Water X Scapes Blog

Rules when Stocking and Feeding your Pond Fish

Rules when Stocking and Feeding your Pond Fish

There are many things in a pond for your koi and fish to eat - such as insects, plankton, string algae, and sometimes pond plants. So sometimes it may not be necessary to feed your fish at all. BUT feeding your finned friends can be fun and a bondin...

Chemical vs. Natural Water Treatments

Chemical vs. Natural Water Treatments

Chemical treatments (like copper) for lakes and larger earthen bottom ponds are often the first thing reached for to control, or eradicate, algae blooms or excessive and invasive plant growth. Application is initially a success. Water is “clean...

Maintain Clear Pond Water with Ecosystem Balance

Maintain Clear Pond Water with Ecosystem Balance

Keeping your pond’s eco-system balanced can be tricky at times but does not have to be hard. When you build a water garden, you are not just creating a space for your koi and fish to live. You are creating an eco-system where your pond fish can...

How To Fix Green Pond Water

How To Fix Green Pond Water

A common question amongst many pond owners is; “Why has the water in my garden pond turned green?” Let’s take a look at what this green pond water is, what may cause it, and some effective ways to treat and remediate th...

What's the difference between a lake and a pond?

What's the difference between a lake and a pond?

What's the difference between a lake and a pond? If we're comparing two naturally occurring bodies of water, then size is what matters. If we are speaking in terms of the treatments for a lake versus the treatments for a koi pond (or backyard water g...

Pond Salt Treatments

Pond Salt Treatments

Why Pond Salt Treatments? Adding salt to your pond has many benefits, but the one thing in question here is whether maintaining salt levels throughout the season is good for your fish. It is true that pond salt, at certain dissolved levels, can be...

Benefits of Barley Straw for Ponds

Benefits of Barley Straw for Ponds

The Wonders of Barley Straw Everyone has an aversion to seeing algae growing in their beautiful water garden, but where there is water, sunlight and nutrients, algae will grow. Let’s explore a natural solution to keeping that unsightly green st...

Pond Cleaning versus Changing Water

Pond Cleaning versus Changing Water

To clean or not to clean… that is the question. Whereas many of us love to see a sparkling clean pond, as if it was brand new every spring, it is not always best to clean it out. Follow these guidelines to keep your water feature healthy and b...

How do I Protect my Koi & Pond Fish When There is no Plant Coverage?

How do I Protect my Koi & Pond Fish When There is no Plant Coverage?

When Spring has sprung, not only are the pond predators waking up or returning, but it is also time for mating season. They are hungry, after a long winter’s nap, and so are the newly pregnant mommas. What can you do to save your fish when it i...

Water Garden Calculations

Water Garden Calculations

Knowing your pond inside and out will help you to have a successful and pleasant ponding experience for years to come. From planning your build to maintaining the water quality, these calculations below will prove useful at some point in your ponding...

The Signs of Spring in and Around your Water Garden

The Signs of Spring in and Around your Water Garden

Excitement abounds when the signs of spring start to show after a long gloomy winter in north east Ohio. Soon we’ll hear the sounds of running water and feel the sun on our faces again. There are many things I have learned to look forward to ea...

Ponds Aren’t Just for Fish Anymore

Ponds Aren’t Just for Fish Anymore

Ever consider what your water garden can be used for besides homing your favorite pond fish? Let’s take a look at the versatility of your back yard oasis. What is a pool but a hole in the ground capable of holding water so that on the hottest...

Hoffman's Water X Scapes is More than Meets the Eye

Hoffman's Water X Scapes is More than Meets the Eye

The stresses of modern living are abundant and becoming increasingly so - with pandemic scares, social distancing, and uncertainty of the future. Staring at a computer screen all day, whether you are entering data, home-schooling, on a ZOOM call,...

De-bunking Some Water Garden & Pond Myths

De-bunking Some Water Garden & Pond Myths

With all the stresses in society these days, who wants to add more maintenance and responsibilities to their daily chore list? We have heard from many people who love the idea of having a water feature, but express that they just do not need another...

Winter is for the Birds

Winter is for the Birds

We are not the only ones out there longingly awaiting signs of spring and warmer weather. But at least we don’t have to forage for our food under a foot of snow - or take a bath in a frozen puddle. With your help, these charming symbols of summ...

Pond Winterization Preparation: A Checklist

Pond Winterization Preparation: A Checklist

Backyard ponds require some extra attention when preparing for fall and those cold winter months ahead. Temperatures start dropping which means more and more questions on what to do next are arising. Remember, doing some fall pond maintenance means t...

What Happens to the Frogs in my Pond During the Winter?

What Happens to the Frogs in my Pond During the Winter?

Our amphibious friends can sometimes become just as special to us as our koi fish and other pond fish, but where do they go to survive the cold winter months? Frogs can be found hanging out at the bottom of the pond where the water temperatures are...

Pros And Cons Of Running Your Pond Pump All Winter

Pros And Cons Of Running Your Pond Pump All Winter

“Can I Keep my Pond Pump Running All Winter?” Many pond owners have had success with leaving their pond pump run all winter. And I am of the opinion, at times, “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.” However, with...

How to Keep Pond Fish Alive in Winter

How to Keep Pond Fish Alive in Winter

Do Koi Hibernate? Other common questions that will be answered: How to keep koi fish alive in winter? Feeding Pond Fish in Winter? Should I cover my pond in winter? What to do with pond fish in winter? How do fish survive in a frozen pond during...

Promote Healing with Water Gardening

Promote Healing with Water Gardening

People who suggest that water gardening is a dying fad, have clearly not heard about the beneficial effects splashing water can have on your environment and incidentally on your physical well-being. In case you need another excuse to have a pond, her...

Add or Upgrade Your Water Feature or Pond

Add or Upgrade Your Water Feature or Pond

Often times we build exactly what we think we want for a water garden…and then learn of something new. Or, it may just be time to upgrade. Either way, it’s not too late to add-on extra features like waterfalls, skimmers and bog filters t...

How to Collect and Harvest Rain Water

How to Collect and Harvest Rain Water

Anyone who has lived in Northeast Ohio, for any amount of time, knows the instability of the weather is one could bank on…going from one extreme to the other at any given time. Harvesting rain water is a great way to plan for droughts as well...

Pond Supplies for Building Water Gardens

Pond Supplies for Building Water Gardens

Knowing what the job entails before you start is half the battle. Of course, Hoffman’s Water X Scapes is your one stop pond shop. We have all the pond supplies and knowledge you will need to help you become a successful water gardener from the...

Pond Start Up - First Steps

Pond Start Up - First Steps

A Pond Start Up can seem daunting at first. You've just built that backyard pond you've been dreaming of and now what? Right now, it is just some rocks and water, but not for long. Before you start adding koi or other pond fish, we re...

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