| By :
Dirik Hameed
Water features can be the focus and centre point of many a superb garden. Often though, particularly for newcomers to pond keeping, ideas on how to choose great accessories for a fishpond are often hard to come by. Choosing outdoor water features can therefore be a tricky process, and must be focused on the specific pond. Some people may require something to minimize the negative effects of wild animals on the water, or perhaps to keep intrusive growths of plants such as algae to a minimum. Other gardeners will perhaps favour a more flamboyant and decorative flourish. Often, a pond's appearance is boosted by an additional water feature such as fountain or waterfall, which can add a touch if understated grandeur to the garden set-up. This kind of thing may be suitable for some ponds, but fishponds exist primarily to keep fish in, and water features may not fit with this kind of set-up. One thing that fish keepers always need though, is a handheld net with a long handle. A net is useful for removing fish if the pond requires maintenance or the fish some kind of medical examination. It can also be used to keep the water clear from debris and excess weed. Due to keeping fish in the water, many gardeners would prefer to keep interaction with wild animals to a minimum, and there are a number of electrified fences which can be used to keep wild animals away from the temptations of a well-stocked pond. They work by deterring animals with a small, and harmless, electrical shock. While this can prevent some predation of fish, it can also seem a little extreme to some gardeners, who may prefer to see their pond as a wildlife resource rather than an isolated island of watery perfection. They may therefore prefer to put up a replica of a heron or similar predator to discourage other creatures. Herons are territorial birds, but there is some debate about whether animals can recognize symbolic representations of themselves with any kind of sophistication. Another decorative flourish can be achieved with some kind of sculptured feature such as a statue. Rock sculptures can give a pond a rustic feel, especially alongside the right kind of plants. Gnomes are still popular with many people, who appreciate the kitsch humor of seeing a gnome with a fishing rod at a pond's edge. Managing water temperature is another activity which is crucial to a pond's health. Fish should never be fed at temperatures below 10 degrees centigrade. In order to monitor this, a useful acquisition for any pond keeper is a floating thermometer. It is also useful to acquire a pH tester too, as keeping the acidity levels of the water at the right percentages is crucial to the health of a pond and everything living in it. What should always be remembered is that ideas for great accessories for a fishpond can be obtained by having a good look round at what has worked for other people who own fishponds, and to try and incorporate those features which most appeal into personal conceptions.
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