24th KCSD Koi Show 25 & 26 Feb 2012, Del Mar, United States

KCSD Koi Show is one of the largest ornamental fish sector trade shows in the United States. The show ranks high on the popularity count, with a large number of industry professionals attending the show at each of its editions. The business networking opportunities available at the show are extensive and a wide variety of koi are put on exhibit here.

Eminent professional experts from the koi sector, including ornamental fish experts, suppliers of food for fishes, dry pond product sellers and koi buyers, participate in the event in large numbers on a regular basis.

Central Florida Koi Show, March 9-11, 2012

The biggest show in the East will be held at the International Palms Resort, 6515 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819. You can get show info at cfks.org. Or, use orlandokoishow.org. Or, centralfloridakoishow.org. The show is going to be as big as ever! Plan now to have a great weekend in Orlando... total immersion in koi!

There are a great group of koi dealers/breeders who will be at the show with koi covering the price spectrum of most hobbyists. That's 15 koi vendors, plus at least another 18 'dry vendors' carrying pond supplies, filter systems, food, AKCA Bookstore and neat stuff, like jewelry, clothing items, garden sculpture, art, water garden plants, orchids and more.

Three Types of Aquatic Plants to Add in Your Water Garden

A water garden will never be called a garden without beautiful, colourful plants. To help you choose the best possible pond plants for your water feature, here are the three different types of aquatic plants that you may select to add in your unique garden pond.

 

1.  Submerged Plants – As its name implies, these water plants typically grow underwater and contribute oxygen directly into the water. Take note that oxygen is essential for maintaining your pond. In addition to oxygenating the garden pond, these plants can also serve as added food source to fish and make good spawning spots for all aquatic species. They are also essential in absorbing fish waste; thus helping keep the water quality chemically in balance and preventing algae growth.

2. Floating Plants – When it comes to reducing sunlight, the most ideal water plant that you can add in your pond are the floaters. These aquatic plants can help cover very large expanses of still water and are very useful in establishing a new pond. Compared to other pond plants, this one can reproduce rapidly and can quickly become a nuisance. Most of them can also be netted out of the pond quite easily and will serve as a great source of nitrogen for your compost pile.

3.  Marginal Plants – If you want to give your pond an added aesthetic appeal, then why don’t you add some marginal vegetation in your water garden? These plants will help soften the edges of your pond with the help of their vertical growth while at the same time giving your pond added beauty and colour. If you prefer to have a wildlife pond, these plants are also perfect for providing habitat to wild species like insects and frogs. When placing these plants, the best spot is around the pond where water is shallow. In this case, it is very crucial for you to provide shelves in your pond or create a shallow beach area for you to perfectly settle it.

Adding Some Water Features to Water Garden

If your primary reason in constructing a water garden in your pond is to attract wildlife, then you must realize that there is nothing better than the sound of moving water. It is because birds, insects and other amphibians are very much attracted to the relaxing sound of trickling water where they can drink and bathe. In this case, why don’t you add some water features to your water garden such as waterfalls or fountains?

These water features will not only help you attract wildlife, but will also give you lots of other benefits such as noise reduction and stress relief. For formal ponds, the most ideal water feature that you can add is a fountain; while it is best to incorporate a waterfall into an informal water garden. If you choose to add this water feature in your pond, then you must not forget that this will also require  ample planning from the very beginning of your pond construction.

Some of the things you need to take into consideration when planning to add a waterfall in your informal pond are the electrical sources, the height of your desired water feature and the location. When building the waterfall, you can always use the dirt you got from digging your pond to create elevation. You may also dress it with the excess liner you saved from edging and then provide a water course using some concrete blocks. It is not necessary for this liner to be a continuous piece since you can use overlapping pieces to line the waterfall. Lastly, stack your stones over the liner to create a natural look.

Getting Started to Water Garden Construction

After you have planned the design or type of pond you plan to install in your garden, then you can now begin with the actual pond construction by simply laying out the shape of your pool onto the ground using a garden hose or a string prior to digging. As much as possible, you must remove the turf and any top soil from the outlined area, giving an allowance of at least two inches to the width for a layer of cushioning material.

In case it is necessary to lay some edging around the pond, do not forget to remove the turf and soil from this area as well before you remark the actual area of the pond. Afterwards, take a long 2 x 4 and lay the board across the pond. Always check the pond in all directions to ensure that it is level all the way around. Then, adjust the level as you go using the soil that you have just removed. Secondly, begin the excavation process from the centre of the pond toward the edge.

If possible, you must provide an area to make shelves for marginal or marsh plants in containers. These can be on one side of the hole or all around the edge. When it comes to determining the width of your shelves, you must try to get an idea of what type of plants to stock in your pond. Ideally, the sides of the pond should be slightly sloped to the middle. Next step is to smooth out the hole and provide some cushioning material.

Once you have covered the bottom and sides of the hole with some underlayment, the next step is to roll out the pond liner on the ground and allow it to become more flexible with the help of the heat of sun before you settle it into the pond. When placing the liner, stretch it out over the hole and carefully push it into the pond. Do not forget to add some rocks at the edges to help hold the material in place before you can add the water into the pool.

After that, fill the pond with water and allow the water to perfectly fit the liner into the hole. Let it stand for several days before adding any plants or fish to the pond. You may also operate the pump, making sure that there are no leaks and everything is working properly. Once your lining material is completely put in place, you can cut away any excess liner from around the edges, leaving at least 12 inches beyond the rim of your pond.

In case you are using a thick liner, it is often advisable to tack the liner down with ten-inch nails as you are cutting. When placing the rocks upon the edges of your pond, it is highly recommended for you to be patient since creating an edging using fieldstones or rocks is like putting together a puzzle. If you want to achieve a more natural look, try putting your rocks in different locations.

Guidelines for Healthier and Cleaner Water Garden

To make sure that your water garden remains clean and healthy, here are some useful guidelines for you to follow. Basically, contaminated water is a host of many serious diseases. The more compact the pond is, the most susceptible it becomes to grime and dirt. In this case, it is best to install pumping and filtering devices in your pond in order to keep the water moving, fresh and clean.

In autumn and in springtime, take some time to vacuum the bottom of the pond to suck out all the dirt and grime that accumulates at the bottom. When doing this step, be sure to remove all the sludge from the pond to be sure that the water is completely cleaned. Do not forget to remove all the contents of the pond as you clean the pond to make sure that they won’t interfere with the pond maintenance.

As soon as it is completely cleaned, fill the pond with water and set your adorable fish back into the pond. For regular pond maintenance, however, you can simply drain the water and replace a portion of it with a new . Whenever you drain the pond, always remember to clean the dirt that has already accumulated at the edges of the pool. When you’re done, then you can now enjoy a healthy and beautiful pond that will not only add beauty to your garden, but also lots of other benefits.

New Jersey to Increase Water Monitoring to Control Algae Growth

Officials in New Jersey are planning to increase water monitoring in Barnegat Bay in an effort to address the problem with blue-green algae bloom.

According to a report published by the Asbury Park Press, this initiative follows a massive proliferation of blue-green algae in the waterways due to the presence of nitrogen and phosphorus in water sources.

One of the initial measures taken by the state is treating the affected water ways with sodium aluminate and aluminium sulphate. However, it has been found that other forces are also contributing to the outbreak.

In an interview with the director of the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, Jill Lipoti, he said that New Jersey is now aggressively working together to prevent algae blooms from further posing health threats both to the environment and the public.

This is done by taking samples from the water sources, day and night, and examining it to determine whether blue-green algae blooms continue to grow at a fast clip, or if efforts have already slowed down the spread of the bloom. Nevertheless, Lipoti asserted that noting the logistics is quite intimidating.