Three Reasons Pond Pumps are Important

Many people weigh the possibility of building a “natural” backyard pond without filtration and pond pumps to clean it and circulate water. While it’s possible to create this type of pond, it may take a lot more work in the beginning and will certainly take more time, energy, and expertise to maintain. Pond filters and pumps are relatively inexpensive, last a long time, and will save you hours of time when you could be relaxing in your backyard garden instead of maintaining it. You can find good quality pond pumps and more information from Swallow Aquatics. Here are three reasons why pond pumps are important.
http://www.swallowaquatics.co.uk/ponds/pond-pumps.html

Decrease Mosquitos and Other Insects
Even the most beautiful outdoor spaces will deter guests if pesky mosquitoes or other insects crash the party. Likewise, even the smallest ponds can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects. When water lies stagnant in an enclosed area, mosquitoes are very likely to build their nests and reproduce, multiplying their families in the spaces you want to relax. A pond pump keeps the water in your pond moving, preventing their nests. You can have the beauty of the pond without inviting unwanted guests to your outdoor gatherings.

Keep the Water Clean
Pond pumps allow your pond filtration system to thoroughly clean the water. Without a pond pump, your water won’t get enough movement to be fully cleaned, so it’s important to use a pump to feed the water in its entirety through filtration. If you have fragile fish or plants in your pond, it’s also important to clean the pond, so harmful bacteria doesn’t grow. Pond pumps limit bacteria growth without using harmful chemicals that may hurt your fish and plants. Pond pumps can also help sift out large items, such as leaves and sticks, before they reach your filter, preserving the life of your equipment.

Add Flow to Your Garden Features
With a pond pump, it’s relatively easy to set up a waterfall or other stylistic features that will add beauty and class to your backyard space. The sound of flowing water creates a gentle ambience that will add peace and tranquility to your outdoor space. Ponds are very simple, but they add so much to an outdoor space. Add in beautiful fish, vibrant plants, stones, and water features to give yourself a place of solace and impress your guests.

Betsey is busy enhancing her garden and decided to do some research on why pond pumps are important.

Where Can I Ask Aquarium Fish Questions?

Question: I have a bunch of different aquarium questions but I'm just trying to figure out a good place that I can send them to have specialists answer my questions for free. I'm not looking to pay anything but just have somebody help me even if it's not a specialist that would be fine but just someone that has more knowledge about the topics that idea because I'm very new and a beginner level.

Ricky shared:
What you should do is go visit some of the fish forms and become a member of them and just slowly start asking your questions without bombing the platforms because some of them really hate that and I will come across as crappy. It's important to stick with quality instead of quantity because these people are pretty smart and you have to remember that most of these guys that take care of these fish are very smart and might even do it as a living as a career.

Tony shared:
You could always go to a bigger website to like Yahoo answers and ask a bunch of questions are there because even though it's a huge platform they are still a lot of people that specialize in the fish aquariums section and you'll still get a lot of good results even though you might have to filter out a lot of crappy results. In my experience I've had a lot better luck with finding fast answers on a site like that versus the small forums where you're going to get better answers but it's going to take a lot longer and sometimes you don't have all that time to wait around.
http://fishinnpost.weebly.com/new-threads.html

Kevin shared:
There are plenty of sites on the web and when she can go and share about your questions and young lancers just isn't the only one because there are a lot of specialized websites that will just find interest in answering your questions. If you're really having trouble finding answers though you might just want to consult your pet store in which you bought the fish from or your equipment because it kind of obligated to give you answers if you bought your equipment or wildlife from that. Because if you bought your fish from that store their kind of obligated to tell you how to care for it if you know what I mean. I remember when I was in the fish community and I was keeping fish as a hobby I remember my pet store would guarantee my fish lived up to 90 days or else they would replace it and help me learn how to care for my fish better.

Castaic Frog Brigade Review: My Personal Opinion

I love this bait, which seems to be closely inspired by the Alabama Umbrella. The Frog Brigade is designed to attach up to four hollow-body top water frogs to a main frog. This bait is different from the Alabama in that it allows the top water fanatics something to play with.

However, first glances play way to reality. Do four frogs usually hang out together in nature? The Alabama rig works so well because a small school of fish (swimbaits) swimming together makes sense, in fact it is expected. A group of frogs together, in close proximity seems a little odd and downright rare.

Another observation of this rig is that the lines which attach from the main frog to the four hollow-bodies are a little loose. This causes the rig to be tangled more than half the time. The spacing also does not feel natural. Perhaps a stiffer element could have been used instead of a traditional monofilament line.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-lGH57xoys

The frogs you can attach yourself, so you can pick your favorite snag-proof frogs. Maybe you have a Matzuo Kroaker sitting around that could be rigged up. However the swivels, on the main unit, do get stuck a fair amount in the weeds, making weedless frogs hardly useful. Theoretically, you could swap them out for another kind of lure meant for top water fishing. The other solution is to avoid the weeded areas, however the defeats the purpose of using a frog, designated for fishing brush and weeded patches.

What about the price? At $20 a rig it does seem a little pricey. Alabama rigs can be much less costly than that.

Finally, we have to remember how difficult one bass is to reel in with a hollow-body frog. Imagine up to four! Not only would this be near impossible but, would likely take an entire team of fisherman to help reel in. Nevertheless, the manufacturer claims pulling in three fish have been accomplished plenty of times during trials and testing.

If it were me, I would stick with an Alabama Umbrella rig. Although the legality per state is still hard to understand, on both lures, you are likely to have a much more enjoyable and successful fishing experience.

Pond Plants And Their Purpose Around Natural Habitat

Introduction
One of the main reasons for having plants in your pond is to oxygenate and help to filter the water. There are however many other reasons, both aesthetic and practical, for taking the time to plant your pond.

Types of Plant
There are 6 categories of plant known as zones, and each zone relates to the level of water in which you can house your plants.

• Zone 1 plants can be planted in the shallowest areas and can even be planted in the earth around the edge of the pond, particularly if the pond is apt to overflow. The plants that do well in Zone 1 are generically known as Bog Plants and include, Bog Bean, Chinese Globe Flower, Cuckoo Flower and Forget-Me-Not
• Zone 2 and 3 plants need to be planted in baskets, well below the surface, with soil specially prepared for pond conditions (Aquatic Compost). The plants that do well in Zones 1 and 2 are generically  known as Marginal’s and include, Iris, Arrowhead, Creeping Jenny and Common Cotton Grass
• Zone 4 and 5 plants also need to be in baskets but are placed in the deepest part of the pond in soil specially prepared for pond conditions (Aquatic Compost). The plants that do will in Zones 4 and 5 are generically known as Deep Water Plants and include Lilies, Water Hawthorn and Golden Club
• Zone 6 plants float on the surface of the water and need no additional soil, they will move around the pond with the water flow and are generically known as Floating Plants, and include Fibre Optic Plant, Hair Grass, Hornwort and Water Soldier.

The Benefits of a Well Planted Pond
In addition to oxygenating your pond, plants will also provide cover and shade for your fish in the summer and protection during the winter. The plants will also help to naturally filter the water and absorb a lot of the excess nutrients, reducing algae growth. It will encourage breeding if there are areas where fish can safely spawn, reducing the chance of the eggs being eaten by other fish. Once the eggs have hatched the babies will look for places to hide until they grow big enough not to be eaten by larger fish, and it will be around the Deep Water Plants near the bottom of the pond where the babies will seek refuge.

The right combination of plants will create a natural ecosystem that will require little or no intervention from chemicals to correct and balance the water quality, and will considerably reduce the amount of pond maintenance you have to carry out consequently; your fish will be healthier. There are also lots of other wildlife and species that thrive from these plants in ponds. Ducks, turtles and tortoises, insects, and so much more. They really are the source of new oxygen being brought into the water.

Conclusion

A pond that has been planted with consideration and forethought will have plants growing throughout the year. If you find that your fish have a tendency to nibble on the roots or leaves of the plants to the point where they are causing serious damage, you may want to consider supplementing or increasing their food intake because they may be hungry.

Featured images:

•  License: Creative Commons image source 

Jason Balchand is a fish hobbyist who writes for a couple of pond and aquarium blogs. If you would like to read more of his work you can follow him at his main blog or on Twitter.

Caring For Our Environment? Who Is Taking Charge

Over the last several years we have been told time and time again that we must learn to care for the environment. But who are these people telling us this? And how do they know what is right and what is wrong for the environment.
Having the role of predicting what the environment will be like in 50 years must be a tough one, as it is hard enough to predict what is going to happen in the next month, never mind years to come.

What Effects the Environment?

To be able to predict what the environment will be like in the future, it is essential to understand what effects it. Numerous different things can affect the environment, some being more natural causes that cannot be stopped, other causes being made by human beings every single day that can be stopped easily.

Natural Causes

Each day, all over the world there will be some kind of natural destructive event occurring that is harming the environment. However small the occurrence is, it is still having a detrimental effect – harming and destroying the world. Some natural events include earthquakes, volcanoes and fires.
Such events are unavoidable, meaning we can only protect the environment as much that is possible. The pollution that is given off from earthquakes, fires and volcanoes can be very harmful to the environment, contaminating rivers, seas and natural landscape.
Certain defences have been put in place to try and lower the harmful effects. Certain rivers can be sped up, whereas others have defence blockers to prevent contamination.

Avoidable Harm

Harm that is avoidable is often created by humans. Many people are selfish when it comes to protecting the environment, having little thought for how their actions are having a negative impact on the world. Some other people may be unaware of how their actions are seen as dangerous and harmful. Some harmful actions include:

• Regular driving – the exhaust gives off bad emission into the atmosphere.
• Not lowering your energy consumption.
• Fires started purposely.

Who Is In Charge of Warning Us?
So by now, we know it is all good and well to take care of the environment for the future, but who exactly is telling us this? It is the role of environmental consultants to warn us of such behaviour.
Environmental consultants work alongside the government to monitor pollution levels. The consultants will advise the government of any high risk areas and what needs to be changed. From the current warnings given, a lot has been changed to create a cleaner and greener world.

Electric hybrid cars are currently being sold, lowering the amount of fuel guzzling vehicles on the road. There are currently many more ‘go green’ campaigns running all over the world, encouraging more people to lower their energy consumption. The home and the workplace are the places that consume the most energy, so it essential people begin focusing in these places first. Reducing the amount of lighting you use in the workplace or home is essential. It is also advised that you should recycle rather than throw your rubbish into the bin.

Taylor Hopkinson has many openings for renewable energy jobs, including environmental consultants. You can find out more by looking here, https://www.taylorhopkinson.com/

Work alongside the environmental consultants to make the world a greener place.

Water - Like Liquid Gold But Much Cheaper

Getting Your Feet Wet

H20. It is a simple chemical compound formula yet this substance – commonly known as water – is vital to life on this planet. Over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered in the stuff and our bodies are made up of approximately the same percentage. It vaporizes at 100 Celsius and freezes at zero Celsius. Pockets have been found on the Moon and on Mars leading scientists to speculate about the possibility of colonizing other worlds in future if only it were possible to harness these vital life supplies. Europa, one of the largest moons of Jupiter, is a ball of ice with liquid oceans beneath its frozen surface and many more moons are strongly believed to have a large water supply.

It is highly important to many religions and cultures. Holy water is used to baptist Christians and Jews. Hindus bathe in the holy River Ganges every year. Ancient Egyptian society was built on the veneration of Isis and the life-giving properties of the Nile. Most of the ancient civilizations had a water cult or gods based around waterways: Sulis, Minerva, Neptune, Chalchiuhtlicue, Sequana and many more.

The Cycle of Life

It isn’t just a symbolic thing. Water in its liquid state permits replication of most life forms. If it isn’t the spontaneous cell division of single-cell organisms (or those with only a few cells) then it is amphibians relying on stagnant or fresh pools of water to lay their eggs or spawn. Fish live in it and will die when removed from it for any length of time. Though ocean-based mammals such as whales and dolphins need to come up for air because they still have lungs, this isn’t necessary for fish. For plant based life, it is vital for photosynthesis which is why you need to keep your plants sufficiently watered at all times.

We have always harnessed it for industry: in the processes of smelting and forging, in grinding flour for our bread, to provide and control food supplies and since the Industrial Revolution we have used our great bodies of water as methods of disposing of our waste material. Though most of the civilized world has legislation to restrict and reduce pollution of our waterways, some argue that it has not gone far enough and businesses need to be encouraged to act more responsibly.

Triumph of the Otter

There are many success stories environmentalist fight and there is no better example of the triumph of conservation than the otter. Since the 1980s, a deliberate drive to improve the waterways of England and make them safe for all forms of life has seen the return of one of the most celebrated icons of the English countryside.

Through banning use of certain pesticides and enacting legislation to make businesses deal with their pollution responsibly, people in the UK are celebrating and enjoying their rivers and canals once more. This is not an isolated case though and sadly, there are species all over the world that are being affected by pollution and the wanton dumping of raw sewage. The truth is, it is now easy and inexpensive for businesses to act responsibly in installing sewage processing systems for the treatment of industrial waste water. Such systems are not just good for the environment, but beneficial for the health of employees too. Finally, we are using a lot of water in our day to day lives and these systems can help businesses reduce their carbon footprint and overall clean water consumption

Water is important not just to our survival, but to the survival of the species of our planet. That is why it is vital that we do our best to keep our waterways as clean as possible to prevent diseases or poisoning the planet.

Sally Dimmock has a compulsion to continue to learn about the world around us and she never fails to feel astounded at the importance of water. We must keep our supply clean so if you need Biological Sewage Treatment check out one of the many services available

How To Cook A Fish Caught In The Water

If you love fishing, you would surely want to make the fish you catch a part of your health diet. Fish are rich in many nutrients and the fresher the fish the better it tastes. However, they may ingest contaminants like mercury and PCB. This is the reason why many people avoid eating fish.

Clean the Fish

Remove all the fat, which is usually found at the top, centre, and bottom of a fillet. Although some of the fat is considered beneficial for its omega-3 content, these fats generally accumulate in areas where the contaminants accumulate. Hence, it is better to get rid of it completely.

After removing the fat, wash thoroughly and then cook. Cooking helps remove any remaining contaminants. High fat content also gives a rancid odor to the fish and reduces its shelf life (although there are some exceptions).

Storage

How the fish is handled after being caught affects its taste and shelf life largely. When caught, it should be kept alive if possible until the time you land. You can then gut and clean the fish for storage or cooking.

Modern day fish boats are equipped with a well for storing fish. If your boat does not have a well, you should gut, scale, and clean your fish immediately when (or as) you catch it. S
mall fish can be frozen whole while the larger ones can be cut into slices. Most boats carry a deep freeze where you can put your catch. When you put fish in the deep freeze, make small packets which you can consume fully once taken out for cooking. You should not refreeze fish.

Thawing

If you have iced the fish, you should thaw it out properly before cooking. Ideally you should thaw out frozen fish in the refrigerator which takes around one full day. Alternatively, you can keep it in cold water for a couple of hours until it is at room temperature.
If you need to thaw it instantly, you can pop it in the microwave but remember not to microwave it for too long or it will begin cooking! Whatever you do, keep the fish wrapped in the packet while you thaw it.

It is best to partially defrost and then cook the fish while it is still cold. Do not refreeze thawed out fish. Refrozen fish loses its unique flavor and texture.

Cooking
You can cook fish in the same way whether it is fresh or frozen. There are many ways to cook fish like poaching, baking, and other methods. Always cover the fish while cooking to preserve the flavor whether on the stove or in the microwave. There are a few things you should keep in mind when cooking fish.

1. Never over cook fish. The more you cook it, the more it hardens and the flavor is destroyed.
2. You can assume fish is cooked when you see it change from translucent to opaque. Test it by poking a fork in the fleshy part. If it flakes easily it’s done.
3. When cooking, do not toss or stir too much. Fish flakes easily when cooked, and tossing or stirring can affect its shape and appearance.

David Hammel is freelance writer, professional blogger and an avid boater. He is from the Napanee area and enjoys blogging for Atkins & Hoyle about his boating knowledge and experiences.