Shine Some Light on Your Backyard Pond

While you might think pond lights are just for decoration, they can actually serve a greater purpose in your backyard.

Usually, people who invest in pond lights and spotlights are hoping to add a focal point to their backyard pond.

In the evenings when it gets dark, it’s still important to let your pond act as the center of attention. You invested a ton of your time and money into creating your dream backyard water garden, so you should definitely want to show it off!

Floating pond lights and underwater lights are often used for this purpose. They can create an attractive feature that personalizes a backyard pond while also adding color, pattern and light. By using a combination of different light sources, you can illuminate your pond and your water features.

However, pond lights are actually more useful than you may think. They offer a layer of protection to your guests and your pond. It’s important that everyone in your backyard is aware of where your pond is and maintains a safe distance. Pond lights help keep your guests and your pond safe and sound. 

The lights can also help to keep unwanted visitors from attacking the fish in your pond. Animals will be less likely to try to get too close to your pond if it is well lit. 

What types of pond lights are available? You can choose between a wide variety of above-water and underwater pond lights:

·         LED pond lights

·         Fiber optic pond lights

·         Mini pond lights

·         Brass pond lights

·         Waterfall lights

·         Egglites

·         And more!

Nighttime is one of the best times to enjoy your backyard pond. Make sure it looks its best with the right combination of above-water and underwater pond lights for your backyard.

Why Do I Need a Pond Pump for my Water Garden?

If you’re backyard water feature is a small water garden, you might be wondering why a pond pump is necessary. You don’t have fish or a large amount of water, so what good can a pond pump do for you?

Filters do the water cleaning, but without a pump, much of your water would remain dirty. A pond pump can do the following for your water garden:

Circulate Water 

Circulation is vital to water garden health, even with minimal fish, plants and water. If your water isn’t circulating, it can’t all be cleaned. With a pond pump, your water will circulate, which allows your filter system to clean all of your water equally and efficiently. Water circulation also creates healthier water in itself. By allowing movement, you can avoid stagnant water in your garden.

 Limit Bacteria Growth

Water gardens can be especially susceptible to unhealthy bacteria growth due to shallow water and extreme temperature changes. To reduce unwanted bacteria without harming your plants and fish, use a pond pump to keep water moving and distribute extreme temperature areas.

Assist Filtration

In summer and fall seasons, extra leaves and debris can enter your filtering system. With a pump for your water garden, you can screen out larger items before they reach the filter. Give your filter a longer life with a pump and connecting pipe that screens out large debris.

Drive Water Features 

If you have a waterfall or fountain feature in your water garden, you’re likely using electricity to power it. With a pond pump, you can not only circulate water, but also add water flow to your garden features. Circulate more efficiently by using one device to both improve the cleaning and water power of your garden.

Water garden pumps  can clean your water and power circulation efficiently. To be sure your backyard pond has the pond supplies necessary to stay healthy, contact Pondliner.com.

Top 5 Tips for Keeping Cool in the Summer Sun

Summer is about to be in full swing! Is your pond ready? While you may know the basics of summer pond care, it’s important that you pay attention to all the hazards your pond faces when the sun starts to shine.

Check out our top five tips for keeping your pond cool in the summer:

• Avoid overfeeding your fish – Overfeeding your fish in the summer months can cause poor water quality in your backyard pond or water garden.  During summer your fish become more active and can even go into “overdrive.” They grow faster and eat more, which increases the amount of waste production. Monitor how much you feed your pond fish to avoid impacting your water quality and pond filter. 
• Add more oxygen – By using your pond filter, you can help increase oxygen production in your pond, which is essential in the summer months. As your pond warms up, it can lose its ability to hold oxygen. Using a filter can add aeration to your water garden and reduce build-up of armful gases.
• Control mosquitoes – When the surface of your pond is constantly moving, it’s much more difficult for mosquitoes to start breeding. How can you achieve this? Use a waterfall, fountain or other pond decoration to keep the water in your pond from settling. 
• Protect your fish from predators – If you live in an area where your fish could be in danger, consider investing in pond covers or nets to cover shallow areas in your pond. Protecting your fish is vital to truly enjoying your backyard pond. 
• Sunblock your goldfish – Yep, your fish are susceptible to the sun, just like you. On days when the sun is strong, consider using water lilies or rock overhang to keep your fish out of direct sunlight.  Short on resources? Even a small summer umbrella will do the trick!

The summer months are the very best for enjoying your backyard pond. Be sure to follow our simple tips to keep your pond in proper working order all spring and summer long

The Four Easiest and Four Hardest Fish to Keep in Your Pond

When choosing the right fish for your backyard water garden, it usually comes down to preference. However, it may be helpful for you to explore the types of fish that are the easiest to maintain and the hardest to maintain in a backyard pond.

There are a wide variety of fish you can choose to have in your backyard pond, and many of your choices will depend on the size of your pond and climate in your area. Learning as much as you can about a fish species will make it easier for you to find success with any fish you choose.

Decide for yourself if you are up for a challenge, or looking for fish that will sustain with little maintenance by checking out our list of the four easiest and hardest fish to keep in your pond.

Four Easiest Fish to Keep in a Pond

1. Goldfish
2. Koi fish
3. Golden Orfe
4. Mosquito Fish

Four Hardest Fish to Keep in a Pond

1. Red lobsters
2. Killifish
3. Blue Channel Catfish
4. Pingi Logsucker

Understand that this list is not comprehensive and that you may find ease at keeping any of these fish. There are many factors that should go into choosing fish for your pond. Take the time to learn more about fish species before you decide so you can make the best choice for your fish pond.

*Image courtesy of JoshBerglund19 via Flickr.

Disaster Zone! Dealing with Pond Damage

Whether from Mother Nature or unwanted guests, if your pond has experienced damage, you need to understand your options.

A backyard pond is meant to be one of the highlights of your home. Keeping your home protected from muskrats, beavers, turtles, weeds and muddy water is just part of the job. But, if you know how to effectively deal with these unwanted problems, you can continue to enjoy your pond for many years to come.

Beavers, Muskrats & Turtles, Oh My!

In many states, animals can be a serious problem for pond owners. These pests can kill fish, damage your pond pumps and block your drain pipes. In some cases, larger animals can even cause pond banks to collapse and leak.

The best way to remove these unwanted pests is to contact a licensed trapper and have them remove the animal from your yard. It may be difficult to prevent animals from coming back, but the best way to avoid unwanted house guests is to maintain your pond. By trimming away weeds and keeping your grass mowed, these animals will have nowhere in your yard to hide and they will seek shelter elsewhere.

Muddy Water

The first step to cleaning a muddy pond is to eliminate the source of the dirt. Commonly, muddy water can occur when there is a runoff of dirt and debris seeping in from areas around your pond, when animals get in your pond, or from fish unsettling the bottom.

Dealing with these issues is simple, once you know how to eliminate the source of the dirt and debris, you can simply clean it up and enjoy. It may take a while for your pond pump and filter to restore your pond to its healthy appearance, but once it does your pond should be good as new.

If your pond will not clean out naturally, you may need to check that your pond filter is working properly and help things along by using a treatment recommended by your pond supplies store.

Be prepared for any pond damage by stocking up on essentials from Pondlliner.com. Shop today.

*Photo courtesy of James Preston via Flickr.

What Makes Backyard Ponds So Beautiful

A backyard can oftentimes be an overlooked part of your property. However, if you take the time to turn this area into the paradise you’ve always dreamed of, you’ll never have to go far for a vacation from your everyday.

So how do you begin to transform your backyard into an area you truly enjoy? Add a backyard pond!

Backyard ponds allow you to transform your property into your own personal oasis. And since you can customize your pond to suit your specific yard, you can rest easy knowing your backyard paradise is unlike any other in the world.

What makes a backyard pond so beautiful is that it’s something you made to fit your exact specifications. Want a cascading waterfall? Done. Want trickling streams with beautiful stones? You can do that too. Here at Pondliner, we are the experts in pond development, and we offer all the pond supplies you need to create a backyard pond to suit your vision.

Some of the features that can be added to our backyard ponds include:

• Fountains and Aerators
• Pond lights
• Water garden accessories
• Aquatic plants
• Goldfish and koi
• Misting systems

The best way to create a backyard pond that will complement the look of your yard is to take your existing yard into consideration. Think about the elements that already exist and develop a plan that works with them. For example, trees and shrubs can integrate into your design and provide your backyard pond with much needed shade. And if you need help along the way, our experts are happy to offer a helping hand.

Now is the perfect time to create the backyard you’ve always wanted. Contact one of our pond experts or browse our site to get started today.

*Image provided by osseous on Flickr.

Are You Taking Full Advantage of Your Backyard Pond?

Summer is the perfect time to get the most out of your pond. Whether it’s a traditional water garden, a koi pond or a disappearing waterfall, warm weather practically begs you to sit outside and enjoy your creation.

Some people make the mistake of building their pond and then basically forgetting about it. They never alter its design and rarely gather around it. In fact, they pretty much ignore it unless the water needs to be cleaned or a rock has come loose.

Avoid this all-too-common mistake by adopting some of our great ideas for how to make the most out of your backyard pond this summer:

• Have a barbecue. Everyone enjoys grilling out, so have your friends over for a backyard BBQ. That way you’ll spend time in the yard and people can enjoy the beautiful pond you’ve created.

• Host a bonfire. Nighttime can be a great time to admire your pond. Have a bonfire in your backyard so people can sit around long after the sun goes down. This can be a great opportunity to use those new pond lights you purchased, too.

• Set up a seating area around your pond. When setting up your backyard, you want to create seating areas just like you do inside your home. Make sure one of these areas is near your pond to encourage family and friends to sit by it and enjoy its soothing sounds, beautiful colors and lively ecosystem.

• Switch things up. One of the best ways to keep yourself interested in your pond is by changing it up once a season. And these changes don’t have to be drastic. By simply adding a few new plants, rearranging some rocks or changing the type of fish you have, you can keep things interesting season after season.

• Purchase new pond supplies. It can be as simple as a new accent piece, or as complex as an entirely new water feature. No matter how extravagant or simple you decide to go, purchasing new pond supplies is a great way to get yourself excited about your water garden.

This list is only the beginning. Use it to spark your imagination as you come up with new and exciting ways to take advantage of your backyard water garden. And don’t forget to submit pictures of your creations! Our pond gallery is bursting with pictures from customers who have created some truly fantastic ponds. Add yours to the collection today.

Calling all DIY Enthusiasts: Purchase a Pond Kit Today!

Are you a true do-it-yourself enthusiast? Do you read up on DIY blogs and spend all your free time watching HGTV and TLC? Do you love the feeling of completing a project all on your own?

If so, we have great news for you. Your do-it-yourself nature can be used to build your own backyard water garden. Many people think that a pond needs to be installed by a professional, but that’s not the case.

Here at Pondliner.com we can help you create your own backyard masterpiece. We have the pond supplies, step-by-step instructions, pond calculators and helpful reference articles you need to build a healthy, fully functioning pond.

However, we also understand it can be intimidating trying to choose the correct pond supplies in the proper amounts. That’s why we sell an entire line of fish and koi pond kits. We have pond kits for all different sized ponds, and we even have a line specifically for beginners – the Happy Koi Pond Kits. No matter what skill level you’re at, you can find a pond kit that has the resources you need to build your own backyard water garden.

Browse our complete selection of pond kits today. Find the one that meets your needs, and get ready to start building your own backyard water garden. Before you know it spring will be here and you’ll be able to start creating a great new addition to your yard.

Find Answers to Your Water Garden Questions: Visit our Pond Reference Section

Whether you already have a backyard water garden, or you are considering installing one this spring, now is a great time to start planning. Spring is the perfect time to build a pond or give your current water garden a face life. Once the weather breaks you want to be ready to get down to work, so it's important to properly plan and prepare ahead of time.

There are many helpful tools available on the Pondliner.com website to help you plan the perfect pond. Our Water Garden Reference section is filled with tons of articles that cover important topics such as:

• Water garden pump types
• Adding new fish to a new pond
• Adding water to your pond
• Pond aeration
• Pond liner installation
• Keeping your koi healthy
• And many more

As the weather turns warmer and we begin leaving winter behind, one of the articles you may want to specifically reference is our "Spring Start up Guide." It has everything you need to know about getting your pond up and running. It can help you determine which pond supplies you need and what you need to do to get your pond off to a healthy start this spring.

In addition to informational articles that cover just about every pond topic in the book, our Pond Reference Section also features all kinds of pond calculators. The most popular is the pond liner calculator. It helps you accurately measure your pond volume so that you know exactly how much pond liner you need.

Visit our Pond Reference Section today to access all our great tools and read up on helpful industry tips. Getting ready to create the perfect pond starts now!

*Image provided by Valerie Everett on Flickr

Happy Thanksgiving from Pondliner

This holiday season, we at Pondliner would like to say a very sincere thank you for your business. We know you have a lot of options, and we appreciate you choosing us as your pond supplies retailer.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving with family and friends. We'll be doing the same. Check back with us after the holidays to make sure you have everything you need to get your backyard water garden ready for winter. The cold weather is almost here, and we want to make sure your pond life if fully prepared for everything it is going to bring.

Once again, thank you for your business, and we look forward to being your pond supplies retailer for many years to come.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Get Inspired by Beautiful Garden Pond Pictures

If there’s one characteristic all pond owners share, it’s their ability to truly appreciate beauty.

Backyard water gardens are made with a combination of natural and artificial materials, but the end result is always something aesthetically pleasing and 100% beautiful.

Whether you’re building your first pond or searching for new ways to enhance your current one, one of the best ways to find inspiration is by seeing what other pond enthusiasts have done. Scouring the Internet for pond pictures can be a bit overwhelming, so Pondliner.com decided to dedicate a section of its site to collecting and sharing beautiful garden pond pictures.

Our Pond Gallery is filled with pictures sent in from hundreds of satisfied customers who have created beautiful garden ponds using pond supplies they purchased from us. We have everything from tiny backyard water gardens to expansive fish ponds featuring an array of impressive water features, lush foliage and other artful accents.

If you’re looking for beautiful garden pond pictures, there’s no better place to go than the Pondliner.com Pond Gallery. Some customers include descriptions with their pictures that detail all the pond supplies they used, while others simple send in pictures and invite you to enjoy their creations.

We’re thoroughly impressed by the stunning backyard ponds our customers created, and we’re sure you’ll find them equally inspiring.

Take a look at our garden pond pictures today. See what fellow pond enthusiasts are doing with their backyard water gardens, and send in a picture or two of your own. We’re constantly expanding our Pond Gallery, and we’d love to add your creation to the mix.