicals do I need to add to my pond?

Most of our pond customers use two products every spring and they think I am a water genius. The first product is Pond Balance. It adjusts your pond water. How? I do not know. It is a tightly held manufacturer's secret. The second product is a must for any pond. It is bacteria. All naturally occurring ponds have bacteria. You need the correct strains in your pond to keep it clean. We sell three or four brands. Some work faster and some control algae longer.

How do I get rid of string Algae?

Use Pond Balance in the spring and use it every thirty days as directed. Also use Healthy Ponds Bacteria. It is a freeze dried product which by itself cleaned up the pond in our store in a three month period of time.

How do I get my baby fish to survive their parents?

Let the string algae grow in a pond and it will allow the baby fish to hide in it. The problem is that you are constantly cleaning your water fall. I have stuff for that too (A tool and a chemical product.)

How do I keep the Raccoons and other critters from dining on my fish?

Put out a radio with soft music. The critters will have nice music to dine by. Or you can turn some concrete foundation blocks on their side in the bottom of the pond to create a hiding place.

Frogs are eating my fish what do I do?

Get a wide mouthed net and a strong flashlight. You point the light right in the frog's eyes at night and they will remain still while you net them. I use a 4-10 gauge shotgun.

My pump is not working can you fix it?

I repair a lot of smaller pumps just by taking them apart and removing whatever is wrapped around the impeller. We sell Danner Pondmaster Pumps. They are low wattage usage. They are easy to repair and they have a good replacement policy on their products. I solve a lot of pump and hose issues for customers. Most of the larger upright pumps go bad when a bearing goes out. The top bearing in a pump will go out if you have a lot of back pressure do to a resticted flow in your biofalls or if you are using too small a hose for the pump. I am not able to work on the larger pumps.

Do you sell replacement bulbs for ultraviolet lights?

Yes. We stock some and can get overnight service from our Des Moines based pond parts wholesale supplier. They sell about 12 different lines of UV lights and other supplies that I can get my hands on. With the internet there are a lot of products out there, but sometimes there aren't people who know how to fix problems.

How do you grow a lotus?

I grow them in a floating pot. They are a little on the pricey side, but they work. At the end of the year I drop them to the bottom of the pond and retrieve them the next spring. You need to repot them with fresh soil underneath or they won't do well the next year. Observe how they are growing in the pot the previous year and you will be able to figure out how to repot them. Nature is a great teacher.

Do I have to use pond soil?

Regular potting soils have too much peat moss in them and will kill certain plants, especially lilies faster than a honey bee on her way to a picnic.

How do I over winter tropical water lilies?

After a couple of freezes find the tubers, remove them from the soil and wash them. Store them damp sand in a zip lock bag at 50 degrees. Check them periodically for dampness. Pot them up and return to the pond in the late spring or early summer when the water temperature reaches 70 degrees.

What water plants do you sell?

We grow most of the plants we sell including water hyacinths and water lettuce. These are not hardy, but are our number one seller they float on the water, send down roots and soak up any extra water impurities. Good price 3 for $10.00.