E-News from
www.PondDoc.com
- April 2007 -
The Best is Yet to Come!
I saw on the news how the states in the northeast US received mountains of snow last month. I'm sure you guys have had your fill of winter. I know I have. March brought Georgians a couple of warm and wonderful weeks of sunshine but that only whet our appetites! Tonight it's down to 20!!! Burrrrr! April, though known for its "April Showers", should provide us with the warmth we've been seeking. Whether you live in sunny Southern California or in a cooler climate, spring is, by far, the best season for the pond enthusiast. Though March officially introduces spring -- it's April that really brings it home. --- So the best is yet to come.
What's Up, Doc?
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© copyright 2007,
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Peggy Ferguson, Editor
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April, May and June are the three most enjoyable months for us here in Georgia -- at least in my opinion. It's still cool enough for us to enjoy the midday hours outside while warm enough to enjoy the nights. Along with the many joys in and around the pond during this season there are a few problems that can pop up. For example, this is the season for parasites to be brought into the pond with the addition of new fish. The prevention of parasites can be easily managed and we'll show you how. My aim with this edition is to help us all enjoy the good things that happen while preparing for and preventing the bad.
~ Peggy
What's Up, Doc?
- A "Slight" Inconvenience
I've heard from many of our local customers about our closing the Alpharetta water garden center and, believe me, I'm not happy about it. I am happy that some of you have found our closing only a slight inconvenience and found that you can still get our high-quality service, advice and product such as fish food, etc. easily from just a phone call or email. Some of you have even called and come by to pick up supplies or to see our new pond, Smokey Jo, and our other personal koi you all got to know at the store. It's been great to see old faces (and to meet a few new ones). Until we find a new retail location we will not be able to sell live fish and plants. That's the toughest nut to crack. Many of you have come to depend on us for parasite-free koi and goldfish - something rare in today's koi and goldfish market. For that reason, the Pond Doc insisted that we feature information on purchasing, treating and quarantining new fish for parasites in this edition.
I never knew how much we depended on the Doc's Pure Salt until we no longer had it. There are a few logical handling problems associated with it. The Doc is trying to iron it out and have available pure salt for shipment (in the 10 lb. bags only) and the large 50 lb. bags for folks to pick up here in Dahlonega. We'll keep you posted...
Seasonal Check List
April showers bring May flowers... That's what they say. I don't know if I'd go that far but I do know that April sets the mood for flowers to bloom in the water garden. Some irises will bloom as early as April while water lilies begin sprouting up little pads. April also brings parasite and algae problems.
- Fish will be famished! Feed staple foods (M-Grow, M-GOLD or M-Color) when the water temperatures are constantly above 64 degrees.
- Continue to Test the water parameters (ammonia, nitrites, pH) every other week or when you see signs of trouble.
- The nitrifying cycle is still delicate. Continue to beef up your biological filter by adding bacteria-building agents such as Microbe-Lift PL. Use Microbe-Lift's Bead Filter Bacteria if you have a bead filter.
- If you use well water or problems with low alkalinity in the pond it's best to stabilize the pH. Use pH Stabilizer 7.0.
- Once the bacteria in your biological filter is established turn on your UV. You may need to replace your lamps and/or quartz sleeves. If moisture has somehow made its way into the inside of your quartz sleeve it may have blown your power supply and that means replacing the transformer as well.
- Get a jump on string algae. Begin using Barley Extract or Bales to help retard the growth.
- Whenever you kill algae (whether it's string or green water algae) the process of dying plants will zap your pond of dissolved oxygen. Keep your pump running 24/7!
- Plants oxygenate during the day but become villains at night by taking back all the oxygen! As plants become more prolific in your pond it is more important than ever to keep the pump running at night.
- Begin fertilizing the water plants. Use two Pond Tablets for each water lily and one for all other potted water plants each month. Do not do anything with the lotus yet.
- If it's impossible to quarantine and treat new fish do the next best thing by treating the whole pond for parasites. Our Parasite Pak takes the guessing away.
Recommended Reading
It's fish-buying time so many of our articles on this list will be geared toward protecting existing koi and goldfish populations from new fish. Parasites are present on almost all koi and goldfish that you purchase so we will explore what parasites are and how to treat for them. The article below on choosing pond plants should help us decide what kinds of water plants we want in our water gardens.
There are plenty more profiles where these came from. Visit our
Product Profile Page for more!
Visit PondDoc.com's Product Profile Page
-
UPDATED! - The Algae "Fix" -- Get Rid of String Algae
NOW is the Time to Buy for
Mother's Day
Personalized Pennsylvania Garden Bluestones are GREAT for Mother's Day. In fact, it's "just the thing" for Moms who love to garden or love ponds. They also make thoughtful remembrance stones for a Mom who isn't with us anymore. These unique and natural stones take between 3 to 4 weeks to process so you need to order them NOW! A medium stone normally runs $82.95 (plus sales tax for GA residents) - and that includes ground shipping to anywhere in the Continental US. If you order in time to receive your stone for Mother's Day (like this week!) mention that you read about it on our April E-Newsletter and I'll knock off $15.
A stone can be processed in a couple of days for a $15 RUSH fee. If you can't make the ordering deadline, instead of $15 off the stone I'll pay the RUSH charge.
Choose from hundreds of artwork designs plus write your own wording. Other size stones are available for more wording. Call me at (404) 375-9600 for more details or to order a stone OR visit Peggy's Personalized Products for more information about them.
Also, visit our new Mother's Day Gift Page for some other really nifty ideas!
- Smokey Jo
Says "Hey, Ya'll"
Many of you came by the garden center often just to see Smokey Jo and her pond mates. I've heard from several of you wondering what happened to them when we moved. Be rest assured that they are safe and sound and in a pond that is 3 times the size of where they were. In fact, before this blast of cold weather they were having a party --- spawning. Here's an update on our loving personal koi...
Looking Forward to Next Month
May's issue of What's Up, Doc? E-News should be one of our best! We're looking forward to jumping right into a couple of hot topics.
- Green Water Algae Bloom
- Water Lilies
- Ulcers and Bacterial Problems
©copyright 2007, PondDoc.com. All rights reserved.