Attracting Frogs To Your Oklahoma PondA good sign you've built a great ecosystem pond is the presence of wildlife which is attracted to it. One animal in particular that many people want to attract are pond frogs. These amphibians begin their lives in an aquatic environment, and even as adults they’re never too far away from water. Below are some tips for attracting them to your pond. How Frogs Behave In Oklahoma Ponds Whether man-made or natural, ponds are attractive to male frogs in particular as they will hibernate there during the winter months, lying dormant beneath the water. However, they still require oxygen to live, which is why you will want to monitor the pond when it freezes and thaw a portion of it by putting a hot pan of water on top. Frogs also like ponds which have lots of shade as it makes the area attractive for breeding. Pond Design Tips For Attracting Frogs The edges of your pond should be shallow as this makes it easy for the frogs to get in or out of the water. Some of the edges should taper off towards vegetation which is moist, such as leaves or mulch. This will provide the frogs will shelter, hibernation and food. Frogs need shade to protect them from the sun, but too much shade will harm the pond as it needs some sunlight. Therefore a portion of the pond should have constant exposure to sunlight while other parts should be in shade at all times. One natural way to provide shade is through aquatic plants such as marsh marigolds or water violets. These plants grow well in ponds, and frogs are most attracted to bodies of water which have depth of two to three feet. Why Frogs Are Beneficial To Ponds Frogs play an important ecological role in the ponds where they reside. They prey on insects, and this is important as it keeps the insects from increasing in number to the point where they become destructive. Frogs also consume mosquitoes, flies, snails, beetles and even cockroaches, as well as various plants and shrubs. Frogs also love compost heaps and adding this to your pond is one of the best ways to attract them. Frogs enjoy any place that is moist and humid with lots of insects to dine on. Problems To Watch For Creating the right pond environment will attract frogs, but it may take a few years for them to appear. Many pond owners become impatient and decide to drive down to their local pet store where they buy a frog and then introduce it to their ponds manually. This is a bad idea. Frogs that are introduced in this manner may either die or simply leave. It is also important to remember that frogs are fragile creatures. If you use nylon mesh in your garden it must be taut and no more than 1.5 inches otherwise it can trap and kill them. If you have cats, dogs or other pets, they should be kept away from the pond otherwise they could also kill the frogs. For daily pond tips Monday thru Friday like and share our facebook page. To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!
Our outdoor design center is located at 9105 NW Expressway, Yukon, OK 73099. Please feel free to stop by for more water feature inspiration. Continental Ponds is offering this pond information as a personal information source to our website visitors. Pond services are performed in Oklahoma City, Norman, Moore, Nichols Hills, Edmond, Yukon, Shawnee, Newcastle, Mustang, Bethany, Piedmont, Guthrie, Jones, Chandler, Midwest City, Del City, Shawnee, Tuttle, Blanchard, Bridge Creek , Warr Acres, Woodlawn Park, Lawton. Fish and Koi Pond Maintenance and Construction, Streams and Waterfalls, and Fountains are all in our wheelhouse of talent. Explore our website for more ideas. Like our Facebook page for daily tips and inspiration.
0 Comments
Oklahoma pond owners often ask if their UV bulbs can be reused from one year to the next. These bulbs are one of the best tools you can use against water discoloration and issues which are associated with it. The reason for this is because when the super fine particles have exposure to the ultraviolet rays which the bulbs produce, the particles will begin clumping together, which will then be eliminated by the ponds filtration mechanical system. This results in water that is both clear and clean, given the bulb continues working in an efficient manner.
UV Clarifiers And Bulbs
UV clarifiers are designed to eliminate floating algae which are single celled. They are less effective at dealing with blanket and string algae. Their primary purpose is to ensure the water remains clear and pristine. However, in order for them to do their jobs they need a fresh bulb from one year to the next, one which produces ultraviolet light. If you reuse these bulbs after a year has passed, they will continue displaying illumination and appear functional, but in actuality their effectiveness will decrease as time passes. The wiser course of action is to always replace your ultraviolet bulbs during spring, and plan to do the same each year. Cleaning The Bulb And Checking The Filter Aside from replacing the UV bulb, you will also want to evaluate the glass tube and quartz sleeve which houses it. Does it look like it should be cleaned? Debris has a tendency to collect within the glass, which blocks the strong UV rays from entering the water when it moves via the filter. All you need to do is apply CLR or a descaler and cloth which is soft so that the buildup is removed. A descaler is substances that can be used to get lime scale off metal surfaces. Just be sure to rinse the bulb and sleeve off really good before re-installing. It is also important to inspect your filter media carefully, as well as the mechanical components within it. These include the prefilters, skimmer and pump sock. They might need to be replaced or cleaned, and although the clarifier is responsible for handling much of the water which is discolored, the filtration unit must still manage the removal of the debris. Therefore, it is essential to ensure they are operating correctly before algae starts to bloom during spring. Keep Your Pond Well Balanced At All Times UV clarifiers are outstanding when it comes to keeping pond water clear. However, it is also important to ensure your pond is well balanced to begin with. Make sure excessive nutrients aren’t present in the water, and if they are the best solution is to reduce the fish population. You might also need to cut down on the level of food they’re being given. Waste and debris will build up over time, so it is important to make sure you remove it regularly. 
For daily pond tips Monday thru Friday like and share our facebook page. To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!
Our outdoor design center is located at 9105 NW Expressway, Yukon, OK 73099. Please feel free to stop by for more water feature inspiration. Continental Ponds is offering this pond information as a personal information source to our website visitors. Pond services are performed in Oklahoma City, Norman, Moore, Nichols Hills, Edmond, Yukon, Shawnee, Newcastle, Mustang, Bethany, Piedmont, Guthrie, Jones, Chandler, Midwest City, Del City, Shawnee, Tuttle, Blanchard, Bridge Creek , Warr Acres, Woodlawn Park, Lawton. Fish and Koi Pond Maintenance and Construction, Streams and Waterfalls, and Fountains are all in our wheelhouse of talent. Explore our website for more ideas. Like our Facebook page for daily tips and inspiration.       
 How Snails Benefit Oklahoma PondsOklahoma Ponds and water gardens host a variety of different animals, including fish, turtles, ducks and frogs. One animal that many Oklahoma pond owners overlook are snails. As children my siblings, friends and I had a blast collecting snails in the morning dew before school. With my mother being French, they made for a tasty after school snack but that's a whole other story. However, these animals play an important role in the ecosystem, and when present in your pond can bring a number of benefits. What Are Snails? The snail is a type of gastropod which is shelled. Like turtles, they can retract into it for protection. In addition to freshwater snails, there are also sea snails, and those that lack shells are referred to as being slugs. Throughout history these animals have been very important to humans, serving as a source of food in some cultures, and in others their shells were used as a form of jewelry. While they are commonly associated with aquatic environments, snails can also be found in deserts. Most species are herbivores, and use their radula, or tongue, to break down food such as plants. Some land species however are carnivores. How Snails Function In Oklahoma Ponds They are fond of eating algae, which means when present in ponds they can keep it under control. They are best seen as being natural janitors, but in ponds that are well maintained, they will serve more aesthetic purposes. A snail should not be seen as a solution to serious pond problems, particularly involving water quality. If your pond water turns green, for instance, this is because of planktonic algae blooms, which will be much too small for them to consume. Snails are better adapted to eating slime algae. Another mistake that some pond owners make is attempting to use snails to control pond sludge. Now, it is certainly true that the snails will consume the organic debris that they come across in the sludge layer, but in most cases they will have a greater preference for healthier algae, which is responsible for maintaining the pond’s cleanliness. This means that in certain circumstances the snails can actually make the situation worse. Another thing to remember about snails is that they breed quite rapidly, and if too many become present in the ponds, deceased snails will merge will the sludge and make it worse. How Snails Should Be Used Snails should be seen like fish, frogs, or turtles, which is an animal that will make the environment more interesting and attractive. While snails will help in cases were string algae are present, they shouldn’t be relied upon to do so, especially at the expenses of cleaning the pond manually or using other types of equipment. Another thing to consider is that if you have other pets or animals already residing in the pond, they could see the snails as being a source of food, and may prey on them, so you have to exercise caution when introducing them. For daily pond tips Monday thru Friday like and share our facebook page. To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!
Our outdoor design center is located at 9105 NW Expressway, Yukon, OK 73099. Please feel free to stop by for more water feature inspiration. Continental Ponds is offering this pond information as a personal information source to our website visitors. Pond services are performed in Oklahoma City, Norman, Moore, Nichols Hills, Edmond, Yukon, Shawnee, Newcastle, Mustang, Bethany, Piedmont, Guthrie, Jones, Chandler, Midwest City, Del City, Shawnee, Tuttle, Blanchard, Bridge Creek , Warr Acres, Woodlawn Park, Lawton. Fish and Koi Pond Maintenance and Construction, Streams and Waterfalls, and Fountains are all in our wheelhouse of talent. Explore our website for more ideas. Like our Facebook page for daily tips and inspiration.  It’s winter time here in Oklahoma, a time when pond pumps in many ponds that have skimming systems suddenly and seemingly for no reason just stop working. We seem to get many phone calls this time of year that “my pump has suddenly died, it was working this morning and this afternoon it has just stopped”. After so many years in this business and seeing patterns and situations that develop at given points in the year my first piece of advice for those customers with “sudden dead pump syndrome”, after telling them to unplug the pump, is to ask them to check the pump intake to see if their neighborhood frog has it’s leg caught in the pump intake. I estimate that about 90% of the time that is what the problem is. Most of the time if the problem is brought to my attention early enough the frog can be released and be on its merry way, hopping a bit crooked, but all the same on its way. Of course that is not the case in the picture above.  Frogs will often hang out inside the skimmer box because it offers a pocket of warm air compared to the outside temperature, and frogs like that. It is not unusual to open a skimmer lid and see 2-3 frogs perched along the net supports this time of year. Frogs will swim into the bottom of a skimmer to be closer to the source of the warmth…the pump, and tend to get their leg jammed in the pump’s intake. Do yourself a favor and take a minute to check for frogs in your skimmer during this time a year. If you are located in the Oklahoma City Metro and need help removing your pump, preparing your pond for the winter or have any pond maintenance questions, call or Contact us.
 How Storms Affect Your Oklahoma PondAs we all know Oklahoma is well known for tornadoes, rain, hail, lightning and various other weather conditions. Do these storms affect my pond, if so how? Storms can suddenly drop water temperatures and most importantly change the pH in a pond. So you ask, "What is pH and how do storm affect my Oklahoma Pond". Several things can happen with storms, here are a few listed below, but lets start with what pH is! The pH level is a numeric value that indicates the relative acidity or alkalinity of the water on a scale of 0 to 14, with neutral at 7. Most Oklahoma lake and pond organisms prefer pH levels of 6.5 to 9. When storms are present, atmospheric pressure changes sometimes causing pH in your pond to change. This change in pH can be lethal to your fish.
For daily pond tips Monday thru Friday like and share our facebook page. To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!
Our outdoor design center is located at 9105 NW Expressway, Yukon, OK 73099. Please feel free to stop by for more water feature inspiration. Continental Ponds is offering this pond information as a personal information source to our website visitors. Pond services are performed in Oklahoma City, Norman, Moore, Nichols Hills, Edmond, Yukon, Shawnee, Newcastle, Mustang, Bethany, Piedmont, Guthrie, Jones, Chandler, Midwest City, Del City, Shawnee, Tuttle, Blanchard, Bridge Creek , Warr Acres, Woodlawn Park, Lawton. Fish and Koi Pond Maintenance and Construction, Streams and Waterfalls, and Fountains are all in our wheelhouse of talent. Explore our website for more ideas. Like our Facebook page for daily tips and inspiration. Average Depth of an Oklahoma City Koi Pond On average, the depth of an Oklahoma koi pond is 2 ft. Now, you could really go as deep as you want, but 18" is the minimum to keep fish in the pond over the winter months in Oklahoma. You don’t want to go any shallower than 18" because over winter the ice will freeze, and there likely won’t be enough water for the fish to survive. Many people do go deeper than 2 ft., which is perfectly fine if the size of the pond allows. Really, the choice is up to you on how deep you want your Oklahoma koi pond to be.  Why You Would Want Your Oklahoma City Koi Pond Deeper We will usually build our Oklahoma City ponds with an average depth somewhere between 2-3 ft. We have found that a depth between 2-3 ft. is ideal to keep the pond ecosystem in balance. Now, if you really want to enjoy your pond, you can go 6-8 ft. deep. This might sound a little much for the average backyard pond hobbyist, but with a depth of 6-8 ft., you can swim in it like you would in a pool. You might be thinking…hmm no thanks, ponds are not for swimming. You’re right if we are talking about retention ponds or ponds that have no filtration. But a swimming pond is much more than your average backyard pond. And honestly, they can be a bit easier to maintain than smaller ponds, due in part to the larger ecosystem of a swimming pond. Even better…kids of all ages will love playing in and around a swimming pond…and when we say kids, we don’t just mean under the age of 10. Ponds and water features in general, tend to bring out the kid in all of us! For daily pond tips Monday thru Friday like and share our facebook page. To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!
Our outdoor design center is located at 9105 NW Expressway, Yukon, OK 73099. Please feel free to stop by for more water feature inspiration. Continental Ponds is offering this pond information as a personal information source to our website visitors. Pond services are performed in Oklahity, Shawnee, Tuttle, Blanchard, Bridge Creek , Warr Acres, Woodlawn Park, Lawton. Fish and Koi Pond Maintenance and Construction, Streams and Waterfalls, and Fountains are all in our wheelhouse of talent. Explore our website for more ideas. Like our Facebook page for daily tips and inspiration.oma City, Norman, Moore, Nichols Hills, Edmond, Yukon, Shawnee, Newcastle, Mustang, Bethany, Piedmont, Guthrie, Jones, Chandler, Midwest City, Del C  Pond pump problems & how to fix them.Ponds, pondless waterfalls, and fountains are low-maintenance additions to any Oklahoma landscape. All needing a pump to operate and most running 24/7. Eventually, even the best equipment can have issues. Learn how to troubleshoot your pump to keep your water feature in tip-top shape. If you are having pump issues try these quick fixes to get things running smoothly in no time.
While you have the pump out of the water, lay it on its side and plug it in. Make sure the impeller spins before you put it back in the pond. If it’s not spinning, use a screwdriver to give it a little push. Professional Pond Pump Help If you’re "done" with your pump, or if you don’t even want to deal with it, we can help. Continental Ponds is happy to troubleshoot your setup and help you prevent future issues. Contact us online or give us a call at 405-834-2291 For daily pond tips Monday thru Friday like and share our facebook page. To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!
Our outdoor design center is located at 9105 NW Expressway, Yukon, OK 73099. Please feel free to stop by for more water feature inspiration. Continental Ponds is offering this pond information as a personal information source to our website visitors. Pond services are performed in Oklahoma City, Norman, Moore, Nichols Hills, Edmond, Yukon, Shawnee, Newcastle, Mustang, Bethany, Piedmont, Guthrie, Jones, Chandler, Midwest City, Del City, Shawnee, Tuttle, Blanchard, Bridge Creek , Warr Acres, Woodlawn Park, Lawton. Fish and Koi Pond Maintenance and Construction, Streams and Waterfalls, and Fountains are all in our wheelhouse of talent. Explore our website for more ideas. Like our Facebook page for daily tips and inspiration. Pond Renovation vs. Pond Repair in Oklahoma. Many people question the difference between pond renovations vs. pond repair, although they sound similar, pond renovation requires much deeper intervention. Repairing something means fixing or replacing a small part that is broken or malfunctioning – renovation is a complete overhaul and redo, resulting in a practically brand new end product. A pond is no exception to these terms of home improvement– take a look at the before and after of this pond renovation!  Pond Repair When a pond leaks, you have the option to make repairs or completely renovate the pond – these options depend heavily on the extent of the problems. If the causes don’t inherently interfere with the structure of the pond or the health of the pond wildlife, you can likely troubleshoot and fix the specific issue. Problems that can be repaired include holes that leak or the liner detaching from the skimmer or biofalls, just to name some things that are more common. The possibilities are endless – without the guaranteed standards of a Certified Aquascape Contractor, there’s no telling what happened during construction. If the leak is caused by a hole in the liner, it can sometimes be patched. A broken pipe means you need to replace the pipe. Repairs are self-explanatory. The most difficult part of even the simplest pond repairs is identifying the problem in the first place. We usually hear,“why is my pond leaking?” This opens a variety of potential causes, which can be narrowed through a few key tests.
b. If the water level has decreased, the problem lies somewhere in the pond or skimmer. If none of these are the causes, your issue is somewhere in the pond or stream and a renovation is likely the best solution. Pond Renovation Renovation is considered a complete pond replacement. This means we remove the pond and replacing all parts. This is the perfect opportunity to change anything you didn’t like, and address any issues, even minor ones – you could add more tunnels for fish, install lighting, and use more plants to encourage a healthy ecosystem. You could increase or decrease the size of the pond, or add an additional or larger waterfall or other feature. Many pond renovations we encounter come from homeowners who had a landscaping company come in and build a pond, or new homeowners who don’t know their pond’s history. Renovations can seem daunting, but are a great opportunity to save time and energy that will be spent making temporary repairs on a flawed or dissatisfying pond design. For daily pond tips Monday thru Friday like and share our facebook page. To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!
Our outdoor design center is located at 9105 NW Expressway, Yukon, OK 73099. Please feel free to stop by for more water feature inspiration. Continental Ponds is offering this pond information as a personal information source to our website visitors. Pond services are performed in Oklahoma City, Norman, Moore, Nichols Hills, Edmond, Yukon, Shawnee, Newcastle, Mustang, Bethany, Piedmont, Guthrie, Jones, Chandler, Midwest City, Del City, Shawnee, Tuttle, Blanchard, Bridge Creek , Warr Acres, Woodlawn Park, Lawton. Fish and Koi Pond Maintenance and Construction, Streams and Waterfalls, and Fountains are all in our wheelhouse of talent. Explore our website for more ideas. Like our Facebook page for daily tips and inspiration. We hear 'misconceptions' all the time when we talk to people about Oklahoma koi ponds. So we thought it's about time to dispel some of the most common ones we hear. Often times we get excuses like; it's too much maintenance, a pond is too much money, I don't have room for a pond ...and the like. More often than not, we hear actual misconceptions like, it will attract mosquitoes, it's not safe for my kids, or I'll have to use chemicals to keep it clean. Many times these misconceptions come from ponds done wrong (which is another topic altogether). So, here we are hoping to help dispel these excuses, misconceptions, and plain ol' myths. It Will Attract Mosquitoes Nothing we all hate more than mosquitoes coming to harvest a meal from us during the middle of a nice get together with friends & family. And many times people often relate mosquitoes with backyard water gardens. But why? Because mosquitoes lay eggs in wet locations like neglected swimming pools, ditches, storm drains, and some ponds. I know what you're thinking, "You just said ponds! ..I think we're done here."..but hold on a minute. What do they all have in common? No moving water. You see, standing stagnant water is the breeding ground for those little flying vampires. Their eggs won't survive or hatch near moving water, in fact...moving water is a good way to deter mosquitoes.
For daily pond tips Monday thru Friday like and share our facebook page. To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!
Our outdoor design center is located at 9105 NW Expressway, Yukon, OK 73099. Please feel free to stop by for more water feature inspiration. Continental Ponds is offering this pond information as a personal information source to our website visitors. Pond services are performed in Oklahoma City, Norman, Moore, Nichols Hills, Edmond, Yukon, Shawnee, Newcastle, Mustang, Bethany, Piedmont, Guthrie, Jones, Chandler, Midwest City, Del City, Shawnee, Tuttle, Blanchard, Bridge Creek , Warr Acres, Woodlawn Park, Lawton. Fish and Koi Pond Maintenance and Construction, Streams and Waterfalls, and Fountains are all in our wheelhouse of talent. Explore our website for more ideas. Like our Facebook page for daily tips and inspiration. Common Oklahoma Koi Pond Misconception: “I’ll Have To Use Chemicals To Keep The Oklahoma Pond Clean”9/6/2019 We hear 'misconceptions' all the time when we talk to people about koi ponds...so we thought it's about time to dispel some of the most common ones we hear. Often times we get excuses like; it's too much maintenance, a pond is too much money, I don't have room for a pond ...and the like. More often than not, we hear actual misconceptions like, it will attract mosquitoes, it's not safe for my kids, or I'll have to use chemicals to keep it clean. Many times these misconceptions come from ponds done wrong (which is another topic altogether). So, here we are hoping to help dispel these excuses, misconceptions, and plain ol' myths. I'll Have To Use Chemicals To Keep It Clean Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. There is no need for bleach or chlorine in an Oklahoma Koi pond that is built correctly. And by built correctly we mean, an Oklahoma ecosystem pond. Besides, throwing chemicals like that in your pond will likely kill your fish. Not only kill your fish, but also kill the good bacteria in your pond. Below is what an Oklahoma koi pond needs to operate as a self contained ecosystem that has no need for chemicals like chlorine or bleach.
Starting to make sense? Take away one element and the other elements are affected. But when you have all the right elements for an Oklahoma ecosystem pond, they all work together, creating a lower maintenance pond that has no need for chemicals. For daily pond tips Monday thru Friday like and share our facebook page. To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!
Our outdoor design center is located at 9105 NW Expressway, Yukon, OK 73099. Please feel free to stop by for more water feature inspiration. Continental Ponds is offering this pond information as a personal information source to our website visitors. Pond services are performed in Oklahoma City, Norman, Moore, Nichols Hills, Edmond, Yukon, Shawnee, Newcastle, Mustang, Bethany, Piedmont, Guthrie, Jones, Chandler, Midwest City, Del City, Shawnee, Tuttle, Blanchard, Bridge Creek , Warr Acres, Woodlawn Park, Lawton. Fish and Koi Pond Maintenance and Construction, Streams and Waterfalls, and Fountains are all in our wheelhouse of talent. Explore our website for more ideas. Like our Facebook page for daily tips and inspiration. |
AuthorTim Trammell has been building, designing, servicing and maintaining pond in the Oklahoma City Metro area for over 20 years. His company Continental Ponds, is Oklahoma's first Master Certified Aquascape Contractor and is an national award winning pond and water feature builder. 
Archives
October 2019
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
General Info |
|
|
Social Media
SEARCH GOOGLE FOR ANYTHING PONDS |
