It’s every pond owners’ nightmare – perfecting your pond, getting it all set up with your beautiful fish, and then some pesky bird coming through and attacking them. But how do you stop them? There are lots of products available on the market, but do they really work? The products out there all have their pros and cons, but which is right for you?The most advanced option, and therefore t...
So last week we looked at parasites in the pond specially, but that’s not the only thing that can cause problems for your fish. It’s worth knowing other diseases that make your fish sick, and it’s important to be able to identify them to ensure they don’t run riot and cause any serious devastation in your system.UlcersUlcers are usually very obvious, and are first noticeable as an ...
Parasites in your pond can be a major cause of concern. They can quickly spread and cause devastation to your system. Recognising the signs and symptoms can save a lot of disruption and heartache. We’ve put together a group of common pond parasites to watch out for. Next week, check back for other common health issues for fish in ponds, followed by health concerns for aquariums too.White Spo...
Air pumps in ponds – do you really need one? What purpose do they serve? In fish tanks, air pumps have become more a visual feature than a required piece of kit, blowing nice bubbles, which although obviously helps in the tank, most modern internal or external filters would cope perfectly well without.So does this go for ponds too? No is the answer. Air pumps can make a dramatic difference t...
It’s that time of year. Everything is blooming, growing, breeding. From the lambs dancing in the fields, the influx of insects, and the first butterfly you spot, all are signs of the new season. Nature knows what it’s doing, but sometimes it can do with a helping hand. Here’s some tips of what you can do to help out nature near your pond. Have a pondFirst, just having a pond...
When it comes to lighting for your fish tank, it can be a minefield. Not only are there different fittings of bulbs to consider, but also it seems an infinite amount of variations in colours and names – is there really that much difference in them?Firstly, let’s look at the basics. If you’re looking for high spec lighting for marine corals for example, this isn’t for you. Tha...
An octopus from the National Aquarium of New Zealand has made a brave dash for freedom.The most popular theory is that Inky the octopus broke out of his tank in the middle of the night and proceeded to slither down a 50 meter drainpipe that led out into the waters of Hawke’s BayInky had been a resident at New Zealand's National Aquarium in Napier for two years and staff believe that he c...
The aquarium hobby is continuing to advance at a rapid pace. One of the many great things about this is that there are an abundance of modern and unusual fish tanks available, complete with state of the art filtration and care systems that not only serve as the perfect dwelling for your fish, but also make a great, inspiration and relaxing addition to your home. Here’ s the Swell UK team’s pi...
Here at Swell UK HQ we are dedicated to helping pond dwelling creatures thrive; be they fish, amphibians or insects. It’s a sad fact that in the UK many of our most well-loved, pond dwelling species are disappearing at an alarming rate due to a reduction in natural wildlife ponds and bog areas. But the good news is that there is something you can do to help!By creating your very own mini Eco...
When problems with algae appear in your aquarium, it’s all too easy to jump straight to the chemical solutions, but keeping a set of aquarium custodians or ‘Clean-Up Crew’ can be just as effective, and far more natural when it’s done right.The phrase ‘clean-up crew’ has been around since the 1980’s, and has been used by professional aquarists and vendors all over, and refers to o...