Pond Care Direct

What a tough year!

2011-08-09T07:37:00.000-07:00

The weather has been odd this year which has caused many issues for pond owners. Normal treatment patterns were thrown off by heavy rains and then by none! Algae has appeared out of almost no where with no signs of letting up.

Well short of chemical assistance it will be hard to recover from any heavy blooms this year but the long term care of your pond will still need to be the main focus. Dye can only go so far in assisting with this process alone. Lack of rain has exposed more parts of the pond that used to be just out of reach of U/V rays and has caused additional growth.

Another possible way to help with this would be addition of aeration devices or fountains that help to keep the oxygen levels up and water moving.

Be very careful if you are trying to kill large amounts of algae. Doing so to quickly could be bad for the fish in your pond. Killing of portions of it will take longer and be less attractive but will keep your life in the pond from having major issues ajusting.

As we approach fall, nature will assist most of us in bring the pond back to a more stable setting. Warmer areas will still require more treatment and different approaches. However, all ponds that have algae may be suffering from large amounts of detrious and debris that algae and other unwanted plant life may be using for food. Adding a biological product to your pond will help break down and remove this from your pond. However, if you are using large amounts of copper or have recently treated with copper it is suggested you wait a few days before adding bacteria since the copper can destroy these beneficial bacteria.

If you have any questions related to your pond please contact us via email at support@pondcaredirect.com. Even if you do not end up buying anything from use we are glad to assist you in caring for your pond.

You have a pond care related question?

2011-04-14T06:06:00.001-07:00

Well I may have the answer but more importantly I will do my best to assist you in finding an answer to your pond problems. Even if you do not need products I supply or you end up purchasing the product from another company, please feel free to ask me any pond care related questions. In the end the goal for us all is to take better care of our own little (or not so little) bodies of water.

A couple quick spring tips... Get dye in early and remember to watch for water turn over in order to keep dye levels high enough to be effective. Biological treatments are most effective in cooler water and before copper can be used. These products will help break down debris as well as remove muck. Copper should not be added until pond water is consistantly above 55 degrees.

I hope everyone has low algae growth, clean shores and blue water this season! Happy boating, fishing and swimming!

Lets make a deal!

2011-04-01T12:42:00.000-07:00

Times are tight and pond care can be expensive. Contact us via email or through facebook to talk with us about best pricing for larger orders, new customer or repeat customers. We are looking to increase our turn over and we can't do it without meeting your needs and offering the best possible prices on our products.

A note for Ebay members that purchase from us: Starting in May our prices will be going up from 1 to 3% to cover new a new fee structure from Ebay. Ebay is going to be taking a 11% fee off of shipping charges. Since we attempt to price all of our products with shipping in mind or with "at cost" shipping prices, we will have to raise our prices so that we are not taking a loss on the cost to ship. This is not by choice and we feel this is very unfair of Ebay to charge a fee on shipping charges that are based on the shipping calculator they supply but we are bound by the rules they set.

For better overall pricing you can also buy directly from www.pondcaredirect.com.

Spring cleaning time...

2011-03-14T07:49:00.001-07:00

Spring is the best time to get a jump start on your pond care for the year. Try to think a head and order what you need before it is a problem so you are ready.

Remember that any organic material in your pond will turn into food for algae if it is left untreated. Biological treatments go a long way to helping to break down muck and other organica materials on the pond bottom. However, do not forget to remove any left over algae, dead stems and other plants from last year that may turn into decaying items later this year.

Lastly, removing those unwanted stems will make your pond look better while allowing easier treatment of any new unwanted plants that pop up.

A blue in any season!

2010-11-29T05:43:00.000-08:00

Well, I was impressed that after a year of rain and dry period, warm to cold, lawn mowing and leaves falling that the products used to treat the pond near my home were working wonderfully well. The pond still has a nice blue color, the bacteria products were keeping the leaves that blew in from becoming algae food and the last shots of shoreline treatments was keeping the shore looking like a winner.

In the end the actual brands you purchase means little as compared with the use of the right products at the right time. Prevention in ponds will actually save you money and keep your pond ahead of the problem curves. Dye can be added at any time, even in the north, to prepare for spring weather and so when the ice melts you have good color and protection. Bacteria can be added if your water is still above freezing to help break down the waste that has gathered through the year. If you are in colder areas of the country, wait and apply it early in the spring. Lastly, PLEASE DO NOT add copper products if your water is below 60 degrees as it's just not effective and kills bacteria that help to break down the waste in your pond.

If you are in warmer parts of the country or if you want to buy at last years pricing, please visit us at www.pondcaredirect.com today. We look forward to your business and should you have any questions on our products, pricing or special orders contact us.

Version 2.0

2010-10-14T10:38:00.000-07:00

We would like to inform all of our customers of the changes coming soon to PCD.

We have a couple new suppliers lined up to help us increase the products we can offer at great prices. New items that will be available starting next year include fountains, pond lighting, aeration units and even pontoon boats.

In addition to those changes we are happy to announce our first retail location will open on January first of 2011. Visit us at the "Shops on the Square" in downtown Auburn, Indiana.

Lastly, we have started a facebook page and hope to be able to network with our customers in order to gain a good name as well as be able to assist others with pond care questions. In the future we'll offer special products or listings on facebook as well!

More information to come on the blog as well as the facebook page and website. We look forward to a new and exciting season next year. As always, we appreciate your business.

Treating anything takes time...

2010-08-25T08:23:00.000-07:00

This is just a friendly reminder to make sure you allow products you use on your pond time to work. Rushing things along by adding additional chemicals can be risky to your pond and the life in and around it. Remember that sometimes slower is better anyway. Like with almost anything a slow change over time to anything tends to be better than a rapid change. When it comes to any form of plant/algae in a pond, killing all of it and in a quick manner can cause unsafe oxygen levels.

So the best methods to treatment are usually have lapses in time and variation of area that is treated. Some products, such as White Cap, have a built in chemical reaction that releases slowly over time and automatically kills off the problem weeds slowly.

One last note is that weeds and algae are normally a sign of a larger issues that are causing the growth. It could be from springs feeding nutrients to your pond, run off water carrying waste or chemicals and even debris that have built up on your ponds bottom. The first two issues may require some changes to your pond or land. The last one can be handled by use of bacteria products. These products contain high doses of bacteria that help to break down the debris that are decaying in your pond that feed algae and weeds.

Treat that algae and more options to buy!

2010-06-22T05:23:00.000-07:00

While an copper is a great start to killing off algae in most any pond it is not by any means the best way to take care of algae issues.

Always start with a good dye used at the proper level. This will lower sunlight penetration and will keep down the amount of algae that forms. However, dye has no active ingredient and does not kill or stop algae growth.

Bacterial products are made to help lower algae counts by eating/destroying the waste found in ponds which lowers the food the algae has to feed on. Note that you should never treat with this product right before using any copper based product. It's always best to apply this a day or two after copper is applied.

The third product that should be used is a copper based product that can be used to help lower and kill algae over time. There are several copper based products in liquid and dry form that can do this. In general these products will be effective for about a month and will need to be reapplied in a timely manner to help.

The last part of the mix should be dry products like copper sulfate or other similiar products that are great for spot treatment or to help aid the other treatments when issues occur. Another reason to limit the use of this product as a primary solution is that it kills off beneficial bacteria in your pond which help to keep waste levels down as well as the bottom of the pond cleaner.

Following the steps above will keep algae down, the pond cleaner and nicer to look at all the time. It will also limit the amount of copper sulfate or other simliar products from being used which can be costly and time consuming to apply.

Visit us today and see the new product variations we've created. Many of our most popular products are now available in options other than by the case. As always, you can contact us by email at with any questions, to suggest new products or inquire on special pricing.

Do you Ebay?

2010-06-16T06:34:00.000-07:00

So why do many companies sell on the web, locally and on Ebay? Like any business it's all about reaching your customers. This is not just the ones you know but even more so the ones you have not yet had an opportunity to serve.

However, keep in mind that many companies, especially my own would gladly work to give you a better price outside Ebay to avoid the high fees Ebay charges for auction purchases.

If you are in the market for pond care goods, please contact our company directly over the phone or through email and we will try our best to give you a very good price.

Remember to stay in front of pond problems as that is much easier than trying to catch up. I can state this from my own ponds treatment this year which was at the bottom of my to do list and now is being treated to fix problems with both algae and duck weed.

Don't waste that copper!

2010-03-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

Well it should be common knowledge for pond owners that copper is not effective in ponds that are below 55 degrees. I've been told and followed 60 myself. There is more than one reason for this. Not only does it waste money but it is also more likely to cause issues of contamination and contact with other things that may not be able to handle contact with copper. This can be a real problem with invertabrates in your pond such as snails. When algae is heavy or using up the copper then it breaks down more before coming in contact with other things or before it can leave your pond.

Copper is a great help in controlling algae but if we keep wasting it and using it improperly then all states will follow the ones that have banned the use of copper products in ponds. It will also continue to drive prices up due to higher demands and larger use of a commodity.

Algae Control without state restrictions!

2010-03-19T07:05:00.000-07:00

If you live in California, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Yord, Rhode Island, Washington or Vermont I'm sure you've heard that you can't have this or that product delivered due to state law. I'd like to let you know that we now have an option for those states that do not require most algaecides to be delivered or used there. Diversified Waterscapes F-30 Algae Control is an algaecide available in all states!

This product uses a double chleated copper which allows it to control algae at levels so low it currently has no restriction. Controls all types of algae including planktonic, filamentous, hydrilla, chara and nitella. Does not leave behind sediment, toxins or pollutants.

1 gallon of this product treats 1 acre of water at 1 foot of depth. Like most chleated copper solutions it has a longer effect than standard copper and may last 30-60 days depending on the conditions and rate of water loss. Like any copper product the water should be 55-60 degrees before using and the product should never be allowed to freeze.

If you are interested in this product, please visit us today at www.pondcaredirect.com or email us at info@pondcaredirect.com

Dye Revisited...

2010-03-08T05:36:00.000-08:00

With spring quickly approaching I get one question more than almost any other... "What color dye is better?" ...which is easier to answer than it seems.
First, keep in mind that a dye itself is not specifically an active ingredient or able to treat anything. Dye does serve a major purpose in preventing algae but it's not due to some additive or active ingredient. Dye works a preventative product by attempting to lower sunlight penetration. There are 3 primary methods of doing this. One way is clouding the water to make it hard for light to penetrate, a second is reflective properties that allow less sun light to penetrate and 3) lastly some dyes have color combinations that are known to absorb certain light spectrums that are commonly thought to feed algae.

Each of these methods is well accepted. Some people will say they prefer one and I suggest that if you have a brand or type that you stick with what you know and like. The key is to find what works for you and is effective based on the amount of time and money you plan to spend on maintaining your pond.

So as far as color you should select more based on your personal taste on how you think it looks rather than the requirement to use a certain color or brand. Dyes come in various colors starting with blue/green, to light and dark blue and even black. Most dyes and even brands can be mixed to create even more custom colors for those that want to try combinations.

It is probably more important to make sure you dose your pond with the correct amount of dye. Since the dyes work by creating some form of sunlight dampening it’s important not to under apply dye. You can apply some larger amount of dye without any affect to your pond to obtain deeper color if you like. However, it’s still important not to put in so much you cause a die off of plant life.

Well, mostly correct...

2010-02-02T10:10:00.001-08:00

Ok, in todays market there is a lot of competition. This extends to all product types, including herbicides. This post will not assume to even attempt to name them all or the brands that use different types. When it comes to selecting the proper herbicide it will likely depend on how you deal with your pond that makes the most difference.

Any good herbicide is going to cover most weeds and other undesired plants in your pond. One thing to make sure of is that your selection is safe for water use. Doing so will help you in a couple different ways. Not only will this remove possible death of your livestock but it will also mean it may not harm water plants that are desired.

So now that we have some of the minor things covered how do you know what you should buy? This is the hard part. There are really two things you need to know. First and foremost you need to have identified what you are wanting the herbicide for. Secondly, how much do you want to spend and how do you intend to apply treatments.

When making your selection, keep in mind that there are many water safe herbicides that are not intended to kill plants that are below the water surface. So if you identify submerged problems then you'll want to stick with a treatment that is made to be effective like Weed Plex Pro, Reward, White Cap or any product based off the same main additive. The same can be said about dealing with plants that are growing out of the water line or on the shore. While you could use Weed Plex Pro on this type of plant to kill it, it may be cheaper and faster to use a product like Catt Plex or Avocet.

That other thing to think of is how you want to treat your pond. Some products allow ease of maintenance by lasting for long durations like Whitecap. However, this product will cost a little more up front, but tends to equal out in the long run. Also, unlike some other chemicals, dosing will be much more important than when using a sprayed on application since the chemical is left to treat the entire pond not just the spots you spray it. Dosing is important with all herbicides but you may need a small amount to mix with a couple gallons of water that you can treat all your visible problems with when doing it by spray. You will have to do this often to keep up with weeds as they regrow or new ones show up.

The last thing I would like to suggest is checking to see if you can find a mixture that works for your overall pond. If you do use a spray then you may be able to get the best overall affect by finding herbicides that allow mixing with other herbicides. This can become a powerful spray that is effective against shoreline growth as well as having attributes safe for your water than can help to kill off unwanted plants in and below the water line. Be careful to make sure that you are mixing products that will not react poorly. It is a good idea to check and make sure you are using different active herbices as well, becuase two brands may actually be based on the same active ingrediant. Lastly, some herbicides, such as Whitecap are not a good mixing product. Floridone products are great but are only effective in proper dosing of an entire pond.

Many of the products out there list how and on what they can be used. It is important to take the time to check the product you are purchasing to ensure you are not wasting your time and your money. If you have questions, just ask.

The algae season is coming quickly...

2010-01-15T05:19:00.000-08:00

While most of the country is able to take a break from normal monthly maintenance of their ponds during the winter months that gives you a moment to reflect and plan for next year. Did the products you use provide the performance you hoped for? Did you use those products properly as far as dosing, timing and quantities?

The great thing about pond products is that there are many choices to select from. There are generally multiple ways to get from A to Z. One thing to note is that some chemicals seem more expensive but that isn’t always the case. It is important to pay attention to how much of a product you have to use for it to be truly effective. Some products last longer and may be more expensive to purchase but will free up more of your time and needing added less often. Some products may treat different ranges of problems in the pond as others may require the purchase of multiple products to treat the same range.

In the end, do not take any of this as good or bad/right or wrong. Again, there is always more than 1 way to do anything. Each person must take the time to determine what they like, how much time they are willing to spend, how much money they are willing to spend and the end look of their pond.

At www.pondcaredirect.com, we sell many different product brands and types. While we would love your business, it is more important that you are happy with your pond. If you have a brand or supplier you work with and it works for you then think before you change it. If we offer the product you want at a better price then we’d love you to make a purchase. If you have questions, please feel free to ask. If you use a product we do not carry, please inform us and we’ll see if we can add it and give you a price quote.

Our next post will be related to the differences in herbicides available on the market today.

Storage of pond care products.

2009-11-05T05:51:00.000-08:00

Like many chemicals, pond care products can be stored but with some care. One of the biggest issues for pond care products is extreme cold. Freezing can cause some products to go bad and may cause damage to the plastic bottles which could lead to leaks. Leaking dye can cause many other issues and lots of damage. Chleated copper products should definetly not be allowed to freeze as it will cause a reaction that ruins the product.

It's a good idea to avoid leaving them in areas that get really wet when storing products in the cardboard case. The bottles themselves will be ok and the product should not be affected by this.

Another thing to note is that once the seal is broken, many pond care products will lose potency over time. Storing such products should be for as short of a period as possible and they should be kept in ideal conditions. Just a note that some products, especially biological bacterai products, have a shorter shelf life even if stored sealed and in ideal conditions.

If you have any questions you can email me at anytime.

Time to wheel and deal!

2009-10-22T05:47:00.000-07:00

The end of the pond care season for the northern states is upon us. With that it's time to get rid of stock and do anything to make a sale. It is time to look for the good deals. There should be many places with sales going on to clear out inventories until next year. Products, mark up and other things all come in to play when looking for deals as some stores or even individual products have more price control over the end sale prices. So some products may be able to be sold for a much greater discount than others.

With that in mind I'd like to be the first to suggest contact us at www.pondcaredirect.com and making an offer on supplies for next year. Pond care products have good shelf lives and can be kept for quite a while before being used. Breaking the air seal and freezing tend to be the biggest issue with storage and can cause the most damage.

Now could be your best time to save for next years pond treatments. Make an offer. The worst you can get back is a message that they can't sell it for that price. You may even get a counter offer for a price that is a great deal!

Fall is the time to pick up the slack...

2009-10-14T08:27:00.000-07:00

Ok, for those of you in the northern areas of the US it is time to pick up the slack to prepare for a better season next year.

I would suggest getting your favorite biological product and adding it now to help break down all that left over sediment from the summer months and for any leaves and other debris making it into your pond right now. Helping clean this up will help to remove lots of food for algae and other weeds next spring.

This can be sound advise for souther ponds as well as biological treatments are most effective in cooler water temps as the bacteria is more active.

Always remember that you never want to use a copper based products rigth after using a biological one since copper will kill this type of treatment. Always wait a couple days after a copper treatment to use biological products to help bring the beneficial bacteria counts back up to a good healthy amount.

Southern ponds require year round treatment against algae and other pond weeds that is many times not the case in the north. However, either way you need to know what steps are needed to keep your pond in it's best shape.

If you need advice on any product, please do not hesitate to contact us. Head over to PondCareDirect.com to see all of our products today if you have any needs.

Increasing Oxygen Levels and Water Movement

2009-09-22T06:16:00.001-07:00

There are many different ways to increase the oxygen levels and water flow. In many ways those two things go hand in hand. The end result though is more oxygen in the water. The most common ways to accomplish this is through the use of windmills and electronic aeration units. Both will increase the oxygen levels by causing water movement and surface tension. Costs can be about the same for either option but windmills do not require power.

There are many reasons for adding something to increase your oxygen levels in a pond. This will help buffer against oxygen level drops due to the loss of plant life. This can happen during seasonal changes as well as due to chemical treatments. For those where freezing can occur this helps to add oxygen which can be depleted during a deep freeze.

Adding a method to increase and maintain your ponds oxygen level can be a great investment rather than paying to restock often. We have added an entire line of windmills at great prices, please take a look. If you are interested in an electrical aeration system, please contact us today so we can get you more information.

Why buy bulk?

2009-09-09T05:52:00.000-07:00

Well like anything it seems like eventually we all find ourselves out of something needing more of it. Buying quantity saves money and is the smart way to shop. The only real issue is how and where to store additional quantities of products.

Pond care related items are no different. Even if you only use a gallon of dye a season, in time you'll need more. There is almost one statement that over time holds true and that is that it will likely never be cheaper than today to get it.

The key to storing most pond products is keeping them from freezing. Almost all pond related care products have fair shelf life but some can either be ruined or damaged by freezing. On top of the freezing can cause damage to the containers and packaging which may cause leaks or other issues.

So take advantage of this years stocked products being sold at prices that are almost for sure going to be less than next springs pricing when the producst are in high demand. Please feel free to visit us at www.pondcaredirect.com today to take advantage of our great pricing which includes shipping to your door.

Saving a bit of time and money!

2009-08-24T11:50:00.000-07:00

There are several reasons to order a head of time for next seasons products. Always try to plan on buying product before you need them so you can shop to get the best price you can. If you have specific package needs, please contact us today with your list of products and quantities you want. We can try to make the best package for you based on your needs for a great price.

The first being that in almost all cases, prices will never be cheaper than they are today. While there are exceptions, with the cost of shipping and general product creation going up it is likely that you'll see an increase in prices before a drop.

Another reason to buy your products early is having them on hand when you need them will allow you to keep up before problems get out of hand. Once problems get larger it can cost more money, more chemicals and more time to get it back under control.

Visit PondCareDirect.com today to see our full list of products. We have all of them priced delivered to your door. No driving from store to store which wastes time and fuel.

Did you miss?

2009-08-20T07:23:00.001-07:00

We try to keep information posted based on the time of year and products that you may need to purchase or use related to that time of the year. One thing to keep in mind is that southern states may need to keep normal treatments year round were many northern states will have winter months that there is little to no work needed.

I have recently created blog entrires relating to fluiridone, end of summer/dry season issues, northern pond biological treatments and a couple posts related to brands. Please take the time to catch up if you need to. Feel free to ask me questions via email when you have any.

A quick note again on biological treatment as this part of the year is easily the highest need for such a treatment. Biological treatments are used for breaking down various debris that end up in your pond. This can include grass from mowing, dead plant life from treatment, leaves and waste carried by water running in to the pond from surrounding areas. All of the above items are food for algae. Biological treatment will break this down so that it is not usable as food which will slow algae growth. Biological products are best used a couple days after copper is used for spot treating (or copper related products are applied) and also are most effective when the water is at 70 degrees or lower. Always remember that applying copper kills these beneficial bacteria, so never apply biological treatments before applications of copper based products.

We carry a great biological treatment called by Natural Pond Cleaner by Sanco Industries. This product goes a long way and will store if needed as long as it is kept above 40 degrees. Please visit our other products page at www.pondcaredirect.com for current pricing. Note that the price given includes shipping to your home or business.

The benefits of fluridone!

2009-08-14T06:16:00.000-07:00

We are very happy to carry Whitecap, which is a fluiridone based product. This product has the same percentage of fluiridone as both Sonar and Avast.

The benefits of fluiridone based products are not hard to find. This product is super long lasting and has been found to last 12 months with some cases lasting 18-24 months. Another great benefit is that this product controls most variations of pond weeds completely. This will eliminate many other required treatments which will save you money and time. The last major benefit specific to this product is the way it kills the unwanted plant life in your pond. It will take some time to show signs unlike other herbicides but is doing so intentionally to keep from causing oxygen level changes that can cause fish and other pond life death.

Like all products, the treatment rates will depend on what you are trying to control as well as the size and average depth of your pond or lake. General maintenance levels are 8oz per acre at 3ft depth. This will give you about a 30ppm coverage. Many harder weeds and controlling shore line weeds that grow in to the pond or lake from the shore require 50ppm. Duckweed requires 75ppm and watermeal 90ppm.

As a pond owner it is always good to have spot treatment chemicals on hand such as copper sulfate or Cutrine just incase you have inclimate weather or some other issue that causes problems. These cases should occur very little if any. It is also suggested that you keep other herbicides on hand just incase you have a need. Many shoreline weeds are only partially controlled by this product. CattPlex is a great pond safe herbicide that would be good to have on hand for shoreline clean up. This product does not replace dye for adding pond color.

Treating with Whitecap will have a front end cost. However, the time and money you save over the next year will allow you to enjoy your pond, not always work on it. Stronger rate of use will be more effective for a longer time.

If you have any questions, please contact us. If you would like to see our prices and products please visit us today.

The dry season.

2009-08-06T06:54:00.000-07:00

We are in to the dry part of the summer now for most of the country but this can and it is likely the worst time for algae.

Keep in mind that warm weather doubled with more blue sky days equals more sunlight penetration. It is now that it's the most important to have active copper treatments, water safe herbicide spray and a good dye level in your pond.

Always take care when treating with any method not to treat to much of the pond at one time as it can cause unsafe levels of oxygen. I would suggest copper treatments be done on about half the pond with about two weeks before doing the other half. Chleated copper treatments like Cutrine Plus or Crystal Plex is different than powder or crystals since they are active and kill algae that they come in contact with over time. Herbicides should be used more like spot treating with copper powder or crystals and done in portions to keep from causing issues.

Please feel free to visit us at www.pondcaredirect.com to see our available products and pricing.

August and September

2009-07-20T06:38:00.001-07:00

It's time to be prepared and not to get behind. Once you fall behind it can be very hard and expensive to get your pond back in shape.

August is the warmest time of the year and requires that you keep up on your maintenance. Remember that you will have loss of the chemicals over time for several reasons. If your pond has lost some coloration since the spring it is best to get that back to the right level by the time the hot and dry season arrives.

September is already moving toward the next part of the ponds cycle. This is especially true in northern states. It's time to get the biological treatment in when it's most effective. Natural Pond Cleaner is one of those products and will break down waste in your pond. This type of treament is best if used year round but will be most effective in the spring and fall when it's cooler.

If you have any chemical needs, please feel free to stop over at www.pondcaredirect.com to check our price list. Shipping and taxes (for Indiana residents) are included in the price listed.

Should you change brands?

2009-07-16T04:14:00.000-07:00

Well this is a good question. I have mentioned before that you need to find products you like and get patterns down that make using the products you have selected work effectively.

With that said there may be a time to change due to better products becoming available or to save some money. This is not always as easy as it sounds though. Always take care to compare the products you currently use to the new products line by line. If the newer product contains less active ingredients or is harder to use then it may not be a good idea to change or you will atleast have to figure out how many of the new product it takes to equal the coverage of the old to get a fair cost comparison. It is also important to note that sometimes a single product serves more than one purpose. There are dyes that contain biological treatments and some copper products that contain dye. Replacing those can be hard to figure out since the coverage rates of the original product and new product are likely to be much different.

In the end, we would love to have your business, but never switch to anything without taking the time to review product specifications prior to making your change. We will gladly attempt to answer any questions you have via email at info@pondcaredirect.com. Please stop over at www.pondcaredirect.com to view our complete product list.

Keeping up on things is the key...

2009-07-08T06:25:00.001-07:00

You need to keep one step in front of problems that can occur in your pond. Issues with algae, weeds, waste build up and other issues can slowly appear over time when left untreated. The issue is the point that the slow build up becomes an obvious issue. Many weeds form root systems that can span large areas and multiply quickly. Algae tends to multiply quickly once it has gone untreated for a short time. There are many methods to keeping ahead of these problems and it is important you pick one.

Keeping algae down is not always the easiest thing. Waste is a huge feeder of algae. Using biological treatments, such as Natural Pond Cleaner, will help remove some of the food that algae may be using to grow. Another method is to treat using copper solution algaecides such as Cutrine Plus or Crystal Plex to have free floating copper to kill algae as it forms. Dyes will also help lower growth by helping to lower the amount of sun light that penetrates in to the water. Many powder forms of algaecides and powdered copper sulfate crystals are effective for killing algae but they are for treating algae after it's formed. The real key is to stop it before it starts.

Many plants that grow around the pond can be killed early on before they grab and take over large areas of your pond. Some can spread at quick rates and take over even larger ponds in a couple years without treatment. Using a good pond safe herbice like Weed Plex at the first sign of unwanted plants/weeds is a great way to control issues like this. You can either spray in the area of, in the water near or pour the mixture directly into the areas you see issues that have not yet broke the surface of the water. However, it is truely the most effective to spray them once they are above the water line. Adding a sticking agent (aka:Sticker/Spreader/Extender/Adjuvant/Surfactant) will make the product even more effective.

As a final note though, it is important to note that there are restrictions based on individual locations that may restrict the use of copper, herbicides and algaecides. Though dyes and biological pond cleaners are all natural and do not have the same level of restrictions. Also many of these products are not safe for use in decorative ponds or with Koi.

We carry most of these product types at PondCareDirect.com at some of the best prices around. All of our products include delivery, shipping and taxes if applicable.

What are bioligical products needed for?

2009-06-26T07:28:00.001-07:00

Biological products help to break down build up on your ponds bottom. This might include leaves, branches, dead plants and even dead fish to name a few things. These items will foster algae growth if left alone. The algae will use that as a food source and be much harder to control.

The best way to control this build up is maintaning the level of bacteria in your pond. Adding biological products is a great way to increase the amount of bacteria. It is also a natural way to help control algae growth.

This type of product is most effective in colder water but can and should be used during normal months that require care which differ depending on your location. The best times to add this product are spring and fall when the water is to cold for use of copper based products. This normally is the same times when there is the most build up in the bottom of the pond. It is also important to know that using copper sulfate to kill algae also kills these beneficial bacteria. So another good time is a couple days after treating the pond with copper sulfate.

What brand and product type should I use?

2009-06-10T10:02:00.001-07:00

Determining this can have many different variables, such as price, size of your pond, product availability and more. There is not a perfect answer. However, in most cases it's getting the one you are happy with. For instance pond dye is available in many different brands. It can be found at different conncentration levels. Lastly it can be found in liquid and water soluble forms as well.

In the end you will have to decide what you like and want to use. Always make sure to check the labels on the products though for rate of usage. Just because two dyes are both in one gallon jugs does not mean they have the same coverage area.

You will normally pay a premium for water soluable packs. Larger quantities will generally be less expensive. Cheaper is not always better and likewise more expensive is not always better either!

Dye colors, is there a difference?

2009-05-21T11:13:00.000-07:00

As a pond owner myself I have decided that I like one color over the other. In general there is no difference in the effectiveness of the various colors themselves. Some dyes will cause reactions that cloud the water, some will reflect the light better, but in the end the goal of lowering the amount of sunlight penetrating into the water still is accomplished. So try to find the brand and color/color combination that you like and use it.

The thing to pay attention to the most when selecting a dye for your pond is the quantity of each brand that is required to effectively cover your ponds size. Different brands and colors may have different rates of use and could change the amount of dye that is needed to do an effective job.

If you are looking for dye for your pond right now, please feel free to check our our products at Pond Care Direct today. We carry True Blue and three colors of Sanco dye.

Why use dye?

2009-04-10T12:43:00.000-07:00

Depending on your own personal preferences, the various colors of dyes available can be used to make your ponds color attractive to you. You'll find that some people like a greener color, others like deep blue while others like it lighter or darker depending on taste.

More iportantly though is the ability to combat the growth of algae and other unwanted plants and weeds. The dye itself is not able to kill any plant or algae but is an effective tool in slowing growth. Dyes will cause two different effects to your water that both help to lower sun light penetration. The first is creating a more reflection off the surface of the pond. Secondly it will shorten the depth that the light can penetrate in to the water.

At pondcaredirect.com, we carry two dye options, Crystal Blue and Ocean Blue. Crystal Blue is a darker blue when compared with Ocean Blue. These two dyes can be mixed if either one is not to your liking. Visit www.pondcaredirect.com/products.asp to buy these products at a great price shipped directly to your door step.

While dye is a great means to help combat algae growth it will not remove existing algae from your pond. Biological treatments will remove waste which can help to feed algae growth and clean up the bottom of your pond. Copper based products can help to destroy existing algae. Some states do not allow use of some chemicals without a license. If you live in one of those states you will need to do some research to find what other options you have to remove existing algae from your pond.

Jump into spring!

2009-03-27T05:53:00.000-07:00

Spring is upon us and those of us in the north are now getting ready for our spring treaments. There are several things to keep in mind when getting started each new season to ensure the look and health of your pond.

Some questions to ask would include: Can I use the left over supplies I have sitting around? When can I start treating my pond? Do I need more supplies before I start treatments?

Most pond care products have a fairly long shelf life, I will give the basic information in this post. Powder/Crystal copper sulfate can be stored in almost any conditions and will be ok for use for years as long as it is kept dry. Pond dye has virtually and unlimited shelf life, though after long periods of storage it might not color quite as well requiring more product to be used. Biological treatement is probably has the shortest shelf life, no more than 2 years and should always be kept above freezing. Liquid copper solutions should be stored above freezing and can be used over several years if needed.

Determining when to treat ponds is not as much an exact answer as preference many times but some products do have rules that should be followed. Many people use biological and and dye treatments in the fall to ensure a better spring open. Some people actually put holes in the ice on the pond before the thaw and pour in dye so it's effective as soon as algae can start forming. In any case, both biological treatment and dye should be used early in the season. Biological treatments work best in cool water. Dry copper should not be added before the water is 60 degrees. Using it below that will make if very ineffective. Liquid copper solutions will have information on them as to when they should be used as well. Crystal Plex by Sanco, can be used at 50 degrees.

Make sure you have enough of the products to handle your pond care needs. Early treatment and maintaning your pond will make your care much easier to handle and you'll have a better looking and healthier pond in the end. If you need to restock, please keep us in mind. You can visit our website to pick up great products by Sanco delivered straight to your door. Please note that dry copper products are not available outside of our local area due to shipping costs.

Avoiding the big freeze.

2008-11-26T05:51:00.000-08:00

For those of you in the north you may want to try to watch for issues caused by a full freeze of the pond surface. There have been times when this can cause low levels of oxygen that can cause mass dealth to your pond life.

It is important to note that the transfer of oxygen into the water mostly occurs on the surface of the water. There are many different methods to help keep some amount of the surface from freezing but the most common is the use of fountains or wind mills. Both of these options require maintenance and some work. There are many variations of both products available, but a couple key things to think about would include do I have enough wind crossing over the pond to push a wind mill or can I get power to my pond to run a pump? There are solar versions of fountains that I have seen for sale, but I can't say that I've ever seen one in use.

When using either, making sure they are anchored securely is probably your toughest job. This can sometimes require the use of ropes or wire that is anchored to objects on the shore line.

A note of caution for you would be to always keep your distance from areas that use any method to keep the surface from freezing as the areas near that object will likely be weaker too and no one wants to fall through the ice.

Luckily for us all, nature helps us out quite a bit by lowering the fish activities and likewise the food and oxygen requirements. However, having a good lasting surface point to transfer oxygen to the water is only going to help the pond life out in any pond.

We do not sell any products related to this topic, but as a pond owner and someone attempting to supply important information related to pond care I wanted to pass this along. I hope someone finds this information useful.

Care for your pond and lake banks...

2008-11-21T08:25:00.001-08:00

Remember to take caution in how you treat and care for your pond or lakes banks. Killing off all the plant life can lead to lots of erosion. It is almost never a good idea to spray weed/plant killer around the entire pond or lake shore line. If you have used stone, wood or concrete to firm up your banks then you may be albe to do this without erosion problems.

We always suggest determining the drainage of the areas around your pond and treating to best handle this. It is not the easiest thing to determine, but many times you can look for eroded areas around your pond already, which are likely in lower areas of the shore line. We suggest using a trimmer or mowing those areas and keeping as much live plant/grass life in the high flow areas as possible to help save your shore line. If you have areas that still erode away, use of larger stones can help slow this process and still give a way for the water to flow into your pond or lake. We suggest backfilling areas with dirt and putting down new grass seed after you have effectively handled an issue where erosion was heavy.

Controlling erosion is important for many reasons, including safety when walking or mowing near the pond edges. This will also help to keep from raising areas of your ponds bottom which could lead to increased algae growth by making the pond shallower in places.

If you need a product to control algae or to handle weed control remember to stop over at our website, www.pondcaredirect.com and place your order today.

Cold days still require some work.

2008-11-16T06:20:00.000-08:00

It is important to understand how to keep your pond in the best shape year around. All the weather is getting cooler but that does not mean that your pond does not need care.

In the south where it stays warmer, this is still the best time to try a biological cleaning checmical additive. Your time for this product to be effective is very limited due to the warmer water conditions. This hold true in the north too, but applying this before the pond is froze over is the real key. Once the water movement stops then the chemicals tend to become less effective.

Warmer climates need to keep in mind that algae can bloom at anytime, so keep your pond clear with cleated copper sulfate from Sanco. All these products are available through www.pondcaredirect.com and will be shipped directly to your door cheaper than the local shops. Save time and money, shop with us today.

How to more safely apply chemicals.

2008-11-10T11:36:00.000-08:00

When adding chemicals to your pond or lake take some care to distribute the product to various locations in the pond. Doing this will make the products disperse quicker and more evenly throughout the pond. It also poses less danger to pond life by minimizing the strength the a chemical in a particular area.

However, you may want to leave some area around natural run off or spill ways. This will make sure that you do not waste your chemicals and also will allow the natural flow of the pond to take chemicals through the entire length of the water area.

If you are willing to take the time to dilute the chemicals then you'll help make the applications more safe and assist in the distribution of the chemicals. Using a boat to move in while applying chemicals also aids in this process.

Best of luck. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at info@pondcaredirect.com.

Determining how much of a chemical to use...

2008-11-05T05:12:00.001-08:00

Always take the time to review and follow the instructions with each package of product you use to treat your pond. The results of not following those directions can be horrible. I have seen people kill off all the live stock in a pond and not by some sort of poison effect either. I have seen ponds where to much of a herbicide was used and it killed off all the plant life in and around the pond. This caused a sudden change in oxygen levels which in turn caused all of the pond life to perish.

Treating your pond should always be done in a controlled way. It is always my suggestion to treat no more than half your pond at one time. This is especially true with chemicals that can cause more of an impact, such as a herbicide. This is less true for lake and pond dye unless you are trying to make a very strong color change. You are probably safe to use copper sulfate to kill spot algae around an entire pond all at once too. However, it may be best to wait a few days between each treatment of any kind to see how the pond reacts and to allow your pond life to acclimate.

At Pond Care Direct we sell only products from Sanco Industries. They have various documents and web links available to help with application and dosing of these products. If you should have any questions, please contact us at info@pondcaredirect.com anytime.

Fall pond care thoughts.

2008-11-03T07:31:00.000-08:00

For those of you in the north, this is the perfect time to add bio-clean. This product will help remove muck from the bottom of the pond. This product is most effective when it's cooler (water below 70 degrees) and when there is something to feed on. This time of year for those in the north tree leaves will be falling and blowing. Even the most well kept ponds and yards will have leaves that settle in your pond.

Head over to our website, http://www.pondcaredirect.com/products.asp, and pick up the fall bio-pack or a 4-pack of Natural Pond Cleaner today.

Taking a moment now to add this to your pond will give you a better start and less for algae to feed on next year.

Welcome...

2008-11-02T15:30:00.000-08:00

Good day. I own http://www.pondcaredirect.com/ and want to give some helpful hints on what to use for taking good care of your pond or lake as well as note when we have deals that you may be interested in.

First, I appreciate your time and I want you to know you will not find pond care products any cheaper local or online. I am taking a very minimal approach to selling my products to keep my expenses low so I can offer the best deals around. In todays tough economy this should make everyone happy.

If you ever need anything that I do not have listed or a specific selection of products packaged, please contact us at support@pondcaredirect.com to get assistance.

Thanks for your time.