Water X Scapes Blog

How To Clean A Pond: The Complete Pond Cleaning Guide

How To Clean A Pond: The Complete Pond Cleaning Guide

A clean, well-maintained pond enhances the beauty of your outdoor space while providing a healthy habitat for fish and aquatic plants. Over time, however, ponds accumulate debris, algae, and sludge, requiring regular cleaning to maintain water qualit...

Pond Filtration Techniques For Koi And Goldfish Ponds

Pond Filtration Techniques For Koi And Goldfish Ponds

When considering pond filtration techniques for koi and goldfish ponds we divide pond filtration into three types (by function) biological, mechanical, and plant-based. Each filtration type has its own job to perform but having a combination of all t...

Why Not Kill Early Spring Algae?

Why Not Kill Early Spring Algae?

Well, Spring has sprung! Daffodils and perennial flowers are popping up showing us the signs of Spring! Our fish emerged from their cave this past week and began the ritual of begging for food. There’s plenty of hair algae and planktonic algae to mu...

What Is Montmorillonite Clay?

What Is Montmorillonite Clay?

Montmorillonite is a naturally occurring and versatile mineral used in various indrustries including agriculture, cosmetics, and environmental management. Among it's uses, it's proven to be particularly useful for ponds and beneficial for pond...

How Do Pond Vacuums Work?

How Do Pond Vacuums Work?

Pond vacuums quickly and effectively remove muck/sludge from the bottom of backyard ponds and water gardens. Organic material such as fish waste, plant debris, and excess fish food break down and settle into thick layers of muck at the bottom of wate...

Lake Treatment Chemicals

Lake Treatment Chemicals

Chemicals are a common control method to treat problematic plants, algae, disease, and insects in or around lakes and earthen bottom ponds. Most lakes and earthen bottom ponds at some point struggle with some of these nuisances. For the...

Preparing Water Features For Winter

Preparing Water Features For Winter

Another year has gone by and the weather is beginning to change. Once again, nights are becoming cooler and the scent of fall is in the air. Sad but true, it is time to start packing up yard ornaments, putting away the lawn furniture (unless you have...

Common Pond Fish Problems

Common Pond Fish Problems

Ever wonder if your fish can talk to you? Paying close attention to their behavior or noticing symptoms on their body can speak loudly as to how your fish are feeling. Use this “symptom checker” guide to help pinpoint common fish problems...

How To Repair Pond Liner

How To Repair Pond Liner

Patching Pond Liner Properly with a Seam Tape Kit could Save you the Trouble of Rebuilding your Water Feature.. There comes a time in the life of a pond when leaks happen. Whether it’s from an overlapped liner, roots pushing through, or a hole...

5 Trees To Keep Away From Ponds

5 Trees To Keep Away From Ponds

Although some of these plants are very attractive and have a reputation for growing near a natural earth bottom pond, it does not mean that they will do you any favors being planted close to the edge of your water garden. Birch Trees are beau...

The Life of a Pond: Sun vs. Shade

The Life of a Pond: Sun vs. Shade

Everyone has their own opinion about whether a pond can be built in the sun or should it be built it the shade. Here are a few facts that may help you determine where exactly to put your pond. Sun Benefits: Arguably the most common reason to build...

Chlorine, Chloramine, and Pond Water Conditioners

Chlorine, Chloramine, and Pond Water Conditioners

As a water gardener I am sure you have heard one or more of these terms over time. But what are they? Below, we define what each are, when to watch out for them, and when to add them. If you have “city water” running from the tap in your...

Biology in Your Own Back Yard!

Biology in Your Own Back Yard!

With the world in its current pandemic, spending time at home has become more prevalent than ever. Make your water garden more than just a stay-cation spot, let it become a world for education as well. Getting Fresh Air: Kids these days are all but...

Pond Dyes are Safe for Fish, Wildlife and Swimming

Pond Dyes are Safe for Fish, Wildlife and Swimming

POND DYES - for lakes & large earthen bottom ponds Using pond dyes for lakes is like putting sunglasses on your water’s surface. The dyes will protect your body of water from the UV rays of the sun that activate and promote the growt...

Potted Vs Bare-Root Pond Plants

Potted Vs Bare-Root Pond Plants

A water garden is not complete without aquatic plants. In fact, they play an essential role in keeping your pond water clean, clear and healthy! Some plants are used for shading and keeping the water temperatures cooler, some are used for filtering n...

The Sustainability of Pond Keeping

The Sustainability of Pond Keeping

Besides providing serenity through the peaceful sounds of running water and the graceful movements of swimming fish, your pond holds potential for providing you with so much more. This is to suggest the idea of growing fruits and vegetables in a bog...

Best Hardy Marginal Pond Plants for Filtration

Best Hardy Marginal Pond Plants for Filtration

Filtration plays an important role in the health of your pond water. Did you know that many pond plants help naturally filter your pond water? Follow along as we cover the top 10 hardy marginal pond plants that will help with your pond filtratio...

Pond Lights: Lighting Your Water Garden

Pond Lights: Lighting Your Water Garden

Adding lights to your water feature adds hours of enjoyment to be had while being able to take advantage of sights and feelings that you would typically miss out on during the day. Landscape and pond lighting can create elegance, dimension, mystique,...

Identifying Good and Bad Pond Snails

Identifying Good and Bad Pond Snails

"Are All Snails Good for my Pond?" As with anything, there are pros and cons to having snails in your water garden. Here, we identify the most common snails found in a backyard pond and discuss what they can do (or not do) in the water. Trapdoor S...

Why is my Pond Losing Water?

Why is my Pond Losing Water?

The heart-sinking feeling of walking out to your pond and hearing the pump sucking air because the water level is down, is enough to put anyone into a panic. Don’t fret, we are here to help you determine whether it’s a leak or possibly ev...

Pondless Water Feature Maintenance and Care

Pondless Water Feature Maintenance and Care

There is no such thing as a ‘no maintenance’ water feature, but a pondless water feature is about as low maintenance as you can get. Here are a few tips to make it even easier. WHILE BUILDING YOUR PONDLESS WATER FEATURE: A few suggest...

It Is Better to Give Than to Receive | Ronald McDonald House Charities

It Is Better to Give Than to Receive | Ronald McDonald House Charities

Charity is the act of extending love and kindness to others unconditionally. This is a conscious act, but the decision is made by the heart. Our hearts, this year, are pouring out for, and with, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio,...

Boost Pond Health With Effective Lake Aeration

Boost Pond Health With Effective Lake Aeration

What is Aeration? Any procedure by which oxygen is added to water can be considered a type of water aeration. This allows for various techniques to add dissolved oxygen to the water; but they also have varying degrees of successful benefits. Natura...

Top 5 Tropical Marginals for Pond Filtration

Top 5 Tropical Marginals for Pond Filtration

Filtration plays an important role in the health of your pond water. Did you know that certain pond plants can help naturally filter the water? Follow along as we cover the top 5 tropical marginal pond plants that will help with your pond filtration....