A fish cave….c’mon… I bet you thought thought caves were only for cavemen or women and of course the Yeti…. They live in caves too…. I think? 
​
Ok seriously now, As fish owners we are in a constant battle to save our fish from predators, because we love our fish and don’t want them to become food!  Sometimes it’s inevitable and every fish hobbyist is unfortunately going to lose this battle from time to time.  But…. There are things we can do to help protect our fish and a fish cave is one of them.

“When can I start feeding my koi or pond fish again?”  is a question we are asked almost daily this time of year. We understand why, too!   Your pond has either been cleaned or turned on for the spring, the fish are becoming more and more active almost begging for food.  You can’t wait to interact with your friends who have been hibernating all year.

Do you see this when you go out to your water feature? 

It’s December in Northern NJ, your fish pond has been winterized, and the weather has been brutally cold for a few days.  You’ve caught glimpses of your pond aerator doing its job, because all you can see is a frozen pond with bubbles in the opening created by your aerator.  Then boom, Mother Nature plays a sick joke on us Jersey pond hobbyists and decides to throw a warm front into the December weather mix of cold and snowy weather.  

Here’s the scenario... it’s January and you’re taking a stroll outside or look out your window and your pond looks like this…. an algae ridden cess pool!! 
​
You think to yourself, C’mon I thought I was out of the woods with this stuff, it’s only supposed to grow in the summer heat, what’s happening?  

Every spring here in Morris County NJ area we receive hundreds of inquiries for "How much does a spring koi pond cleaning cost?"  In this Weekly Ribbit we are going to address that very question and share with you many of the variables that can affect the cost of a spring koi pond cleaning cost.  After you have read our publication you will be able to make an educated decision on who you should call to help you with your spring pond cleaning!   

In Morris County New Jersey and many northern climates winter poses some challenges for our fish ponds and water features.  Our ponds and fish are subject to extreme cold temperatures, snow, and debris flying around and landing in our ponds and water features.  Spring arrives and all we want to do is get those features running to enjoy them throughout the spring, summer and fall.  It's a daunting and disgusting task, is a pond/water feature cleaning really necessary? 
 
By the time you’re done reading this blog, you'll be able to ask yourself if having a spring koi pond cleaning is the right choice for your pond.  

PERMITS... its almost a 4 letter word in NJ except it has 7.  Ok, really, we've all dealt with them at one time or another when we are looking to do that exciting project on our home.  If you haven't yet, consider yourself fortunate.  Permits can be frustrating and sometimes turn an exciting project from exciting to not so so exciting quickly.  You're thinking about installing a koi/fish pond or water feature, but will you have to deal with getting a permit from the town to have this beautiful addition to your landscape installed? 

​Quite often we receive calls and are asked “I have a hole in my liner, how much does it cost to patch the hole in my liner?” This is just too broad of a question to come out and answer.  It’s similar to asking, How much does a pond cost? A preformed plastic pond isn’t going to cost you much...as you may be able to get one from a neighbor or at a local garage sale, maybe even for free.  However, that custom ecosystem pond is going to be a bit more.  

​When and if your pond or water feature pump quits running there are a series of necessary steps and precautions to take. The topic that was featured on this Weekly Ribbit dealt with what those steps are. If your pump were to quit running it is best to conduct a thorough check in detecting where the problem is. Before contacting a professional, it can be helpful to narrow down the possibilities. If you do not trust yourself to do so, then contacting a professional may be your best option.