​The quick answer: nope. Bottom drains aren’t necessary under most conditions, so they can be a waste of money. It’s important to know whether or not you need one because it can make a big difference in the health and look of your Oklahoma pond. Keep reading to find out why or why not.

What Is A Bottom Drain?
A bottom drain is simply a drain in the deep end of the pond. It removes debris from the bottom of the pond to the filters where it can then be removed. Your pond is therefore supposed to be cleaner and clearer from using one. Of course, for it to work properly, it needs to be cleaned regularly (sometimes daily, depending on the amount of debris falling into the pond.
A pipe will need to be run under the liner. This means a pathway must be dug out so a hump doesn’t show. A hole is then cut in the liner and the actual drain is installed.
It’s a technical process, and adds quite a bit of expense to the construction, so is it worth it? Not to mention, it’s almost always a potential leak issue because there’s been a hole cut in the liner.

The Pro's and Cons Of A Bottom Drain In An Oklahoma Pond
​Arguments For a Bottom Drain

    Circulates the water, thus aerating and cleaning it
    Collects biological waste
    The less waste there is, the cleaner the pond will be and the happier and healthier the fish are.

Arguments Against a Bottom Drain
A bottom drain isn’t needed if the following criteria are met:

    The pond is less than 4 feet deep
    Jets keep waste from collecting on the bottom (intake bay)
    Aerators on the bottom of the pond keep waste from settling (intake bay)

What Do We Think Of Bottom Drains?
​We don’t need them. 
Continental Ponds builds sustainable ecosystem ponds that don’t need bottom drains. The ponds we build are typically less than 4′ deep, which means a bottom drain isn’t needed. 
We do, however, often install intake bays in deeper Koi ponds to add to the circulation and ease of maintenance. They’re much easier to install, and don’t require us to cut a hole in the pond liner, which is always a potential leak issue.

​Having trouble keeping your Oklahoma pond clean? It happens to everybody. You go outside to enjoy your pond, or show it off to a friend, only to find its once clear blue water has turned a "pea soup" green. 

Fortunately, there is a cheap and stylish solution: Decorative Gravel! We place it in our own ponds because decorative gravel truly keeps your Oklahoma pond ecosystem healthy. Science proves it! It’s all about allowing beneficial bacteria to seed and grow. If you let beneficial bacteria flourish, algae problems will be a thing of the past.
Read on to learn the science behind the process!

Beneficial Bacteria Removes Nitrogen From The Pond
​Beneficial bacteria actually removes nitrogen from the water column, starving the algae. Algae uses nitrogen as a food source – the more nitrogen, the more food for algae. Just like any other organism, algae grows when it eats and shrivels when it starves. If you cut off the nitrogen, it will not be able to grow.

Algae isn’t the only thing that makes your pond murky – especially if you have fish! Beneficial bacteria’s uses extend beyond removing nitrogen. It also can help to break down fish waste and organic matter, digesting and removing that unhealthy matter from the ecosystem.

How does beneficial bacteria tie into decorative gravel, you may ask? Decorative gravel actually gives beneficial bacteria a place to settle. It will rest on your gravel and get to work. Without the gravel, the bacteria cannot settle and all that gunk you want out of the picture will begin to thrive. The gravel indirectly fights the algae off!

Beneficial Bacteria: Think ‘Probiotics’

Look at beneficial bacteria as probiotics. We take probiotics for our cells to have a healthy gut, right? Here in Oklahoma, "Tea" is everywhere just for this reason! It keeps our immune system strong and allows us to feel better as a result. That same idea applies to a pond’s ecosystem. When you add decorative gravel into the ecosystem, the nitrogen level drops and algae starves out. Your pond will be clean as can be.

Rocks and Gravel Are Part of the Oklahoma Pond Ecosystem!
Our clients can see the benefits in a big way compared to friend’s ponds that may be gravel-free. It’s an easy fix to algae problems, one of the most common issues pond owners face. If you don’t already have decorative gravel at the bottom of your pond, hit us up. We’ll make sure your pond has everything it needs to maintain a healthy ecosystem, look great, and excite those 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.

Looking for curb appeal in your Oklahoma Landscape. Why should the backyard get all the fun? Water features bring such beauty and joy, customers have been enhancing their living spaces to include beautiful front yard water features.  Let us give you some ideas to spice up your front yard!

Front yard waterfall...
A small waterfall nestled up next to the entry way of this home. Imagine walking in and out of your house to the sounds of water and nature every day. 

Fire Water Sphere...
To really up your curb appeal, this fire and water spear was added to a small flower bed beside the porch. Imagine looking out you window in the evening and seeing the water and fire dance in the wind.

An ecosystem pond…
Take center stage at the entrance to this home. Wood chairs provide comfy seating for watching the fish and enjoying nature. The landscaping, pergola area and LED night lighting make this Oklahoma home entry really stand out, both day and night! 

Spillway Bowls...
Simple and sleek, consider bowls spilling into each other. The perfect landscape enhancement for greeting visitors to your home. This is perfect for your morning coffee before heading off to work. You will be the envy of the neighborhood!

Fire & Water with Urns, Patio Bowls and Waterfalls...
This is the ultimate feature for your circular drive. Imagine your guests as they arrive at your home to see this stunning feature. Day or night, the dancing water will mesmorize anyone in sight of this feature. 

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.
 

 When you get into the upper echelons of finer koi keeping, the butterfly varieties are barely even recognized as being a fish! Yet, for so many others they would not think of their collection as being complete without some sort of representation from the butterfly variety. My Oklahoma City koi collection would fall into that category as well since I can account for 5 butterfly koi in my pond’s population. 

How did the butterfly koi originate?
Brown and grey carp with long fins were found in Indonesia in the early 1980's. A NY company heard about them and bought some but then they thought they were too ugly to sell. But, a group of curious breeders at Blue Ridge Fish Hatchery heard about them and decided to order some too. They took their odd-looking long-finned fish and bred them with their finest traditional koi fish. They actually turned out awesome!

The long finned koi ended up being robust and disease free.  They could also be bred in many beautiful colors.  An original Blue Ridge breeder was named Wyatt LeFever.  When his young son first went to see the fish, he said “Dad they look like butterflies.”  This name is still used today for these fish.

Butterfly koi size
Butterfly koi become more and more impressive as they grow. Their fins keep growing until the blood vessels can’t sustain the fins to be any longer. The older the fish, the longer and more impressive the fins. A full-grown koi can almost like a long, slinky dragon moving through the water. Some people even refer to butterfly koi as dragon koi.

The fish may not be as large as traditional koi, but they can run from 36-40 inches in the right pond with the right food.  Butterfly koi are pleasant and graceful and a delight to watch swim.

Is a butterfly koi a “real” koi fish?
Yes, they are. In the past, Japanese koi enthusiasts did not appreciate the long-finned  koi. Over time, Japanese breeders started seeing the beauty and value in the fish, partially from their immense popularity in the United States. Now the butterfly koi are a very popular koi fish pond choice.

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.