What happens with my fish in the winter?

Leave them in the pond. If you have cold water tolerant fish (e.g. Koi) and your pond was designed and installed correctly, they will be just fine under the ice until it thaws in the spring.  Now, you can’t just forget about them completely.  You will need to do a couple of things to ensure their health and survival.  First of all, do not feed them when the water temperature drops below 50 degrees F.  The food they eat can sit in their digestive system, begin to rot, and be very harmful to them.

Later Summer Pond.  Koi looking for food.

As the temperature continues to drop and before the ice forms, remove as many leaves and other organic matter as you can (e.g. other plant material and sticks), and install a bubbling pump and deicer / pond heater.  These are added to ensure that an opening remains in the ice at all times.  Why is this important?  Your fish will continue to produce waste (e.g. ammonia), and we need to get that out of the water.  They also require dissolved oxygen which they consume, along with remaining organic matter in the pond that is decomposing.  The opening in the ice is critical to the gas exchange of the ammonia leaving and the oxygen entering.

When installing the winter bubbling pump, be sure to not place it on the bottom of the pond.  When the ice forms over the pond, the water that is at the bottom of the pond is the warmest and this is where the fish will hang out.

During the winter, be sure to check on the openings in the ice, especially after a snow storm or a lot of wind with blowing and drifting snow.  If the opening becomes covered with snow, be sure to remove the snow by lightly shoveling it away.

The pond just after the storm.  Deicer and pump need to be uncovered.

Your fish greatly appreciate the attention you give to them, and you will get to enjoy their company again in the spring.

Visit our website www.AquaticInnovators.com for more information and be sure to share your winter experiences with pond fish or contact us with any questions. We can be reached by email at Shawn@AquaticInnovators.com or by phone at (608) 373-7040.  Have a great day!

Winter Pond Care to Ensure Survival of your Fish and other Aquatic Life

Winter truly has set in here in the New Year of 2014 in South Central Wisconsin.  During the last couple of days we have had a little bit of snow fall (about 1 inch) with a lot of wind and quite a variety of temperatures.  Yesterday we had a high of 31 degrees F, today was maybe 9 degrees F (at midnight, then down from there), and tomorrow the forecasted high is going to be around -12 degrees F (Wind-chill around -50 degrees F or lower).

With the wind and snow fall we have had there has been quite a bit of drifting of the snow.  That drifting can have an impact on your pond and your Koi and/or Goldfish.  How is that?  The drifting can create a cover over the opening(s) in your pond that are supposed to be keeping your fish happy and healthy.  The drifting snow can block the opening(s) in the ice responsible for allowing the gas exchange of oxygen into the pond water and ammonia out of the pond water thus decreasing the water quality for your fish and other aquatic inhabitants.

What should you do?  Take a moment to really look at your pond and the "De-Icer" and the opening that should be created by your "winter" pump and de-icer.  Make sure there is an opening that will allow for the necessary gas exchange.  If there is no opening, carefully shovel off the snow above the de-icer and/or pump to create the opening that will allow for the exchange. Do Not "Bang" or "Pound" on the ice to create an opening.  Doing so is not good for your fish.  Your fish and other aquatic inhabitants will be happy for that oxygen.

Enjoy your winter.  Be sure to contact me with any questions at Shawn@AquaticInnovators.com.

Your Invited - Pond & Water Feature Tour 2012 - with Moonlight Tour - Saturday July 28, 2012

Please join us for our Pond & Water Feature Tour to see a variety of different water features in the area.  This is a perfect opportunity to see these features in person, meet their owners. and learn more about the enjoyment of owning a water feature.

Aquatic Innovators, LLC is hosting the Pond and Water Feature Tour on Saturday July 28, 2011, rain or shine, 9am to 5pm to show off some of the ponds and water features we have built, renovated, or perform maintenance on. We are also using this event to raise money for a local non-profit organization, Friends of Noah, WI. Please visit their website (www.FriendsofNoah-WI.org) to find out more about them.

A Moonlight Tour of select locations is part of the event. The Moonlight Tour includes water features with underwater lighting and will give you the opportunity to see the ponds and water features after dark. The underwater lighting gives the water features a whole new look, showing how you can truly enjoy your pond or water feature 24/7.

Hours of the Moonlight Tour are: 9pm to 11pm

Tour locations are throughout Rock County, Wisconsin: Janesville, Milton, and Beloit.

Cost: $8.00 (12 and under are Free)

Tickets will be available NOW at:
Wild Birds Unlimited, Janesville
Dave's Ace Hardware Stores in Milton & Evansville

Water features at the properties include Ponds (large and small), Bubbling Vases, and/or Bubbling Stones.

Please join us and take part in the tour. Doing so will help out a local non-profit organization, give you an opportunity to see a variety of ponds and water features, and meet other pond and water feature enthusiasts. You just might end the day with some new friends.

Contact us with any questions/comments/suggestions via email at: Shawn@AquaticInnovators.com, or by telephone at 608-373-7040.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  2011 has come and gone in a flash.  At this time last year we already have plenty of snow on the ground, while this year we are still waiting for our first big snowfall.  We had our first batch of babies in our newest pond this summer.  The population grew from 10 to at least 25 (the little guys sure know how to hide in the rocks).  We are maxed out on fish.  The babies are really growing fast.  Our dogs and even the cats love to watch the fish swim around.  As of today, many of the babies are already almost 3 inches long - still not sure which ones are the parents though.  I am sure the babies prefer the warmer water during the summer, but spring will be here soon.  The pond is currently about 1/3 frozen over which is hard to believe for the start of the new year.

Thank you all for a great 2011 and we look forward to talking and working with you in 2012.  Happy New Year!

What the heck is an IonGen™?

Spring is just around the corner! The warm weather we are having is giving me spring fever. Yesterday I was walking down a sidewalk and I caught the smell of dirt. It was a great reminder of what is soon to come. I am sure there will be a few cold spells and several inches of snowfall yet, but the days are getting longer and the sun is warmer. Pond season is soon upon us.

 

We are preparing for the season and getting ready to prepare and start up the ponds again. We will be trying out a new product this year for tackling our algae control throughout the season. It is called the IonGen™ System by Aquascape, Inc. The IonGen™ System has been available to the public for over a year now. The reviews have been great. Any issues that came up during the prototype period prior to being available to the public, and any that came up over the past year have been addressed. Following is a description and picture of the new system from Aquascape, Inc.

 

Electronic clarifier for ponds and pondless waterfall systems. Simple to install.

 

  The Aquascape IonGen™ is a water clarifier solution for ponds, Pondless Waterfalls, and other decorative water features. The IonGen™ drastically reduces pond maintenance and provides crystal clear water without the use of chemicals. A microprocessor inside the IonGen™ control panel causes the outermost atoms of copper, silver and zinc to lose an electron, creating a positive ion. The positive ion attempts to flow from one of the Probe's bars to the other and is swept away by the flow of water where the ion can begin to treat the water. The IonGen™ Probe is self cleaning, using reverse polarity to prevent scale and debris build-up on the Probe's bars. The metal alloys in the Probe are scientifically blended and tested to produce maximum results. The IonGen™ System is safe for fish and plants and is not toxic to any animals that may drink from the pond.

Iongen System by Aquascape, Inc.

•  Features:
• Treats up to 25,000 gallons
• Less than $1/month in electricity
• Includes: 2" PVC tee, control panel, 6 watt transformer, 1 Probe, Copper test strips.

If you are interested in purchasing one of these units for your pond, give us a call. Based on the reviews from others that have used this system, this will be a great addition to the system, and drastically reduce the time you need to spend maintaining your pond. We will update you as the season gets into full swing to let you know how it’s working. Feel free to contact us at 608-373-7040, or Shawn@AquaticInnovators.com if you want to know sooner, would like more information, or with any questions.

 

Enjoy the rest of the winter, and get ready for spring.

 



Winter Pond Maintenance

Winter Pond Maintenance Items

Maintaining Proper Water level, De-icer's and Pump's, and Debris Net’s/Basket’s and/or Pre-Filter’s

Reminder - DO NOT bang on the ice to create an opening in it. This is harmful to your fish due to the sound waves created by the banging. If you find that your pond has frozen over for some reason (e.g. power outage, equipment failure), contact us for some ideas to safely open it up.


1)  Maintaining Proper Water level - Check the water level and add more as needed.


This is especially critical if you have a skimmer with a pump inside and it is operating as it normally does during the warmer months. Where does the water go? Water will continue to evaporate, albeit at a much slower rate than during the summer. Also, as ice forms across the pond and throughout the stream and waterfall, less water is available. Small water losses have a larger impact on the water level. As water splashes onto the adjacent rocks and the ice covering the pond, that water freezes, essentially leaving the system and becoming “unavailable” (until it melts again in the spring). It generally only takes a 5-gallon bucket or two to get the water level back to the normal operating level, unless an ice dam developed and diverted a large amount of water out of the system.


2)  Uncover your deicer and pump


These items work well for maintaining an opening in the ice during the winter months. However, heavy snow fall events, high winds and drifting, and blizzards (similar to what we recently encountered) can overpower the abilities of these items, and create a snow dome over them. Snow is a great insulator and can block the ever important gas exchange (oxygen dissolving into the water and toxic gases exiting the water) from taking place. So go ahead and carefully shovel/scrape the snow from covering these up. Your fish will love you for it. Be careful if you step onto the ice to do this. We do not want to hear about anyone stepping out onto thin ice. That water is cold. Brrrrrr!




3)  Check the debris basket/nets and pre-filters


These items are there to protect your pump, and as long as water flows through them, they will continue to filter out and collect items before they reach your pump. Similar to what happens during the summer, too much “stuff”, and your pump will become starved from having enough water to operate correctly, and potentially burn out early. So check these items and remove the debris.






Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube sites as we have added pictures, video clips and additional reminders/suggestions to them.

Winterization

http://www.aquaticinnovators.com/

It's that time of year again to prepare yourself and your pond, stream, waterfall, and other water features for the onset of winter.

As a refresher for those that have winterized their features before, the main things to do are to feed your fish a cold water fish food, switch to a cold water bacteria, cover your pond with netting to keep all the leaves in the neighborhood from getting into your pond, trim your hardy plants back, remove as much organic matter (leaves, sticks, etc. that do get into the pond) as reasonably possible, turn off remove and rinse off the main pump and check-valve assembly, and install a small bubbling pump and de-icer.  Store your (submersible) pump in water for the winter to prevent the seals from drying out and cracking.  We also recommend removing and thoroughly cleaning your filter media for the winter.  It'll be ready to go in the spring.

If you have trouble spot or two of string algae that develops, Ecoblast is a perfect solution - it works as long as the water isn't frozen (most other products are temperature sensitive and are ineffective in cooler/cold water).  First, physically remove what you are able to, then sprinkle the Ecoblast right onto the algae and watch it disappear.  Be sure there is no water circulation in the treatment area for at least 20 minutes to allow it enough time to work.

Remember, the above is just a brief overview of the basics of winterizing your water feature.  For a free downloadable maintenance sheet, visit the Pond Maintenance page on our website or click here.

For specific questions about winterization, or to schedule a time for us to winterize you water feature for you, please contact us at 608-373-7040, or Shawn@AquaticInnovators.com.

Be sure to visit our social media sites - Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and more.  Links to each of these sites are also on the home page of our website

Have a great fall and winter season.

Basic Pond Maintenance

Welcome to Summer!  OK, it isn't officially summer yet, but I think we can safely say there won't be any frost for a while, and the forecast for the next week is hot and sticky with a chance of rain every day for about a week.  Spring came a bit earlier this year than the past couple of years, so your ponds and water features should be fully cycled by now.  Your water should be pretty clear if not crystal clear by now, your aquatic plants will be blooming, and your fish begging for food every time they see you.

Like anything, there are always things that you can do to maintain, or tinker with your pond or water feature.  I am always tinkering with our pond.  Not necessarily because something needs to be done (other than finish it  :-)  ), but because I find it relaxing, and can feel the stress melting away while doing it.  A couple of weeks ago, I was actually in our pond planting some water lilies.  The water was 84 degrees F.  It felt great.  Our pond is still a work in progress.  It is functional, but the landscaping around it and plantings within still need some work.  Below is a picture of our pond from a couple of weeks ago.  When the picture was taken, only one of the two pumps was operating.  We don't always have both pumps running to save on electricity costs.  The second pump more than doubles the flow of water.  Each of the waterfalls is about 2 1/2 feet wide.  The center of the pond is 5 1/2 feet deep.  If you want to know more about why we have multiple pumps (other than to save electricity) and their placement, contact us and we would be happy to explain.

If you are interested in a printable listing of the basics of what you could/should be doing for maintenance of your pond, please visit the pond maintenance page on our website.  There you will be able to download the pdf. document.  If you haven't been to our website for a while, take a look around you will see that we have made some changes, with more to come.  Suggestions are always welcome.

Here is a link to the pond maintenance page:  Pond Maintenance Information

Also, be sure to check out our Facebook page.  We have been updating that a bit more frequently than the blog.  A link to our Facebook page is on our home page.

Have a great season!

Join us on Facebook and Twitter

We are ramping up for a busy year.  We would like to invite you to join us on our Facebook and Twitter pages.  Go to our website:  http://www.aquaticinnovators.com/, and part way down the home page you will see links our Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages.  You can view the basic pages even if you have not joined any of them.  To see more, you will need to sign in and/or create a profile.

Become a fan of our Facebook page and invite others to become fans as well.  There you can view our postings, as well as fans or ours.  You can add comments of your own.  You can also share pictures of your water features, fish, plants, landscaping, and just about anything else you want.  We do monitor the postings, so in the event something inappropriate is posted, we will delete it.  No need to spread that stuff around.  :-)

Just like this blog, you can subscribe to our Twitter posts ("Tweets"), and automatically get the "Tweets" as they are posted.

You can discontinue being a fan or unsubscribe to our "Tweets" at any time.

We look forward to having you join us!

Enjoy the rest of winter and hope for more sun and warmth.

Winter Pond Care

Winter has set in and your fish are resting patiently under the snow and ice waiting for spring to come. Be sure to give your fish the best chances of making it through until that time comes.

You prepared your pond for winter by trimming the plants back and removing the bulk of the organic matter (leaves, sticks, etc.). You installed a small bubbling pump too agitate/recirculate the shallow water to promote gas exchange. You also installed a de-icer to keep a small opening in the ice. What else can do? Keep the snow from covering the openings created by the bubbler and de-icer. As the snow builds up in depth and drifts creep across the ice, the openings created by the bubbler and de-icer can easily get covered and rendered useless.

Snow is a great insulator and can prevent the much needed gas exchange from occurring. So go out and look over your pond. If the snow has covered up the openings in the ice, carefully clear the snow away. Your fish will be happy you did.

It's Official - We moved!

Yes, it's true, we moved to a new location in the area. Please update our contact information to the following:

Aquatic Innovators, LLC

4321 E Maple Lane Rd

Janesville, WI 53546

Office - 608-373-7040

Cell - 608-359-9824

We are excited about the move. Sure, there was a lot of work involved with the move, and we have a long way to go to get fully organized, but our new location will give us more room to grow and the ability to increase the efficiency of our day to day operations.



You can continue to pick up your pond products from Dave's Ace Hardware stores in Milton and Evansville, or contact us and we will get you the products you need to build, renovate, or maintain your feature.



This season has kept us busy, and we are excited to tell you about areas where we have expanded our offerings, including rainwater harvesting, and adding a new water treatment line by Aquatic Logic for you to choose from.



We are continuing to work on our new pond. It tends to be lowest priority, so it is taking longer then we hoped it would, but it will be completed soon. Next time you talk to us, ask us about The Stump.



Have a great day!



Shawn

Spring Ponds and Algae Control

It is time to get your ponds and water features up and running. A thorough cleaning of your system is likely in the works to get you off to a good start. To see if you need to do so, take a close look at your pond, especially the bottom. If there is a build-up of organic debris, then you are going to want to get it out of there.

An annual cleanout is recommended for best results and enjoyment of your water feature. However if the debris is mainly leaves and sticks that can be easily removed, then that may be all you need to do this year. The goal is to remove as much organic debris as possible to minimize the chances that nasty toxins will build up due to the oxygen demand placed on the system to break down all of that debris. Your fish require oxygen to survive, and if it is all being used up by the bugs breaking down the debris, your fish and water quality will suffer.

For the algae in your pond, there are a couple of options. Physical removal of the algae is the first line of defense once the algae is there, especially for the string algae. Water temperature is a key component determining which options are available to you when it comes to water treatments. If your water temperature is greater than 50 degrees Fahrenheit, then you should be ok for most algae control products. Some varieties are specially formulated for colder water, such as AquaClearer Extreme Cold Water bacteria. Other products are not temperature sensitive, such as EcoBlast, and can be used any time the water is not frozen. Let's hope that the ice is off of all of your ponds by now.

Keep in mind, that some algae in your pond is usually a sign of a healthy ecosystem.

Remember to add a good dechlorinator to your pond when adding water that is chlorinated, especially if you have fish. Some dechlorinators have additional benefits such as addressing nitrates, ammonia, heavy metals, chloramines, etc. Read the labels to see what the products that you are using are able to do.

This is a brief overview of what you want to do. Contact us for more details or with any questions about algae control or starting-up your water feature.

Have a great pond and water feature season!

Changes for the New Year - New Phone Number, Website, etc.

Happy New Year! Has it been cold enough for you yet? Are you still having fun shoveling the snow? The good news is that the cold snap it over and the rest of the winter should feel pretty darn warm in comparison. How did your pond/water feature do during the extreme cold? How many of you had your waterfall and or stream running throughout that time? We would like to hear your stories or see some pictures if you have them. Did you have any trouble keeping the stream running? What sort of techniques did you initiate to keep the water flowing back into the pond? If you pond has frozen over and you have fish under the ice, you will want to get an opening in the ice ASAP! Be sure not to bang or pound on the ice. Your fish will be very thankful.

We are excited to tell you that with the new year, changes are on the way.
Effective immediately, we have a new cell phone number is:
608-359-9824 - Cell

Additionally, we are in the process of developing a new website (www.aquaticinnovators.com)! The address is the same, but the site itself will be updated. Be sure to check back often to see the changes.

If you go to our website now, you will see that we already have a new look. What you will see is a stepping stone until our fully built site is ready. There are a few new pictures on the portfolio page. We also added a separate page with a link to the blog to make it easy to get to. We are very excited about our new website that is being developed. We hope to provide you with all the information, resources or links to resources you need or want to become the master of your water feature, all on one site.

We are looking forward to a great 2009, and talking with you soon. As always, your feedback is welcome!

Shawn

Thank you for a great 2008! Your help requested for preparing for 2009.

Thank you for a great 2008! We have had a great time working and talking with all of you this year. We are looking forward to the people we get to meet and the projects we get to complete in 2009.

I don’t think anyone will argue with me saying that winter has definitely set in this year already. The snow, the ice, the cold, the wind chills, the brief thaws, the freezing rain, and everything else that comes with winter has been thrown at us already. It is snowing now, and they are forecasting 8” to 12”+ for Thursday, more on Saturday, and again for next week.

What does this have to do with your pond, aquatic plants, and fish? Hopefully you did not hold off on your winterization too long and were able to remove and clean the filters, remove the organic debris, and trim the aquatic plants back. If you removed the pump from the system for the winter, you should be storing it in water to keep the seals from drying and possibly cracking. Be sure to check the water level in the container periodically throughout the winter to make sure the water did not evaporate away. Add water as needed.

Your aquatic plants and fish should be just fine with the temperature fluctuations that we are having. With the snow that has fallen in some areas already this year, there is plenty of protection for your plants (e.g. their roots are protected from drying out). The water temperature in your pond likely did not fluctuate much, if at all, with the short warm-up. If you have a stream running with large drops, the water temperature may have changed a bit a bit more. However, the layer of ice over your pond probably just melted a bit more (like ice cubes in a glass of lemonade).

Your fish are probably just hanging out at the bottom of the pond, dreaming of warmer more active days. Our pond was about 4/5 open two days ago. Overnight, if froze over to only be about ¼ open, with the small pump and de-icer being responsible for maintaining the openings – so far so good. If you have not put a de-icer in your pond yet this year, you will want to do that now. There several varieties of de-icer's available. Make sure that you get one that is suitable for your pond. The size of your pond (volume of water), and the type of liner present are the main factors to consider when choosing the one for you. The varieties available through us are save for EPDM liner ponds (i.e. even if they came in contact with the liner, they won’t melt a hole through it – very important!!!).

If our pond has frozen over and you still need to get the pump and/or de-icer installed yet, do not “bang” or “pound” on the ice. The sound waves are detrimental to your fish. Some de-icer's are able to melt their way through the ice if it is relatively thin yet. One approach is to use hot water, but that can take a while. I have heard of people using ice augers. This should be fine as long as there is no banging. Also, be sure you do not fall through the ice, and make sure your family members or your neighbors are not around to take pictures of you with the auger on your pond – but the stories could be interesting.

With winter set in and our fish resting until spring, we are busy preparing for next year. We are currently working on a couple of designs for some projects to get started as soon as the frost is gone next spring, and then there is all that paperwork – a necessary evil. Where we would like your help, is with assessing and improving our services, product line, and availability. We strive to provide excellent customer service, and high quality products. We are continuing to attend seminars and training events that are focused on the landscaping and water gardening industry, and on operating a successful business. In 2006, we joined the Water Garden Excellence (WGE) program, and in 2007, we were honored to become part of the Certified Aquascape Contractor (CAC) program. Anyone interested in joining the WGE can do so, but only a select few are allowed into the CAC program. We are proud of being accepted into the CAC program. We are currently the only CAC in this area of Wisconsin.

We have offered, and will continue to offer, the full Aquascape, Inc. product line – both the Aquascape™ products for DIY consumers (available directly through us or at Dave’s Milton Ace Hardware store, and Dave’s Evansville Ace Hardware store), and the AquascapePro™ products that are available to contractors that we use when installing water features for you (you can get these through us or as special order items through Dave’s Ace Hardware stores). In addition to the pond products, we also use high quality material for the landscaping projects such as the edging for planting beds and quality plants from well-established nurseries, and hardscaping projects such as quality blocks for paver patios and walkways, and retaining walls.

Please contact us and give us your feedback. We want to hear from you regarding what you like, and dislike regarding our current products and services. Are there products that that you would like us to offer, such as something that you are having a hard time finding? We hope to improve our website over the winter, so let us know what you would like to have available there? Are there any services that you would like us to offer, that we currently do not. We are currently developing a maintenance program for those of you that want someone to do all the dirty work for you (monthly, bi-weekly, weekly, etc.). Let us know if you are interested in taking advantage of this.

Are there improvements that we need to make to our existing service, whether it is when we are on-site working on projects, or are there things we can improve on regarding how we handle your calls and emails? We are here to serve you and help give you the lifestyle that you want and deserve.

Thank you in advance for your feedback. Have a great winter!

Pond Winterization

It sure has been getting cooler at night. Yesterday morning I had to break out the ice scraper to clear the windshield. That was a good reminder that winter is on its way. Watching the weather, I saw that there is another snow storm out west, with a chance for some flurries to get to our area later this week or over the weekend. It won't last though, right?

With the coming of winter, you need to decide once again if you want to keep your pond running all winter, or shut it down? Either way, you will want to get as much organic matter as possible out of the pond (leaves, sticks, etc.), cut back your pond plants - marginals should be cut back to about one inch above the water level, and your lilies (hardy) should have their pads and remaining blossoms cut back close to the tuber. If possible, you should cover your pond with a protective netting to keep the leaves and other flying debris from blowing into your pond. The netting can be removed after your leaves and your neighbors have dropped and have been cleaned up. Some people leave the net on all winter. Be sure to support the net so it does not droop into the pond.

You should stop feeding your fish when the water temperature drops to 50 degrees F and below.

You will want to have a smaller pump available for when you shut your main pump off for the season, the one that runs your stream, waterfall, and keeps the biological filtration operational. The smaller pump will be used to agitate the water throughout the winter. You can use the main pump you use throughout the season, but it may be too large/powerful for this purpose. This is done to increase the gas exchange between the water and the air. Be sure to set the pump on a shelf, rather than the bottom of the pond. This is done to minimize the risk of supercooling the water in the pond. Furthermore, the water coming out of the pump should be directed to the surface, but only so that it disturbs, but doesn't break, the surface. If the water breaks the surface of the pond, you could end up with an interesting ice sculpture when the freezing temperature comes to stay.

In addition to a smaller pump on a shelf, you will want to have a de-icer. A de-icer is a small heater type of device that will maintain an opening in the ice for gas exchange between the water and the air. When used in conjunction with the smaller pump, you can rest assured that one or the other will be operating for you throughout the winter. The de-icer will be place away from the pump. Placing it to close to the pump could force the de-icer to run more than it need to and cause it to burn out before the winter is over. De-icers come in various sizes, colors, shapes, etc. Be sure to select one that is the right one for your pond. We have a few different styles/strengths in stock. We have 100-watt, 200-watt, and 1250-watt options in stock to choose from. Each one is thermostatically controlled so it will only operate when necessary. This saves electricity and money, but will still ensure an opening in the ice for your fish.

If you have an Aquascape system, or other system that relies on biological filtration with filter pads, biomedia, and such, you can remove and clean these items and store them in a dry location for the winter. Your pump should be stored submerged in a container of water in a location where it will not freeze. This is to help prevent the seals from cracking, until you start your system up again in the spring.

You may need to blow the water out of the pipes if they were not installed to allow them to drain when the pump was turned off/removed. Leaving water in the pipes over winter will likely result in split/destroyed pipes that need to be replaced in the spring. Believe me, it's no fun replacing those.

As always, this is just a brief discussion on some of the things that can be done to winterize your pond. Every manufacturer will have their own specific maintenance procedures to follow. The main thing is to protect your fish so they will be around to greet you again in the spring.

Please contact us with any questions or post a comment or two for all to read.

Thank you once again for visiting our Blog, and if you would like us to cover any particular topic, please let us know.

Shawn

Fall Pond Maintenance

With the cooler temperatures coming around, it is time to change your pond maintenance routine a bit to prepare your pond, aquatic plants and fish for the winter. You will want to stop fertilizing your aquatic plants, and begin to monitor your water temperature more closely.

The water temperature is important because it impacts the effectiveness of the water quality/clarity and algae control products you use. Furthermore, your fish are cold blooded and as the temperature drops, their metabolism and ability to digest food decreases.

The water temperatures that you want to be aware depend on the brand of products you use. Those of you using Aquascape products you will want to watch for the following: 40, 50, 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit (F). Other manufacturers likely have similar temperature thresholds, so you will want to refer to the product labels to verify.

The above temperatures are important to save you money and for the health of your fish. Below 65F is when you want to switch to a low protein fish food such as Koi Balance LoTemp. Protein is harder for your fish to digest, so the LoTemp fish food is the recommended choice for feeding below 65F. This can be fed as long as water temps are above 50F. 60F is the temperature when you will want to stop using the regular formula of bacteria (AquaClearer Extreme - liquid or powder), and S.A.B. (String Algae Buster). Below 60F, these products will no longer work as effectively as intended. 40F is important because below that water temperature is when the AquaClearer Extreme Cold Water bacteria is no longer effective. This formula is recommended for use above 40F.

Consider covering your pond and stream with netting to minimize the amount of leaves and other debris getting into the pond. You will want to continue to remove leaves and other organic matter that does get into the pond, as you have done throughout the rest of the season.

Also, as the leaves on aquatic plants begin to yellow and die back, you will want to remove them.

There is still plenty of time to enjoy your ponds before winter sets in, so you do not need to think about shutting your system down for the season yet. However, now is the time to begin thinking about the maintenance items listed above.

This time of year may even be one of the best times of the year to enjoy your pond because the nights are cooler, you can have a fire going on the patio, and the mosquitoes aren't as numerous allowing you to actually be able to sit around for more than five minutes without being driven back inside.

Happy Ponding!!!

Aquatic Innovators, LLC Installs Water Features at House in SCWBA Parade of Homes

We are excited to tell you that we have two water features installed at a home in the Janesville area that is part of the South Central Wisconsin Builders Association (SCWBA) annual Parade of Homes which starts this coming weekend.

We would love to meet with you and talk about water features. We are planning on being at the home both weekends, as well as Thursday and Friday evenings, so stop on by. Be sure to check the SCWBA website http://www.scwbaonline.com/ for details regarding hours, and where you can purchase tickets. The house on the tour is number 13. Click on the Click here to view a MAP and get more information. to view the map. The following link provide more information about the home: http://www.scwbaonline.com/Events/ParadeofHomes2008/SocknessBuildersInc13/tabid/1725/Default.aspx

The two features that we built at the home include:

1. One that we would call a semi-formal water feature that incorporates a tall "seat wall" that has a waterfall that comes out the middle of the wall and drops into a shallow pool. The water feature was built using multiple styles of Unilock retaining wall blocks and pavers. Underwater lights were installed so the water feature can be enjoyed at night as well. The water feature is located so that it can be seen as you enter the home, looking straight ahead through the large picture windows in the back of the home. It is also visible from every room in the house with a window facing the back yard.
2. The second feature is located in the front yard and is a smaller water feature that incorporates a Rimrock Spire stone that has been cored out to force water up through the center of it. The water cascades down the sides as it reaches the top of the stone. A basin is located beneath the stone and holds up to 75 gallons of water. This volume of water helps minimize the maintenance (i.e. how often you need to add water).

We hope to see you out there. If you are unable to make it, but would like to know more about the water features or see pictures of them, give us a call or send us an email.

Have a great day!

Shawn

Late Summer Ponds

Welcome to late August 2008! By this time, unless you just recently built your pond or you completed a major cleaning of your ponds ecosystem, your pond should have cycled, balanced and your water should be crystal clear and your algae under control. You should be relaxing by your pond with very little maintenance.

We have finally had to add water to our pond a couple of times since it finally stopped raining on a daily basis. In fact our lawn has started to turn a crunchy golden brown and go dormant for a while. The recent scattered storms have not been enough to stop that process. One benefit of course is not having to mow the lawn as often - saves time and gas!

For those of you whose ponds have not fully balanced, we would like to hear from you. Send me an email at Shawn@AquaticInnovators.com or submit a comment to the blog describing the issue(s) you are having. Additional contact information can be found on our website at http://www.aquaticinnovators.com./
Include as much detail about your system as possible, including the size of your pond (volume of water, amount of surface area, max and average depth, shape of your pond, etc.), what type of filtration system you have, how much sunlight your pond gets, how many, the size and type of fish (and other aquatic family members) you have, and how often and the type of food you feed your fish. Include a little bit about the number and types of plants you have as well as the water quality parameters if you have tested your water recently as well. Have you added any new fish or plants to your system? What products (natural or man made chemicals) have you added to your water? Where are you located (state, city, etc.)? Do you have rocks and/or gravel in your pond? How long ago was your pond installed? Are you on well or city water supply? Is this the first time this issue has come up for your pond? Anything else you think may be important. If you are able to, include a picture or two of your pond.

As you can see from the questions above (not all-inclusive), there are all sorts of things that can impact your system. One thing to keep in mind is that poor water quality is the leading cause of problems for your fish.

If your pond is doing well, I would like to hear from you as well.

Thanks for checking in and have a great day! I look forward to hearing from you.

Shawn

2008

Wow, what a year! Starting the year with record snowfall amounts for the winter, cooler than normal temperatures for the spring, and now flooding that nobody has ever seen around here.

With all that, people have experienced a variety of issues with their ponds. All in all though, it seems as though everyone is doing well now. The warmer weather and sunny days has really made a difference. The ponds are now balanced out for the season and the aquatic plants (after the slow start) are showing their annual growth potential and their beauty. The main one right now is that the water lilies are really beginning to bloom consistently.

Now get outside, sit by your pond and have a great summer day!

Welcome!

Welcome to our blog! We hope that you find the information that begins to accumulate here to be useful and enjoyable, and invite you to leave comments with questions, and suggestions. Have a great day!