Ponds can be expensive to construct and maintain, and as such many property owners choose to hire the services of a professional. However, not all pond contractors are equal, and while some are outstanding, others are downright fraudulent. Below are a few tips that will help you choose the best while avoiding the worst.

Make Sure Their Business Operates Legally
A legal contractor is one who provides benefits like worker’s compensation to their employees, or business insurance. This is essential for anyone who performs labor in your home. A lot of contractors use under the table workers or undocumented immigrants, which often results in substandard service.

Establish A Budget That’s Realistic
Installing a beautiful and functional pond is a time consuming task that requires considerable skill and experience. As a consequence established contractors will charge more than the average but they are well worth the money. The best course of action is to always choose the best you can afford. Establish a budget that is realistic and above all else choose value over price. If you choose a contractor based on who charges the lowest you will get what you pay for, which in most cases won’t be much.

Maintain Open Lines Of Communication
It is absolutely essential that you communicate clearly and frequently with your contractor so they know exactly what you want. Do not assume anything.  Most contractors want to get the job done right the first time and nothing is more frustrating and demoralizing than having to go back and redo something because the task wasn’t explained clearly from the beginning. Work closely with the contractor to draft diagrams and schematics of exactly what you want and where the water features should be placed.

Research And Assess Their Contact Details
In this day and age every contractor should have an attractive website; if not don’t waste your time contacting them. Another good sign is an active social media presence on websites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. This will tell you how active and involved they are with the community and their customers. Ask if the pictures on their site are actually their work. Every year we find our photo's on other local contractors sites, and yes it pisses me off!

Find Out If They’re Well Reviewed
A good contractor will have reviews online and most of them will be good. Even the best won’t be able to please everyone, so if you see feedback which is negative find out what happened. The reviews which are posted should be from a third party site not affiliated with the contractor in any way.

Think Twice Before Paying In Full Up Front
There have been cases where customers paid a contractor in full up front, only to have them disappear while the pond was halfway constructed. If you are dealing with a contractor who is new to the industry, which is not well established or does not have reviews online, you should avoid paying them in full up front. The most you should be willing to pay is 50 percent up front with the other half being paid upon completion of the task.

​​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 all your Oklahoma 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.

​Many new Oklahoma pond/water feature owners are concerned about the effects of sunlight for pond fish. This is an important issue, and the solution will depend on various factors. In Oklahoma ponds/water features, sunlight can be beneficial to your fish, but it can also harm them, and the outcome largely depends on the pond’s construction, location and how it is maintained.

​When a pond is directly exposed to sunlight without shade the temperature of the water will increase. This increase in temperature will lower the amount of oxygen which is accessible to the fish, while also promoting the growth of algae. Fish which are exposed to excessive sunlight may also receive sunburn. Each pond is unique in the manner in which it will respond to the sun, and while ponds which are big and deep may not have much of an issue, the smaller ponds which are typically found in backyards may be adversely impacted.

Algae enjoy sunlight and will thrive when exposed to it. If your pond contains koi they should be exposed to no more than a few hours of sunlight per day.  Anything more than this could be problematic for them. The typical pond will receive between four and six hours of sunlight per day.

​The best way to manage your Oklahoma pond’s exposure to sunlight is by adding shade. Terrestrial shade can be created by adding marginal plants or trees near the side of your pond. However, during fall leaves will fall from the tree and will cause serious problems if they are allowed to accumulate in the water, so you will need to perform netting or clean them out. Papyrus or other tall plants will provide excellent shade for the fish.

Aquatic plants can also be used to help manage Oklahoma sunlight, and some of the best include water hyacinth or water lilies, which create shade beneath the water that can be used by your fish. The lilies can be planted via plant bags and or baskets and situated in advantageous locations throughout the pond. An alternative to the planting of trees could be a canopy or man made structure which will cast shade over the pond. The right canopy can also add style to the area.
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Perhaps the easiest solution is fish shelters or caves. The shelters can be placed in the water and will allow the fish to swim beneath or within to get shade whenever they need it, while caves will also perform the same function, although constructing them may be more complex. In addition to protection from sunlight, these structures will also protect your fish from various predators.

​Just as too much Oklahoma sunlight is bad for fish, too much shade is equally so. The most ideal ponds are those which have some areas reserved for sunlight, while others which are reserved for shade. This will give the pond a balanced temperature which will make your fish healthy and happy.

Oklahoma ​ponds/water features need a good balance of sun and shade.  If your pond doesn't have partial shade from trees, make sure to add plenty of plants to provide shade, vitamin D and protection from predators.

​​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 all your Oklahoma 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.

Each and every year during Oklahoma's storm season we get several calls "My power is out, what do I do." So here is what you can do for your pond fish when you lose power in. Notice I said when, not if! 

It's happened to all of us, whether we know a storm is coming or the lights just go out, we lose power sometimes.  Many times it's not a big deal because it's off for a few hours maybe 12 tops. However when the power is off for days there could be problems.  At first our attention is on our families.  We need heat and water, will I lose all my food, can't flush the toilets, can't cook.  Our first goal is to get the needs of our families met, then the secondary concerns come to mind. 

​The summer time is a bit different.  Your main goal is to get that aerator plugged in and running.  Depending on your generator and what circuits you have it running will depend on what you should do.  If the generator runs the pond outlet make sure everything else is unplugged- pumps, lighting, and any other items you have out there.  Then just plug the aerator in.   On the other hand, if the generator doesn't run the pond outlet, just get that aerator plugged into the generator or an outlet the generator is powering.   

Losing power is frustrating and stressful for you and your family.  Being prepared can lessen that stress and diminish the frustrations that come with being powerless.  

Ducks can be a pleasant sight in any pond much less your very own Oklahoma backyard pond or water feature. Their appearance shows that it has been maintained in a manner that makes it attractive to wildlife. For those Oklahoman's who want to attract ducks, below are some tips that will help you do it.

​Ducks are a type of aquatic bird that is plumed and which resides on almost every continent which includes the sub-Antarctic. They feed on fish, insects, amphibians and worms. Some species can forage far below the water’s surface and are capable of capturing molluscs from mud. Unlike other birds, ducks should never be fed bread as it will harm them while polluting the water. Ducks also make a quacking sound which in smaller ponds or water gardens may annoy homeowners or neighbors. In order to attract them you must first understand their needs.

​Ducks come in many varieties and the two species which frequent ponds the most are mallards and Muscovy ducks. They are omnivores and as such they eat a wide selection of food. Ducks prefer large amounts of space and water and they feel at home around aquatic plants such as water lilies. They also like tall grass in marshy areas where they can conceal themselves and create nests.

The first step in attracting ducks is to install berry bushes. These along with mulch will attract insects and worms which in turn will attract ducks who will feed on them. A mess hall should also be created by establishing feeding areas which have platforms which are low and large. Ducks need a place to nest so to attract them you will want to setup a nest box. This could include a hollow log or grassy areas which provide concealment. Ducks are also fond of the sound of moving water and splashing, which is why you will want to install waterfalls and fountains.

Perhaps one of the cleverest ways to attract ducks is with duck decoys. By placing a pair of artificial ducks in the pond which float the actual birds will be attracted to them, swooping down to investigate. Once they see the beauty of your pond and all the food that is available they will want to stick around, which is what you want. The best decorations for a duck friendly pond are those which are natural. Make use of logs which are partially submerged, marginal, brush piles and aquatic grass.

​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 all your Oklahoma 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. 

BioFalls are very simple yet effective fish pond filtration systems that don't require much care.  However, spring is the perfect time to check on those filter pads to see if they may need replacing.  The filter pads are cleaned a few times a year but are quite frequently forgotten about.   What really determines if you can reuse these pads or if you should just replace them? 

Inspection of the BioFall filter pads is one of the items we check off on all our pond clean out services. In general the BioFall filter pads can last up to two years, we recommend not going more than two years on a set of pads.  We normally recommend changing one out each year as most biofalls have multiple filter pads.

Why? 

1. They get clogged and start to breakdown.  Even if you clean them frequently, "stuff" is most certainly stuck in the middle clogging that filter pad.  "Stuff" you can't see
2. The filter pads start to break down and fall apart.  Not to the point that you are going to have thousands of pieces of filter pad floating in your pond, but ripping.  If you remove the filter pad to clean it and it rips, that means it's time for a new one.  

Before you even potentially waste your time or water, check the filter pad for rips or tears.  If you see none, check the strength of the filter pad.   What rip it?  Yes, try to rip it, but leave your Hulk strength at home.  It really doesn't take much to rip that filter pad if its shot.   If either of these happen, go  invest in some new BioFilter filter pads, it's time. 

Should your pads look good, aren't tearing, and you've replaced them within two years, rinse/wash those puppies down and use them another year.    
Filter Pad Cleaning Tip:
Rinse the filter pad down with water, then lightly hit the pad against a solid tree trunk.  You'll be shocked at all the sludge and "stuff" that comes flying out of the filter pad.  BE AWARE: It will look like a giant bear has pooped all over the tree... rinse the tree down with a hose and you're all done. ​
Lastly, if your pond was a mess the prior year or is now and they pads are caked with pond sludge, replace them.  No matter how much you clean and knock them off, they will be clogged.  Clogged pads don't allow water to flow through them, essentially rendering the pads completely ineffective. 

 Recap: When to replace your BioFilter filter pads. 

1. Ripped or torn filter pads- Replace 
2. 2 years or more in use- Replace 
3. Disgusting pond and filter pads won't come clean- Replace
4. Just don't want to mess with them- Replace

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 all your Oklahoma 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. ​

Adding a variety of different aquatic plants to your Oklahoma pond is an amazing way to make your water garden looks even more beautiful. But like with everything else, you need to make a plan of how and where you are going to put in the right aquatic plants at the right time. Otherwise, it may look like an aquatic jungle!

The first thing you need to consider what type and how many plants are going to use. There is a wide range of Oklahoma pond plants in the market that you may find overwhelming, but you need to make the right choice for your water garden. So, you have to spend some time gathering information about the specific requirements of each plant you are interested in buying.

There are many aquatic plants in the market, like floating plants, water hyacinth or lettuce. These types of special and beautiful plants develop extensive roots under the surface, and they also provide shade to aggressive algae growth in a pond. You can also choose to buy submerged plants, like hornwort and anacharis.

These plants can improve the quality and clarity of the water. Or you may prefer bog plants, like iris or cattails that can surround the perimeter of your pond. You may also choose lotus and water lilies, which can give your ponds amazing colors and various underneath shades. Of course, you can select to buy a mixture of all these plants, to make your pond look marvelous.

Remember that it’s better to cover about 60% of the water’s surface. To do so, you can select 6-12 floating plants, two bog plants, some water lilies, and several submerged plants. Also, you have to buy also fertilizers and containers like plant bags and pots. You will love to use them, to take care of your pond.

Consider all the different factors depending on the type of aquatic plants you want to add. For example:

• Floating Plants – Place them in the pond, and they will freely float on the pond surface.


• Submerged Plants – Grow them underwater in plant bags and fill your containers with planting materials. In fact, you can plant several bunches of these plants together.


• Bog Plants – These plants grow better in containers under the water pond.


• Lillies/lotuses – These amazing aquatic plants can thrive in pots. To transplant them, fill out the tub with clay, and then you can put some planting media on the top.

If you would like to see your new Oklahoma aquatic plants blossom, you will definitely to need various nutrients for your plants to have lovely blooms. So, make sure to buy some aquatic plant fertilizers, like spikes or tabs. For example, fertilizer spikes release plant food slowly over a period of 12 months. On the other hand, you can use a spike in a simple way: You just have to put them into the soil, and you don’t have to do anything else for the whole year.

Be sure to consider all the special needs of the aquatic plants you choose. Choosing the right water plants will add a magical touch of shape, color and texture to the pond.  Like everything else in life, the more thought and planning you put in this task the better things will turn out. 

Fountains are often the focal point of a yard and adds aesthetic value to your property. Fountain lighting transforms your fountain in the evening into a welcoming gathering place, where you can watch the kids play around and enjoy the movement of the water. What are the benefits of fountain lighting, why have them and what do they cost? Here we will go over all of that and more.

Many Oklahoma homeowners desire the soothing sounds of running water, but are just not ready for a pond or simply can’t afford one. The AquaBasin Bubbling Rock Kit™ allows you to "Do It Yourself" and can easily be installed within just a few hours.  Now here is how you can add that soothing sounds of moving water to your Oklahoma landscape.  

Once you have the pump kit, basin and rock, you will next need to identify a viable location and prep it for installation. Within buildings they can be installed near the surface level and outdoors they can be installed on a patio. Stone and plants can be used to conceal the basin. You should also pay attention to the splash radius particularly if the bubbling rock is being installed indoors.
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Many Oklahoma pond owners choose to bury the basin. To do this, you will need to find a spot and then excavate it. It should have the same depth and size of the basin. The soil at the bottom of the hole must be tamped to provide a strong base. You can then add a layer of sand (C-10 is best) to act as the leveling base. The basin can then be placed in hole and the soil can be used to anchor it in place. After this you would install both the bubbling rock and the pump kit.

If you are wanting to add lights to the fountain you have a couple options depending on where you would like to put them. If you are wanting lights in the top of your rock fountain, do it before adding your aquatic plants and gravel. The reason is that the cord of the lights needs to run down the middle of the drilled hole. If you forget and add plants and gravel first, it's a pain but it can be done.

If you are just wanting to add light to shine up the fountain you can add them when you add your aquatic plants. Just remember no matter when and how you add the lights, there is going to be some cords that have to be cover with the gravel.

Tip: Try to keep the light wire away from the roots of the aquatic plants. 

​After the media pads of the filter have been hosed down, you can help the beneficial bacteria increase their population by seeding the pads with additional bacteria. They will reproduce rapidly and will assist in the decomposition of debris. By using these techniques you can prevent the filter from becoming plugged without having to clean it.

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!
 
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.

Each year we have several clients here in Oklahoma contact us about a "String Algae" bloom in their ponds/water features that occurs in the colder months. (The stringy green stuff that sometimes forms on your waterfalls, streams and rocks).  The reason for this is the unseasonably warm weather we have been having here in Central Oklahoma.  Your plants have already gone into dormancy for the winter so they are not using nutrients from the water the way they would in the springtime since the nighttime lows are still down in the mid to low 30's.  However, the water is warming enough in the daytime to cause some biological activity thus causing a nutrient increase in the water.  Since the plants are not actively using nutrients, Mother Nature is taking over and offering "String Algae" as a solution to remove the nutrients and keep your water healthy.

WARNING....... DO NOT FEED YOUR FISH!!!

Even though the air temperature may warm up and your fish seem active during the day, the average water temperature is still below 55 degrees and your fish's metabolism will not support normal feeding. ​

If the String Algae becomes excessive, there are some steps to control it. 

Add some Cold Water Beneficial Bacteria.  It is a more concentrated bacteria made for cold weather when regular bacteria will not colonize and filter nutrients. Remove excess leaves and debris from the pond. Dead leaves provide excess nutrients in your pond, giving algae a great source of nourishment. If the string algae isn't affecting the flow of water to your skimmer and waterfall, just pull out the excess using a fine net, a stick or your hands.

CAUTION!!! 

Do not use your bare hands to remove this algae. Even though the air temperature may be warm, your water temperature is still VERY cold. You should wear waterproof garden gloves.  

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!
 
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.