A pond is a stunning addition to your yard. With the fish, water features, lighting, and other features, adding a pond can turn your backyard into a relaxing oasis! Plus, by adding vibrant pond plants to a pond or water garden will make it look even better! At Castle Aquatics, we believe that plants should be an integral part of any water garden or pond. However, not all pond owners know how to properly add plants to their pond in order to receive the best natural balance and easiest maintenance and care.

Why Plants Are Imperative In Ponds

Many people are unaware of the essential role plants play in a pond. Plants are imperative to a healthy pond ecosystem in a variety of ways. Each plant brings a variety of benefits to the table, and by knowing what benefits certain plants bring to your pond can help you add the right amount to garner the best benefits. Plants play a variety of roles in maintaining a healthy pond ecosystem like:

OXYGENATE THE WATER

Plants are known to raise the oxygen levels of your pond’s water. A pond with higher oxygen levels is healthier for fish and it reduces the need for oxygenators, artificial bubblers, and other aeration products in your pond or water garden. Ponds with lower oxygen levels increase the chances of the pond’s fish being susceptible to health issues and diseases. In addition, algae thrives in water with low oxygen, which will eventually cause your pond to look filthy.

LIMIT ALGAE GROWTH

While higher oxygen levels in ponds will help reduce algae, there is another way plants can limit algae growth in their ponds. When you add pond plants to your pond or water garden, the plants block sunlight from reaching the deepest areas of your pond. This helps minimize the hideous growth of algae, which can clog up the pond filters and turn the water dark and cloudy. In addition, plants use plenty of the water’s nutrients, which will help reduce algae from forming.

CREATES A NATURAL SETTING

Plants help create a more natural setting in ponds. Plants help reduce the barriers between your yard and your pond as they help create a more natural and organic look to the landscaping. Plants eliminate the need for artificial borders, too.

Castle Aquatics Tip: Try using plants to mask pond equipment, piping, drains, and other artificial structures.

PROTECTS FISH

If you have fish or other aquatic wildlife in your pond, adding the right vegetation can provide them with protection from potential predators. Fish can not only use the plants as a shelter, but they can use them as a natural source of food, too!

NATURALLY FILTERS WATER

Plants absorb the nutrients in the pond water. Because of this, plants play an important role in a natural filtration system that can keep your pond looking beautiful and appealing. Plants that are properly balanced in the pond is a great source for natural water filtration.

Castle Aquatics Tip: Avoid adding overcrowded or dying plants to your pond. This can cause cloudy water and add debris to your pond.

INCREASED APPEAL

Plants are a great addition to any pond. With the interesting vegetation colors, aquatic blooms, and unique growth habits, plants can add visual appeal to your pond, creating a stunning waterscape that can be enjoyed for years!

Picking Plants For Your Pond

One important thing to know about pond plants is that not all of them are right for every water feature. When choosing which plants to add to your pond, there are a lot of factors that should be considered. Certain plants may not be able to adapt to the climate your pond is in. Some plants may not be the right size or shape based on your pond’s style. And, choosing the wrong plants could cause them to die quickly or outgrow the area, clogging the pond and crowding other plants and features. When selecting plants for your pond, consider the following:

Light Levels. How much light do plants need to grow and be healthy?  Is your pond covered by trees, plants, and other structures that block sunlight?

Hardiness. How harsh are your winter months? Will the plants survive in cooler waters? What care do they need?

Food Source. Do the plants act as a natural food source or the fish? Will the fish destroy the pond plants?

Variety. Are you looking for pond plants that blend well together? Are the plants of different shapes, colors, and heights?

Mature Size. How big will the pond plants get? Will the outgrow the size of your current pond?

Different Plants To Choose From

hyacinth, or water lettuce. These pond plants will develop roots underneath the surface of the water and provide shade to aggressive algae formation. Submerged plants can also be beneficial to ponds, as they can improve the water quality and clarity. Bog plants are often used to surround the perimeter of a pond, while water lilies and lotus can add vibrant colors to the area. Of course, you could always design a marvelous pond by adding a mixture of all these plants. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the most common plants you can add to your pond:

BOG PLANTS

Bog plants are usually found at the water’s edge in shallow water as this is where they thrive most. These plants have roots that grow underwater, however their foliage extends above the water’s surface.

FLOATING PLANTS

Floating plants have blooms and foliage that is above the water’s surface, while their roots grow beneath it. Floating plants thrive in moderate to deep water depths.

SUBMERGED PLANTS

Like the name suggests, these pond plants are almost entirely below the water’s surface and acts as an excellent natural filter in ponds of various sizes. Since they need to be submerged, they thrive in deeper waters.

To create a thriving aquatic ecosystem, choose plants from each general type. This will help you find the best vegetation for your pond! Once you find the right plants and have them properly added, you will soon have a stunning and attractive pond with vibrant plants to enjoy!

GET YOUR PONDCARE PRODUCTS FROM PONDMAX

Castle Aquatics Tip: Aquatic plants are a great addition to any pond. They can be beneficial to the overall health of a pond, improving the water quality, water clarity, and algae control. However, adding pond plants are not the only way to maintain the health of a pond or water garden. In fact, the proper pond care products are vital to keeping your pond looking beautiful.

Do you have all the pond supplies you need? Shop at Castle Aquatics for a great selection of pond equipment, like pond maintenance products, pond filtration systems and pumps, garden pond lighting, and so much more! For more information, or to find a local dealer near you, contact our friendly customer service representatives.

Having a garden pond is essentially like having a wildlife habitat in your backyard. As with any wildlife habitat, your garden pond will likely be subject to predators. While it may be impossible to keep every predator away from your garden pond, and subsequently the plants and fish you have in your pond, there are steps that you can take to ensure your pond can be better protected from predators. Here at Castle Aquatics, we have come up with some tips for you on how to protect your pond from predators, as well as the predators you should be most aware of. To learn more about pond maintenance and protection tactics that will help to keep predators away, keep reading!

GARDEN POND PREDATORS AND HOW TO KEEP THEM AWAY

Herons

Herons can be found across the United States, but the most popular heron that you can find hanging out near your garden pond is a Great Blue Heron. These herons can stand at well over four feet tall, and their wingspan is almost six feet wide. They also like to feed on frogs and fish, which makes your garden pond an easy target.

Heron can be territorial, so setting up decoys may be a beneficial tactic for keeping them away. However, people have reported that even with heron decoys near their pond, real heron have realized the ruse and ate the pond fish anyways. Motion detectors that squirt water or turn on a light have been proven to be more effective in scaring away herons, and if all else fails, leaf netting to place over your pond may be the best course of action.

Motion detectors may not be the most effective option for smaller birds that have the ability to swoop down and catch their prey. You can also attempt to place large decoy fish in the pond that would be an easy target that would deter the predator from trying again once they’re unable to get a meal out of your pond.

Racoons

Racoons are likely the most common predator you have to deal with when it comes to your garden pond. Since raccoons are nocturnal, they have the ability to make their way into your backyard at night with nothing to scare them away. Racoons have the ability to swipe at the fish in your pond from the edge of the pond or they may even wade into the pond if it’s shallow enough. The options listed above, the motion detectors and the leaf netting, are likely going to be your best option when it comes to racoons as well. Motion detectors can be great for the summer months, but you’ll likely need to put it away come winter so the water hose doesn’t freeze in the winter months. Netting over your pond for the fall and winter is usually the best way to go.

Other beneficial options for your pond fish is to ensure that they have plenty of places underwater to hide from predators such as under rocks, in deep water or lily pads that will look natural to the pond environment. In addition to keeping your garden pond safe, don’t forget to shop for the tools and products you need to keep up with your garden pond maintenance here at Castle Aquatics!

Water quality is one of the essential factors to the long-term health of a pond or water garden. And, the health of a pond is critical to keep pond fish and plants healthy. In order to maintain pond water quality, especially ones that have fish, a pond filtration system is needed.

THE PURPOSE OF A FILTER SYSTEM

A pond filter system serves two purposes for a pond. First, is to act as a mechanical filter and the second is to act as a biological filter. Each type of pond filter can serve as a mechanical or biological filter for ponds; sometimes both. Before we get into the types of pond filters, let’s take a deeper look into the two kinds of filtration.

Biological Filtration. Just as it occurs in the wild, the biological process of beneficial bacteria also occurs in a pond. When pond fish produce waste, it can eventually turn into nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia. When ponds have improper biological filtration, the waste and bacteria in the pond can reach a point that it becomes creates an unhealthy environment for the fish and other pond inhabitants. Biological filtration utilizes beneficial bacteria to maintain healthy water qualities in a pond.

Mechanical Filtration. Mechanical filtration is one of the main kinds of pond filtration that happens in a pond. In this filtration system separates and removes wastes and solids, such as the ones produced by fish. That said, mechanical filtration strains solids from the pond water going through it, which is essential for the efficiency of a pond’s biological media.

COMMON TYPES OF POND FILTERS

Pond filters help remove algae, dirt, and debris in a pond while also helping it restore a proper balance by adding beneficial bacteria from a matured filter. If you are thinking about buying pond filters for your pond, there are many types to choose from. Let’s take a look at some of the common types pond filters.

Pond Skimmer Filter

A skimmer filter can be effective in just about any sized pond, from 250 gallons to larger than 100 gallons. Skimmer filters are mounted at water level outside of the pond liner. The main purpose of a pond skimming filter is to eliminate debris that falls or is blown into the water of the pond before it sinks to the bottom and decomposes. When debris decomposes, the pond water can become gross, mucky, and smelly. The filter works by continually taking in the surface water off the pond, collecting debris. Pond skimmer filters are a necessary part of a pond filtration system no matter the size of your pond.

Pre-Filter

Pond pre-filters, also known as filter boxes, are specially meant for smaller ponds, anywhere between 200 and 500 gallons. Pre-filters are typically sponge filters that sit in the middle of a pond, attached to the intake of the pond pump. Submersible pre-filters are designed to collect solid materials such as leaves, debris, fish waste, and string algae that is in pond water. Pond pre-filter installation is a cost-effective way to protect pond pumps and help them operate more efficiently by preventing clogs in the biological filter. In addition, pre-filters help ensure the safety of pond fish and other inhabitants by preventing them from being drawn into the pump.

Pressure Filter

Pond pressure filters are mainly used in small to medium sized ponds. These mechanical filters work by forcing water through a filter sponge that collects small debris and particles. Compared to other types of filters, these offer pond owners flexibility and convenience. Since these filters are pressurized they can be placed either above the pond’s water line or buried in the ground, making it easy to hide in the landscaping or behind a waterfall feature. Many pond pressure filters are equipped with a UV sterilizer which is effective at removing algae particles from the water. Most pressure filters also come with a back flush function, which allows for hassle-free cleaning of the filter sponge. Pressure filters work well simultaneously with pond skimmers as they handle the smaller pond debris.

Waterfall Filters

Unlike other pond filters, pond waterfall filters are not pressurized so they need to be placed above a pond’s water level. These filters can be used in any size pond, however small to medium sized ponds tend to benefit the most from the biological component. Generally, these filters will include biological and mechanical filter media to provide efficient filtration for enhanced water quality. Waterfall filters are multifunctional units used to create beautiful waterfalls, rambling streams, or even pondless waterfall features. These filters can help increase the aeration on a pond, making it cleaner and healthier.

UV Sterilizers

Although they technically are not a pond filter, UV Sterilizers play an important role in pond filtration. UV Sterilization is proven to be the safest and most effective method of preventing and eliminating green water problems in the pond. Pond UV Sterilizers help eliminate free-floating organic particles in the water, such as algae, fungi, viruses, and bacteria. This is done through the exposure of high powered UV lighting. The structure of tiny organic material is altered when exposed the UV lighting. UV Sterilizers can benefit any pond, helping eliminate gross green water and waterborne bacteria and viruses. UV Sterilizers are a great addition for pond maintenance, especially if there are fish in the pond.

All these common types of pond filters can help keep a pond clean and healthy. Before you purchase a pond filter it is important to consider the various types of filters, as well as the size of the pond and whether or not there are fish or other pond inhabitants living inside. Perhaps most importantly, you need to ensure you are buying quality pond filters. Cheap pond filters are not only inefficient, they also will not last very long.

If you want the best pond filters for your pond, PondMAX is your one-stop-shop. We carry a wide selection of pond filtration products, such as pond UV sterilizers, waterfall filters, pond pressurized filter, pond filter skimmers, and so much more! PondMAX has all the pond care equipment you need! Shop our selection of pond filters and other pond products.

Your outdoor living space should be just as much of a place of solace as your indoor living space. If you don’t enjoy spending time in your yard, you may need some help in determining what you can do to make your outdoor living space a more enjoyable and comfortable space. In a previous blog, we began a list of the ways in which you can improve your outdoor living space. Today, we will finish our list of ways that you can transform your yard into an outdoor sanctuary, and we will give you a few more ideas on how you can make your garden pond the main feature of your yard. For all of your garden pond needs, including your pond filtration system, lighting, and more, Castle Aquatics can help.

FEATURES TO IMPROVE YOUR OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE CONTINUED

• A Fire Pit – Whether you get a portable fire pit for your yard or you have a fire pit installed as a key feature in your yard, a fire pit is an excellent way to create a warm and inviting atmosphere where people will want to gather and relax.
• Swings – Regardless of the kind of swing—patio swing, tire swing, hammock—even adults enjoy the many different varieties of swings, and adding one to your yard could be an enticing feature that draws you and your family and friends to the yard in order to enjoy the gentle rocking motion of a swing.
• A Deck – if you’d like to really spruce up your yard, instead of having a patio or a small deck off of your home, a deck can be a large, multi-level feature that not only adds beauty to your yard if you choose a deck with a natural wood look, but it can also add to your yard’s functionality by creating a more defined space to place your outdoor furniture and other outdoor features.
• Lights – Aside from the light on the exterior of your home for your yard, you should also consider installing additional lights on features such as your stairs, walkways, and tables. You can even hang twinkle lights between your trees to create a magical look.
• Speakers – Installing outdoor speakers can greatly improve your outdoor space by allowing you to create the atmosphere you’d like with the sound of music. Your guests will love the addition of music to your outdoor space.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR GARDEN POND YOUR YARD’S MAIN FEATURE

Once you decide to add a garden pond to your yard as one of the key features that can improve your outdoor living space, we have a few ideas on how you can place your pond in order to make it your yard’s main feature. In our last blog, we already discussed features you can add to your garden pond in order to make it stand out, but you’ll also need to know where to place your garden pond to really make it your yard’s main feature.

If you really want your pond to stand out, you will want to place it near one of your other key features for your yard. Your garden pond shouldn’t be tucked away in a corner. You can add your garden pond to the middle of your yard or even close to your patio or deck in order to be able to view the pond when you’re at your outdoor table. Placing your pond in the middle of your yard or near other key features can actually add to the appeal of the pond. If your pond is placed correctly, you can add a stone walkway around it, a bridge over it, or you can even place a gazebo next to it to really maximize your ability to spend time near your pond and enjoy it as your yard’s main feature.

A garden pond can be such a beautiful addition to your yard in order to create a more enjoyable space. If you combine a garden pond with some of the other features we mentioned that can help to improve your outdoor living space, you may end up spending more time outside than you do inside. For all of your garden pond needs including your pond filtration system, Castle Aquatics has the garden pond expertise you need. Shop our pond products today!

If you don’t love your outdoor living space as much as your indoor living space, you are missing out on utilizing valuable square footage that’s included with your home. While most people think of their home—the space that is boxed in by walls—as their place of refuge, there’s something that being outdoors can do for people that no interior space can ever provide. What most people don’t realize is that their outdoor living space can be equally, if not more, relaxing and enjoyable as their indoor living space. One way in which you can create an outdoor living space that is relaxing and enjoyable, is to have a garden pond built in your yard. Castle Aquatics can help with all of your garden pond needs, including your garden pond filtration system.

THE PERFECT GARDEN POND

If you’re looking to create an outdoor living space that you love, building a garden pond is a good place to start. Garden ponds can create an enchanting atmosphere for your yard, and it can be an interesting point of conversation when you have guests over. The perfect garden pond could include features such as koi fish, lily pads, a waterfall, rocks, and lights. However, the beauty of creating your own garden pond is the ability to include whatever features you know that you’ll enjoy the most.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES TO IMPROVE YOUR OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE

If your outdoor living space needs a complete makeover, you may want to add additional features to your yard that could really boost your enjoyment when you’re in your outdoor space. Here are some additional features that you can add to your yard in order to improve its functionality and enjoyment:

• Patio Pavers – instead of boring concrete, update your patio to include pavers. Concrete pavers can be found in multiple shapes, sizes, and colors, so you can really get the design you want. You also have the option of choosing clay pavers for a more traditional look or flagstone for an all natural look and feel.
• Furniture – in order to enjoy your outdoor living space as much as your indoor living space, you’ll want furniture that you find comfortable. Having a table and chairs is ideal for your backyard so you can enjoy dinner outside on a warm evening. However, if you really want to relax in your outdoor space, you’ll want to find a comfortable couch and chairs that you can sit back and relax on.
• Trees, Shrubs, and Flowers – If your yard is bare—completely lacking in trees and flowers—you’ll want to invest in some plant-life to add beauty and privacy to your yard. While most garden ponds have some kind of landscaping around them, you’ll want the rest of your yard to have the same magical look as your garden pond.

If you’re interested in having a garden pond installed in your yard, Castle Aquatics can supply you with all of the supplies you’ll need to make your dream a reality. No garden pond is complete without a pond filtration system, lights, and of course food for your fish! Contact Castle Aquatics today to learn more about garden ponds, and stay tuned for our next blog where we will finish our list of ways you can improve your outdoor living space.