Regular, partial water changes help to improve water quality by flushing out dissolved waste materials and replenishing essential minerals.

Lotus make stunning pond plants. The larger varieties have huge leaves that grow up to 24” in diameter held up to 3 feet above the water. Their flowers are very fragrant and measure up to 8” in diameter. There are also medium and dwarf sized lotus that will suit any size pond or water feature.

Yes, water lettuce do actually flower! However, the flowers are so small most people never actually notice them.

Chagoi are single coloured koi that range from light greenish brown to dark brown. Although they don’t have bright colours or intricate patterns, they are well known for growing larger than other varieties. They are also renowned for being very friendly and docile and are usually the first koi to come and eat food from your hand.

Oxy-Pond Cleaners are a great product for spot treating string algae on waterfalls and in shallow streams. Simply turn off your pump, sprinkle it on any algae, wait about 15 minutes and turn your pump back on.

Great Blue Herons are typically solitary birds, so placing a lifelike heron decoy at eh edge of your pond often deters them from visiting your pond and eating your fish. If you have a heron that lives near your pond, moving your decoy around from time helps to maintain illusion.

Goldfish make ideal pets for small ponds because of their modest size. They typically grow 8”- 10" long, although they can occasionally get bigger. The best types of goldfish for outdoor ponds are Comets, Sarasa Goldfish and Shubunkins.

Having some algae in your pond isn’t a bad thing. In fact, algae consumes nutrients and waste products and helps to purify your pond water. Many small zooplankton feed on algae which then become food for small fish.

While Tropical Water Lilies may be a bit expensive and will not survive the winter in the pond except in very warm climates, they are definitely worth it. They bloom profusely all summer long; they are available in many colours and they often have large exquisitely patterned leaves.

Floating plants like water lettuce and water hyacinths provide shelter and hiding places for koi and goldfish and can protect them from predators like herons.

Frogs typically hibernate during the winter by burrowing in the mud found in ponds and lakes. Their metabolism slows down enough that they can absorb all the oxygen they need through their skin.

Nisai is the Japanese term that refers to a koi that is 2 years old. Learn more Japanese koi Terminolgy

Body flukes (Gyrodactylus sp.) are a fairly common parasite found on pond fish. They do not lay eggs like gill flukes, instead they produce live young. They are found both on the gills and the body of fish.

Covering 50%-65% of your pond’s surface with plants is recommended to help shade the pond and keep the water cool in the summer months. Plants also consume excess nutrients from the water reducing algae growth and help to maintain optimal water quality. These 'Clear Water Plants' are some of the best plants for maintaining a clear, healthy pond.

If you plan to keep koi in your pond, it should be at least 4’ deep to give them enough space to swim and develop properly.

The beautiful koi we see today originally started out as bland coloured carp that were raised for food in Japan. It wasn’t until the early 1800's when farmers began to  notice interestingly coloured fish appearing in their rice paddies and began selectively bred for colour.