Not only are koi fish beautiful to look at, they also bring a smile to your face when they come to you for food, especially if you are the one always feeding them – they remember their feeder! Feeding koi can be a delightful activity performed alone or with your loved ones, as you feed the koi together. If you treat them well, koi will sometimes even literally eat out of the palm of your hand. What are the best foods and feeding tips for koi fish so they are happy and healthy always? We have some helpful information on what koi fish eat, we will start with a few snacks:

If you’re buying fish food at the store, purchase according to the size of your fish. Smaller koi fish would need to eat flakes or small sized koi food. Larger koi, however, would prefer fish food pellets or pebble-sized food.

Koi fish eat anything, from small bugs and insects, to plants and algae at pond bottom. Of course, they also eat fish food bought from the store, and fish supplements as well. If you forget to feed them, they can generally get by on existing plant and animal matter in the pond for a while.

​Choose fish food types according to seasons to match their metabolic rates. In the early spring and late fall, koi fish would prefer more carbohydrate-rich foods, like most fish flakes or pellets. However, in the summer when koi grow quickly and also are most likely to mate, they prefer more protein-rich foods, so get high protein fish food for them when the months get warmer.

In the winter, koi can go without food the entire season as their metabolism levels are extremely low.

Occasionally, koi also enjoy to eat food that we would eat ourselves! You can sometimes feed your koi cereal, shrimp, lettuce, rice, peas, watermelon, or really just about anything you’re eating that day, as long as they are cut or broken into small bite sizes for the fish to eat. We would probably keep the expensive steaks for ourselves to eat, though!

​Check the weather – before a storm, you would want to avoid feeding your koi. Fish need more oxygen when they are digesting their food. However, oxygen levels in the air drop when it rains, so the water does not get oxygenated as well as it normally would.

The same principle applies if your pond pump breaks and the pond water is no longer oxygenated – avoid feeding the koi until you fix the pump.

 Feed your koi small amounts and frequently, up to four times a day. Remember to only feed them as much as they can eat within a 3-5 minute period.

The more frequently you feed your koi, the better they will remember you and come to you when it’s feeding time. Koi feeding time is the best time for your koi, and it could be for you, too! Enjoy the moment when feeding your koi.

​To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!
 
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. 

​The most common thing people are looking for when they decide to build their Oklahoma City water feature is that they want the feature to look natural. A natural water feature is one of the most popular styles of water features people look for as it can beautify the space without it looking too over the top and extravagant. Read on to find out the ways you can give your water feature a more natural touch.

Rock size has a huge part to play in the way your Oklahoma City water feature looks. Many inexperienced pond builders make a basic mistake, which is only utilizing rocks of the same size. Using only rocks of the same size can give your water feature a “necklace” look, which is not the most aesthetic look for a water feature. One thing you can consider when you make your decision on what types of rocks to use is to use rocks that are native to your area. Great options you can consider to be included in your water feature are a mix of river rocks and granite. They can give your water feature a natural look, especially with the mix of different rocks.

​The shape of your pond is extremely important in making your Oklahoma City water feature look natural. If you take a look at ponds, lakes and streams, they usually have an irregular and imperfect shape. In order to keep your pond looking as natural as possible, you should avoid water features that are perfectly circular in shape, or a stream that is stick straight. The water feature design should be fluid in order to keep it looking natural.

​Another way to make your water feature seem like a part of nature is to add moss, stumps and logs. This helps to create an illusion of a natural landscape, making the water feature seem like it has been there for a long time. This is an extra step you can take in making your water feature look natural the way you want it to be.

​Ponds and streams in nature are abundant in plant life, boasting of different types of plant life that get nutrients from the water bodies. In order to keep your water feature looking natural, you should definitely consider adding plants to your water feature. Some plants you may consider adding include lily-pads and other aquatic features. This emulates the natural ponds and streams in nature and will definitely help to add a natural touch to your water feature.

When planting keep in mind the plants you choose will bring in wildlife. So maybe you love butterflies, plant a butterfly garden next to the water feature!

​If you are interested in adding a water feature to your space, look no further than Continental Ponds. When it comes to building water features, Continental Ponds provides the best quality and pricing in the market. Visit us today to find out what services we offer. Let us work with you to create the water feature of your dreams!

Adding a water feature to your Oklahoma garden is one of the most effective ways to revamp it. In addition to increasing the curb appeal of your property, a water feature will help create a relaxing and calming environment.

​Outdoor water features take a lot of punishment on a daily basis and are exposed to the outer elements. Wear and tear and extreme weather conditions could damage your water feature. Procrastinating water feature repairs could prove a costly mistake, as things may get from bad to worse, and you may need to replace your water feature. 

Here are some common issues that could arise with water features.

​Leaks in a water feature are usually caused by a hole or tear in the pond liner. If you see a hole in your liner, you must either repair or replace it (if the damage is irreversible). But first, you need to be sure that there is a leak. If your water levels have decreased, do not automatically assume that there is a leak in your water feature. Sometimes, evaporation can cause water levels to decline.

It may be difficult to tell whether your water feature has a leak or the water level has declined due to evaporation, especially in warmer months when the water level in your water feature can go down by 1-2 inches per week due to evaporation. 

Fill up your pond. Measure water level after 24 hours. If your pond loses two inches or more of water overnight, it means there is a leak in your water feature. Once you are sure there is a leak, reach out to a water feature repair expert near you for help.

​Low pond edges are one of the most common causes of leaks. Over time, pond edges start to settle. Lower edges resulting from settling allow water to leak.

Check your waterfall or stream regularly. Wet mulch, small puddles, or muddy areas could mean that water is escaping. To fix a low edge, lift up the liner at the spot and pile some soil under it. 

If your pond water is turning brown, you notice a weird odor, or your fish seem sick; it implies that your pond filter could be clogged with debris and mechanical media. To prevent this problem, periodically clean your filter. If your pond filter becomes clogged frequently, you might need a larger filter.

Continental Ponds is the go-to team for water feature repair, installation, maintenance and replacement.  We live to transform ordinary backyards in oases. To consult with one our water feature experts, call 405-834-2291.

​On average, the depth of a koi pond is 2 ft. Now, you could really go as deep as you want, but 2 ft. is the minimum to keep fish in the pond over the winter months. You don’t want to go any shallower than 2 ft. 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. Really, the choice is up to you on how deep you want your koi pond to be. 

​We will usually build our ponds with an average depth somewhere between 2 1/2 ft and 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!

​To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!
 
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 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's Too Much Maintenance
So this is really common, and we want to be very clear. There is no such thing as "maintenance free", everything requires some maintenance, including a koi pond or other water feature. Our ecosystem ponds are not maintenance free they are low maintenance. And the maintenance that we recommend is actually quite simple when compared to a pool or concrete bottom pond.

• Ecosystem Elements - Make sure your pond has all the elements of an ecosystem pond first; skimmer, biological filter, aquatic plants, rocks & gravel, and fish. These elements work in harmony together, creating the low-maintenance koi pond
• Spring Pond Cleaning - We highly recommend getting a spring pond cleaning, this gets out any debris that collected at the bottom of the pond over fall and winter, and washes all the gunk off the rocks
• If Issues Arise - Algae, water quality and other common issues sometimes come up, but we have solutions!
• Fall Pond Cleaning & Winterization - We also highly recommend a fall pond cleaning or winterization of your koi pond or other water feature. This will help prevent problems that could happen if your ran your waterfall over winter. And no, you don't need to move your koi indoors during winter (you can if you want, but it's not necessary).

On our last blog we reviewed Aquascape vs. Helix and found that while Helix would not be your one stop shop for pond supplies (as it doesn’t offer many products outside of skimmers & pumps) it did beat Aquascape in the price department. This week we are going to look at Aquascape and Atlantic and give you and unbiased review on their products.

Aquascape Vs. Atlantic

Aquascape
What We Like
​Aquascape products are really made with the homeowner and contractor in mind. Aquascape really takes into consideration all the elements; rain, sleet, snow, ice, heat, cold…all of it. This is why we really love Aquascape products, they are build to last! They are very durable and can last longer outdoors. The mechanics are very good and high quality. Filtration is another great aspect of Aquascape products. If your looking for pond products to really get your pond working well…Aquascape is it. Aquascape also makes their products easy to install and use; each coming with an install and use guide, with contractors and homeowners in mind.

Drawbacks
Aquascape does generally cost more, but we believe you really get what you pay for, and we have not been let down by the quality of Aquascapes products. One thing we didn’t like was the skimmer basket and lid that went along with it. However, Aquascape really listens to contractors and homeowners alike, and there have been some really great modifications to the skimmer basket and lids.

Atlantic​

What We Like
Atlantic, along with Helix, does have better pricing than Aquascape. They have a huge assortment of products, similar to Aquascape’s assortment. With Atlantic, as with Aquascape, you will find pumps, pond kits, water treatments, filtration and more. One of the items we like a lot with Atlantic is their color changing water feature lights, color changing lights can be a lot of fun around the holidays. Atlantic’s skimmers & filtration units are also smaller, so they are easier to conceal outdoors in the landscape.

Drawbacks
One of the biggest drawbacks we have found is that Atlantic’s products are very hard to work with and install, these tend to be less user friendly than Aquascape products. The quality is a little less than Aquascape, but not a big difference here. But a bigger difference is with the filtration. Since they are not as big as the Aquascape filtration systems, the water quality and clarity would be affected​.

Next, we will look at Aquascape vs. Savio, and find out what we like best about each of the companies products.

​​To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!
 
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.To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!

This blog we will be looking at another competitor of Aquascape, and giving you an idea of what you can expect from each company. We will go over the good things we found with their products, as well as the drawbacks. Today it's Aquascape vs. Helix.

Aquascape

What we like
Aquascape products are really made with the homeowner and contractor in mind. Aquascape really takes into consideration all the elements; rain, sleet, snow, ice, heat, cold…all of it. This is why we really love Aquascape products, they are build to last! They are very durable and can last longer outdoors. The mechanics are very good and of high quality. Filtration is another great aspect of Aquascape products. If your looking for pond products to really get your pond working well…Aquascape is it. Aquascape also makes their products easy to install and use; each coming with an install and use guide, with contractors and homeowners in mind.​

Drawbacks
Aquascape does generally cost more, but we believe you really get what you pay for, and we have not been let down by the quality of Aquascapes products. One thing we didn’t like was the skimmer basket and lid that went along with it. However, Aquascape really listens to contractors and homeowners alike, and there have been some really great modifications to the skimmer basket and lids.

Helix

What We Like
One of the main points we like about Helix is their pricing is lower than Aquascape. Their filtration systems are similar to Aquascape, so you will still get decent filtration from their systems. They are also easier to hide than some Aquascape products due to their smaller size.​

Drawbacks
Helix does not offer as many products as Aquascape does. You will still find skimmers, pumps, and water treatments, but you won’t find as many comprehensive products as you will with Aquascape. Another drawback we have found is that Helix skimmers need to have a bigger and deeper hole dug. In this Oklahoma Red Clay that makes it tough. The Helix also doesn't filter water as well as the Aquascape Biofalls and Signature Series Skimmers.

To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!
 
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.To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!

 Today we are going to look at Savio, another company that manufactures water feature products, and compare them to Aquascape.

Aquascape Vs. Savio

Aquascape

What We Like
The products produced by Aquascape have better filtration and are built to be more durable. They will last longer outdoors in the elements, snow, rain, hot cold…Aquascapes products last! The mechanics that make everything work are also what make Aquascape products better. Each product also comes with an installation and use guide, making them easier to use and install for a home owner with little experience. Their products really are manufactured with homeowners and contractors in mind. Our water feature construction craftsman, Wilfredo….well he likes pretty much all of the products Aquascape makes, and he has used nearly all of their products.​

Drawbacks
One thing that we did not like, were the skimmer baskets and the lids. However, Aquascape listened to there contractors and have made changes to make them better. Aquascape does have higher prices than other competitors, which can be a drawback for some homeowners or contractors.

Savio​

What We Like
If your looking for lower prices, you’ll find them at Savio. They definitely have a lower price point than Aquascape. They have similar filtration systems to create a sustainable pond. Another great thing about Savio products is that they are smaller, so they are able to be hid better within the landscape.​

Drawbacks
Savio products can be harder to work with and install. Even though Savio has similar filtration systems as Aquascape, they tend to provide less filtration for the pond. The pumps are also less durable then the pumps you will find with Aquascape.

So there you have it, we have reviewed all the major manufactures in the water garden industry. Each has a little something on the other in one department or the other. All in all, no matter how you look at it they are still just black boxes we contractors put in the ground and hide. You now have our unbiased opinion on all of them, choose the one you want to purchase.

​​To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!
 
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.To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!

​As Oklahoma fish owners we are in a constant battle to save our fish from predators, because we love our fish and don’t want them to become food!  Sometimes it’s inevitable and every fish hobbyist is unfortunately going to lose this battle from time to time.  But…. There are things we can do to help protect our fish and a fish cave is one of them.

The best fish cave is the one that’s built into the pond.  It is hidden and camouflaged to appear as part of the pond.  We love these as they can be built larger, so all your fish have a place to go.  ​A built in fish cave can be done on an existing pond, however it’s best and easiest to hide and build in when you initially have your pond constructed. ​

​There are many varieties of these, however I am going to share with you the two we use most often. 
 
This one is made of aluminum with a mesh top.  You literally just drop it in and it’s sinks to the bottom.  Initially you can see it and it may stick out, but over time the metal and mesh begin to grow that good pond stuff over it.  This does tend allow it to blend in. 

​The other option is new, but we think quite nice.  It’s a cave made to look like a log has sunk in your pond.  Same concept as the other one, but blends in, looks nice, and functions as a place for your fish to escape to. 

​While a fish cave will help protect your fish from predators there’s also two other great reasons we feel a fish cave is essential for your fish. 
 
1. Provides a place for your fish to get out of the sun.  Fish do like to get out of the sun and this provides the perfect place for your fish to do so. 

2. During the winter, your fish friends like to huddle, go to a safe place together to over winter.  A fish cave provides this safe place for them to go and huddle.  This in turns lowers the stress on your fish. 
 
So, a fish cave.. should you do it?  We highly recommend it!  If your pond is already built get a pre-built one, it’s better than not having a fish cave.

Do you love the beauty of water gardens but lack the space for a pond or water feature in your Oklahoma backyard?  Maybe you have a patio that could use a little pick me up or even a deck with an empty area that you have been looking for the perfect item to fill.  A patio pond may be just the ticket for that space, and guess what?  A patio pond is easier to take care of than a garden planter!!  

​Enjoy a beautiful water garden in a matter of minutes with easy to install patio ponds. Create a beautifully planted water bowl with a variety of aquatic plants. Include underwater lighting and a couple of small fish like “rosy reds” for added interest and color.

A small bamboo fountain provides the soothing sounds of running water to enjoy with your mini water garden. Available in a variety of sizes and colors, you can place your Patio Pond almost anywhere – outdoors or in!

Patio Ponds make it simple to have a complete water garden in any setting without ever having to touch a shovel. The integrated plant shelf and plumbing ports makes creating a beautifully planted container water garden easier than ever. The durable fiberglass construction is lightweight, ages like real stone, and never fades or chips.  Patio Ponds can be used to transform any outdoor or indoor environment and the natural finish allows the feature to blend easily into a wide variety of settings. The 32" Patio Pond measures 14 inches high and holds up to 20 gallons of water.

​This is the best part.   Unlike a traditional planter with dirt and of course beautiful flowers which needs to be watered everyday, this one doesn't.  It's literally a bowl full of water and water loving plants that will provide beautiful flowers and foliage all season long.  All you have to do is top the water off every so often.  Going on Vacation, that's ok.  The plants will be alive when you return.  

​The sounds of water, beautiful flowers, movement of fish, how awesome is that. 

​Not really into plants or even fish, but want to add some water to your space?   That's alright, there's another really unique way to add water and even some fire to your patio or deck with the Fire Fountain.  The fire fountain is an easy low maintenance way to add the impressive element of water and fire  to your space or even to enhance your existing space even if you already have a pond or waterfall.  

​If you have a small area or a space to fill on your existing deck or patio these are two great ways to bring the beauty and calming effects of water right next to you.  They are both small, easy to maintain and set up.  
So the next time you go to fill that traditional planter with plants or even buy that new planter, don't forget you could be adding a low maintenance patio pond.  

​To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!
 
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.To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!