Foster and Smith Launches Aquatic Supply Site

The Foster and Smith Aquatics website is dedicated to aquarium hobbyists and pond enthusiasts to better showcase pond and aquarium supplies and products. You won’t have to navigate through cat and dog products and search results.

Naturally Controlling Algae in Your Watergarden

Here is an excellent article on controlling algae in your pond, watergarden, or other type water feature: Plants that fight algae in the water garden. This article was found on www.csmonitor.com. Please also note that all watergardens can benefit from a total cleaning and pond water change out at some point. We did our for the first time after about sixteen (16) years ...pretty good for a water garden of less than 2,000 gallons, 103 fish, four bullfrogs, and with no filter. Please also note that a complete water change in a watergarden is a radical and dangerous event if not done properly. We only lost fourteen (14) of our 103 fish during our clean out this year. Please click on the aforementioned 'pond water change out' for a few pics.

Video of the Water Garden

Click on the video play

Pond Area Guard Dog

Here is a picture of Powder, our cocker spaniel. Here you see Powder laying in the winter rye grass in a green-space near the water garden.

Flamingo in Alabama Water Garden

Here is a Flamingo floating in our backyard water garden pond

Pond Water Change Out

Take a look at our recent 'Pond Water Change Out'. On March 7, 2010, we did a complete pond water change out of our goldfish and Koi pond. This is the first complete water change out and cleaning since the creation of the pond around 1994. That's a lot of years without having to change the water! That means we got it right. Specifically, for a pond to survive, live, and grow, with very little maintenance, you have to find that perfect 'natural' balance. The change out of the pond water caused a minimal loss of fish. Of the 106 fish, we only lost 13 in this radical pond environment change.

Snow on Bluebird House next to the water garden (March 2, 2010)