COMMON FAQ's

A. The number one complaint we get about ponds is that the pond is too small!!!  A good beginner pond is an 11 x 16. A good size to start but gives enough area for the future hobbyist. People seem to always find new plants and fish they want to try. This size of pond allows you some freedom to do so. Bigger is usually the rule of thumb rather than smaller.

A. Actually neither situation is ideal. An ideal situation would be one with a mixture of both. Full sun ponds can have more of an algae problem, while shade ponds will have problems finding plants that will bloom, as several hours of  sunshine is necessary for blooms. However there are plants that adapt to both conditions. Each situation needs to be treated individually.

A. Landscaping has always been the number one improvement you can do to increase the value of your home. A properly designed and built water feature adds so much beauty and tranquility to your landscape it actually increases your properties value.

A. In the Kansas City area, we have found that a two-foot depth is more than adequate to sustain fish and aquatic life in the extreme heat of the summer to the extreme cold and freezing of the winters. Aquatic plants, especially lilies, help shade the pond in the summer, while using deicers and bubblers help maintain the pond during the coldest part of the winter.

A. People who have ponds that were constructed with gravel and rocks in the bottom, find that maintenance is actually easier because the build-up of muck does not happen. Bacterial colonies form in the gravel base breaking down decaying plants, fish waste, and other organic material that lands in the pond. The gravel provides a home for the bacteria, which constantly is working to break down debris so the muck found in so many ponds virtually does not exist.

A. The number one rule when designing a pond and choosing the position in your yard...is as close to the house as possible so you can see and hear it not only from your deck and patio but also from the inside of the house whether it is your kitchen, dining room, and/or front room. You spend a lot of time indoors and the idea is to enjoy it indoors and out, so take a walk indoors and see what is the best place also from the inside of the house.

A.   In the hot summer it is not uncommon to lose 1-2 " per week easily on a regular size pond. With a pond our size and the amount of splash we can lose 1-2" per day depending on how hot and how much wind. So consider total amount of splash and water area to determine your normal evaporation rate.

A. The main function of the soil is to hold the plants in place and provide trace elements and provide very little nutrients. Plants will grow in gravel in your pond, aquatic baskets filled with pea gravel, or in holeless pots with a mixture of sand and clay soil. Use as plain soil as you can find. Plants will get most of their nutrients from the water itself. Do not fret over the soil, it is more important to fertilize as recommended by Aquatic-Tabs fertilizer.

A.  One day you wake up and there all kinds of circles or half circle holes in your water lily pads. These are designed by "Sandwich Man" or rather a China Mark moth. The little half circle boats can be found floating in the water, under lily pads and on top of pads. They can range from 1/8 to 1" in length. the little Sandwich Man can actually be found in between the two slices of pad. Sorry but the only way to really get rid of them is by squashing them in between the two little slices of "bread"! Believe or not they can do a lot of damage in a short time.

A. "Aphids" and that is exactly why we do not sell Water Lettuce. They Love Water Lettuce! It usually starts with water lettuce and spreads rapidly to other plants. Do NOT Spray with insecticides, it is fatal to your fish and all aquatic life. The best way is spray with the water hose and knock the bugs off the plants and let the fish and frogs eat them. Mosquito fish especially enjoy aphids.

 A. UV Sterilizers treats a symptom, pea-green soup look, but does not treat the cause. Sterilizers kills the single cell algae that passes through it but also kills all other forms of microorganisms living in your pond. When these organisms die they fall to the bottom of the pond, start decaying, give off nutrients which in turn feed the algae all over again, which causes a never ending circle. Instead we work with Mother Nature in creating a balanced ecosystem, that consists of  a filtration system,  plants, fish, microorganisms, living bacteria, and even algae. The idea is to balance you pond so the algae is starved out or prevented from growing in the first place with shading and living bacteria that colonizes in the bottom of your pond and filtering media. 

 A. Water lilies are excellent for shading your pond's surface. It is recommended to have 55-60% coverage. You can also cut down on feeding your fish and let them feast on the algae and of course add some specific products detailed on our Pond Supplies page.  All of this together will help decrease your algae growth.

A. A pond with moving water actually hurts the mosquito population. Your pond's ecosystem actually cuts down on the larvae as the fish, frogs, and dragonflies love to feast on the larvae floating on the surface. A bird bath will actually breed more mosquitoes than your pond!

A. It is not a good idea as bluegill and sunfish will eat the eggs and babies of your goldfish and Koi. They also usually harass and can actually harm your adult goldfish and Koi.

“I discussed the loss of my fish and blue herons with you (Swan’s) about five years back at the Garden Show.  I had lost ALL of my fish several times and was very discouraged.  Our house backs up to a green belt with a large creek running through it.  A family of blue herons live near on the creek.  You suggested at the time that I acquire an artificial Blue Heron.  I immediately ordered a large beautiful Blue Heron.... Nevertheless, the heron is very real looking and the exact size, and he does the trick!!!!  As long as he is beside my pond I have not lost a single fish.  I have him placed snuggled in the rocks and bushes behind the rocks and he appears to be a real Heron.  I take my Heron inside in the winter and put net over the pond with a horse trough heater in the water.  The only time I ever lost the fish after I started using the fake Blue Heron was once.  That one time I was very tired and took the Heron inside with the intention of covering the pond with netting the next day because I was too tired to finish the job.  That one evening and the next morning was enough for me to lose every one of my large 12 fish.  I almost cried because I had raised them all from minnows (I buy only $0.10 fish at Pets Mart because of the Blue Heron) and truly regarded the 12 large goldfish as pets and as my 'babies.'   Hope this helps someone else.” 

L.M., Overland Park, Ks

Everyone who reported back that has a blue heron decoy sitting on the edge or in the water’s edge of their pond has reported no problems with the blue heron.  Leaf netting works well and fish line crisscrossing your pond can be effective, but needs to be a fairly tight grid pattern to truly discourage the birds.  Also have been informed that Swan decoys also work well to discourage the heron.  

Several customers have talked to the Conservationist, they say that because of the drying up of earthen ponds and streams in the countryside due to drought conditions during 2002 & 2003, it drove the herons into the towns to find new sources for food.  Now that they have found their little "Koi" restaurants, they don't want to go back to the farm ponds. 

Swan's Water Gardens

(Family Owned and Operated Since 1994)

913-592-2143

E-mail:  swans_watergardens@yahoo.com