| 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. It is always necessary to consider that each different outdoor fishpond will have different requirements, depending on its size, situation and purpose. Some gardeners may be looking to keep troublesome interventions from wild animals or local cats at bay, while others may need accessories to help deal with intrusive growths of plants such as algae. 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. Of course, a pond could be more about keeping fish in than looking good, in which case such features might well be at odds with creating the right environment for fish to live in. For those who are keeping fish, a net is the first accessory they should be looking to acquire. Nets can be used to remove weed and algae to help keep the water clean, and can also be used to remove the fish when it is necessary to do so for maintenance purposes. 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. This is an effective method of preventing predation of pond fish, but it can be dangerous for children and can seem a little harsh to many gardeners who like to see wild mammals and birds in their gardens. Often, a replica of a predator is used instead, such as heron, as these are territorial birds and may be fooled into thinking that another heron is already resident. Some experts refute this assertion though, claiming that it may actually encourage predators. 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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