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Oklahoma Pond Blog


When do I need to change my BioFalls filter pads for my Oklahoma fish pond?

3/13/2020

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Biofalls Filter Pad Service

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? 
Biofalls/Filter Pads/Pond Service/Oklahoma/Continental Ponds/Biofalls Service
Biofalls/Filter Pads/Pond Service/Oklahoma/Continental Ponds/Biofalls Service
Biofalls/Filter Pads/Pond Service/Oklahoma/Continental Ponds/Biofalls Service

​Initial Filter Pad Inspection

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.  
Biofalls/Filter Pads/Pond Service/Oklahoma/Continental Ponds/Biofalls Service
Biofalls/Filter Pads/Pond Service/Oklahoma/Continental Ponds/Biofalls Service
Biofalls/Filter Pads/Pond Service/Oklahoma/Continental Ponds/Biofalls Service

​What should you do?

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
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More Info

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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. ​

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Strategies For Preventing A Plugged Oklahoma Pond Filter

1/17/2020

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A filter is a necessity for Oklahoma ponds and water gardens, but owners aren’t supposed to clean them regularly, and yet they are susceptible to becoming plugged. How can a plugged Oklahoma pond filter be prevented?

The filter contains a large amount of bacteria which is beneficial and dissolves the toxins which are present in the water. It also houses debris and slime which over time will clog the filtration unit. While you definitely want to remove the slime, the beneficial bacteria are important and should be preserved. Here are some ways to preserve them while unplugging the filter.
Strategies For Preventing A Plugged Oklahoma Pond Filter

​Keep The Skimmer Clean

​Monitor the skimmer filter regularly and clean it out when needed. This filter component is not designed to eliminate miniscule particulates which means you can use filter media which is low density so that excessive debris is kept away from the pump. When the media is too dense plugging will occur which will restrict the flow.

​Alter The Media Densities

​The densities of the filter media should be altered and stacked so the water will flow from low to high densities. When they are mixed you will have sufficient surface area for bacteria to grow with stronger water flow and less plugging.

​Get Rid of Pond Sludge

​Sludge is not your friend and the last thing you want is it building up in the pond. A pond vacuum is a great tool for sucking up debris and it can then be broken down and removed which will improve the quality of the water while reducing the filter’s workload.

​Clear The Debris Baskets

​When the debris baskets of your skimmer filter become full of leaves and other things, you will need to remove them. Once they become full, the water will be forced to flow around them which will result in larger objects being carried along that could lead to filtration plugging.

Don’t Overdo The Layer Media

Many pond owners are excessive when it comes to using layers, but this isn’t necessary. In fact, if you have three filter mat layers or more there is a good chance you’re reducing the flow and creating space where debris can get stuck. Two layers are all that is necessary.

​Make Sure The Pond Has A Balanced Population

​You should know the plant to fish ratio of the pond. A larger quantity of fish means greater waste and an increased chance of the filter becoming clogged. More plants means greater filtration for the water. You don’t want to overwork the filter by keeping a pond that is imbalanced; so be sure to let the plants do what nature designed them to and keep your fish at reasonable quantities.

​Seed The Pond With Bacteria

​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.
Strategies For Preventing A Plugged Oklahoma Pond Filter
For More Info

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.
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How to Fight Algae During the Winter Months in Your Oklahoma Pond/Water Feature!

1/10/2020

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Winter Pond Algae Oklahoma City Metro Area
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. ​

Winter Pond Algae Oklahoma City Metro Area


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.  

Contact Us For More Info

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.
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Frogs Causing Pump Issues!!!

10/25/2019

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Frogs Causing Pump Issues In Skimmers!

Frogs Causing Pump Issues

It’s winter time here in Oklahoma, a time when pond pumps in many water features 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, 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. We estimate that about 90% of the time that is what the problem is. Most of the time if the problem is brought to our 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 pictures.


Why Do Frogs Hang Out In Skimmers?

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. 
Pond Skimmer
Pond Skimmer
Pond Skimmer
Pond Skimmer
Frogs Causing Pump Issues
Skimmer Full of Frogs
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.
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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. 


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Cleaning Your Oklahoma City Oklahoma KOI FISH POND

4/1/2018

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How To Clean A Koi Pond In Oklahoma City Oklahoma (OK)

Continental Ponds recommends fully draining and cleaning your Oklahoma City koi fish pond at least once every year, otherwise you might have to deal with other problems such as increased maintenance, fish health issues, not to mention possible increased repairs for your pond or pump. At a minimum we recommend cleaning out your biofalls and skimmers at least.

Steps Involved in Cleaning your Oklahoma City Oklahoma Koi Fish Pond
Steps Involved For A Successful Pond Cleaning.
  • Drain your pond down until there are just a few inches of water. Store some of the pond water in a holding tank and keep tank covered & aerated
  • Carefully collect your koi, fish and other wildlife and put them in the holding tank with water.
  • Drain the rest of the water out of the pond and remove large debris
  • Power wash the rocks and gravel in the entire pond and remove all the muck and sludge.
  • Trim and deadhead all your water plants.
  • Vacuum out the waterfall filter and skimmer.
  • Clean and rinse all filter media (replace filter pad every six months) and inspect the waterfall pump and intake area.
  • Adjust any rocks that have moved and inspect your lighting system.
  • Start adding water to the pond as well as de-chlorinator.
  • Acclimate your fish and other wildlife and re-introduce them to the pond.
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Cleaning a fish pond is dirty, back breaking, hard work. Let us do the heavy lifting of cleaning your pond.  We can set it up so it is easy to take care for the rest of the year and you can maintain it yourself!
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    Tim 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.

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    • Fish & KOI Pond Installation >
      • Ponds in the Oklahoma Landscape Portfolio
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      • Pondless Waterfalls Portfolio-Oklahoma City Metro (OK)
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  • Maintenance
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