http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com en-us http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com N/A allan@ebookresellerkit.com Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:12:31 CDT 20 http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2610/1/Fish-in-Back-Yard-Ponds Backyard ponds and water gardens are not only for fishes but also for birds, butterflies and frogs.  Without any exceptional cases these ponds are typically small, sometimes no larger than 3 to 4 feet in diameter. They may be built in barrels or other patio containers. The water can be effective in drawing wildlife to backyard and hence it may also turn into a natural, relaxing, and scenic addition that can provide interest and enjoyment. The best location for a back yard pond would be of a place from where it is easily observed and viewed. Teresa Ryan Fri, 01 Sep 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2609/1/Fish-Farming-Ponds Fish and seafood are also a source of income for many people. Instead of choosing farming as a profession, there are many people who would want to put up fish farming ponds and allow people to fish or take boat rides and also sell the fish that they raise in these ponds on a commercial basis. Teresa Ryan Fri, 01 Sep 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2574/1/Preparation-of-Fish-Ponds Before actual construction begins take a little time to consider the purpose for the particular pond. Too often the comfort and safety of the inhabitants is the last thing rather than the first to be evaluated. Here are few handy tips to prepare a fish pond. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2573/1/Koi-Fish-Ponds Koi fish ponds are generally preferred by most pond owners. Koi are attractive exotic fish that can be a part of small ponds or even large garden ponds. Koi are available in a variety of colors and are considered to be one of the most beautiful species of fish used in fish ponds. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2572/1/How-to-Install-Fish-Ponds Fishponds are also called as water garden. Installing or building a fishpond is an extensive process, which if considered step wise would be an enjoyable experience. Below are the various steps in the process of installing a fishpond. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2571/1/Get-Rid-of-Algae-in-Fish-Ponds Algae are complex unicellular organisms. It is also referred as a protist in the eukaryotic kingdom and since it doesn't have true roots and stems therefore is not considered a plant. Chlorolphyta is common green algae found both in fresh and salt-water domains. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2570/1/Fish-Ponds-Red-Algae Algae are very tiny organisms that grown in fishponds living off the same food and nutrients that fish survive upon. Although algae do not disturb the fish in any way, too much growth can create problems in terms of space and cleanliness. Fishponds with red algae problems are not uncommon. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2569/1/Fish-Ponds-in-The-Heat The first thing to keep in mind during the hot summer time is to keep the pond well aerated. It's very important especially for the fish because the pond water actually holds less oxygen at higher pond temperatures by keeping those waterfalls and fountains running. This not only keeps the pond water full of oxygen, but also helps in reducing stress on fish. Another important thing that experts recommend at this time of year is to do a partial water change by draining off 10 - 25% of the total pond volume, and replacing it with fresh, new dechlorinated water. Apart from this vacuuming or draining decaying organic matter and debris off the bottom can also be done in order to reduce the ponds bio-load. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2568/1/Fish-Pond-in-Maine Contraction of ponds usually requires creative scientific technique that results in the highest quality aquatic habitats from an aesthetic, economical and biological stance. Either wasting lots of money for equipments, machinery, chemicals, cement, it is suggested to take time in thinking for better construction. Better selecting a place between mountains, hills in order to stagnate water with out expending lot of work. Lake planning and design, stream planning and design, fishery planning and management, aquatic monitoring and maintenance, fish stock selection and implementation are steps usually used in Maine for constructing a good qualified fish pond. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2567/1/Fish-Migration-to-Small-Ponds Generally the ponds are required for the purpose of the irrigation and for stock purposes. This makes the requirement of the migration of the fishes into the smaller ponds just for the purpose that the much requirement of the bigger ponds as compared with the smaller ponds. In order to migrate the fishes in to the ponds you have to consult some of the foreign experts or you can find them out through the Internet. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2566/1/Fish-in-Ponds If you are looking for fishes for your pond you have three categories to choose from - Fantails and Orandas, Pond Comets, Koi or Butterfly Koi. Fantails are more aggressive than the Pond Comets and Koi, thus never mix them. If you want you can mix Pond comets with Koi, but most koi keepers avoid doing this since koi are often much more worth than Pond Comets.Koi mare the most popular pond fish amongst the fish keepers. Below we have discussed some important details related to the Koi. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2565/1/Fish-in-Backyard-Ponds Backyard ponds and water gardens are not only for fishes but also for birds, butterflies and frogs. Without any exceptional cases these ponds are typically small, sometimes no larger than 3 to 4 feet in diameter. They may be built in barrels or other patio containers. The water can be effective in drawing wildlife to backyard and hence it may also turn into a natural, relaxing, and scenic addition that can provide interest and enjoyment. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2564/1/Fish-for-Garden-Ponds A garden pond can be made much more attractive feature if it is stocked with aquatic plants and ornamental fish.  Get the natural balance right and the pond will be virtually self-sustaining, needing only occasional attention to keep in good condition.  .  Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2563/1/Fish-for-Freshwater-Ponds Freshwater ponds are filled with water from rain, melting snow or even from a local stream. The water accumulates gradually over a period of time and does not require human intervention. Aquatic life including plants and animals begins to develop naturally. However, there are private fish hatcheries that supply fish for freshwater ponds too. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2562/1/Fish-Eggs-in-Ponds Generally in case of a water garden or pond, there are chances of finding various types of eggs in and around the pond. They may vary in size, as some are large while the others are small. Other differences can be in the type of structure in which they are found as they may exist in clumps or are laid singly. Some of them are colored; some are plain. However it is on the part of pond owner that these eggs should be identified as to which generation they are going to hatch into. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2561/1/Cement-Fish-Ponds A cement pond is simply to construct. After digging the pond, line the inside with cement to seal it. The cement should be at least 4 inches thick and reinforced with hardware cloth. The advantages of cement are that design options are almost unlimited and it is very durable. Disadvantages are that cement ponds are permanent or at least hard to remove and they can be expensive too. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2560/1/Can-You-Put-Fertilizer-in-Fish-Ponds One can also increase the productivity of a pond by adding fertilizer. If a fish species, which consumes small natural foods, is grown, such as the bluegill or golden shiner, then pond fertilization can increase the production of these fish. Fertilizers provide nutrients to microscopic plants known as algae. Fertilized ponds can have fish yields three to four times over that of unfertilized ponds. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2559/1/Building-Filters-for-Home-Fish-Ponds Pond Filters are generally required to keep a Garden Pond or Water Garden healthy and clear. A fish pond requires more filtration than a Water Garden or a Goldfish Pond due to the large mature size of these beautiful pond fish.Effective Pond Filters combine mechanical and biological Pond filtration. Biological Pond filtration involves the beneficial bacteria to break down fish waste and other organic matter. Mechanical Pond filtration traps particles in some type of filter media for later removal during cleaning. Good Pond Filters accomplish both and can be fitted with the ultra violet clarifiers for algae control. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2525/1/Performed-Fish-Ponds Pond owners can manage their ponds to develop and maintain good-quality fisheries.Permanent water is the most important physical aspect of a pond pertaining to fish supervision. A pond needs to have adequate depth, soil and watershed size to maintain permanent water during absolute droughts. Other structural aspects of ponds, such as overflow pipe, drainpipe, fencing and sloped pond edges are important. They help minimize or correct problems, but one can obtain successful results without these features as long as the associated preventable problems are not severe. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2524/1/Fish-That-Live-in-Ponds The species of fish that will do well in a pond depends on the size, depth and inflow. Trout will generally not reproduce without flowing water. They will likely not survive the hot temperatures of summer if the pond is not at least 8-10 feet deep, or has no spring flow. Warm water fish, such as bass and bluegill, will usually establish reproducing populations. The species that don't reproduce naturally require periodic stocking.  One benefit is that the population is easily controlled and managed. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2523/1/Fish-Pond-Algae Fish pond is a common problem associated with fish ponds, especially newly made fish ponds as they lack a balanced growth of plants and animal life. Before we try to understand how to curb their growth, let us first try to understand them. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2522/1/Fish-Creek-Ponds-%96-Beautiful-Campgrounds Fish Creek Ponds mainly refers to ponds, the area around which is used as a campground. They offer with natural sand shoreline and water access for campsites. The Saranac Lake in New York is one the most beautiful Fish Creek Pond, and a favorite destination of many nature lovers.  Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2521/1/Building-Gold-Fish-Ponds The Goldfish  was one of the earliest fish to be domisticated and is still one of the most commonly kept fish in aquarium. A relatively small member of the crap family, the goldfish is a domesticated version of a dark-gray, olive, brown carp native to east. The mutation that gave rise to the goldfish is also known from other cyprinid species, such as coomon crap and tench. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2520/1/Back-Yard-Fish-Ponds Before buy anything, one must first decide where to place the pond. Generally, it should be placed far from the tree as it needs lot of sunlight especially lilies, require a good amount of sunlight. Also, falling leaves can quickly accumulate in a pond, causing a cleaning nightmare. Avoid low areas, if possible, as a large volume of rainwater runoff to enter the pond. This runoff may contain pesticides, fertilizers and other materials harmful to fish. The most beautiful pond in the world will be for naught if it cannot be enjoyed. Try to tie it in to a patio or a sitting area in the garden. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2519/1/Algae-Eating-Fish-Ponds Algae need water, light, and nutrients. If the fish's home has too much algae that means water is getting lots of light and has lots of nutrients dissolved in it. Fish eat food and produce waste that is an excellent nutrient for algae. Algae can be either beneficial or detrimental to a pond. Algae provide nutrients for newly hatched fry, and indirectly act as a color enhancer. As algae grow in a pond, a population of zooplankton will also develop on which the fish feed. These natural live feeds help develop the intense coloration desired in most koi. Unluckily, algae blooms prevent viewing the fish, so that sick fish can go undetected for days. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2513/1/Roofing-EPDM-Fish-Ponds Roofing is one of the most significant part when building fishpond. Roofing prevents dry leaves and other external dirt from entering the pond. Similarly it stops the sunlight from reaching the pond thus curbing the algae growth in ponds. EPDM is a roofing material, which is been widely used nowadays. However before EDPM roofing's, PVC or vinyl PongGaurd were used for roofing. Since these roofing materials contained plasticisers such as DIDP and DOP they became brittle with age and cracked easily. EPDM roofing is a wonderful solution to all these problems. Teresa Ryan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2499/1/Stocking-Fish-Ponds Various species of fishes are available that you can purchase for stocking into your pond. There are a number of species that are better suited to the pond environment than others, and some can actually be harmful. For instance Largemouth and Bluegills are the most suitable for stocking. Similarly Redear sunfish and the Channel fish also perform well in ponds. Like wise even the Grass carp can be stocked if vegetation control is desired. Minnow species when stocked initially will provide food until the sunfish actually begins to reproduce. Teresa Ryan Wed, 30 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2498/1/Salt-Fish-Ponds Salt Fish Ponds are precisely that; ponds that have table, sea or aquarium salt added to them. Salt has pathogen eliminating properties. For centuries salt has been used by people to discourage pathogen growth on food; added to ponds, salt keeps your fish healthy by abolishing   or lessening pathogens. Therefore adding salt to your pond is highly recommended for both beginners and long-time aficionados of fish ponds. Teresa Ryan Wed, 30 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2497/1/Pre-molded-Fish-Ponds Pre molded Fish Ponds are usually made of reinforced plastic and are being increasingly used. These pre molded fish ponds are more expensive, but they are watertight, durable and long-lasting. Pre molded fish ponds look easy to install but this is a fallacy. It takes some work to put them in ground because of the difficulty of digging a hole that fits the exact shape of the pre molded fish pond. With a pre molded fish pond it is a good idea to let the water rest for a week before adding fish and plants. Teresa Ryan Wed, 30 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2496/1/Ornamental-Fish-Ponds An ornamental fish pond is a perfect addition to bring a touch of exotica to your garden. An ornamental fish pond is a water body that fits in smugly in any garden design, while ushering in a sense of peace and tranquility. Besides, an ornamental fish pond does not cost the earth. It may be created with a paltry investment and minimal effort. Teresa Ryan Wed, 30 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2495/1/Netting-for-Fish-Ponds Fish pond netting is often recommended for use for the simple rationale that it protects pond life. Netting prevents garden debris from falling into the pond and suffocating pond life. Leaves and other waste material may lead to excessive algae growth and threaten fish health by reducing oxygen reserves. Fish pond netting also shelters fish from predatory birds and insects. Netting also acts as a deterrent to young fish, preventing them from jumping out of the fish pond. Teresa Ryan Wed, 30 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2494/1/Koi-Fish-for-Ponds Japanese developed the Koi fish about 200 years ago. In Japan these fishes are famous as Nishikigoi and the common crap is their forerunner. These fishes can be mostly seen in lushly landscaped outdoor fishponds and are very eye catchy and gorgeous. Below we have discussed the various aspects of the beautiful Koi. Teresa Ryan Wed, 30 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2493/1/Fish-Management-in-Ponds Fish management in ponds is very crucial from the stocking point of view. Stocking if done strategically and following the right management techniques will surely be profitable. Various factors are involved in fish management that range from buying the right fish to removal of the unwanted. Here we have briefly discussed a few fundamentals of fish management.  Teresa Ryan Wed, 30 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2492/1/Fish-for-Fish-Ponds A Fish Pond can be the centerpiece of your garden. It is an attractive addition that will enchant you for years to come. It also proves to be a good conversation piece with neighbors and guests. Besides bringing color and movement to your Fish Pond, the fish also eat pests as mosquito larvae, aphids and other insects. There is a mind-boggling number of fish which can be purchased from aquariums to populate your fish pond. They come in various sizes, and colors. Teresa Ryan Wed, 30 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2491/1/Fish-Eating-Algae-In-Fish-Ponds Algae growth is a common problem faced by most pond owners. The growth of algae is inevitable as they thrive on sunlight and waste excreted by fishes which cannot be prevented. However there are many ways by which the algae can be controlled. Stocking algae eating fishes is the most natural way of combating the problem. Siamese Algae Eaters are the more most famous and the, most preferred Fish that eat algae Teresa Ryan Wed, 30 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2490/1/Ecology-of-fish-ponds Fishponds are a complete ecosystem by themselves. The ecology of fishponds involves not just the fish but also the water cycle in the pond, the water plants that enrich the ponds, the other creatures in the pond besides fish and some more creatures that happen to visit the ponds at various points of time. Teresa Ryan Wed, 30 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2489/1/Big-Fish-Ponds Everyone loves a big garden pond. It becomes the cynosure of all eyes and the central artifact in the garden. You may add water plants like water lilies  and fish to this garden pond to make it more attractive. Your garden pond then is a living entity with a character all its own. Any water body adds a touch of glamour to your garden environs. A big garden pond with live colorful fish that swim and sparkle in vivid colors between green exotic plants is sure to be a conversation piece. Teresa Ryan Wed, 30 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2476/1/Garden-fish-ponds Garden fish ponds are increasingly becoming a part of the exterior landscape of many homes and buildings. These ponds are easy to build and need only minimum maintenance on a regular basis. Teresa Ryan Thu, 24 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2452/1/Gold-fish-ponds Most gold fish ponds consist of goldfish in a variety of colors. Most common among these are red, white, black, yellow or gold and orange or gold. Gold fish ponds are popular in all parts of the world because many people find goldfish to be the most attractive and also able to live in a variety of climatic conditions. Besides, goldfish do not require too much food. Hence they prove to be economical as well. Teresa Ryan Wed, 23 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2451/1/Barrel-fish-ponds If the garden or backyard is small and yet the homeowner wishes to have a fish pond, wooden barrels of various sizes and heights can be used to create beautiful barrel fish ponds. Barrels that may not be in use at home may be used to create these ponds. Barrels of different sizes are also available between $15 and $30. Hence it is quite a reasonable start to the creation of a beautiful and charming fish pond for the garden or backyard. Teresa Ryan Wed, 23 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2429/1/Building-fish-ponds If one is only interested in a temporary fish pond and is likely to lose interest in this hobby later on, a plastic or a barrel fish pond may suffice. However, if the homeowner or garden owner is looking to build a fish pond that would last a lifetime, there are a number of things one must keep in mind. And the most important point is that building fish ponds involves a number of steps. Teresa Ryan Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2395/1/Types-of-fish-for-small-ponds Small ponds require small fish. Fish need to sometimes compete for food and at the same time require space among the other fish and the water plants in the pond. If the pond is really small and the temperatures greatly varying, the homeowner or the landscape designer should keep in mind the wide variety of fish that are known for their survival in such ecosystems. Teresa Ryan Mon, 21 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2394/1/Small-fish-ponds Most small fish ponds are designed either for homes that have vast exteriors or for gardens that have landscape architecture in place. Mostly ornamental in nature, these small ponds can add aesthetic value to the look and charm of the place Teresa Ryan Mon, 21 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2393/1/Preformed-fish-garden-ponds Most preformed fish garden ponds are made of materials such as high density polyethylene which is known to withstand the extremes of climatic conditions. Preformed fish ponds are ideal for installation in landscaped gardens as well as in public parks. They are available in a number of shapes and sizes and can also be custom made in case of large orders. Teresa Ryan Mon, 21 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2392/1/Ponds-and-fish Ponds and fish add to the beauty and charm of any home or garden. Many people find it an enjoyable hobby to look at fish for hours. Ponds and fish swimming about in it have a charm of their own and many experts also believe that this serves as a good therapy for depressed people. Teresa Ryan Mon, 21 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2391/1/Plastic-fish-ponds Plastic fish ponds are great substitutes for concrete fish ponds or large sized fish ponds that cannot be moved from one place to another. Plastic fish ponds are commonly found in homes and gardens. Most of them are made from recycled plastic and are non toxic to fish and water plants. Preformed fish ponds are mostly made of plastic and are being increasingly used in many homes and gardens. Teresa Ryan Mon, 21 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2390/1/Fish-Ponds Fish ponds can be a part of any landscape or garden. The size of fish ponds may vary ranging from those that can accommodate a few gallons of water to those which are designed for landscape gardens and can hold a few thousand gallons of water. Backyard and small fish ponds enrich the look of any kind of landscape. Teresa Ryan Mon, 21 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2389/1/Fish-for-ponds A fishpond is a charming and delightful addition to any home or garden. The beauty of the ponds is further enhanced if the right kinds of fish are part of the pond. Choosing good fish for ponds is not a difficult task. Any local stores, which sell fish supplies and feeds, would be able to guide on the fish that are available in a particular area or climate. Teresa Ryan Mon, 21 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2388/1/Backyard-fish-ponds Backyards are often used as places for relaxation for the entire family as well as for social get-togethers. A backyard fish pond can be easily created to add more charm to this part of the exterior of the house. Teresa Ryan Mon, 21 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/2387/1/Algae-in-fish-ponds Algae can cause a disturbance in the ecosystem of the fish pond by not allowing space for other water plants to grow and also preventing fish from moving about easily. This is especially a big problem if the pond is small in size. Teresa Ryan Fri, 18 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CDT