Spring is coming, the sun is out and its time to start thinking about those big garden projects again. If you haven’t already got one, a pond should be one of those projects as it transforms a garden, bringing life and movement, encouraging wildlife and bringing us closer to nature. They don’t have to be big or expensive either, and a small pond can be dug, lined and filled within a day. ...
The ultimate aim for any fish pond owner is to be able to view and enjoy their fish. Here’s the Swell UK guide to getting gin-clear pond water.Fit a UV ClarifierUltra Violet Clarifiers are purpose-built to destroy the unicellular algae that cause green water in ponds. You cannot overdo the amount of UV you have on a pond but you can underdo it, and have too high a flowrate for it to be ...
Spring is so nearly upon us. The days are getting lighter, daffodils are pushing up and the birds are singing. Now is the time to make your pond ready for spring and summer. Inspect your pond firstThe first thing to do is go out and look at the pond, and inspect it. Is the filter still running? Can you see any dead fish floating? Is the cover net still covering the pond or is it sagg...
Pond pump selection is a vital part of setting up a pond. Pumps can oxygenate the water, power filters or produce decorative fountains and waterfalls. But there is so much choice so which one is right for you? To start off with there are three main types of pond pump - solids handling filter pumps, fountain pumps, and feature pumps.Solids handling pumps have large cages and large inlet holes...
Knowing the volume of your pond is critical to stocking with fish, adding filtration, and treating the water. Pond volume is measured in gallons or litres, and pond product manufacturers will reference one or both on their packaging. But there are a few things to consider when working it out.Gallons can be either Imperial gallons, used in the UK, or US liquid gallons, used in America. Confusi...
A wildlife pond doesn’t have to be large or complicated - it’s just the fact that you have one that’s important. Ponds are oases for birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates, and as soon as you build one, they will come. Having water in the garden is relaxing, adds to its beauty and you're doing your part for wildlife conservation at the same time.SizeWildlife will use...
Do you need a pond filter, and if so, which one? We show you your options in this easy to follow guide.You need a pond filter in order to achieve one or both of the following things: Clean, clear water, or a healthy environment for fish. Pond water often goes green, and the combination of a pond pump, pond filter and an ultraviolet clarifier can prevent this. Pond fish also produce waste but...
Pond pumps need regular cleaning and maintenance because of the dirty job they have to do. Even new pumps can clog up and stop and working if they suck in too much algae and debris. If your pump stops working the first thing to do is access, check and clean the impeller. Here's how:1. Switch off the pumpSwitch off the pump at the mains and to be extra safe and sure, unplug it. If the pum...
Due to advances in the marine hobby, it is now possible to keep fish and even corals in small tanks like the Fluval Sea Evo and other tanks of similar volume. The factors that affect how many you add include the age of the tank, maturity of the filter, the type and size of the filter, if it has a protein skimmer running and of course the eventual size of the fish themselves. Let’s start with th...
Cichlids from East Africa’s Great Rift Valley are adapted to hard, alkaline water with a high pH in the wild, and should be given similar water conditions in the aquarium if they are to thrive. Tap water in the UK ranges from about pH 6-8.5 and depends on where you live, and where your local water authority sources its water from. A pH of 6 is lovely for most South American and West Af...
One of the best investments you’ll ever make in fishkeeping is in test kits. Water can look crystal clear yet still be deadly to fish and with reef tanks you have the complicated lives of corals and invertebrates and their needs to think about too. Run a reef tank without testing and you’re running one blind. Nutrients will build up and elements will degrade, resulting in seawater that isn’...
Aquarium plants need lighting with the right spectrum if they are to be healthy and grow properly. This may be slightly different to the stock lights supplied in your aquarium package so many planted tank owners and aquascapers swap their lights out for those with dedicated plant spectrums.The colour of light is measured in something called Kelvin, and most plant lights have a Kelvin rating ...
Ammonia is really dangerous to fish, even when as low as one part per million, and its an invisible aquarium fish killer. Fish produce ammonia via their gills as they breathe but they aren’t adapted to be able to deal with it as in nature its simply diluted by the vastness of the body of water they live in. In aquaria we use filters, or more specifically the live, beneficial bacteria t...
Fish tanks turn green with algae, which needs light, water and nutrients to grow. Algae spores are airborne, so even if you start off with brand new everything, coldwater, tropical or marine, your tank will go green.Algae are tiny plant-like dots that can stick to surfaces like the tank glass or even be free-floating in the water. A little algae is natural in any tank - some fish, snails and ...
Water changes are really important for fish tanks. They lower pollutant levels and can add buffers, freshening up the tank and aiding fish growth. They can also be used to remove debris from the tank, like algae and fish poop, so are a key part of a regular maintenance regime. We have freshwater in abundance in our homes - tap water - but there are a few key things you need to do to it f...
Marine fish have evolved to take advantage of all the different types of food that are available in the ocean, from phytoplankton to zooplankton, macroalgae to mobile invertebrates to coral polyps and even other fish. Some fish are omnivores and are easy to feed in our aquariums, while others are specialists which struggle to feed on items that are different to what they would find in the wild.&n...