Transcript Natural fish

Water Gardening
By, Tiffany Abbott
What is Water
Gardening?
New Area of Gardening
 Can be used in residential, or public
areas
 Peaceful and relaxing place to unwind
 Easy and fun project to create on your
own
 Every design is unique
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Things to think about
before you begin.
Where do you want it?
 Which kind do you want?
 Will it be above or below ground?
 Will there be fountains, waterfalls or
lighting?
 Will you use pumps?
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Location of your pond.
Good view
 Good size
 Good amount of sun and shade
 Electricity
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Three Types of Ponds
Cement
 Preformed
 Flexible Plastic Liner
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Cement
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Longest lasting
Cool Climate requirements
– Layer of loose gravel or pebbles
– 6” thick walls
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Walls should be at a 20 degree angle
Pour on a cool, cloudy day
Check for cracks
Clean
Preformed
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Rigid Fiberglass
– Long lasting, will discolor over the years
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Bonded resin
– Less expensive than Fiberglass, BUT
more fragile
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Semi-rigid/ABS plastic
– Less expensive than Fiberglass, BUT
more fragile
Preformed Installation
Select shell
 Measure
 Excavate 2”deeper & wider than shell
 Line with sand & level out bottom
 Install & fill
 Add around edges
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Flexible Liner
Plastic
 Can last fro 20- 50 years
 Never use less than 16 mil thick
 Can deteriorate if constant UV light
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– Butyl rubber liner-twice as expensive, 30
mil thick, no deterioration, lasts 40 years
Flexible Liner
Installation
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Pick area & size.
Outline with hose and mark with paint
Measure and get liner to fit, with overlap
– Width+2(depth)+1 + Length+2(depth)+1
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Excavate
– Shelves (9-12” deep and wide)
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Level top ledges
Install (protective liner)
Secure with edging
Added Features
Waterfalls
 Lights
 Fountains
 Flat stones around perimeter for more
natural look
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Waterfalls
Added Features
Waterfalls
 Lights
 Fountains
 Flat stones around perimeter for more
natural look
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Lights
Added Features
Waterfalls
 Lights
 Fountains
 Flat stones around perimeter for more
natural look
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Pumps or no pumps
Helps keep your garden clean and
clear
 Not necessary
 2 used:
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– Skimmer
– Filter
Place 2” off bottom if submersible
 Need electricity, or solar power
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Pond Ecology
Balance between plant and animal life
makes for a clear pond
 Plant life includes:
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– Aquatic and bog plants
– Welcome and unwelcome algae
Algae
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Filamentous algae=good
– Becomes a moss coat on liner
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Single celled algae= bad
– Floats and covers pond
– Fish eat it
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Normal to see algae for few weeks in new
ponds and in spring
– Settles to ground and sides
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Chemicals can cause other problems
Water Conditions
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Tap can be used
– Check with local water authority about
chemicals
Chlorine is okay
 Chloramine and chloride dioxide may
cause problems for fish
 Chemicals can be used to help this
problem, but are not necessary
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Adding Fish
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Ornamentals- good color adds to pond
– Koi –move peacefully
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certain plants are toxic
– Goldfish
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Natural fish-don’t use, because not
aesthetically pleasing
Add when 55 F or mid May
Do not overstock or stock to soon
Have water tested or test yourself
Fish
Care of Fish
Do not feed in first few days
 Feed once a day with floating pellet
food for large fish; flakes for small
 Do not feed mid September on
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Wintering Fish
Stock tank heater
 Best if indoors
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– Small fish=aquarium
– Large or Many small=small stock tank, or
garbage can in basement
 Circulating
pump for aeration
– No need to feed much, or at all if below
55 F
Adding Plants
Select them according to sun
 Heavy garden soil or topsoil
 Cover with 1” of coarse sand or gravel
 Oxegenating plants
 Tropicals added when 70 F
 Never cover more than 70%
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Types of Plants
Free Floating
 Submerged or Oxygenators
 Marginal (shallow)
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– In and out of water
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Deep water or Bog
Free Floating
Water lettuce
 Water hyacinth
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Submerged
Anachris
 Cabomba
 Hornwort
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Marginal
Water Liles
 Arrowhead
 Cattails & Horsetails
 Water Canna
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Bog plants
Nordic Holly
 Jack-in-the-Pulpit
 Gooseneck Loosestrife
 Ligularia
 Astilbe & Goatsbeard
 Arrowhead
 Cardinal Flower
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Water liles
Shallow root system
 Water 12” above crown
 A lot of sun
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Care of Plants
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Fertilize with a water plant fertilizer
– Slow release pellets
Do not fertilize until there is some
spring activity
 Remove old flowers and yellow leaves
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Wintering Plants
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Stock-tank heater
ID and group into category
Hardy=cut foliage and sink
– In spring dig up, acclimate, and replant
– Cattails=leave foliage until spring because it acts
as a snorkel to get oxygen to the roots
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Hardy water lilies=late Sept. early Oct
– Remove foliage and store as bare root or in soil
in cold area of basement or fridge
– Must be kept damp & dark
Maintenance
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Clean in fall and spring
– Drain if possible
– Leaves and extra organic matter
– Rinse before re-filling
Netting for leaves
 Rigid, fiberglass liners left filled
 Flexible liners filled or drained
 Concrete liners, drain, dry, tarp
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Summary
New and exciting
 Unique designs
 Easy to do yourself
 Not much maintenance
 Peaceful and relaxing atmosphere
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Questions?