Everything for the garden pond

New packaging
Italian company Prodac International is a manufacturer of water treatments, bio-activators, filter media, fertilisers, marine salt, trace elements and food for freshwater, marine and pond fish. Now the company has changed the packaging of its pond fish food. The new line is a brilliantly coloured series of bags each containing 1 kg food, very attractive and specially designed with strong handles for easy carrying. "Pond Sticks", a pellet food for medium and large pond fish, is the first product to be launched on the market packed in this way. "Pond Mix", a food for small and medium-size pond fish, is to follow soon.
www.prodac.it
Professional fish nutrition
Belgian company Versele Laga has developed a complete fish nutrition range for koi and other fish: "Fishlix Koi Staple" is a premium quality "all in one" koi food. "Fishlix Allround Menu" is a high-protein pond grain, which perfectly meets all ornamental and pond fish nutrition requirements. Moreover, easy digestible floating sticks are offered under the name "Fishlix Sticks". And "Fishlix Sturgeon" is sinking food for breeding sturgeon in the pond.
 
www.versele- laga.com
Wood for the garden pond
Hungarian company Flora Nova now offers decorative and practical pond accessories in addition to its wide selection of plants. Its garden pond bridges are made from spruce, treated against fungus and can also be provided with a handrail on request. "Stepping stones" made of acacia are another new product. These can be supplied with the typical acacia bark left on for a rustic finish or with the bark removed.
www.floranova.hu
Food for pond fish
Last season Polish company Tropical launched a line of granulated foods for pond fish, including both specialised food for koi as well as special food for sturgeon. "Koi Pellet Mix" is a food composed of three types of nutritious, floating pellets for the everyday feeding of fish throughout their active period. "Koi Growth & Color Pellets" is a high-protein floating granulated food for growth, healthy development and beautiful colouration. "Spirulina Koi Pellets" is a floating granulated food, containing spirulina and astaxanthine. If fed regularly, it enhances colouration and produces brilliant glossy scales as well as increasing immunity against stress and diseases. "Pond Pellets Sturgeon" is a complete, optimally balanced, sinking granulated food for sturgeon (acipenseridae).
www.tropical.com.pl
Premium food
German company IPH Group Pet Nutrition has revamped its "Hakito" premium food line for pond fish. Its products "Premium Pond Sticks", "Premium Pond Flake Mix" and "Premium Pond Sticks Mix" in the three and six litre packs now come with new closures that close the pack securely and yet are easy to open. According to a press release from the company, the "Hakito" product range was developed with the old tradition of Japanese garden pond culture in mind. "Koi Gold" is used specially to activate pigment, "Koi Spirulina" to optimise well-being, "Koi Wheatgerm" to activate the metabolism in spring and autumn and "Koi Fitness" to support the fish's defence systems. For the other cold water fish in garden ponds the company has developed "Hakito" high-premium pond fish food: "High Premium Pond Sticks" is a high-grade main food, "High Premium Pond Flakes Mix" is a mix of energy-rich flakes, sticks and natural live food, "Pond Mix" is a mix of various sticks with spirulina and wheat germ as well as pigment activators. And for sturgeon "Sturgeon Food" has been developed to take account of their eating habits and special nutritional requirements.
www.iphgroup.de
Tough filter
The new "TetraPond PFX-UV" pressure filter from German company Tetra provides efficient mechanical and biological filtering to give clear water in all garden ponds of up to 12,000 litres in capacity. An integrated UV algae clarifier also offers a lasting solution to algae causing green water. The new pressure filter is sturdy and has a large filter area for mechanical cleaning and a very high flow capacity owing to the low counter-pressure as well as the simple "reflux" cleaning system. The new "TetraPond PFX-UV" pressure filter comes in three sizes.
www.tetra.de
Get rid of sludge and sediment
Sludge is formed in every pond over time, caused e.g. by leaves, dead microorganisms, leftover food and fish excrement. Such substances begin to rot, causing the water to become cloudy and smelly. "Pond Sludge Remover" from German company Söll reduces sludge and sediment in the garden pond. The product consists of two components: the first is made only of minerals and decomposes pond sludge organically. The patented mineral combination oxidises and decomposes the sediment layer, prevents formation of heavy metals and other substances toxic to fish as well as binding phosphate, the main food for algae. The result is a noticeable reduction in the sludge layer and effective prevention of algae growth. Any bad odour is also immediately neutralised. The second component is biological; it uses bacteria and active oxygen to clear the water. The powerful microorganisms immediately begin to decompose sludge, dead algae, plant particles, leaves and fish toxins. The result is clear, fresh pond water. 500 g is enough to treat 10,000 l of pond water. The amount applied may be doubled when sludge deposits are severe. There is no easier way to get rid of pond sludge.
www.soelltec.de
Innovative skimmers
German company Meßner presents its latest product: skimmers enable dirt particles to be sucked off the water surface before they sink to the bottom and pollute the pond. The large volume of the new "skimmer 200", "floating skimmer 200" and "tube skimmer 200" ensures long cleaning intervals. The skimmers may be used in conjunction with a pump when supplying a waterfall or a flowing brook. A positive biological effect is achieved due to warm water being sucked from the surface of the pond, causing the temperature at the base of the pond to remain stable. This causes a reduction in the growth of algae.
www.messner-pumpen.de
Healthy Food
"Koi Basic" from Belgian company Ocean Nutrition Europe is a highly palatable food for koi containing an abundance of high-grade white fish meal as its primary protein source. It is a nutritionally complete food scientifically formulated to provide a balanced blend of all the proteins, vitamins, and minerals necessary for the sound growth and healthy development of the koi. The floating pellets do not cloud the water, making it easy to watch the koi as they eat. Koi Basic is made from the finest select ingredients under strict quality control to ensure that the koi receive the ultimate in nutrition.
www.oceannutrition.com
New range of pumps
Hagen presents a new "Laguna" range of pumps featuring the "Powerjet Free Flo" and "Powerjet Max Flo". According to the company, the "Powerjet Free Flo" is a powerful, foam-free pond pump set for fountains and waterfalls that comes complete with an adjustable riser and two fountain nozzles. Special features of the system are the back-flush facility for hose-operated filter basket cleaning and the low operating costs. Other benefits include the anti-leaf ribs on the filter basket and the large intake surface to reduce water speed and lessen the risk of clogging. The "Free Flo" range comprises eight pump models with flow rates of 2,200 to 10,600 litres per hour for ponds with capacities of 2,900 to 22,000 litres and delivery heads of 1.7 to 4.5 metres. The "Powerjet Max Flo", on the other hand, is a foam-free, high-performance pump for carrying water to waterfalls and external filter systems. A special feature is its ability to carry maximum solid particles of 6-8 mm without any problems. Practical details include anchoring on the pond floor and the two-level suction system at the upper and lower filter basket for the maximum water flow. The "Max Flo" range includes five pump models with flow rates of 3,700 to 10,600 litres for pond volumes of 7,400 to 22,000 litres and delivery heads of 1.9 to 4.5 metres.
www.hagen.com
Displaying fish
French company Aquafeeling has brought out a 760 l sales tank for cold water fish. "Pond Master 760" measures 138x85x96 cm, is made of plastic and comes complete with a cover to prevent customers from reaching in and fish from jumping out. Interesting features include the transparent 12 mm thick front panel, integrated receptacle with filter and pump and the rounded corners of the tank to make cleaning easier. "Pond Master 760" is green on the outside and white inside.
www.aquafeeling-france.com
Vitamins and oil for koi
With "KoiVitol" from German company JBL, koi enthusiasts can spray vitamins directly onto the food using the spray dispenser. Two to three squirts (for 2-3 dessert spoons of food) every two days add those vitamins to the koi food that cannot be conserved in the food itself. This increases the resistance of koi and other pond fish to disease and spring viremia are no longer a threat. Through the addition of honey, the JBL Research and Development Department has been able to achieve unprecedented levels of acceptance for this vitamin preparation. In "KoiSynergy", JBL is launching an energy supplement for koi and other pond fish. In spring and autumn in particular, pond fish need a high-quality source of energy in order to combat stress. "KoiSynergy" provides readily available energy for the fish based on salmon oil (50 per cent) and vegetable oil (50 per cent). The polyunsaturated fatty acids increase resistance to many common diseases. The pond enthusiast should upgrade the food by adding two or three spray squirts daily to approximately 20 g food sticks (2 - 3 dessert spoons). "KoiVitol" and "KoiSynergy" are available in a 100 ml spray bottle.
www.jbl.de
Natural problem solver
"Blanket Weed Buster" from British company Interpet is the latest biotechnology natural solution to the problem of blanket weed in ponds. The probiotic treatment adds bacteria to the pond that multiply to remove blanket weed and will also clear green water algae and pond sludge, making it the most complete pond solution available. The unique blend of bacteria builds up to produce a clean and healthy pond by out-competing with the algae for the available nutrients in the pond whilst consuming pond sludge. "Blanket Weed Buster" is a natural product that is suitable for use in all ponds including ornamental, natural and koi ponds. Available in two sizes: the standard pack treats 2,273 litres for four weeks and the "Super Value" treats 4,456 litres for eight weeks.
www.interpet.co.uk
Healthy ponds
"Sera Pond Toxivec" from German company Sera removes ammonium and nitrite from pond water in no time, thus providing immediate action against pollutants. It also eliminates aggressive chlorine as well as residues of any disinfectant or medicinal products used, in addition to binding toxic heavy metals such as copper, zinc and lead reliably so that they cannot harm the fish. And if the pollution levels are particularly high, a higher dosage of "Sera Pond Toxivec" can be given.
www.sera.de
Sensible combination
The UK company Hozelock Cyprio presents "EasyClear", a system comprising a fountain pump, filter and ultra violet clarifier. According to Hozelock, the system offers those creating their first pond and owners of small ornamental ponds an easy way of creating a clear, healthy pond and fountain without having to worry about choosing the right pump and combining it with the right filter and UV clarifier. "EasyClear" is easy to install on the bottom of ponds with a capacity of up to 2,000 litres. And the integral 35W pump produces a fountain up to 0.6 m high and comes with a choice of three different fountain heads. Four 75 mm fountain stem extension segments enable the system to be adjusted quickly to heights of between 300 and 600 mm to suit different pond depths. "EasyClear" comes in a coloured display box that highlights the advantages and functions of the system. The kit includes a fountain pump, a two-stage and three-stage fountain attachment, a bell head, four extension segments, an ultra violet clarifier and mechanical and biological filter.
www.hozelock.com
Powerful pumps
The Belgian company Flamingo presents a new line of pumps: "Water Symfony" pumps are intended to be used in ponds, water decoration, cascades and streams. They can be used in both freshwater and salt water aquariums too as circulation pumps for biological filters. All the pumps have a replaceable ceramic shaft, except the "Presto", which has a steel shaft, making it more resistant to wear and tear.
www.flamingo.be
Straw treatment
British company Green Ways started with "Pond Pads" a revolution in the treatment of algae, using barley straw stitched between two layers of natural cotton. Each pad treats a pond up to 700 gallons for 4 months. Lavender pads are also available, containing a mixture of barley straw and lavender stalks for greater effectiveness. They must have adequate dissolved oxygen to work effectivel and are recommended only in systems with pumped water circulation. The pack contains three pads to give 12 months protection for ponds of average size. For small water features the Snip-Its pack was introduced containing a single pad, easily cut to size to give the required dose.
www.green-ways.co.uk