Monday, January 20, 2014

Creative Water Gardens And Koi Ponds New Jersey

By Marissa Velazquez


Water gardens provide a sense of serenity, a place to relax and meditate. The first decision is size and placement. Adding waterfalls, fountains, streams, or bridges adds visual appeal. Enhance the experience with lighting to accent a waterfall, or light a walkway. With careful planning and construction, a water garden can be transformed into a Koi pond. Koi ponds New Jersey design and construction specialists can help you create the custom pond of your dreams. Most offer ongoing services to maintain the unique ecosystem required for the health of the fish.

Monthly upkeep includes monitoring water chemistry, topping off water, cleaning skimmers and filters, servicing pumps, skimming debris and leaves, trimming and maintaining plant life. Seasonal maintenance prepares the pond environment for weather changes. If regular and/or seasonal maintenance is neglected, your beautiful and expensive Koi could die.

Mutated carp showing red and white splotches appeared in Japan in the mid 1800's. The farmers were intrigued. They began a selective breeding program encouraging the development of mutated colors. Today's Koi display over 100 different patterns. Koi hobbyists gather in local clubs to exchange information. Meetings often include lectures, tours, and Koi shows.

Twenty full grown Koi will require 2000 gallons of water. Pumps must be properly sized to circulate the entire volume of pond water at least once an hour. An ultraviolet sterilizer helps keep the water clean and clear. A de-icer keeps a hole in the ice and oxygenates the water.

If a pond must be under a tree, install a skimmer and take extra care to clean leaves from the pond. Provide fish with a sunny area and a shady haven. Test regularly for chlorine levels, pH, alkalinity, hardness, salinity, nitrate and nitrite levels, phosphate, copper, and oxygen. Consider scheduling at least seasonal service with a professional service to be sure your pond is healthy.

Ponds should be at least 2' deep, 4' to deter attacks from raccoons and minks. Birds like Great Blue Herons and Kingfishers find Koi a tasty meal. Discourage with lily pads and spraying scarecrows. If these birds are common in your area, consider a design that can be covered with a net.

The aquatic plants you choose will depend on the geographical location. Most plants prefer a specific environment, both in terms of sunlight and water. Some like shallow still water, some like deep water, some grow best in moving water.

If you're designing your own pond, consider hiring a professional design service for a consultation. Don't rush to build a pond then discover it can't support the population of fish you desire, or filters and pumps aren't adequate to maintain the pond environment. Be sure your design will be a safe and healthy environment for the fish.

Hiring a professional firm to create your unique vision is a great way to create that relaxing place you will enjoy and your friends will admire. With a professional service that has built hundreds of Koi ponds New Jersey, you can be sure the ecosystem will be designed to meet the health needs of the fish. Your professional service can also maintain, repair, clean, and upgrade your system.




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