E-News from
www.PondDoc.com
- February 2007 -
Finally...
After years of promising and never having enough time to do it, I've finally made myself take the time to begin publishing "What's Up, Doc?" again. This time it's in an electronic format and sent to you via email instead of to your home address. I think you'll like it a lot better. It's in color and interactive and I'm hoping that I can send one out each month so that you will always have timely, useful information to help you with your pond, goldfish and koi.
What's Up, Doc?
E-News
is a free publication created and distributed
by PondDoc.com for people interested in the
water gardening and koi-keeping hobbies.
© copyright 2007,
PondDoc.com
Peggy Ferguson, Editor
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Peggy's Direct Phone: (404) 375-9600
Cecil "The Pond Doc": (770) 663-6325
Fax: (706) 864-7290
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Inside This
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Early Spring
Maintenance and Predator Control
Product
Profiles
Decoys
Spring Start Paks
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Way back - 10+ years ago - when we first posted information on an internet that was in its infancy - it was almost impossible to find information about how to build and maintain a healthy pond. Now the internet is packed with information and opinions - both good and bad - so much so that it gives one a headache from trying to fish out what's good, sound advice from the sea of misconceptions and outright wrong advice. We thrive to provide down-to-earth, common-sense information that a beginner as well as a veteran pond owner can use. We don't believe in changing philosophies with every change in wind direction but we're not afraid to try something new. We experiment with new products to find what works and what doesn't. That's what's kept us in business for so long. Our customers have grown to depend on us to provide good information and good product that does the job it's supposed to do.
There is a plethora of web-based discount companies out there where you might be able to buy a product a little cheaper. This style company has no conscience. It's easy for them to just print what the manufacturer claims about a product and provide no real customer service. AND they make a lot of money from doing that. I guess we'll never be millionaires -- but at least we can sleep at night. For our loyal customers who purchase their fish food, pond equipment, etc. through us - here's a big THANK YOU! It's you that makes it possible for us to provide our E-Newsletter. So, take a few moments and enjoy this premier edition of What's Up, Doc? E-News.
~ Peggy
What's Up, Doc?
- We've Moved!
As many of you already know, we no longer have a retail water garden center in Alpharetta, Georgia. We have moved our shipping and warehousing to Dahlonega where we live. We hope to find a suitable location for a retail outlet here, in Dahlonega, soon. In the meantime we are continuing to provide "top notch" service from our mail order department. I want to thank you all for your continued support of our company. We still carry most everything except (until we secure a new water garden center) live fish and plants. Our website, www.PondDoc.com, is equipped with a secure shopping cart or you can call me at (404) 375-9600 or email me to place an order or if you have questions or problems that we can help you solve. If you are located in Georgia, often you'll receive your order the following day. As always, WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. Whether it's questions about fish health, pond construction, water quality, or anything else about ponds either The Doc or I will be glad to help you.
We always kept our personal koi in one of our display ponds at the store. We certainly weren't going to leave them behind when we moved. In normal "Pond Doc" fashion The Doc could not settle for just any pond! We built a "Dream Pond" --- A state-of-the-art, low-maintenance, 15,000-gallon formal koi pond in our back yard. I photographed the whole process and much of it is has been documented online for you to see. If you'd like to see the Doc's personal pond, click HERE.
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Seasonal Check List
February is hard on the pond and its inhabitants. Here in Georgia it may be a balmy 75 degrees one day then freezing the next. The fluctuations in temperature will play havoc on the health of the fish. As the water temperatures begin to rise the fish are exposed to many things that can harm them (parasites that live in colder water, ammonia and nitrite spikes, etc.) while their immunity systems have not yet kicked in. The check list below should help you through this period and the articles listed in the Recommended Reading section will delve more completely into the problems (and joys) of the spring thaw.
- Begin feeding M-Wheat Fish Food once a day when water temperatures are constantly above 50 degrees.
- Test the water parameters (ammonia, nitrites, pH) every week. When testing the water for ammonia be sure to heat up the water sample. I stick the test tube under my armpit for a few minutes. The test will not work correctly in cold water.
- Nitrifying bacteria do not live in cold water and you might as well expect a spike or two before the bacteria become stable. 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 and the water temperatures are above 55 degrees.
- It may be too cold to do a good cleaning of the pond this month but if you can do one in February (without your hands falling off from the cold) do it. Once your biological filtration is established for the season a cleaning will disturb the nitrifying bacteria and prolong the balancing of your pond.
- Crank up your system if you've had it turned off all winter. Perform a thorough backwash on bead filters before running any water through it back into the pond.
- You might check your UV to make sure it's working but DO NOT TURN IT ON until your biological filter is established.
- Northern migrating great blue herons are now having family reunions and joining their sun-loving cousins in the warmer south. The trees are also still bare from winter and that makes it easier for these dreaded predators to find your pond. Protect your pond with a decoy, scarecrow and/or netting.
Recommended Reading
While there may be a few new ones in the crowd, many of the following articles are "oldies but goodies" that we've had online for a while with one big difference. We have gone through them and updated them. Everyday we learn something new (or at least we should all thrive to) so an article that was good yesterday should be terrific today! I chose the articles that best fit "the coming of spring" which is, of course, just around the corner.
- UPDATED! Spring Maintenance for Your Pond
- UPDATED! Spring Maintenance for Your UV and Bead Filter
- UPDATED! The Great Blue Heron
One thing I've noticed is that in the pond business there are no consumer patrols or comparison of product effectiveness, etc. It seems everyone is in such a hurry to make the big bucks that they skip a very important part of the equation. How does the pond owner know what products work, don't work and how to use products to their full advantages? For that reason, I have taken it on myself to set aside a bit of space on PondDoc.com where folks can find honest and informative evaluations, comparisons and instructions on choosing product and using them correctly. I've already placed a few articles in it - two of which are featured this month (below). I think you'll find them interesting!
Visit PondDoc.com's Product Profile Page
In this month's edition of E-News we are profiling products that are needed in February. The Doc's Prescription Spring Start Pak is made up of several products by different manufacturers that we've grouped together that we feel will give your pond a boost for early spring. The decoy profile will give in-depth instruction on the proper use of decoys to protect your koi and goldfish from predators.
Where are the Store Kitties Now?
Jello and Rascal, our "store kitties" lived at our water garden center in Alpharetta for almost eight years. They were working cats who kept our facilities free of mice and entertained many of the customers. In fact, they had their own friends who came by the store just to visit with them. About a year ago we noticed that Rascal was getting "snippy" with the kids and, although he never bit hard, he nipped at hands. After a few hurt feelings from kids who adored him we felt we needed to take Rascal home. I guess old age makes us all cranky. We took Jello with him since the two have never been parted since birth. Rascal and Jello are now living the good life with a soft bed to lay on and a whole floor of their own to roam. They take turns lying on my desk (in my way!) while I work -- just like they did at the store.
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Rascal
Jello
- The Amazing Gazing Globe
Gazing globes are mysterious and amazing. They reflect and absorb the world around us while creating a beautiful focal point in any garden. Though some folks "just don't get it" - many do! Find out how the garden globe came to be. With a colorful and sordid history, there's more to the garden globe than meets the eye! Read about it's history and folklore HERE.
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